I have been on two - Antigua and Mexico. Neither had a wristband in sight and this is the first I have ever heard of such a thing. I guess I must lead a very sheltered life :-) On both occasions we were left to our own devices if we wanted to go into town or on excursions and the free food and drink, while an advantage if we just wanted to do nothing, were not at all tying. The cost was pretty much the same as flights to the Caribbean and separate accommodation would be anyway. No hoards of pissed up holidaymakers and, all in all, a very pleasant experience.

The only odd things I saw were, in Antigua, a guy sat at the bar at 9am having his breakfast of half a bottle of Jack Daniels and 20 Marlboro! And, in Mexico, lots of young, upwardly mobile Americans smoking in the swimming pool. Very odd! I am sure there are all inclusive holidays to suit every taste and a broad range of offerings. Maybe I have just been very lucky.