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11 Top All-Inclusive Resorts for Foodies

By U.S. News & World Report

All-inclusive resorts cater to travelers seeking a fuss-free vacation with plenty of perks, added conveniences and excellent values. After all, with all your meals, drinks and entertainment wrapped into a single price, staying at an all-inclusive offers the chance to enjoy a relaxing getaway without feeling the pinch of getting nickeled-and-dimed. However, many patrons of these properties have a familiar gripe: The bland buffets and uninspiring cuisine.

[See: The 10 Best All-Inclusive Resorts in Mexico 2017.]

Fortunately, today’s all-inclusive resorts are elevating their culinary offerings with diverse options, locally sourced ingredients and acclaimed chefs. If you’re a foodie, follow your taste buds to these exceptional properties.

Tordrillo Mountain Lodge
Anchorage, Alaska

Tordrillo Mountain Lodge sits in a waterfront paradise, just 40 minutes from Anchorage, Alaska. Opened by Olympic gold medalist Tommy Moe, the unique all-inclusive property offers an outdoor-focused guest experience that connects visitors to nature. Visitors can take advantage of recreational activities such as heli-skiing, heli-hiking and heli-fishing while taking in the beauty of some of Alaska’s most remote areas. What’s more, the property boasts private chefs who serve meals that are nothing short of amazing. Gourmands will delight in fresh Kachemak Bay oysters, along with king salmon, Alaska king crab, halibut and regional specialties such as elk and pheasant. Tordrillo also uses fresh organic vegetables from the garden. Even better, wine pairings are also offered to create a dining experience that’s both rustic and elegant.

Barceló Aruba
Noord, Aruba

Aruba has long been known as one of the best Caribbean islands for food lovers seeking locally inspired culinary creations, and Barceló Aruba has become a can’t-miss destination for gourmands since taking over the former Occidental property. The all-inclusive resort features six restaurants and three bars with diverse offerings. Choose from an authentic Italian venue with fresh pasta and seafood, a traditional seafood restaurant with fresh fare, a hibachi-styled Japanese restaurant complete with a cooking show and Mexican-influenced cuisine paired with fine wines or and tequila. To take your dining experiences up a notch, book a stay in the exclusive Royal Club Level, which offers an additional fine dining restaurant serving gourmet breakfast, lunch and dinner options.

El Dorado Casitas Royale
Riviera Maya, Mexico

El Dorado Casitas Royale offers culinary delights on Mexico’s Riviera Maya with its own Gourmet Inclusive Experience designed for all-inclusive vacationers in pursuit of elevated cuisine. At El Dorado Casitas Royale, you’ll find Michelin-trained chefs, fresh local ingredients with many staples grown in the property’s own 76,000-square-foot greenhouse and innovative food and beverage concepts. Guests can enjoy 24-hour room service and 10 inclusive restaurants, along with a la carte service and five-course dinners from five open kitchens. Guests can choose from diverse menus, with everything from classic European flavors to traditional Mexican dishes with a twist to tropical island fare. Guests are also invited to participate in the Jackson Family Wines Culinary Series, which spotlights a noteworthy chef and winemaker who pair up to offer a week of interactive epicurean experiences.

Vermejo Park Ranch
Raton, New Mexico

Vermejo Park Ranch offers an eco-conscious setting and enticing vacation packages with memorable culinary experiences. Stretching across 585,000 acres, Vermejo helps guests connect with both nature and wildlife, including large herds of elk, deer, pronghorn antelope and bison. Visitors can also catch sight of black bears, mountain lions and bighorn sheep. Daytime activities can include hiking, biking, horseback riding, fishing, wildlife viewing, photography tours and more. In terms of food, Vermejo’s talented culinary staff uses only fresh, locally sourced ingredients and seasonal flavors to prepare dishes. Plus, Vermejo offers farm-to-table cuisine, and relies on the property’s abundant resources to create simple, natural dishes that feature local game prepared in innovative ways, such as bison tenderloin with a horseradish and sun-dried tomato garnish and a chili-infused venison.

[See: The 10 Best All-Inclusive Resorts in the Caribbean 2017.]

Sandals LaSource Grenada
St. George’s, Grenada

The Sandals brand is known for exemplary food offerings that exceed average all-inclusive resort cuisine, but Sandals LaSource Grenada takes its gastronomy up a notch. Here, foodies can dine at 10 restaurants featuring international culinary specialties from highly trained chefs, along with wine pairings. Take your pick from French cuisine served in a romantic courtyard, fresh seafood plucked from local waters, a vibrant Teppanyaki restaurant, authentic dishes from Italian chef Thomas Damonte and more.

Paradisus Los Cabos
Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

Paradisus Los Cabos offers seven restaurants featuring high-quality, locally sourced ingredients. Enjoy Asian fusion dishes, Italian flavors, seafood fare and more all prepared by highly trained chefs, including some with Michelin stars. The property’s Mole Restaurant in particular consistently wows guests with its unique take on contemporary cuisine with a Mexican flair. Popular dishes include duck chimichangas with mole poblano sauce, radish and coriander, salmon with roasted pineapple and Cochinita Pibil (traditional Mexican slow-roasted pork). Another praise-worthy dish: the homemade tortillas with locally sourced corn.

Moon Palace Golf & Spa Resort
Cancun, Mexico

Palace Resorts are known for their innovative experiences geared toward foodies, but the sheer size of Moon Palace Gold & Spa Resort offers an astounding array of options. The property features tantalizing Asian delights, a steakhouse, fresh seafood and mouthwatering Italian dishes. As a property that sets the standard among all-inclusive resorts, Moon Palace is also dedicated to offering only fresh seasonal ingredients.

Grand Velas Riviera Maya
Playa del Carmen, Mexico

Past visitors of Grand Velas Riviera Maya consistently cite superlative food options as one of the property’s biggest draws. Guests can choose from Mexican, French, Italian and Asian-inspired venues, along with other globally inspired dining options prepared by internationally renowned chefs such as Maître Cuisinier de France Michel Mustière and Xavi Pérez Stone, who was named a winner of “Iron Chef” in 2014. The property’s signature restaurant, Cocina de Autor, was even awarded the prestigious AAA Five Diamond Award, making it the first all-inclusive restaurant to receive the honor. What’s more, the property offers top-tier amenities and services, including a world-class spa, mixology classes, eco-tours and more.

Hyatt Ziva Cancun
Cancun, Mexico

Hyatt Ziva Cancun prides itself on its authentic gourmet dining, with seasonal flavors and fresh, locally sourced ingredients. Guests can enjoy a variety of edible delights, from a pastry from Casa Café to fresh ceviche for lunch by the beach to an over-the-top dessert to traditional French vuisine. Dining options include buffets along with a la carte fare featuring Asian specialties, French gourmet options, fresh seafood, tacos and fresh ceviche and even burgers and fries. What’s more, Hyatt Ziva offers an amazing beachfront, family-friendly accommodations and gorgeous pools, making it an ideal spot for any family vacation.

Royal Hideaway Playacar Resort
Playa Del Carmen, Mexico

With an ideal location along the white sands of Playa del Carmen, the adults-only Royal Hideaway Playacar Resort boasts a serious culinary cred with six restaurants that serve traditional Mexican-inspired cuisine, fresh seafood, gourmet Asian fusion dishes and Italian staples. Plus, the property’s signature restaurant, Las Ventanas, has received the prestigious Four Diamond Award by AAA. In addition to superlative dining options, this property also offers numerous pools, a gorgeous oceanfront, memorable nighttime entertainment and 24-hour room service.

[See: 10 All-Inclusive Resorts Where Kids Stay Free.]

Club Med Cancún Yucatán
Cancun, Mexico

This property sits in Cancun’s Hotel Zone, yet it offers inspiring meals that are superior to most served in the area. Dining options include international fare, Mexican cuisine, Argentinian fare and other gourmet options with wine pairings from the property’s exclusive collection. Taco Arte Restaurant, which recently opened, stands out with its innovative and contemporary takes on traditional Mexican culinary specialties. Even better, you’ll also get all of Club Med’s amazing benefits, including sports schools and clubs just for kids, amazing pools and organized sports and activities.

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11 Top All-Inclusive Resorts for Foodies originally appeared on usnews.com

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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