This Is The One Drink NOT Included At All-Inclusive Resorts And It’s Going To Cost You

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You’ve paid thousands for the wristband. You’ve scanned the website promises of “Unlimited Luxury” and “Endless Pours.” You arrive at the pool, ready to indulge, only to find out that your all-inclusive package has a very specific, caffeine-shaped hole in it.

Here at The Cancun Sun, we hear the same complaint from travelers every week: “I thought everything was included.”

While beer, tequila, and soda flow freely, there is one item that almost never makes the cut, even at high-end properties. If you need a mid-day energy boost, get ready to open your wallet.

The “Silver Can” Tax

The drink in question is Red Bull (and its Sugar-Free sibling). At 95% of resorts in Cancun and the Riviera Maya, energy drinks are classified as “Premium Mixers” or “Retail Items.” They are not part of the open bar.

The Reality on the Ground: We are currently seeing prices for a single can of Red Bull hitting $10 USD at pool bars and resort coffee shops.

• The Math: If you and your partner each drink two a day to keep the party going, you are looking at an extra $280 USD on your final bill for a week-long trip. That is the price of an excursion, wasted on caffeine.

Why They Aren’t Included

You might be wondering why a resort that serves endless steak and lobster would draw the line at a $2 beverage. It comes down to accounting. In the eyes of the resort, a draft beer is a “bulk beverage,” but a Red Bull is a “retail product.”

The Insider Reality: Because energy drinks have a higher wholesale unit cost than fountain soda or domestic spirits, resorts categorize them alongside sunscreen and pool floats—items they buy individually rather than in bulk kegs. As we detailed in our report on hidden resort charges, this classification allows them to slap a 400% markup on the can. It turns a basic caffeine fix into a high-margin profit center, which hotels claim is necessary to maintain profit margins in an era of rising inflation.

The Oxxo Hack: Save 400%

You don’t have to accept this markup. The solution is sitting right across the street. If you are staying in the Cancun Hotel Zone, you are likely within walking distance of an Oxxo (the Mexican equivalent of 7-Eleven).

The Price Check:

• Resort Price: $10.00 USD
• Oxxo Price: ~$2.25 USD (approx. 45 MXN)

The Savvy Move: On your very first day, take a walk. Bring an empty backpack. Go to Oxxo and buy 6 redbull. But don’t stop there. The “Oxxo Run” is the single best way to defeat the “Captive Audience Tax” on three other essential items.

1. Sunscreen: The “Liquid Gold” Markup

If you forget sunscreen, you are at the mercy of the resort gift shop.

• The Resort Price: We routinely see bottles of Banana Boat or Coppertone selling for $40 USD.
• The Oxxo Price: That same bottle is roughly $12–$15 USD across the street.
• The Math: As we noted in our report on serious sticker shock, a family of four goes through two bottles a week. Buying them at the resort costs you nearly $100. Buying them at Oxxo costs you $30.

2. Bug Spray: A Non-Negotiable

This season has been particularly intense for mosquitoes.

• The Reality: Resorts fumigate, but if you step onto the beach at dusk, you will get bitten.
• The Cost: A can of Off! at the resort convenience store can run up to $25 USD.
• The Oxxo Price: Around $6–$8 USD.
• The Urgency: With health authorities recently warning travelers to prepare for an unusually high number of mosquitoes, this is not something you can skip. You need it, and the resorts know it.

3. The “Pharmacy” Essentials

Have a headache? Stomach upset?

• The Resort Price: A small packet of Advil or Pepto-Bismol at the lobby shop often costs $15–$20 USD.
• The Oxxo Price: Generic versions (and even brand names) are available for $3–$5 USD.

Can’t Walk? Use The App Hack

If you are staying in the Riviera Maya (where you can’t just walk out the front gate) or are simply too relaxed to move, you still have an option.

The Insider Secret: Use Rappi. Rappi is the “Uber Eats” of Latin America, but it delivers everything. As we explained in our guide to resort deliveries, you can order Red Bull, sunscreen, and pharmacy items from local stores directly to your hotel lobby.

• The Savings: Even with the delivery fee and tip, you will pay 50% less than the resort gift shop.
• The Speed: The “Turbo” feature often gets items to the main gate in under 15 minutes.

The Verdict

The “All-Inclusive” label has limits. If your vacation engine runs on caffeine, do not rely on the resort to fuel you for free. Make the Oxxo run on Day 1, stock your own fridge with Red Bull and sunscreen, and save that $100 for a better tip for your bartender.