I'm the CEO of Canyon Ranch. My days can start as early as 2:45 a.m. and include the 'cowboy coffee' ritual and ice cream, if I'm lucky.

Tech Insider : Business
a headshot of a man in a blue shirt
Mark Rivers.

Canyon Ranch

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Mark Rivers, the CEO of Canyon Ranch, based in Austin. It's been edited for length and clarity.

I've stayed in all kinds of places across 100 countries, but there's still one type of accommodation I never book

Tech Insider : Travel, Travel, Business
Author Ash Jurberg smiling in front of elephants
I believe the best travel stories happen when you venture beyond an accommodation, and all-inclusive resorts can make it hard for people to want to do so.

Ash Jurberg

I spent $337 a night to stay at an all-inclusive resort in Mexico with friends, and the 5-star experience blew me away

Tech Insider : Travel, Business
Author Dyana Lederman smiling
I spent $1,349 to spend four nights at Atelier Playa Mujeres, an all-inclusive resort in Mexico, with my best friends.

Dyana Lederman

I thought I hated everything about all-inclusive resorts until staying at one completely changed my mind

Tech Insider : Travel, Travel, Business
An empty resort pool surrounded by lounge chairs and palm trees, with 6 lounge chairs in the water.
I've grown to love staying at all-inclusive resorts.

Jacqueline Dole

I had the most luxurious stay of my life in Panama. Now, I want every tropical vacation to include a private island.

Tech Insider : Travel
Isla Palenque is a five-star private island resort off the coast of Panama.
The author outside her casita at the Isla Palenque private island resort.

Monica Humphries/Business Insider

I've visited dozens of all-inclusive resorts, but there's one in Mexico I can't wait to return to

Tech Insider : Travel, Travel
simone posing next to a poster of jimmy buffet's license to chill album at Margaritaville resort
I'm not a Jimmy Buffett fan, but I love Margaritaville.

Simone Paget

Overwater bungalows weren't always a luxury status symbol. Here's how the accommodation turned into an $8,000-a-night vacation.

Tech Insider : Travel, Travel
Aerial view of an overwater bungalow resort in the Maldives.
A row of overwater bungalows in the Maldives

graphixel/Getty Images

My family stayed in a luxurious $827-a-night villa at Disney World. We walked to the parks and saved money with some key perks.

Tech Insider : Travel, Travel
megan posing for a photo in front of dianey's boardwalk inn
I stayed at the BoardWalk Inn at Disney World.

Megan duBois

You can now live at the luxury Utah desert resort loved by celebs like Ivanka Trump and Kylie Jenner — but it's up to $12.5 million just for a lot

Tech Insider
Hoodoos and rock formations desert landscape Amangiri resort. in Canyon Point, UT, United States
The desert landscape near Amangiri resort in Canyon Point, Utah.

Cavan Images/Getty Images

An influencer was outraged after he said he was charged $67 for two waters and a coffee in Las Vegas

Tech Insider : Travel
Water bottles
Water bottles.

Karol Serewis/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

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