VOCO Sandpiper Review: An All-Inclusive Resort in the USA

When I tell y’all I had never experienced an all-inclusive resort in America, I mean I genuinely thought all-inclusive resorts were something you had to leave the country for.

Mexico.

Jamaica.

Dominican Republic.

Bahamas.

You know the usual suspects.

So imagine my surprise when I found out I could have an all-inclusive vacation right here in the United States and I didn’t even need a passport.

And because Southwest happened to have $75 one-way flights from Atlanta to Fort Lauderdale, we said:

“Well…why not?”

That’s exactly how my boyfriend and I ended up booking a $150 round-trip flight from Atlanta to Fort Lauderdale, renting a car and driving about an hour and a half to Port St. Lucie, Florida, for a stay at VOCO Sandpiper All-Inclusive Resort by IHG.

And honestly?

I would absolutely do it again.

If you’ve ever wondered whether there are all-inclusive resorts in the United States, whether you can have an all-inclusive vacation without leaving the country, or whether VOCO Sandpiper is worth visiting, let me give you the full rundown.

An All-Inclusive Vacation Without Leaving the U.S.

As someone who travels internationally pretty often, I’m used to the idea that when you want a true all-inclusive experience, you’re probably going to need your passport.

But VOCO Sandpiper All-Inclusive Resort by IHG gave me a chance to experience that type of vacation without leaving the United States.

And I actually loved that.

Because sometimes you don’t want to plan an international flight, figure out transportation in another country, worry about exchanging money or build a huge itinerary.

Sometimes you just want to:

Get on a plane.

Get to the resort.

Eat.

Drink.

Relax.

Mind your business.

And BABY, that’s exactly what we did.

For travelers who have been curious about all-inclusive vacations but don’t necessarily want to jump straight into an international trip, a Florida all-inclusive resort can be an interesting way to experience the concept closer to home.

How We Got to VOCO Sandpiper From Atlanta

Let’s talk about how this trip came together because the flight deal was really what started it all.

We found $75 one-way flights from Atlanta to Fort Lauderdale, which made our round-trip airfare just $150 per person.

From Fort Lauderdale, we rented a car and drove approximately an hour and a half to Port St. Lucie.

And honestly, the drive wasn’t bad.

For an Atlanta traveler looking for a relatively easy Florida escape, this turned into a pretty convenient long-weekend getaway.

No passport.

No international airport chaos.

No trying to figure out what currency you need.

Just hop on a flight, grab a rental car and head to the resort.

And because so much is included once you arrive, you don’t have to spend your entire vacation planning excursions and figuring out where you’re going to eat next.

Our Florida Getaway Started at Golden Chopsticks Buffet

Before we checked into the resort, we obviously had to make a food stop.

Because y’all know me.

I had been seeing Golden Chopsticks Buffet in Port St. Lucie all over social media, and social media was making some SERIOUS claims.

Unlimited crawfish.

Crab legs.

Oysters.

Stuffed oysters.

Seafood.

Soul food.

Chinese food.

Sushi.

Basically, they were saying:

“Come hungry.”

And if you know me, you already know I was going to investigate.

I’m from the South, so crawfish is something I take seriously.

And BABY…

They were not lying.

The crawfish was good. The crab legs were good. The fresh oysters were good. The stuffed oysters were good.

They also had sushi, Chinese food, soul food and plenty of other options.

And what really impressed me was how clean the buffet was.

I haven’t been to a buffet in forever, so I honestly wasn’t sure what to expect.

But Golden Chopsticks completely exceeded my expectations.

The price point was also great, which makes it a solid option if you’re looking for a family-friendly restaurant in Port St. Lucie or you’re already in the area before heading to the resort.

So yes, if you’re doing this same trip, add Golden Chopsticks to the itinerary.

Just don’t come after you’ve already eaten.

Because you’re going to want to try EVERYTHING.

Checking Into VOCO Sandpiper All-Inclusive Resort

After we finished eating, it was finally time to check into our resort.

And let me just say:

VOCO Sandpiper All-Inclusive Resort by IHG is a really good introduction to the all-inclusive resort experience.

Especially if you’ve never stayed at one before.

The resort is relatively new, and the overall experience is centered around giving you plenty to do without having to leave the property.

And that’s important because when I’m staying at an all-inclusive, I don’t necessarily want to rent a car and spend the entire vacation driving around.

I want the resort to actually feel like a vacation.

VOCO Sandpiper does that.

You can wake up, grab breakfast, find something to do, get a drink, hang out by the pool, grab lunch, participate in another activity, have dinner and keep the day moving without constantly asking:

“Okay, what are we doing next?”

Yes, It’s REALLY All-Inclusive

One of my biggest questions going into this trip was whether it was going to feel like a traditional all-inclusive experience.

And yes.

Unlimited food.

Unlimited drinks.

That’s what I came for!

There are multiple dining options on the property, so you have different choices without having to leave the resort every time you’re hungry.

And I have to give them credit—the food was actually really good.

I don’t know if I had lower expectations because I was staying at an all-inclusive in the United States or what, but I was pleasantly surprised.

I wasn’t sitting there thinking:

“Okay, this is resort food.”

There were plenty of things we enjoyed, and having food and drinks included made the experience that much easier.

That’s one of the biggest perks of an all-inclusive vacation to me.

Once you’ve paid for your stay, you aren’t constantly pulling out your wallet every time you want another drink or decide you’re hungry again.

And if you’re anything like me, that can make the vacation feel MUCH more relaxing.

There Is Plenty to Do at VOCO Sandpiper

If you are the type of person who gets bored sitting around a pool all day, VOCO Sandpiper All-Inclusive Resort has you covered.

There are activities happening throughout the day, including things like:

• Kayaking
• Paddleboarding
• Tennis
• Pickleball
• Basketball
• Arcade games
• Pool activities
• Daily resort programming

So you can literally wake up, grab breakfast, participate in an activity, grab a drink, hit the pool, eat lunch, do another activity and keep going.

Or—and this is equally important—you can do absolutely NOTHING.

That’s the beauty of an all-inclusive.

Nobody said you had to participate in every activity.

Sometimes my vacation itinerary is:

Pool.

Food.

Drink.

Repeat.

😂

And Yes, There Is an Adults-Only Pool

Now, the resort is family-friendly, but they also have an adults-only infinity pool, which I appreciated.

Because sometimes you want the family-friendly environment, and sometimes you want to sit by the pool with your drink and enjoy some peace and quiet.

Having both options makes the resort appealing to different types of travelers.

So if you’re traveling as a couple, taking a girls’ trip or simply want some adult-only downtime during your vacation, you have that option without staying at an adults-only resort.

And personally?

I appreciate options.

Because I love kids.

But sometimes I don’t want to hear nobody else’s children while I’m drinking my cocktail.

😂

Is VOCO Sandpiper a Party Resort?

Now let’s talk about the vibe.

If you’re looking for a turn-up, party-until-2-a.m. type of all-inclusive resort, I wouldn’t necessarily put VOCO Sandpiper at the top of your list.

The overall vibe is more:

“Let’s get away for a few days.”

“Let’s unplug.”

“Let’s eat good.”

“Let’s drink.”

“Let’s sit by the pool.”

“Let’s actually spend time together.”

That was exactly what we were looking for.

But don’t think that means there isn’t a party.

Because there are nighttime events on select nights, and we happened to be there when they had them.

We went to parties both nights we were there.

And BABY…

WE HAD A BALL.

So while I wouldn’t call VOCO Sandpiper a full-on party resort, you can absolutely have a good time after the sun goes down.

VOCO Sandpiper Is More Mid-Luxury Than Ultra-Luxury

I also want to be honest about the experience because I think that’s important when you’re planning a trip.

If you’re looking for an ultra-luxury, high-end international all-inclusive resort, this probably isn’t the resort I’d point you toward.

I would describe VOCO Sandpiper as mid-luxury.

And honestly?

I don’t think that’s a bad thing.

Because the price point makes the experience much more approachable.

You’re getting the convenience of an all-inclusive resort without necessarily paying what you might expect at some of the ultra-luxury properties in Mexico or the Caribbean.

For someone who wants to test out the all-inclusive lifestyle before spending thousands of dollars on an international vacation, this makes a LOT of sense.

You’re essentially getting a taste of the experience without making it a major international vacation commitment.

And sometimes that’s exactly what you need.

Why VOCO Sandpiper Makes Sense for First-Time All-Inclusive Travelers

This might actually be my biggest takeaway from the trip.

If you’ve always wanted to experience an all-inclusive resort but don’t have a passport—or simply aren’t ready to leave the country—this is a great way to get your feet wet.

You can stay in the United States.

You don’t have to deal with international travel.

You can enjoy included food and drinks.

You have activities on the property.

You have multiple dining options.

You have pools.

You have entertainment.

And you can spend the majority of your vacation without having to leave the resort.

Then, once you’re ready to take that next step, you can book that international all-inclusive you’ve been saving for.

And trust me, once you experience the convenience of not having to constantly pull out your wallet for food and drinks, you might understand why people love these types of vacations.

Is VOCO Sandpiper Good for Couples?

For us, yes.

This was actually a great couples getaway from Atlanta because we didn’t have to spend the entire trip running around trying to entertain ourselves.

We could actually spend time together.

We ate together.

We participated in activities.

We went to the pool.

We had drinks.

We went to the nighttime events.

And we had enough downtime to actually relax.

That’s something I think gets overlooked when people plan vacations.

Sometimes the best part of a getaway isn’t doing 17 excursions.

Sometimes it’s having nowhere to be.

And an all-inclusive resort makes that much easier.

Is VOCO Sandpiper Good for a Girls’ Trip?

I could also see this working really well for a girls’ trip.

You have enough activities to keep everybody entertained, multiple food options, drinks, pools and nighttime entertainment.

And because it’s in Florida, you don’t have to coordinate international passports and flights for the entire group.

You could literally find a flight deal, rent a car and be at the resort for a long weekend.

And if one girl wants to kayak while another wants to sit at the pool?

Everybody wins.

That’s the beauty of having activities included on the property.

A Great Weekend Getaway From Atlanta

And let’s talk about the flight deal because that’s what really made this trip happen for us.

We found $75 one-way flights from Atlanta to Fort Lauderdale, which made our round-trip airfare only $150.

From Fort Lauderdale, we rented a car and drove approximately an hour and a half to Port St. Lucie.

For an Atlanta traveler looking for a relatively easy Florida escape, that’s a pretty attractive option.

You could turn this into:

• A long weekend getaway
• A couples vacation
• A girls’ trip
• A birthday trip
• A family vacation
• A first-time all-inclusive experience
• A quick reset when you desperately need to get out of Atlanta 😂

And because so much is included once you arrive at the resort, you can spend less time planning and more time enjoying yourself.

What I Would Know Before Booking VOCO Sandpiper

If you’re considering VOCO Sandpiper for your next vacation, here’s what I would keep in mind.

Don’t book it expecting a mega-luxury Caribbean resort.

That’s not what this is.

Book it because you want the convenience of an all-inclusive vacation in the United States.

Book it because you want to eat and drink without constantly paying separately.

Book it because you want activities without having to leave the resort.

Book it because you want a quick getaway.

Book it because you want to try an all-inclusive before committing to a bigger international trip.

And most importantly, book it knowing what type of experience you’re getting.

For us, that was exactly what we wanted.

Would I Stay at VOCO Sandpiper Again?

Absolutely.

For me, this wasn’t about finding the most luxurious resort in the country.

It was about experiencing something I had never done before and realizing that I don’t necessarily have to leave America to get an all-inclusive vacation.

VOCO Sandpiper All-Inclusive Resort gave us exactly what we wanted:

A quick escape.

Good food.

Unlimited drinks.

Activities.

Relaxation.

A little nightlife.

And enough variety to keep us entertained.

And I really liked that balance.

Would I eventually choose an international all-inclusive for a more luxurious experience?

Absolutely.

But would I recommend VOCO Sandpiper to someone who wants to try an all-inclusive resort without leaving the United States?

100 percent.

Sometimes you don’t need a passport.

Sometimes you just need a flight deal, a rental car and a few days away.

And if you’re anything like me, a resort with unlimited food and drinks doesn’t hurt either.

So if you’ve been searching for an all-inclusive resort in the USA, planning a Florida all-inclusive vacation, or simply looking for a new weekend getaway from Atlanta, put VOCO Sandpiper on your radar.

Because apparently, you don’t have to leave the country to get that all-inclusive feeling.

And BABY, I’m not mad at it.