My friends joke that I'm one travel writer who has really slept around.

They're not being crude, they're just having some fun with the fact that I've visited about 150 all-inclusive resorts in recent years -- good ones, bad ones and everything in between.

Along the way, I've learned a whole bunch "dos" and "don'ts" for planning holidays in the sun and came up with this list of at least 10 things everyone should know before booking that vacation at an all-inclusive resort.

10 tips to help make a perfect holiday a sure bet

1. All-inclusive resorts aren't all the same; neither are the destinations where you find them.

That means you have to choose a destination and a resort that suits your wish list. So sit everyone in the family down, get out all the brochures and make a list of "must haves."

Then read the description of the resort both in the brochure and on the web. Does it meet most of your needs and your budget?

2. After reading the description of the resort very carefully, check out the destination, either on the web or at the library.

Yes, tour operators are giving more and more information in their wish books -- in fact at least two operators are rating various facets of their resorts on a one-to-five basis-- but you can still be fooled.

Fine white sand and crystal blue water, seen above at St. Maarten’s Cupecoy beach, are some of the many features that draw visitors to the Caribbean. (St. Maarten Tourist Board)

A five-out-of-five rating on the food doesn't necessarily refer to the quality; it may refer to the number of restaurants and the number of food items available. So read the front of the wish books carefully for an explanation.

3. If you're going to a Spanish-speaking country, remember that most of the staff, including the front desk, maids and waiters and waitresses, will not always speak perfect English. In fact many of them will just speak enough English to be able to perform their own job description.

If you ask the server for coffee with cream and sugar, she knows those words. If you tell her there are no towels in the room and you want them delivered to Room 105 right away, chances are she'll smile and say "si" because she wants to be nice, but don't expect the towels. She didn't understand your request.

So try to learn a few words of Spanish and carry a dictionary in your suitcase. And don't depend on the front desk staff to solve problems, such as air conditioning that doesn't work. Ask for management or your destination rep; that's what he or she is there for.

4. Make a note of how far your hotel is from the airport and then add 30% to the estimated travel time.

It's only 50 minutes to Toronto from Hamilton at 2 a.m., but in rush hour it can take double or triple that amount of time. Same goes for transfers to and from resorts. Roads will not be like Hwy. 401, which means expect potholes, and sometimes crazy driving.

If you're travelling with young children, or you have little patience with long travel times, think about how many hours flying time there is, add three hours plus travel time to that to cover getting to the airport, add an hour on arrival to go through passport control, and to get your luggage, and yes, you'll stand in line, then add the transfer time.

You may not want to choose the resort that is two hours from the airport on a bus. Cuba, for instance, is a 31/2- to 4-hour flight, and the airport in Cayo Coco is a quick 15 minutes from the resorts in the area.

5. Must-have things to pack: Insulated mugs, beach shoes, cover ups, a fragrant candle, small flashlight, health insurance, over-the-counter medications, sunscreen, a beach bag and washcloths, if they're a big deal in your life because the maids sometimes run out. Take U.S. dollar bills for tipping since you may not be able to get them at the resort. (In Cuba you are expected to tip using the Cuban convertible peso; some service people will not accept U.S. money.)

6. No matter how special you are, your rooms probably won't be ready before 3 p.m., or even later, so pack your bathing suits in your carry-on bags, leave your luggage with the hotel staff, and head off for a swim.

On the off chance that your luggage doesn't arrive when you do, pack half your clothes in your suitcase and half in your companion's. Extra glasses, prescription drugs, and sun protectors should also go in your carry-on.

7. What do you want to do on that beach? If you're going to walk on it you'll want a long beautiful beach like Varadero, in Cuba. Do you want to look at it from under the shade of a tree or beach umbrella, and then swim in the pool or do you want to swim in it? You can't assume the ocean is always perfect for swimming, so ask before you book.

The resorts that have been built within the last 10 years or so aren't 10 storeys of concrete, with most rooms facing the ocean. Now resorts are more environmentally friendly, which means they're set back from the beach in buildings no higher than a palm tree. It makes for large resorts often with a lot of walking. If this is a problem for you, check to see if there is transportation within the resort.

8. Kids programs aren't all alike. Some are little more than babysitting facilities with the kids dumped in front of a video. Others don't have baby programs.

Ask industry gurus like Clive Farmer which resorts they recommend and you'll hear The Grand Playa Turquesa by Occidental in Cuba. The Kids Club has its own pool, with pint-sized loungers, a little buffet, a playground and a games room. It is for kids 4-12.

Beaches Turks and Caicos not only has Sesame Street characters and a Pirates Island water park, it has an Xbox Games Oasis Centre for the teens and a Nursery with nanny service for your newborn.

Sunscapes is a great family property. They have a water trampoline and excellent dining hours to suit little ones

9. Read the wording in the description. "Secluded" usually means isolated, so there won't be shopping or cultural attractions close by.

A "connecting room" means a common door directly into each room; "adjoining" means next to each other.

10. This year, the wholesalers have come up with various plans for special perks for their clients. Some cost extra, some don't, but one of the things they offer is either one more a-la-carte dinner or priority reservations, both well worth considering. And one final thing to remember: If you want everything just like home, stay there!