A big mistake at my first all-inclusive changed how I'll plan resort trips in the future

• I had my first all-inclusive vacation at Thatch Caye in Belize.  
• My biggest mistake was booking the stay with a hotel mindset.
• I checked into the resort too late and left too early to enjoy all its amenities. 

Minutes ticked by while my friend and I waited for a boat to take us to Thatch Caye, an all-inclusive resort on a private island in Belize.

As we sat in the sand, a resort worker informed us that we were waiting for a few more guests arriving on a delayed flight.

It wasn't anyone's fault. But by the time we got to the island, it was 5 p.m., and the sun was starting to set. The earliest boat transfer was at 2:30 p.m., and if we had planned for that, we could've spent more hours enjoying the luxury resort.

If missing hours on our first day wasn't bad enough, we also had an early flight on our departure day that cut more time off the trip. Essentially, our three-day stay was really just one day.

If I were to book an all-inclusive again, I'd plan my arrival and departure times better to maximize vacation time.

A late check-in and early check-out left little time to explore

I had never stayed at an all-inclusive before arriving at Thatch Caye, but I did go in with different expectations than a hotel stay.

To me, all-inclusive resorts are about relaxing. You want to eat all you can possibly eat, dive into every pool possible, nap on beaches, and enjoy the sunshine. The goal, for many, is never to leave the resort.

Hotels, on the other hand, function for me as a launching point. They're a place to sleep. My goal is to spend little time in a hotel and more time exploring the destination I'm visiting.

While I knew once I got to the all-inclusive resort, I wouldn't want to leave, I didn't think about when I arrived.

And this was my mistake at Thatch Caye. I missed vacation time by not checking in as early as possible, which at Thatch Caye is 3 p.m., and not checking out as late as possible.

Amenities are what you pay for, and I'll remember that for future trips

While I spent one full day on the island, I easily could've kept busy for a week.

There were daily excursions, including scuba diving, snorkeling, and island hopping. Between activities, guests could use complimentary paddleboards and kayaks to explore the ocean. Or, if you were sick of the sun, you could venture to the resort's on-site spa.

Beyond all that, sandy beaches, overwater hammocks, and endless tropical cocktails meant naps and relaxation were at the top of my list.

While some activities, like diving and massages, cost extra, a huge portion of what you're paying for is the amenities. You're paying for buffet meals and unlimited drinks, and resort fees go toward the pools, beaches, and water gear.

All-inclusive stays can range drastically in price. We stayed in Thatch Caye's premier overwater bungalow, which costs around $950 a night after resort fees and taxes. (Business Insider received a media rate for a two-night stay.) A cheaper all-inclusive might be $150 a night, US Travel and News reported.

Either way, that price includes more than the room you're sleeping in.

My friend and I took advantage of our full day at Thatch Caye. We slept soundly in our overwater bungalow, went scuba diving in the morning, paddleboarding in the afternoon, and relaxed in the evening. It was an incredible trip that we didn't want to end.

But for a future all-inclusive stay, I won't miss out on a minute of my resort reservation.