VŌCŌ Sandpiper: The Florida All-Inclusive Resort You Need to Know About

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 that 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 VŌCŌ Sandpiper Resort.

And honestly? I would absolutely do it again.

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 VŌCŌ Sandpiper gave me a chance to experience that type of vacation without leaving the country.

And I actually loved that.

Because sometimes you don’t want to plan flights to another country, figure out transportation, 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 and mind your business. And BABY, that’s exactly what we did.

Our Florida Getaway Started at Golden Chopsticks Buffet

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

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 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 weekend outing in Port St. Lucie.

So if you’re already in the area, I definitely recommend putting this on your list.

Checking Into VŌCŌ Sandpiper Resort

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

And let me just say: VŌCŌ Sandpiper 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. VŌCŌ Sandpiper does that.

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 three restaurants on the property, so you have different options 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.

There Is Plenty to Do at the Resort

If you are the type of person who gets bored sitting around a pool all day, VŌCŌ Sandpiper has you covered.

There are activities happening throughout the day, including:

• 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.

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.

Is VŌCŌ 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, I wouldn’t necessarily put VŌCŌ Sandpiper at the top of your list.

This is more of a relaxation and quick-getaway type of resort.

Think:

“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. 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 it a full on party resort, you can absolutely have a good time after the sun goes down.

This 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 recommend. I would describe VŌCŌ 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 the price you’d 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.

Why I Think VŌCŌ Sandpiper Is Great 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 yet, 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 still get unlimited food and drinks. You have activities on the property. You have multiple restaurants. You have pools. And you can spend the entire 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.

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, a quick couples getaway, a girls’ trip or even a family vacation.

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

Would I Stay at VŌCŌ Sandpiper Again?

Absolutely, I would definitely come back.

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.

VŌCŌ Sandpiper gave us exactly what we wanted: a quick escape, good food, unlimited drinks, activities, relaxation and enough nightlife 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 VŌKŌ 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.