Can’t get through the weekend without your Formula 1 fix? Yeah, we’ve all been there.
The vacation you have been looking forward to all year clashes with your favorite sporting event! Whether it’s the Monaco Grand Prix, the the World Series or the Super Bowl, the Manchester derby or the Indy 500, you’re now in Mexico or the Caribbean – hundreds of miles from your very expensive TV subscription – what do you do!?
Don’t worry, we have you covered. We’ve found some all-inclusive resorts with the best sports bars, putting you in pole position to enjoy a wonderful vacation without missing the action. And in case none of these choices work for you, we’ve also got top tips for watching F1 and other sports whilst away. Ready? It’s lights out and away we go!
The Best Sports Bars at All-Inclusive Resorts
Rebels Bar – Grand Bavaro Princess, Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
The 92-acre, family-friendly Grand Bavaro Princess by Princess Hotels is an all-inclusive resort located on the white sands of Bavaro Beach, consistently ranked as one of the best beaches in the Caribbean (although not all rooms are ocean-front or have ocean views, check when booking if that’s important to you). Dining and accommodations are excellent, and you’ll find the usual range of activities available, there’s included non-motorized water sports and a range of games such as shuffleboard and pétanque to partake in – PLUS all guests can enjoy a complimentary scuba lesson.
Legends Sports Bar – Finest Playa Mujeres, Cancun, Mexico
Having opened in 2015, Check PricesFinest Playa Mujeres is a family-friendly resort located in a private enclave, and enjoys calmer water (and less seaweed!) due to the protection offered by Isla Mujeres just off-shore. There’s an adult-only section of the resort with a private pool, bar and restaurant, with a further 11 restaurants and 16 bars to choose from! There are also countless swimming pools, a children’s playground, free Wi-Fi throughout the property and a range of suites to suit all budgets, including swim-up and ocean front options.
Score Sports Bar – Royalton Splash Riviera Cancun, Cancun, Mexico
The 5-star Check PricesRoyalton Splash Riviera Cancun is a relative newcomer on the Cancun scene, having opened in 2022. 10 of the 12 onsite restaurants offer a la carte dining and there’s a large waterpark comprising 14 slides, two lazy rivers and a splash park to keep the kids entertained. And don’t worry parents, there are four adult pools too! A number of suites can be booked, including more luxury options exclusively for Check PricesMarriott Bonvoy Diamond Club members, with other perks also available to regular customers of the brand.
MVP Bar – Princess Grand Jamaica
The family-friendly Princess Grand also features five swimming pools (including an aquatic park with slides) and a multi-sports complex – for those who live and breathe non-stop sports – with facilities for tennis, volleyball, and basketball, and a state-of-the-art fitness center.
How to Watch F1 and Other Live Sports Abroad
Despite being away on vacation, there are usually options so you won’t miss your favorite sporting event. For those occasions when there’s no sports bar in sight, try some of these options to tune in:
- Streaming Services: Many streaming services such as F1 TV Pro, ESPN and Sky Sports offer mobile apps that can be accessed on a smartphone, tablet, or a USB device (such as a Roku, Amazon Firestick, or Google Chromecast) that allow you to watch sports channels whilst abroad, as long as you have a strong internet connection and a device on which to watch (such as the aforementioned smartphone or tablet, or a USB-enabled TV in your room). There are geographical restrictions on some of these though, that may prevent you from watching in certain destinations, which may necessitate a VPN.
- Using a VPN: To get around the geographical restrictions issue, consider using a Virtual Private Network. A VPN allows you to appear as if you are browsing from your home country and will allow you to log in to you streaming service of choice. Few are free though, but some offer weekly or monthly rates, so you can use it short-term and cancel when you get home.
No internet access?
Check with your resort concierge: It’s an exceedingly rare all-inclusive resort that doesn’t offer free WiFi in all areas, but a few holdouts will generally still offer it in limited areas (for example in the lobby bar only). If watching on your tablet in the lobby bar is an unappealing prospect, ask the concierge – it’s very likely that they may have a way to screen the event for you, or at the very least, will be able to tell you of somewhere nearby where you can watch.
Head out and explore: Have a quick online search of your area and you are sure to find a pub or sports bar nearby, especially if you’re staying in a popular resort town or city. If it’s a big event like a soccer or football match, or an F1 race, then any decent sports bar will be screening it. And if it’s something more niche, most bars will gladly put the correct channel on for you in a quiet corner.