More than half of U.S. residents (53%) polled by Vacasa in late 2022 said they planned to travel this winter. If you haven’t booked your trip yet, now is the time. An all-inclusive resort vacation might be the way to go if you are looking to control your expenses and take some of the stress out of planning.
All-inclusive resorts may not necessarily be cheaper than other vacation getaways, but they are easier to budget for since most costs are fixed.
There are some things to keep in mind about an all-inclusive resort vacation. First, know that you’ll be paying a package rate for the hotel room, all meals and snacks eaten on premises, drinks (most often, including alcoholic beverages), the resort gym, pool, and other amenities.
You should be aware that all-inclusive packages may not include golf or spa treatments and certain sports, such as water skiing. Some resorts have an upcharge for certain restaurants, and some may charge extra for top-shelf liquor.
Additionally, some locations include tips and taxes in the package rate, while others prohibit tipping. Still others will recommend ---and expect --guests to tip the staff, so it’s important to do the research and ask questions before you arrive.
Also, think about your answers to these questions before you book your trip.
- How far do you want to travel?
- Do you want a resort based in the U.S. or are you seeking an overseas adventure?
- Do you want to experience an active vacation with sports and classes, or just relax poolside and enjoy fine dining and cocktails every evening?
- What are the must-have amenities you desire?
- What’s your budget?
With thousands of all-inclusive resorts across the world--including 250 in the Caribbean alone--you have plenty of options to find exactly what you’re looking for.
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Sandals Royal Plantation
Book at Sandals or TripAdvisor
Sandals all-inclusive resorts are perhaps the most well-known in the world. Sandals’ reputation as one of the best romantic getaways for couples is well-earned, with 16 luxurious locations across the Caribbean Islands. The company was named the Caribbean’s Leading Hotel Brand in 2022 by the World Travel Awards.
Royal Plantation is a five-star luxury resort in Ocho Rios, Jamaica. It features 74 ocean-view suits, five restaurants, and two bars. Rated one of the Most Romantic Hotels in the Caribbean by Travellers’ Choice, the resort is known for casual elegance and butler service across the grounds.
Enjoy scuba diving, golf (with green fees included), live shows, and more. You won’t have to worry about a thing as three meals, plus snacks, unlimited top-shelf liquor and tons of amenities are all included.
Sandals Grenada
Book at Sandals or TripAdvisor
You really can’t go wrong with a Sandals resort, which is why you’ll see 3 on our list. Sandals says guests will find an “innovative and intimate” mood at the all-inclusive Sandals Grenada resort, with swim-up rooms and unlimited water sports. Premium liquor is included in the price at the resort’s 6 bars and in any of the 10 on-resort restaurants.
Situated on the romantically named “Pink Gin Beach” in St. George, Sandals Grenada was voted the best Sandals resort overall by many travel websites.
Reviewers often cited the butler service, scenery, and the luxurious rooms as highlights of the trip. One TripAdvisor.com reviewer wrote, “I found the staff at sandals to be extremely friendly, welcoming, and found the service to be excellent … I can’t recommend this place enough. It was like the garden of Eden on steroids with a beautiful cool, freshwater pool to jump into surrounded by lush, tropical vegetations.”
Excellence Playa Mujeres, Cancun
Nestled on the edges of top Caribbean beaches in Jamaica, Mexico, and the Dominican Republic, Excellence Resorts deliver luxury for couples, swim-up suites, and proximity to off-site adventures including golf and shopping.
Excellence Resorts are consistently ranked near the top of TripAdvisor lists. You’ll find two on our top 10 list of all-inclusive resorts for couples.
Ranked on the list of Best All Inclusive Hotels in Mexico by U.S. News and World Report and one of the Top Resorts in Eastern Mexico for 2022 by Conde Nast Traveler, Excellence Playa Mujeres in Cancun includes a dozen restaurants. You’ll also find nine bars and lounges, from the upscale Martini in the main lobby to the Blue swim-up bar. Just 30 minutes from Cancun’s International Airport for easy access from the states, Playa Mujeres is also conveniently located near national parks and the famed Tortuga Beach.
Excellence Resorts are known for their culture of outstanding customer service. With five stars on TripAdvisor.com, Excellence Playa Mujeres garnered praise such as, “The accommodations at this resort are superb… ALL the staff went above and beyond to make our stay comfortable and enjoyable.”
Little Palm Island Resort & Spa
Little Palm Island Resort & Spa in the Florida Keys offers travelers the best of both worlds: A tropical vacation in a secluded destination without the hassles of leaving the States. Travel & Leisure voted Little Palm Island one of the top 10 resort hotels in Florida and one of the 15 best beach resorts in the U.S.
Travelers enter the island via seaplane or private boat, enjoy cocktails at the island’s onshore lounge, and then settle in to enjoy island isolation in a bungalow suite with no phone or TV. The resort offers an all-inclusive package (sans alcoholic beverages) and a breakfast-only package. Both packages offer a $100 Spa credit per person per night.
It’s important to realize that, at Little Palm Island Resort, “all-inclusive” does not cover watersports, excursions, scuba diving, snorkeling, or other activities you can enjoy on the island, so you’ll want to budget for activities you want to experience.
Dining options include private dining on the beach with a menu created by Chef Brendan Mica, who has experience at renowned restaurants in New York, Los Angeles, and London, dining in the resort’s luxurious restaurant, The Dining Room, or dining privately in your Bungalow.
Secrets the Vine, Cancun
If you’re looking for a romantic resort, Secrets the Vine in Cancun delivers. Located on Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, this couples-only resort overlooks the Caribbean Sea on one side and Laguna Nichupte on the other, offering captivating views, breathtaking sunrises and sunsets, and plenty to do.
Enjoy unlimited top shelf liquor, with tips and taxes included in your package rate for a truly stress-free stay. The resort offers nine restaurant options, including five with ala carte dining, a buffet, a grill, and a casual café. You can also order room service or eat oceanside on the beach.
Splurge on the “touch of romance” upgrade and start your morning with a mimosa breakfast in bed, 25-minute couples massage, and an in-room welcome gift.
Secrets Wild Orchid, Montego Bay, Jamaica
Secrets is another well-known brand in all-inclusive Caribbean resorts. It’s not surprising two Secrets vacation destinations made our list, given what these resorts offer.
Secrets Wild Orchid in Montego Bay, Jamaica, is a sprawling, all-inclusive, adults-only resort situated on a private beach on the Caribbean Sea. With 19 restaurants and lounges, a pool and three hot tubs, you’ll find little reason to leave the resort.
A three-time AAA four-diamond award winning resort, Secrets Wild Orchid earned 4.5 stars on TripAdvisor.com. One enthusiastic reviewer wrote, “Can’t recommend this place enough. The food, setting, staff were all excellent. We will be back.”
Jade Mountain Resort, St. Lucia
Nature lovers and the eco-conscious will love Jade Mountain Resort, recognized as the first Caribbean hotel to earn LEED certification. This means the resort meets specific standards for healthy, efficient, and green building practices.
The resort boasts 29 private suites, deemed “sanctuaries,” that cater to the mind, body, and spirit of guests. Two dozen of the sanctuaries include private infinity pools and vary in size, location, and view. The priciest of the sanctuaries, the Galaxy sanctuaries, average 2,000 square feet with a 900-square-foot infinity pool and panoramic views of the mountainside. Five of the sanctuaries feature a whirlpool built for two in lieu of an infinity pool.
The rooms have no televisions, radio, or telephones, but do have Wi-Fi service. Guests can contact the service team using a “firefly” communications device, further reducing guests’ reliance on their smartphones. The Jade Mountain concierge can arrange excursions, book dinners, and even shop for guests.
Jade Mountain offers all-inclusive packages, as well as sanctuary only rates, and packages that include breakfast, dinner, and other amenities. The resort also offers adventure packages and scuba diving packages for those who prefer a more active vacation.
Guests can opt to dine in their room, enjoy dinner on the Celestial Terrace, choose a private dining experience on the grounds of the resort, or dine at any of the restaurants at nearby sister resort Anse Chastanet.
Sandals Emerald Bay, Great Exuma, Bahamas
Book at Sandals or TripAdvisor
Voted #1 by TripAdvisor.com for all-inclusive resorts, Sandals Emerald Bay in Great Exuma, Bahamas features the Caribbean’s largest zero entry pool with a central fire pit. Renowned for its 18-hole golf course with six oceanside holes, plus 11 dining options and the Red Lane Spa, this all-inclusive resort for adults offers something for every traveler.
If you plan to venture off the grounds, you’ll find plenty of attractions within walking distance, including additional restaurants, bistros, and two beaches. Keep in mind, these attractions are not included in your vacation package though.
While the amenities, activities and white-sand beaches at Sandals Emerald Bay are enough to turn your winter getaway into a dream-come-true, the staff and service sets this resort apart.
One TripAdvisor.com reviewer wrote, “Everyone from the butlers to servers are phenomenal. We have actually made friends with staff members and can’t wait to see them again.”
Heaven at the Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya, Mexico
While Hard Rock Hotels may be known as a family-friendly brand, with resorts onsite at Universal Studios in Florida, and major cities across the U.S., Heaven at the Hard Rock Hotel in Riviera Maya, Mexico, is an adults-only, all-inclusive resort highly recommended by travelers.
Swim and relax in the new Eden pool, enjoy international flavors at one of the resort’s restaurants, or rejuvenate in the Rock Spa. Room choices include Deluxe Kings, Diamond Kings with an in-room whirlpool tub, a Deluxe Sky Terrace, a Swim-up Room and more. You can even party in Club Heaven Bar & Disco with live DJ entertainment or unwind in the martini bar.
Access to a private beach and natural sea cove means you can snorkel, kayak ,or swim if you are the type of couple that just can’t sit still. Guests at Heaven can also enjoy any of the amenities, restaurants, bars, and pools in the Hacienda resort for adults and kids.
Whether you’re looking to relax on some of the world’s finest beaches or enjoy stateside luxury, an all-inclusive resort is a great way to bond as a couple without stressing about every dollar during your trip. From the Caribbean to the Florida Keys, you can find an all-inclusive resort that meets your expectations for luxury, service, and amenities.
FAQs
What is an all-inclusive resort?
An all-inclusive resort charges guests a package rate for their stay plus meals, beverages, and many amenities. You will have to pay for airfare to and from your location.You will find all-inclusive resorts all over the world, including across the U.S., Mexico, and in the Caribbean.
What is included in an all-inclusive resort?
Most all-inclusive resorts include all food consumed on premises, beverages (including alcohol), access to the pool and other resort amenities. Before you book your trip, you will want to find out if activities like golf, spa treatments, or watersports are included or if there are upcharges for these activities.
Are all-inclusive vacation packages worth it?
Many people like the convenience of an all-inclusive vacation. An all-inclusive resort eliminates the stress of checking your bank balance or accounting for the money you spend while you’re on vacation. It is also convenient to not have to pull out your wallet at all during your trip.
An all-inclusive resort may be cheaper than an ala carte vacation, but that’s not always the case. It depends on what you normally like to do on vacation and how much you would spend. If you are booking an all-inclusive to save money, you will want to compare prices carefully and account for all costs before you make a choice.
Prices are accurate and items in stock at time of publishing.
