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Top 10 all-inclusive beach resorts
GoldenEye
Okay, it’s expensive, but Jamaica’s most extraordinary resort includes the opportunity to relax in the villa where Ian Fleming penned all of his James Bond thrillers, complete with your own private beach and zero-entry swimming pool. Enveloped by nature, as Fleming wished, each of the five villas has an entertainment bungalow equipped with queen-size day beds, panoramic flat-screen TVs and well-stocked bars. All meals are included, and water sports/snorkel gear are provided by the discreet staff. Perhaps the best pastime, however, is to marvel at your surroundings and crack a book — say Fleming’s "Dr. No." Note: GoldenEye is currently adding 40 additional villas (construction is expected to be complete in early 2010), so inquire about noise when booking a room.
Le Blanc Spa Resort
Situated between the Caribbean Sea and a picturesque lagoon, this 260-room adults-only Cancun resort boasts breathtaking views and an atmosphere custom-made for romance. Some of the offerings on the long list of all-inclusive treats include dining options at haute eateries, premium drinks, non-motorized water sports, regular entertainment and even butler service. In-room amenities offer guests equally enticing luxuries such as a free bottle of wine upon arrival, LCD TV with satellite cable, bathrobes and slippers, BVLGARI bath products, purified water and an upgraded liquor dispenser featuring premium scotch, vodka, rum and tequila. Other non-inclusive services are worth the additional splurge — don’t miss a treatment in the large onsite spa, an outing on the nines or a must-do tour of the region’s magnificent Mayan ruins.
Occidental Grand Aruba
One of Aruba’s latest all-inclusive luxury resorts sits on the island’s lovely Palm Beach and boasts all the deluxe trappings you’d expect (and more): a lagoon-style pool, a casino, Las Vegas-style shows and no fewer than six dining options, with mouth-watering ethnic food options on the menu, from Caribbean fusion to classic Italian to pan-Asian. Some 398 well-appointed rooms tout mahogany-stained two-poster beds outfitted with damask linens and private balconies (many are ocean-facing). You’ll find more outdoor activities on offer than the island has Divi-divi trees — spend your days enjoying the pristine surroundings via sailing, snorkeling, kayaking and other water-sport rentals.
Royal Hideaway Playacar
This adults-only, all-inclusive, 200-room Occidental resort, set on the beaches of Mexico’s Playa del Carmen, is hard not to like. It’s neither small nor independent, but you never feel crowded. The impressively manicured grounds are home to six pools, including a huge infinity pool overlooking the ocean. You’ll pay top dollar to be here, but meals in their six specialty restaurants are free and unlimited, as are top-shelf liquors. Hand-carved wooden furniture and marble bathrooms lend a sense of style and sophistication to the guest rooms. Note that while tax and gratuities are included in the rates, you’ll need to shell out for airport transfers.
Sandals Royal Bahamian
It may be expensive, but it’s the most luxurious of all of Sandals' resorts and one of the most comfortable properties in the Caribbean and Bahamian regions combined — an estimated $20 million was pumped into restoring this property on the site of a hotel originally built in the ‘40s. The all-inclusive nightly rate affords access to the massive complex’s seven sprawling pools (as well as six whirlpools), eight restaurants, full-service spa (treatments are out of pocket, though), extravagant gardens, and even a private off-shore island reached by ferry or kayak. Personal butlers attend to guests in the top villas and suites.
Majahuitas Resort
Named after a golden hibiscus-like flower that flourishes here, this private stretch of sand called Majahuitas is also home to a bucolic, solar-powered resort made up of eight enchanting casitas. The 18-acre oasis, accessible only by boat from Puerto Vallarta, is a primitive-style enclave (there are no phones, Internet access, or — gasp — electrical outlets in guestrooms). Despite the lack of modern conveniences, this world-away sanctuary provides a not-to-be-missed experience for nature lovers; there’s a nearby underwater canyon and a jungle upstream well worth exploring. Since the sun is the major power source here, dinners are oh-so romantic — lit solely by flickering candles in a massive chandelier. Delicious and hearty gourmet breakfasts, lunches and dinners are included in nightly rates, as are non-motorized water sports, and boat transfers to the island (if you're staying for four or more nights).
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