All-inclusive resorts are the hottest thing in Caribbean travel right now. There’s a reason, after all, why the biggest resort companies in the world, from Marriott to Hilton to Hyatt, are either (in the case of Marriott) launching their first-true all-inclusive properties or significantly ramping up their all-inclusive operations.
Add that to continued growth from firms like Apple Leisure Group, Playa and Royalton, and it’s clear that the biggest names in travel see where things are headed.
Plainly, the convenience and all-around comfort of an all-inclusive vacation are what more and more travelers are asking for right now.
But while the technical appeal of all-inclusive is surging, the look, feel and character of all-inclusive resorts has never been more fluid. All-inclusive used to be a qualitative description. Now, it’s simply a financial one.
Indeed, the biggest change in all-inclusive has been the diversity of resort designs, experiences and personalities.
For years, the all-inclusive was traditionally a megaresort or the like, more about quantity than quality.
“Today, the all-inclusive sector has become remarkably layered,” said Alexander Britell, editor and publisher of Caribbean Journal. “While demand for all-inclusive vacations is at an all-time high, there has never been a broader or more interesting group of resorts to choose from, whether you’re at an intimate, boutique all-inclusive to an authentic-locally-focused resort.”
Our team scours the region for the best all-inclusive resorts and all-inclusive experiences, and our 2020 edition takes you around the Caribbean, from small resorts in bohemian enclaves like Negril to grand, iconic resorts in destinations like Antigua.
Here are our the best all-inclusive resorts to check out in the Caribbean in 2020.
Hammock Cove, Antigua No Caribbean all-inclusive better exemplifies the dramatic reinvention all-inclusive resorts than Hammock Cove, the region’s newest and most exciting all-inclusive resort. There are just 42 rooms, all crispy designed with private plunge pools, with a pervasive boutique experience and a culinary program led by renowned Chef Marco Festini. It’s an all-inclusive only in name; this is an intimate, boutique luxury resort.
Curtain Bluff, Antigua It’s iconic, it’s legendary and it’s equally wonderful for adults and families. Curtain Bluff is a grand all-inclusive, a resort that makes every guest feel like they’ve been welcomed into their own private club on the beach in Antigua.
Fowl Cay, The Bahamas We can’t think of a more delightful amenity than having your own boat, but that’s precisely the case at the six-villa Fowl Cay in Exuma, where every villa comes with its own gassed-up boat (and yes, the gas is unlimited, too) for exploring this breathtakingly beautiful archipelago. It’s chic, it’s luxurious and it’s not like any all-inclusive you’ve been to before.
Galley Bay, Antigua This is the Caribbean’s ultimate toes-in-the-sand all-inclusive, where most of the rooms are set right on the sand (excepting the marvelous Gauguin suites, the hotel’s most romantic perches). The food is excellent and the service warm, but it’s the barefoot-chic vibe and breezy ambience that truly set this resort apart.
Zoëtry Paraiso de la Bonita, Mexico The crown jewel in AMResorts’ regional portfolio of all-inclusive resorts, Zoetry’s Mexico resort is a romantic, spectacular place to stay, highlighted by the Zoetry brand’s unmatched focus on wellness.
Secrets Cap Cana, Dominican Republic Beaches don’t get more beautiful than Juanillo Beach in Cap Cana, and Secrets’ Caribbean flagship delivers the resort to match it, with 457 sleekly-designed rooms and a magnificent Pevonia spa.
TRS Coral Hotel Palladium has upped its game in recent years, and the TRS brand is its signature, a Costa Mujeres ultra-luxe adults-only resort that’s one of the few all-inclusive anywhere that’s also a Leading Hotel of the World. It’s the centerpiece of Costa Mujeres, a destination at the edge of Cancun that is one of the region’s sizzling hotel destinations.
Palm Island, The Grenadines It’s the archetypal Caribbean fantasy, just you and an island, gazing out at sparkling turquoise and white sand. Palm Island is the castaway dream, set in the heart of the jaw-droopingly beautiful Grenadines chain and an authentic, wonderful all-inclusive resort.
Club Med Miches Playa Esmeralda, Dominican Republic The first-ever member of Club Med’s luxe “Exclusive Collection” in the Caribbean (and the Americas, for that matter) the brand’s newest resort is perched on a dreamy stretch of beach in raw, untouched Miches in the eastern Dominican Republic. There are 335 rooms set across four distinct “villages,” one of which includes Club Med’s new “Zen Oasis” adults-only concept.
Le Blanc Spa Resort, Cancun One of our contributors called this place “dazzling” and that’s an accurate moniker, a resort that doesn’t just call itself luxurious – it delivers the goods. And, true to its “Spa Resort” name, it’s as good of a wellness resort as you can find in the region. Period.
Sandals Grenada It was the resort that in many ways put Grenada on the travel map a few years ago, and Sandals Grenada continues to set the standard for culinary diversity, room design and service in the Caribbean. Our suggestion? Splurge for one of the SkyPool suites or one of the terrific “Beachfront Walkout” rooms. above.
Sea Breeze Beach House, Barbados It’s another new kind of all-inclusive, both for Barbados and the region. It’s a hip but unpretentious beach resort, one where local art marries with an impressive commitment to, well, actually educating travelers on the local culture and experience, with a perfect position on the bustling south coast of Barbados.
Sandals Royal Barbados The all-suite Sandals Royal Barbados is arguably the brand’s new Caribbean flagship and easily its crispest, most high-tech resort, from an unmatched culinary offering to a host of cool, unique amenities like a bowling alley and the brand’s only rooftop pool.
Small Hope Bay Lodge, Andros, The Bahamas Yes, there’s something called an “adventure all-inclusive.” This legendary, family-run spot in the heart of the mysterious, wonderful island of Andros in The Bahamas has it all: beautiful beach, a friendly, communal ambience and a cornucopia of adventures just waiting to be explored, from deep-sea fishing to bone fishing to unparalleled snorkeling and diving. And that’s just the beginning.
The Caves, Jamaica The resort that first defined the boutique all-inclusive, this Negril signature by Chris Backwell’s Island Outpost collection of resorts is one of the region’s bucket list all-inclusive resorts, with a jaw-dropping cliffside setting, a refreshingly authentic Jamaican culinary experience and colorful, breezy cottages and suites.
Warwick Paradise Island Bahamas The best all-inclusive resort on tony Paradise Island, this is a fun, laid-back adults-only resort that’s full of energy and good cheer. The food is excellent (both its international and its locally-focused eateries), the rooms are bright and sleek and from the little touches like the full-service Lavazza espresso machine at the buffet to copious USB ports, it’s a breath of fresh air. Not to mention one of the best value vacations in The Bahamas.
Sonesta Ocean Point, St Maarten The leading place to stay in St Maarten, the impressively transformed adults-only resort is perched on a cliffside above Maho Beach, with a high-design aesthetic and a Mediterranean-meets-the-Caribbean ambience. It’s a legitimately great-looking hotel with a very good culinary offering and beautiful suites, particularly those of the swim-out variety. And we can get behind any all-inclusive with Molton Brown bath amenities.
Serenity at Coconut Bay, Saint Lucia One of the region’s leading boutique all-inclusives, Serenity is the hotel-within-a-hotel at Saint Lucia’s popular Coconut Bay resort. When it debuted several years ago, it raised the bar for all-inclusive design, with plunge pools standard in every unit and a focus on high-level gastronomy.
St James’s Club & Villas, Antigua One of the region’s classic all-inclusive Caribbean resorts, The 280-room St James’s Club is a serene property set on 100 acres in Antigua. Everything here is about enjoying natural beauty, from the two beaches to a spa that’s home to the most scenic treatment rooms on the island. It’s also home to an impressive diving operation to boot.
Estudio Playa Mujeres, Mexico Mexico has become a laboratory for the new trends in all-inclusive resorts, and Mexican firm Atelier de Hoteles is at the forefront. It’s Estudio all-suite family resort in buzzing Playa Mujeres is all about delivering an immersive, authentic Mexican experience, in a high-design, indulgent package.