The Best All-Inclusive Resort in the Caribbean Is In Antigua

I’m on my private deck, stepping into an ocean-view infinity pool that’s all mine. All I hear is the shake of palm trees. There’s a fully-stocked fridge around the corner, a plush swinging chair to my right. It doesn’t get any better than this in the Caribbean Period. 

Nothing in the Caribbean has been more popular in recent years than all-inclusive. It’s the concept travelers are looking for right now — as you can see with the rapid push into the market by just about every major hotel brand. 

But Elite Island Resorts, which has an impressive collection of all-inclusive resorts spread across several Caribbean destinations from Antigua to Panama, has always been at the forefront — innovating, creating and setting the standard for what’s possible at a Caribbean all-inclusive resort. 

And that brings us to my private infinity plunge pool. This is the adults-only Hammock Cove resort in Antigua, the 42-room stunner that is, in short, the best all-inclusive resort in the Caribbean — and the competition isn’t really close. We travel to more Caribbean destinations – and survey more all-inclusive resorts than any publication. We know. And this one takes the cake. 

While a private plunge pool like this is an uncommon thing, here at Hammock Cove it’s standard. Every room has precisely this sprawling deck, infinity pool and wet bar — and that’s without mentioning the massive, opulent bathroom, the sleek, comfortable bedroom and access to your own butler. 

These are the rooms that, after a few days, you find it almost impossible to leave — such is the level of comfort and indulgence. 

But when you walk outside you get far more. There’s everything here: a beautiful, multi-layered pool complex that rises above a white-sand beach (replete with every kind of water sport, including transparent kayaks); a full-service rum-tasting bar called “Nobody Knows” ; a world-class spa; and even another very cool amenity, the Chairman’s Lounge, with a special private club-atmosphere and everything from a pool table to a record player. 

And then there’s the thing that every guest raves about: the food, curated by Michelin-star-pedigree Chef Marco Festini, who has served up the best food you’ll get at any all-inclusive, from Irina’s, the spot for complete breakfasts and even an on-site juice bar; the fine-dining Lighthouse (go for the lobster, thank us later) to the casual, beachside On the Rocks. 

Maybe you want to enjoy the state-of-the-art pickleball facilities. Or go for a sail around Antigua’s magnificent national park. Or you want to get out and explore the many adventures you can find in Antigua. You can do everything. Or you can do nothing — and retreat to those unrivaled cottages. 

Hammock Cove has a cool term for it: “uninterrupted luxury,” and I think that’s a rather apt one. It means there’s nothing here to impede you from whatever kind of vacation you’re searching for. 

In other words, it’s all included. 

For more, visit Hammock Cove or Elite Island Resorts to check out the company’s portfolio of properties around the region.