Think You Know All-Inclusives? Think Again…

It’s time to flip the script on all-inclusives. Forget the stereotypes – uninspired buffets, cookie-cutter style and a distinct lack of local charm. Over the past decade, the concept – pioneered by Gérard Blitz in 1950 with the opening of Mallorca’s Club Med – has evolved into something altogether different.

From Teslas on standby to secret speakeasies, the all-inclusive landscape has never looked better. Here’s why your next getaway should be one.

The local in the global

Worried an all-inclusive means missing out on local culture? Think again. Ikos Resorts – born in Greece, now in Spain, too – has rewritten the rulebook. They partner with local producers and top chefs to serve up authentic dishes, while their off-site dining programme lets you eat at handpicked restaurants beyond the resort. Take out a Tesla (at no extra charge) to explore, with entry to key attractions included. Whether it’s a trip to the Museo Picasso Málaga or wine tasting in the vineyards of Halkidiki, you’re never far from the local scene.

Friends in new places

All-inclusives make for an easy, friendly atmosphere when it comes to making friends. Should you opt for the all-inclusive package at Paradise Cove Boutique Hotel in Mauritius – a gorgeous boutique hotel in an amazing location – it’s easy to roll up to the bar, enjoy a drink and get talking. And while the resort is tranquil and intimate, adventure is just around the corner. Grand Baie, a vibrant hotspot, is only a 10-minute drive away.

Mexico: the cool kid on the block

When it comes to cutting-edge all-inclusives, Mexico tops the chart. And you don’t have to sacrifice the flavour and soul of the place either, especially around the Riviera Maya where you get incredible hospitality and plenty of opportunities to explore the gorgeous beaches, tropical jungles, ancient ruins and otherworldly cenotes of the Yucatan Peninsula. Families will love Paradisus Playa del Carmen, while couples should check into The Beachfront by The Fives Hotel – a sleek boutique hideaway with serious style.

The perfect date night

The Maldives has long been the blueprint for romance, but even the classics know how to keep things fresh. Take Kuramathi Maldives, the grand dame of the archipelago and one of the first resorts to open here, with a kilometre of sugar-soft sand to its name, as well as world-class watersports, a vibrant kids’ club, nature trails, champagne bar, oceanfront spa and yoga pavilion. And this year you’ll also find, tucked away in a jungle clearing, a teeny-tiny bistro serving authentic French fare. In a large resort, a candlelit meal here makes for the perfect romantic night out.

Recipe for adventure

To make the pilgrimage to the latest foodie offering at Hyatt Ziva Cap Cana in the Dominican Republic, you must enter through a fridge door that serves as the secret speakeasy-style entryway. From outside, this looks like an unassuming butcher’s shop, but once inside The Blind Butcher guests are transported into a jungle-like setting complete with a giant giraffe, monkeys hanging from lights and an acrobat dangling from the ceiling. A surcharge applies, but its seriously good, offering flavours from around South America. There’s also a teppanyaki restaurant on site that would hold its own in any big cosmopolitan city.

The ultimate reset

Forget about ‘all you can eat’ just for a moment. Of course, unlimited food and drink is part of the package, but BodyHoliday St Lucia has a full fitness and wellness programme that includes spa treatments, dance classes, yoga and Pilates. There’s nowhere else like it in the Caribbean. From aqua aerobics and daily beach fit classes to Olympic sailors dropping by for a week or two to run courses, there is always something to do.

In turn, this leads to a sociable atmosphere, with guests buzzing to share their experiences at the end of each day. During September, the resort hosts special events for solo travellers like cocktail parties, communal dining and sports tournaments.

The warmest of welcomes

Spice Island Beach Resort in Grenada is a quintessential Caribbean resort. Owned and run by the gracious Hopkins family, this resort is an institution, a place where elegance and gentility come together to make a wonderfully traditional five-star hotel, with a distinctly Caribbean twist. However you choose to spend your day, staff have mastered the art of making you feel at home, whether that’s knowing your name, crafting your favourite cocktail or setting a table for two at the water’s edge.

Laid-back fun for all the fam

Everything at the Grecotel LUXME White Palace in Crete is cool, contemporary and perfectly crafted. The beachfront hotel has pools aplenty, a pretty boho spa, several good restaurants and plenty of children’s entertainment, as well as a gelateria, creperie and chocolaterie. And the all-inclusive formula really does include everything – you can even visit the offsite Agreco, a traditional Cretan farm where they grow their own produce and you can buy locally made olive oil and honey.

The cultured club

Fresh off a two-year renovation, Cinnamon Bentota Beach – Signature Selection is a masterpiece of tropical modernism. Originally designed by Sri Lankan architectural legend Geoffrey Bawa, the resort’s revamped look oozes vintage glamour. The real magic? A cultural immersion programme that lets guests try mask carving, puppet making and traditional drumming. And for foodies, Nossa – a hawker-style eatery – serves up street-food-inspired plates all day long.

Don’t worry, be happy

From the moment you are at the airport to the moment you leave, there is nothing to worry about on an all-inclusive holiday. Nowhere is that truer than at Couples Sans Souci in Jamaica, where the resort’s ‘no worries’ mantra is reflected in its laidback atmosphere; you can unwind in hammocks by the sea, explore secluded stone pathways or soak in the natural mineral spring.

There’s an amazing choice of restaurants as well as six bars including the iconic Balloon Piano Bar overlooking the pool, which hosts a live performance every night. The small village of Nine Mile, the birthplace of reggae legend Bob Marley, is a must-visit local attraction.

Pause, breathe, repeat

Despite the perceived grandeur of Zoëtry Mallorca – located in an exquisitely restored manor in beautiful orchard gardens – there’s a relaxed, warm and welcoming ambience here. And, while you can’t not mention the Michelin-starred menu or library, tennis courts, pools and very lovely spa, this place is more about an overall feeling of wellness you get from being surrounded by nature. You can join fisherman on a trawler to catch fish that’s then cooked for supper, enjoy wine tastings held in the 15th-century windmill or let it all go during a meditation session in the neo-gothic chapel.

Passport to playtime

Turkey has upped its game in terms of quality and value for money in the past few years. And children are at the heart of the experience. All-inclusive resorts offer great dining options with inventive children’s menus and separate buffet areas just for the kids. Hotels like Titanic Luxury Collection Bodrum have fantastic kids’ clubs, with sensory rooms, music studios and opportunities to learn ceramics, take part in dance classes or conduct scientific experiments. Yes, there are Blue Flag beaches and massive waterparks galore but the kids’ clubs here offer fun yet educational activities.

This feature was created on 3rd February 2025. The information within this feature is correct to the best of our knowledge at the time of print.