The best all-inclusive resorts for couples are the stuff of vacation dreams: You’re in an idyllic location far from your regular life routine sipping on your favorite cocktail in a warm climate begging you to take a dip in the vast infinity pool or in the nearby beach. The luxurious room, the plethora of delectable restaurants and all the amenities of the resort are at your disposal for one all-inclusive fee.
Combine all that with spending time with the only person you’d want to spend a few hundred or even a few thousand dollars with, and life doesn’t look like it can get any better. Here, we’ve curated a list of the world’s best romantic all-inclusive resorts based on romantic must-haves, from party-all-night entertainment to sexy plunge pools and outdoor showers. All you have to do: Pick one.
The Brando – French Polynesia
In 1999, director and Oscar-winning actor Marlon Brando started developing this sustainable luxury resort and environmental-research center he dubbed the Brando. Here, 35 thatched-roof villas seamlessly merge indoor space and natural surroundings, including the ombre-turquoise water. Deck tubs, private plunge pools and big windows look out to the lagoon where you’ll snorkel, kayak, paddleboard or canoe in an authentic Polynesian outrigger.
When you’re not on the water, you’ll be hiking with a naturalist, watching baby turtles hatch, taking dance lessons or indulging in your daily included spa treatment in the couples room, which sits high in the treetops like a veritable love nest, making this an ideal location for anniversary getaways.
Hermitage Bay – Antigua
The remarkable, above-and-beyond service at Hermitage Bay starts right when you land, thanks to a personal airport attendant who whisks you and your loved one past long immigration lines. Upon arrival at your hillside cottage, trade speedy efficiency for the art of slow living. Start in your private infinity pool – complete with a sweeping Caribbean view – then rinse of together in the outdoor shower before dinner.
The resort’s capacity is only 60 guests, which means unmatched attention (when you want it, that is) and plenty of secluded spots to snuggle. Think champagne breakfasts in bed (made with fruits and veggies from the onsite organic garden) and tailor-made cocktails delivered mere moments after you place a flag in the sand.
Hyatt Ziva Cancún – Mexico
Thanks to the Hyatt Ziva Cancún’s setting on Punta Cancún, mainland Mexico’s most easterly point, you’ll greet sunrises before anyone else. The location sets this Caribbean all-inclusive apart: Uncrowded sand on three sides gives you more beach for your buck. Or hit one of the three infinity pools, cleverly designed to form separate leisure zones.
Dining is a highlight, from chaya and cactus scrambled eggs at Tradewinds to ceviche and Baya-style fish tacos at sand-between-the-toes beach bar Habaneros. There are even roving food carts serving street food-inspired snacks, like churros with thick chocolate sauce.
Agave aficionados flock to Juana Margarita to sample 25-plus tequilas and mezcals (don’t miss the addictive cream tequila), while beer fans gather at Tres Cervesas sports bar, which boasts a legitimate microbrewery. Splurge on a Ziva Sky Swim-up Master Room: Each has its own elevated horizon pool and hot tub, making this one of the best all-inclusive couples vacations.
Moon Palace Jamaica – Jamaica
Forged forced fun: Palace Resort’s 700-room Ocho Rios outpost (the first outside of Mexico), Moon Palace Jamaica, has seen reggae legend Shaggy and Cheerleader artist OMI at the resort’s Grand Ballroom Loud Bar (Shakira, Usher and REO Speedwagon (to name a few) rocked the stage at one of the sister resorts in Cancún, so major music cred flows through the brand’s veins).
Plus, the $1,500 resort credit – when you stay five nights or more – covers two comped tickets to events. The amped-up property also offers a killer watersports program that includes stationary-surfing experiences and dolphin-habitat adventures.
Hard Rock Punta Cana – Dominican Republic
Consider hatching an advance plan to make the most of the 23 bars and clubs at the Hard Rock Punta Cana, like ORO, the high-energy nightclub where DJs spin house and electronic music, packing the dance floor at 11 p.m. every night. The space also hosts entertainers like Joss Stone and Enrique Iglesias, but, when even bigger names perform – think Rihanna, Calvin Harris and David Guetta – the show often moves to the golf course.
Tamarijn Aruba – Aruba
Entertainment at Tamarijn Aruba includes a steel-drum band and live performances by Aruba’s premier musicians, like jazz guitarist Ivan Jansen and soca band 2 Sweet. The Pirates Treasure Quest Show flaunts eye-popping acrobatics and dance, while the Grand Carnival party is such a crowd-pleaser that it’s been on the roster for 20 years. Ready to press your luck? Hit up the roulette and blackjack tables at adjacent Alhambra Casino.
Grand Velas Riviera Maya – Mexico
Talk about a foodie paradise: At Grand Velas Riviera Maya, you and your honey will discover new flavors and shared tastes. Of the eight onsite restaurants, there are a couple must-gos.
Try Cocina de Autor and its whimsical traditional French menu, as the chef leads you down a multicourse path. And colorful Frida offers gourmet Mexican cuisine for every palate, from conventional (crispy lemon-chili fish with chicharrones) to fearless (filet mignon covered in black pepper and ant eggs or tamales stuffed with mussels, black beans and huitlacoche).
Grand Oasis Sens – Mexico
Among the dozen restaurants at Grand Oasis Sens, an adults-only paradise in Cancún, is the Black Hole, where a 27-course dinner is served in an intentionally dark restaurant. White-gloved wait staff serve you and your sweetie a seafood-driven experience (much of it locally caught) in a sexy, sensory-oriented space: Since you can’t see, your other senses – including taste and touch – are heightened.
Barceló Bávaro Beach – Dominican Republic
Long buffet lines are a thing of the past at Barceló Bávaro Beach, an east-coast enclave in the D.R. where even check-in comes with a spread of bite-sized dishes like fresh ceviche. Eleven onsite restaurants, ranging from French (complete with a wine cellar) to Mexican (hand-pressed tortillas are on deck), front four miles of pristine white sand. An array of Dominican classics are laid out for lunch so you can nosh on local favorites without even leaving the resort.
Sandals Royal Plantation – Jamaica
An exclusive partnership with the Guild of Professional English Butlers ensures that every butler at Sandals’ only all-butler resort, Sandals Royal Plantation, which offers 74 ocean-view suites scattered across 10 cliffside acres, are trained to exacting standards. They not only attend to every need during your stay – whether they’re drawing a candlelit bath or arranging a romantic beach picnic – they also provide you with a cellphone to reach them at literally any hour.
Known for anticipatory, above-and-beyond service, one butler actually waded through water, fully clothed, to deliver a frosty mojito to a guest bobbing on an ocean float, making this one of the best spots for anniversary vacations.
Paradisus Palma Real Punta Cana – Dominican Republic
Bodycon dress steamed? Check. Side-by-side pedi appointments at YHI Spa? Handled. Bath drawn, rose petals strewn on the bed and pink champagne on ice? Done.
Guests in the adults-only Royal Service rooms at Paradisus Palma Real Punta Cana are paired with a personal butler reachable via a handy cellphone you’ll receive at check-in. The butlers here have an uncanny knack for knowing exactly where their guests are and what they might need at any time, whether it’s another piña colada or two tucked-away pool chairs.
Cayo Espanto – Belize
It’ll feel like your devoted butler reads your mind, bringing you an icy Cuba Libre at sunset, teaching a sailing lesson on a moment’s notice and, then, as your Hobie Cat returns, greeting you on the beach with towels and just-cut coconuts.
Request that your butler make up a private beach cabana with sheer white curtains for a sunset that’ll feel orchestrated just for you two. Or take it in on the Casa Estrella’s private overwater deck. The style of service you’ll receive at Cayo Espanto is the result of the private island’s three-page survey that you’ll complete at check-in, asking if you prefer privacy with attention on request or all-out, full-time pampering.
Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya – Mexico
This music-themed mega-resort wants you to get turnt. The Sound of Your Stay service at the Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya delivers Fender guitars and DJ equipment to your room for impromptu jam sessions. Keep the party going in the separate, adults-only resort-within-a-resort called Heaven, which sports four pools, six bars and five restaurants. Keep the beat alive in the Music Lab, where couples can join a band, remix songs, film a video or walk the red carpet.
Want a true rock-royalty experience? Book the jewel-toned, 9,225-square-foot Bret Michaels-designed rock-star suite, complete with a fitness center, a photo booth, a screening room, a DJ booth, a dance floor and a billiards table made out of a Camaro.
Moon Palace Cancún – Mexico
“All-inclusive” doesn’t equal total gluttony. In the 19 swim-up wellness suites at Moon Palace Cancún, order gluten-free meals from 24/7 room service, and rise peacefully with dawn-simulating alarm clocks, aromatherapy diffusers and hydrotherapy salts for the in-room whirlpool baths.
You don’t need to schlep to the gym when there’s the Awe Sports Kit (mat, dumbbells and jump rope) right in your room. But, if you feel like donning your Lululemons, two gyms offer classes, like spinning and CrossFit.
Casa Velas Puerto Vallarta – Mexico
Don’t cram your carry-on with designer duds. At Casa Velas Puerto Vallarta, an adults-only boutique hotel, you’ll find 13 designer handbags for complimentary rental. Choose from designers like Carolina Herrera and Michael Kors, and add extra sparkle to your romantic getaway with the resort’s diamond jewelry (yours to wear for a fraction of the retail price).
Gents, you’re not left out of the fun: Guys with style can rent a Montblanc “murse” from the handbag bar.
Jumby Bay Island – Antigua
Picture nothing between you and the sky while you soap up under an open-air garden shower, standard in every one of the 40 rooms and suites at Jumby Bay, a 300-acre private island two miles from Antigua.
Lush palms, ferns and tropical cordyline surround each stone-tiled shower, situated within a walled courtyard for ultimate privacy. For lengthy lathering sessions using top-of-the-line products by James Heeley, hop in the outdoor pedestal tub for two, a bonus in many suites.
Yasawa Island Resort & Spa – Fiji
After an afternoon spent lazing by the infinity pool or in the twin hammocks under your private beach hut at Yasawa Island Resort & Spa, head back to your thatched-roof, oceanfront “bure” (cottage), and strip down for a shower under the sky, surrounded by vibrant bougainvillea and fragrant frangipani, before heading to dinner by the infinity pool.
Suds each other up with sustainably made Pure Fiji amenities, which soothe sunburns with coconut oil and local flora like gardenia, passion flower and lemongrass.
Zoëtry Agua Punta Cana – Dominican Republic
The completely private, outdoor patio showers in four room categories at Zoëtry Agua Punta Cana are replete with tropical flora, and they’re constructed of eco-friendly, locally sourced, natural stone, hardwoods and cane-thatched cathedral ceilings. Enhance the sensory experience with Bvlgari amenities and a selection of scented lines and aromatherapy-oil burners.
Marquis Los Cabos – Mexico
What more could you ask from an all-inclusive resort with five award-winning restaurants, a 15,000-square-foot holistic spa and guaranteed ocean views? How about master suites with plunge pools overlooking the Sea of Cortez? Upgrade to a casita at the Marquis Los Cabos for a private garden pool that’s perfect for skinny-dipping or a rooftop pool with a terrace for sunbathing in the buff.
Sanctuary Cap Cana – Dominican Republic
At this adults-only spot in Punta Cana (just 15 minutes from the bustling airport), take your pick from either a royalty villa or a honeymoon suite that flaunts a super-private, coral-stone, freshwater plunge pool. All of the 2,600-square-foot honeymoon suites at Sanctuary Cap Cana come standard with a dark-wood deck and plush chaise lounges positioned around an oversized, jetted plunge pool with water that flows into an unobstructed sea vista.
Or book a spacious, two-bedroom castle island suite, where there’s no need to even step outside to take a dip: Each boasts three (yes, three) large, indoor plunge pools, all set alongside floor-to-ceiling windows that overlook manicured private lawns and the sparkling Caribbean Sea, making this one of the best all-inclusive honeymoon resorts.
Excellence Playa Mujeres – Mexico
The spacious double-level suites at this adults-only resort feature private rooftop terraces with waterfall plunge pools, which are heated during the winter months so you can splash around any time of year while ogling the beach below. The airy terraces at Excellence Playa Mujeres are also outfitted with lounge beds for cozying up and open-air showers that’ll spur more romantic moments, making this one of the best adults-only all-inclusive resorts.
BodyHoliday – St. Lucia
Of course there’s the standard included watersports – windsurfing, kayaking, snorkeling – but, at this 155-room property, set on a private bay and ensconced in tropical gardens, it’s the anything-but-standard activities that wow. Enjoy archery, fencing, pilates and tai chi, plus a 50-minute spa treatment each and every single day, if you’d like. A sailing program at BodyHoliday offers half-day courses for mastering the basics of handling high-speed yachts.
Travaasa Hana – Hawaii
This eco-chic resort goes beyond lei-making and ukulele lessons to provide a true Mauian experience. Fill your itineraries with classes on throw-net fishing, fire-starting and spear-throwing. Wind down at Travaasa Hana with coconut-husking or a cacao-plantation tour and tasting; then, bring back some chocolate to feed each other in your bungalow later.
Enjoy the island’s natural surroundings with stand-up paddleboarding, canoeing or a glider ride, and use your daily spa credit to try a native healing massage or an organic facial. Or do nothing but take in views of the rugged, unspoiled coastline from your private lanai.
Grand Palladium Bávaro Suites Resort & Spa – Dominican Republic
Bringing your brood on a romantic getaway doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice five-star luxury, especially not at Grand Palladium Bávaro Suites Resort & Spa. At this 673-room Punta Cana flagship, the kiddos can go nuts at the kids club (the largest in the Caribbean), featuring a mini water park, a pirate ship-shaped trampoline, cooking classes with local ingredients, zip-lining, crafting and sports to suit ages 1 to 17.
For some grown-up time, escape to the spa, where Turkish baths and Vichy shower treatments ooze, “Ah…”
Crystal Cove – Barbados
Only 35 minutes from the airport, this 88-room boutique hotel features an undiscovered treasure: the Cave Bar – a hole-in-the-[rock]-wall hidden at the end of a series of lagoons, terraces and a waterfall. Belly up to the bar on submerged stools with unobstructed ocean views, or retreat farther in the cave to stay dry and shaded from the intense sun.
What to order: the Crystalgia, the resort’s signature drink, made from Mount Gay White Rum, pineapple juice, blue curaçao and falernum. Take Crystal Cove’s rum-shop initiation class to learn to lime (island slang for liquor-fueled casual hangouts) like a local.
Sandos Finisterra Los Cabos – Mexico
Sip a Humpback Whale at Sandos Finisterra Los Cabos – pineapple juice, orange juice, vodka and blue curaçao – while watching them breach in the Sea of Cortez January through March. It’s the signature cocktail at the Whale Watchers Bar, a glass-enclosed space perched on a cliff overlooking the Baja Peninsula.
El Dorado Royale – Mexico
The gourmet-inclusive experience at the adults-only El Dorado Royale makes it the top choice for oenophiles, especially those who love lavish multicourse meals. The resort has partnered with Santa Rosa’s (California) award-winning Jackson Family Wines to host a monthly series of pairings and tastings that showcase chefs and wine masters the world over, making for one of the best romantic vacations.
