The best all-inclusive hotels to book now

All-inclusive stays don’t mean you have to scrimp on culinary exploration. The Parga Beach Resort on Greece’s peaceful west coast offers an ultra-all-inclusive package providing access to three gourmet restaurants and bars, plus bespoke cookery classes with the head chef so you can finally master the perfect moussaka or a classic tzatziki. Choose from more than 100 rooms and suites in family-friendly bungalow-style buildings scattered throughout lush gardens, a stone’s throw from the resort’s Blue Flag Valtos beach. For the ultimate upgrade, check into one of the ‘Perfect Bliss’ suites, which feature private swimming pools. Outside the hotel, the cobbled streets and eclectic boutiques of Parga are just a short walk (or shorter water taxi ride) away. Further afield, the Epirus coast is begging to be explored, alongside ancient traditional stone villages and wild woodlands inland. Back at the hotel, when you’ve exhausted all culinary options, consider joining the three-hour sunrise kayaking tour or cycling excursion through the olive groves.

How about a little slice of Greek paradise, with not a child in sight, for your all-inclusive (and peaceful) escape? This adults-only private retreat offers 360° views of the caldera and Spinalonga island, and is the ultimate go-to for a slow-paced, relaxing and eco-conscious retreat. Guests can enjoy consciously sourced, all-inclusive dining options, get involved with voluntary experiences or, of course, just lie back and do absolutely nothing at all. Take your relaxation to the next level at the award-winning spa, where you can indulge in the rituals of the ancient Greeks (and the most effective new skincare products). The hotel is a stone’s throw from a secluded shingle beach but, if you want to explore further, check out the fishing village of Elounda and the Sunken City of Olous, or take a boat trip to Spinalonga, the former leper colony that inspired Victoria Hislop’s The Island. 

All-inclusive stays are often synonymous with over-indulgence, but the offering at Mexico’s new sustainable resort has wellness at its core. The progressive wellbeing concept has been designed to ‘awaken and enhance the connection between humans and nature’ through rituals, ceremonies and immersive beach and jungle experiences. Not sure you’ll know what you’re doing? Fear not, as you can sign up for a ‘Personal Growth Guide’ under the Architects of Life programme, which will lead you through cacao ceremonies, gratitude rituals, soul readings and more around the property and at a ‘rituals deck’ in the middle of the jungle. The jungle palms line a 1km white sand beach, where 234 suites with private terraces offering views of the Caribbean Sea or the jungle make up The House of AïA, including suites with swim-out access to one of the property’s four infinity pools. Food is predominantly plant-based, with seven culinary destinations, from Mexican fine-dining at LEK to a vegan taco food truck.

The ultimate beach break calls for direct flights to the Maldives and your very own slice of paradise (if only for a week or two). At The Residence Maldives you’ll get access to two resorts in one, as The Residence Falhumaafushi and its sister property, The Residence Dhigurah are connected by a 1km wooden bridge, the longest private bridge in the Maldives. Experiences include dhoni and dolphin cruises and snorkelling safaris, after which you’ll want to refuel at one of the resorts’ nine restaurants and six bars, including Cantonese dining at Li Bai and Mediterranean tapas at Café del Sol. If these whet your appetite for more culinary pursuits, you can book a private cookery class and harvest your own ingredients from the garden before concocting dishes under the watchful eye of the resort’s head chef. If you flew to the Maldives to do the absolute minimum, though, all you may seek is one of the archipelago’s superlative beaches and a good book to read on it.

Feeling adventurous? Let your thirst for exploration lead you to the driest desert on earth. The all-inclusive ‘full experience’ option includes all meals, plus daily excursions with a local guide to explore the unique landscape of the Atacama Desert. Discover unbeatable stargazing under a crystal-clear night sky and wonder at its salt mountains and lake. Nayara Alto Atacama has 42 rooms and is the only hotel in the San Pedro river valley, with shepherds and family orchards surrounding the property. Activities include a sunrise visit to the Tatio Geysers, mountain biking around the Devil’s Throat in the Salt mountain range or trekking a path through the Sarapana mountain range – used for centuries by local shepherds – along the Machuca wetlands and Machuca river. And keep your eyes peeled from the open-air observation deck for the most important constellations for the people of the Atacama.

This friendly and fun five-star all-inclusive resort in Lanzarote has an Explorers’ Club for kids, and you may need to join it yourself to navigate around the nine swimming pools (including water slides), five dining options, seven bars and multiple entertainment areas. There is plenty of space (and peace) for all, whether or not you have children in tow, and for teens, so often caught somewhere in between, there’s an exclusive Core Zone Club with leisure activities and PlayStation games. Excursions from the hotel start from a few steps (to the beach) to a short drive, where you’ll be able to discover the Timanfaya National Park (all 51sqkm of volcanic soil) or La Geria, the perfect spot to sample a plethora of Spanish wines. And, if deciding which one to go for is all too much, you can recover from the stress in the outstanding on-site spa.

This new all-inclusive Mexican retreat sits directly on the white sand of a secluded bay, overlooking clear blue waters. There’s something for everyone, with 735 rooms and suites to choose from, 13 all-inclusive restaurants and bars, a spa and family area. And, once you’ve tried and tested every dining and drinks option, there’s always the mini bar, which is stocked daily with premium drinks and snacks. Excursions from the hotel include underwater caves to explore, amusement parks, Tulum city centre and the Sian Ka’an (‘gate of heaven’) Biosphere Reserve. Back at the hotel, guests can relax by one of nine pools before enjoying evening entertainment and live music. If you want to get active in the day, there are daily sports activities on the beach (which can be followed by unlimited cocktails… the perfect reward).   

Looking for variety in your all-inclusive stay? This 238-room Mauritian resort is home to 13 restaurants and bars, two of the biggest kids clubs on the island, three pools, access to three golf clubs and a spa. Free activities include glass-bottom boat trips, snorkelling, windsurfing and tennis, or upgrade to scuba diving, water-skiing and full-day catamaran cruises. You can also get active in the martial arts area with tae bo, kickboxing, judo and karate. Outside the hotel, consider a day trip to the capital Port Louis to take in history, culture (and local cuisine), dolphin spotting at Tamarin Bay or hiking at the Tamarin Falls. Of course, if ‘variety’ in your stay looks like alternating your breakfast order and rotating your position at your favourite pool each day, it’s your holiday and you can fly and flop if you want to.