The World’s Best All-Inclusive Resorts for Adults

You might think of Excellence Playa Mujeres, north of Cancún, as the Disney World of adults-only resorts. This place has everything, including nine all-inclusive restaurants (ranging from Indian to seafood), 11 bars, seven pools, a full-service spa, a long list of activities from bike tours to beach volleyball to archery, and 450 rooms and suites in which to pack them all in (spring for one with a roof terrace and private heated spa pool). If you ever do manage to get your fill of what’s on property, there’s even more to entertain you when you leave. The same peninsula is also home to the Playa Mujeres Golf Club, one of Mexico’s best courses, and just offshore you’ll find Isla Contoy, a wetlands preserve full of endangered sea turtles.

It may sit in Punta Cana, one of the Caribbean’s hottest destinations (known for, you know – sprawling beachside resorts favored by crowds of spring breakers and fun-loving families), but the adults-only Sanctuary Cap Cana is a world all its own. Some 30,000 tranquil acres of manicured gardens mix with stunning Spanish Colonial-style buildings and Caribbean-style villas, as well as five notable restaurants and pools, and one spectacular beach. Guest rooms vary between sections, but all earn bonus points for their walk-in closets—ideal for twosomes looking for extra space to spread out—and ocean views (just request a non-ground floor room).

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There’s a strict 17-years-and-over policy at this cliff-side oasis. It might be due to its precarious perch on jagged limestone cliffs that plunge into the Caribbean Sea 20 feet below, or because lack of TVs in guest rooms means entertainment will have to be found elsewhere—be it at the rum bar hidden in a private grotto or via brave jumps into the ocean from cutouts in the rocks. Truth be told, it’s a couple’s paradise: 12 ultra-charming thatched-roof cottages keep the atmosphere quiet and intimate, drinks are strong and unlimited with your rate, kayaks and snorkel gear are complimentary for exploring the nearby reefs, and meals spotlighting native recipes are some of the best stories of the day. If you’re hoping for a bit more action, never fear: Negril’s famous Seven-Mile Beach is just down the road.

We’ve written about Jade Mountain more times than we can count, but when it comes to the best of the best for a grown-up getaway, few other adults-only hotels check as many boxes. Staggering views of the island’s twin Pitons from each of its 28 open-air suites plant it firmly on the honeymoon and celebration circuit, but there’s more to this resort than swoon-worthy vistas. Hot stone massages in the spa are heavenly. Cooking classes and rum tastings at a nearby plantation are educational and fun. Thursday nights are reserved for sunset cruises on the resort catamaran, while the five-star scuba center brings guests below water. A James Beard Award-winning chef mans the restaurant and room service, highlighting island flavors with dishes of cinnamon mahi-mahi and blue crab couscous. (Want a multi-course tasting menu with wines delivered straight to your bed? Just ask your major domo—the personal concierge assigned to each room—and consider it done.) Sure, the crafty design is a little cheesy, but that’s nothing your private infinity pool can’t fix.

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The Maldives is renowned for its over-the-top bungalow resorts with outrageous price tags to match, but this private island outpost, one of the few adults-only resorts in the Maldives, breaks the mold with super affordable rates. Sure, you have to take an additional 45-minute flight from Male Airport to reach it, and the amenities aren’t endless, but that’s about the only thing at fault. If you spring for the all-inclusive package, you’ll get run of poolside drink service, water sports rentals, and classes like sushi making and fruit carving—not to mention full access to fabulous meals and daily entertainment including live bands and dance performances. Each of the resort’s 65 villas are set on powder-white beach or over the water. Perhaps the best perk: no jet ski rentals means the waters remain blissfully calm and quiet all day long.

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If you’re not careful, stays in Los Cabos can fast become an all-out party where tequila tastings, dance clubs, and oceanfront entertainment keep the energy pumping well after dark. It’s fun worth having, but when you want to escape the chaos, retreat to Pueblo Bonito Pacifica, an adults-only sanctuary and the last on the Los Cabos strip. Here, it’s all about wellness and relaxation: there are five restaurants, beachfront swimming pools lined with shady cabanas, a full-service spa, and a beauty salon for couples and girlfriends looking to get gussied up before dinner—not to mention a roster of activities from dance lessons to beach yoga. If you can, book a room at the new Towers at Pacifica addition, where six of the 47 modern rooms come with their own private plunge pool.

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This adults-only Riviera Maya addition has brought a whole new chapter of the all-inclusive experience—one that embodies relaxed luxury while fully engaging with local culture. Despite its whopping 448 rooms and five restaurants, the luxury factor works: each room comes with either a swim-up pool (ground floor) or spa tub on the roof and minibar stocked with according-to-your-preference treats. There’s a cigar bar and beauty bar in addition to six regular bars for all your imbibing needs. A sense of place is also very much a part of the experience: pieces by local artisans are available for purchase throughout the property, while guests’ attentions are held with rotating mescal tastings, cocktail hours, art competitions, and sunset acoustic performances. Worried about nickel and diming? Think again: off-property excursions, food and beverages, and even some spa treatments are included in the rate.

This 1,000-acre private island hideaway sets the standard when it comes to luxurious Caribbean living. Chauffeured golf carts bring you through grounds filled with papaya and banana plants to one of 75 rooms, villas, or beach houses, done up with canopied four-poster beds, wicker furniture, and vaulted ceilings. The rest is even sexier: an infinity pool ringed with cushioned loungers, an alfresco restaurant that specializes in Caribbean staples, two tennis courts where pros are called upon to give lessons, and an award-winning spa with its own open-air yoga pavilion and Jacuzzi garden. Kids are welcome here (and babysitting services are on offer), but Como’s high rates tend to keep larger groups at bay.