Top Picks For You

10 Best Caribbean All-Inclusive Resorts for 2015

Courtesy of Meliá Nassau Beach

A stay at an all-inclusive resort packs in plenty of convenience: Pay just one upfront price, and you don't have to worry about racking up extra charges for food, drink, and entertainment while on vacation. Add in a beachside setting, and it’s even easier to leave your cares behind. There’s a host of brand-new all-inclusive resort options cropping up throughout the Caribbean—and the Caribbean-fronted shores of Mexico—right now. Here are our 10 picks for some of the hottest properties to hit in 2015. Get ready to relax—when everything's paid for in advance, there's no need to fret.

By Kathleen Squires

A serial traveler who often lets a country’s cuisine dictate her itineraries, New York City-based writer Kathleen Squires has visited all seven continents and over 60 countries, with stints living in London, Tokyo, and Buenos Aires. Her work also appears in The Wall Street Journal, Details, Saveur, Cooking Light, and National Geographic Traveler.

Courtesy of Karisma Hotels & Resorts
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Azul Sensatori, Jamaica

WHERE: Jamaica

Set on Negril’s famous Seven Mile Beach, the sand seems positively endless at the Azul Sensatori. And even if you’re not into sun worshiping, there are plenty of other ways to enjoy the resort, whether attending a reggae dance class, watching a local cooking demo, or simply taking in the ocean views from all 130 rooms. Fifty-four of those units are set aside for adults only; all come with inviting outdoor daybeds, and some with private swim-up pools. Also included: use of kayaks, boogie boards, Hobie Cats, and canoes. Six dining venues include options like gourmet Caribbean or Italian cuisine.

PLAN YOUR TRIP: Visit Fodor’s Jamaica Travel Guide

Courtesy of Karisma Hotels & Resorts/Generations Riviera Maya
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Generations Riviera Maya, Mexico

WHERE: Mexico

The 144 suites at Generations, set along a secluded beach, all come with beck-and-call butler service. Apart from its spot on one of Mexico’s most alluring beaches, water seems to be everywhere, in the form of infinity pools, swim-up suites, and Jacuzzis. This resort prides itself on customized gourmet experiences, with guests filling out questionnaires about their culinary preferences ahead of their stay. Restaurants span the flavors of the Mediterranean, Asia, and local Mexican, while the Wine Kitchen is the choice for oenophiles. Even the kids can develop gastronomic tastes here: In August, during the Little Eko Chefs Weekend, participants will be guided around the kitchen with MasterChef Junior Season 1 winner Alexander Weiss.

PLAN YOUR TRIP: Visit Fodor’s Riviera Maya Travel Guide

Courtesy of Hyatt Zilara Cancun
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Hyatt Zilara Cancún, Mexico

WHERE: Mexico

This adult-only all-inclusive prides itself on lying along the widest stretch of sand in Cancún's hotel zone. The Zilara also holds Cancún’s only ocean-view spa, an eco-holistic facility boasting water-themed services such as a steam hut, sauna, cold-plunge pool, waterfall features, and dual-temperature whirlpools. The 288 rooms include balconies with hammocks, and another unique amenity: “Magic Box” room service, which appears without the slightest disturbance. When dining on property, the options span Mexican, tapas, and Chef’s Plate, an exclusive restaurant reserved for certain room categories.

PLAN YOUR TRIP: Visit Fodor’s Cancún Travel Guide

Courtesy of Royalton, Chic Punta Cana
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Chic Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

WHERE: Dominican Republic

Live like island royalty on Uvero Alto Beach by booking the 3,500-square-foot Chic Mansion at this brand new-resort. The stylish, two-story house holds six bedrooms, a private pool and Jacuzzi, fire pit, barbecue, pool table, wine cellar, and fully stocked premium bar. You won’t be denied any luxury in the other 323 units either, many of which include terraces and pools. Eight dining venues take guests on a global journey, from Japan to Morocco, and there’s even an oxygen bar, in addition to five other tippling spots. Reserve a cabana around the private pool area and enjoy personal waiter service, a stocked bar, and satellite TV.

PLAN YOUR TRIP: Visit Fodor’s Dominican Republic Travel Guide

Courtesy of Meliá Nassau Beach
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Melia Nassau Beach, Bahamas

WHERE: Bahamas

This upscale, all-inclusive resort will eventually be part of Nassau’s multibillion dollar luxury development Baha Mar, a vast resort complex that will be giving Atlantis a run for its money. Meliá Nassau Beach, formerly the Sheraton, is in the midst of a $19-million renovation, scheduled to be completed in early 2016; the newly unveiled 694 rooms are the first part of the project to open to the public. In addition to lovely Cable Beach on the property, look for waterfall features and hydrotheraphy tubs set amidst a lush garden landscape. When the entire Baha Mar project is complete in spring 2015, it will also be home to the Caribbean’s largest casino, a professional golf course, and a high-end shopping complex.PLAN YOUR TRIP: Visit Fodor’s Bahamas Travel Guide

Courtesy of Hyatt Ziva Rose Hall
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Hyatt Ziva Rose Hall, Jamaica

WHERE: Jamaica

Hyatt’s first all-inclusive resort in Jamaica, the Ziva Rose Hall has debuted in the former Ritz-Carlton property, in Montego Bay. After an $80-million expansion and renovation, the property now neighbors the brand-new Hyatt Zilara, an all-inclusive, adults-only retreat. At the 387 rooms in the Ziva, guests of all ages can enjoy beach butlers and poolside food trucks, while resort restaurant options range from a Japanese teppanyaki grill to a Brazilian churrascaria. Bonus for golfers: Free rounds at the White Witch and Cinnamon Hill courses are included.

PLAN YOUR TRIP: Visit Fodor’s Jamaica Travel Guide

Courtesy of Riu Palace Antillas Aruba
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Riu Palace Antillas, Aruba

WHERE: Aruba

The 482-room, adults-only Riu Palace Antillas is a magnet for the active beach bum, with windsurfing, snorkeling, kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, and scuba lessons available right on property. Those who prefer to keep their feet on land can take advantage of massages in the beach pavilion. In the evenings, all can dance until the wee hours at the nightclub, or visit the casino. (Warning: Gambling funds are not part of the all-inclusive pricing!)

PLAN YOUR TRIP: Visit Fodor’s Aruba Travel Guide

Courtesy of Royalton Riviera Cancun
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Royalton Riviera Cancún, Mexico

WHERE: Mexico

This new addition to Mexico’s hottest stretch of sand takes convenience to a new level, with reservation-free dining, an adults-only option, private beach areas reserved for “Diamond Club” members, and even a sports bar with a “sports event guarantee” so that you never have to miss the big game back home. And even though the Royalton Riviera Cancún holds 843 rooms, the 11 pools, 13 bars, and 9 restaurants are easily able to accommodate—and spread out—guests so that they truly feel the getaway aspect of vacation.

PLAN YOUR TRIP: Visit Fodor’s Cancún Travel Guide

Courtesy of Secrets Resorts & Spas
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Secrets Playa Mujeres, Mexico

WHERE: Mexico

Adults-only Secrets is primed for spa enthusiasts, who are endlessly pampered here: The “Spoil Yourself and Repeat” package allows spa treatments two to four times a day. Golf lovers, meanwhile, receive complimentary green fees, and, if you choose Secrets as the spot for your destination wedding or honeymoon, you'll receive a free night on your anniversary each year. Other amenities at this 424-suite retreat, set just 10 minutes north of Cancún, include nine dining options and six bars.

PLAN YOUR TRIP: Visit Fodor’s Cancún Travel Guide

Courtesy of The Warwick, Paradise Island, Bahamas
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The Warwick, Paradise Island, Bahamas

WHERE: Bahamas

Seeking privacy? The new 246-room Warwick Paradise Island delivers, with a setting along the secluded Nassau Harbor. Its private beach is marked by ultra-calm waters, making it the perfect snorkeling lagoon. There’s also a giant 330,000-gallon freshwater pool and a variety of dining options, including barbecues on a private “shipwreck beach.”

PLAN YOUR TRIP: Visit Fodor’s Bahamas Travel Guide