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The 21 Best All Inclusive Resorts in the Caribbean & Mexico

This has been a tough year.

We’ve worked hard, and we deserve a break.

Actually, we deserve more than a break. We deserve an awesome, all-inclusive, drink as much as you want, eat to your heart’s content vacation.

The trouble is, most places that are affordable typically stink. Fear not, we’ve put together a list of affordable, all-inclusive resorts that will help you fulfill that well-earned vacation.

These Are The Most Affordable All Inclusive Destinations

1. Riu Palace, Riviera Maya, Mexico

all inclusive vacations in riviera maya mexico

Aptly named, the Riu Palace is indeed palatial in its both its lush sprawl and grand colonial style, though you’d never know if from the prices.

You’ll feel old world luxury throughout, from pristine, palm-lined paths to the soaring lobby complete with a rotunda and chandeliers. Even the broad free form swimming pool is classy in its design–though the gorgeous powder soft beach and serene Caribbean waters warrants equal attention.

Of course, the Riu Palace is also a fully equipped all-in resort, with five restaurants, unlimited drinks and 24/7 room service, a fitness center, water sports and kids’ center all included in the price.

Coming up next we have the best all-inclusive resorts perfect for Honeymoons.

2. Sanctuary Cap Cana, Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

dominican republic punta cana hotels all inclusive

This all-inclusive perched on a seaside cliff has an old world palatial feel. But the adults-only Sanctuary is far from a relic.

Expect sophisticated luxury, with stylish modern accommodations that all include a deck or patio (most also come with sea views) and a romantic elegance throughout the beautiful, palm-lined grounds. Given all that, the rates will surprise you.

And you get plenty more for the price of admission. Start with a stunning white-sand beach.

There are also six beautifully designed pools, and unlimited access to five full-service restaurants, including a beachfront seafood grill, plus bars everywhere you need them.

There’s also nightly entertainment, excursions, a fitness center and water sports, plus (for a fee) a renowned golf course designed by Jack Nicklaus.

3. Santa Barbara Beach and Golf Resort, Curacao

 best honeymoon all inclusive resorts caribbean

Did someone say best honeymoon all inclusive resorts in the Caribbean?

The Santa Barbara Beach and Golf Resort is the very definition of “getting away from it all.” Indeed, its isolated setting on the southwestern coast is remote even within Curacao.

That won’t trouble most guests though. With its infectious tranquility and modern refinement, the Santa Barbara is a place you won’t want to leave. It also offers incredible value.

Given how reasonable the all-in prices are, you won’t believe the stylish luxury of the rooms, all equipped with a deck or patio and modern details like iPhone speakers. The broad white-sand beach is gorgeous and the jumping off point for a host of water sports.

And there’s also a spectacular ocean front golf course, a spa and activities and amenities for kids.

4. Jewel Paradise Cove Resort and Spa, Runaway Bay, Jamaica

best all inclusive resorts in the caribbean for adults only

All-inclusive means just that at this intimate adults-only resort fronting a beautiful stretch of Cardiff Hall Beach on Jamaica’s Runaway Bay. Reasonable rates include all the wining and dining you can take at seven restaurants, a piano lounge, a dance club and an assortment of outdoor and swim-up bars. There’s also nightly entertainment, including live music and outdoor movie screenings. And you get gratis access to a host of activities and excursions, like golf at the nearby Runaway Bay Golf Club course, snorkeling, scuba diving, a glass-bottom boat tour and a trip to Konoko Falls. If you’re more inclined to take it easy, there’s beachfront service and plenty of tranquil tropical scenery to soak up.

5. Azul Beach, Puerto Morelos, Riviera Maya, Mexico

all inclusive vacations to mayan riviera

The clear, aquamarine water and powder-soft beaches of Mexico’s Riviera Maya set the scene for the Karisma group’s breezy and intimate Azul Beach.

Both sophisticated and kid friendly, this all-inclusive has both the class and amenities to make its moderate rates feel like an incredible value.

With a tequila lounge, stylish, modern accommodations, three attractive pools and a lovely expanse of beach equipped with comfortable cabanas, you might not need any of the activities on offer. If you do want a break from refreshing Caribbean dips and sun-soaked layouts, there’s complimentary watersports, tennis and cooking lessons.

And if you have younger children in tow, they’ll appreciate the Nickelodeon-themed activity center.

6. Casa de Campo, La Romana, Dominican Republic

are all inclusive resorts worth it? yes

If you’re asking yourself if all inclusive resorts are worth it, just look at this picture.

The beach is absolutely stunning, and you’re going to be spending all your time lounging on those day beds listening to the sound of the ocean.

Refined style has been a hallmark of this DR veteran since it opened in 1974. Always the class of the island, Casa de Campo is a resort where attention to detail is prized over flash.

From the exquisite décor to the delicious cuisine to the low-key swimming pools and the pristine Minitas Beach, everything is done just right.

Impressively, the resort manages to be family-friendly while maintaining the feel of a sophisticated adult playground.

So you can tour the recreated 16th century town, Altos de Chavon, with your kids or play 18 on one of three golf courses–including Teeth of the Dog, widely considered the top course in all of the Caribbean. Other activities include complimentary watersports, tennis and horseback riding.

7. Now Amber Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

are all inclusive resorts worth it?

This all-in resort delivers an experience that feels far more luxurious than the rates suggest. Spectacular views of Banderas Bay and the surrounding mountains greet guests the moment they enter the lobby–and the rest of the grounds back up that impression.

Eye candy abounds, with sleek, sumptuous décor and ocean views everywhere you turn. You can also indulge without limit at four stylish restaurants (cuisines include Asian, seafood, Italian and of course, Mexican), a casual grill and a café.

Room service is also free 24/7. Nightlife is a top-shelf experience too, with free-flowing wine, beer and spirits at five bars and lounges. Even the in-room minibar is free.

8. St. James Club Morgan Bay, St. Lucia

starwood all inclusive resorts

This is a Starwood All Inclusive Resort, which means you can use your points to get a free stay!

Ideal for family trips, honeymoons and romantic escapes, the St. James Club at Morgan Bay offers some of the best value on all of St. Lucia. A beachfront setting leaves nothing to be desired, fronting an expanse of soft sand and tranquil, glass-clear sea.

The budget friendly rates offer guests free rein at six restaurants, six bars and four swimming pools. And there are plenty of kid- and couple-friendly options among them. Packages also include a fitness center, beach volleyball and a water sports center offering surfboards, paddleboards and kayaks, all gratis.

Waterskiing and day trips are also available at very reasonable rates.

9. The Reserve at Paradisus, Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

For a quieter all-inclusive experience with the all the amenities of a big resort, you can’t do better than the Reserve at Paradisus. Though it’s slightly pricier than its big sister next door, the Reserve is still a great value. You get a broad, palm-fringed beach with powdery white sand and crystalline water, plus access to a huge free form swimming pool and a slew of dining options and activities next door. But with fewer guests, the Reserve has a more, well, reserved atmosphere. The pools are less crowded, there’s a lovely spa and fitness center, and the Reserve has its own restaurant. The smaller scale is perfect both for romance and families who like to keep things low key. And the roomy suites all feature balconies, kitchenettes and huge, luxurious bathrooms.

10. Sandals Royal Bahamian, Nassau

A lively adults-only resort with a history, this outpost of the Sandals family was once the Balmoral Club, a chic spot for British upper-crusters in the 1940s, ’50s and ’60s. Today, the atmosphere’s a little looser. With eight bars (including a throwback English pub), two 24-hour pools and a fire pit, there’s plenty of opportunity to unwind. Of course no Caribbean vacation would be complete without a white-sand beach, and the Royal Bahamian has a nice one, plus for day trips, a private island with its own beach, bar and restaurant. A plethora of other amenities deliver bang for your buck, including 10 restaurants offering a variety of cuisines, water sports, tennis courts, a fitness center and a spa.

11. Sandals Barbados

sandals barbados

A new kind of all-inclusive resort in the Caribbean, Sandals Barbados has the latest and greatest of everything, from food to technology. That, coupled with the sheer volume of remarkably good food at its 11 restaurants, makes this a rather special all-inclusive resort. For the best bet, go for the butler suites. Crucially, this resort took a property that was a fading, tired hotel and transformed it into, well, a Sandals — into what is one of the best all-inclusive resorts in the Caribbean, and what is almost certainly one of the region’s most high-tech. That’s where Sandals is going, and it’s where the Caribbean needs to follow.

12. Palm Island, St Vincent and the Grenadines

palm

It’s no secret we’re big fans of this resort, which was our Caribbean All-Inclusive Resort of the Year and our top all-inclusive for beaches in 2015. It’s the latter that really this makes this resort, which is a throwback to the exotic, jet-setting Caribbean resorts of yesteryear.

13. Couples Tower Isle, Jamaica

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One of the most romantic resorts in all of the Caribbean, this is a “legacy” kind of property that’s one of Jamaica’s legendary sites, one that’s only gotten better over time. The food is great, the beach is even better and the setting is almost unmatched in Jamaica (including the picturesque private island).

14. Spice Island Beach Resort, Grenada

spice island

Grenada’s original flagship all-inclusive is a high-end, luxurious resort that leaves its guests absolutely satisfied, with every whim taken care of. This is, in every respect, the result of the hospitality vision of Sir Royston Hopkin.

15.  BodyHoliday, St Lucia

bodyholiday

This is the only All Inclusive Resort in the Caribbean where you get a free daily spa treatment. While that would be enough to make this list, this property has the most extensive wellness facilities of any hotel in the region, making you forget you’re even at an all-inclusive resort. Because you’ll likely leave in better shape than when you arrived.

16. Moon Palace Jamaica Grande

all inclusive

An entertainment colossus. This is almost the ultimate family resort. There are so many food options, including a Food Court, so many entertainment options, from nightlife to a surfing simulator, that getting bored is simply not an option — although relaxing is easy here too.

17. Hyatt Ziva and Zilara, Jamaica

rose hall

The former Ritz-Carlton in Montego Bay has been reimagined as Hyatt’s newest all-inclusive resorts, divided into adults-only and family sections. (Adult guests have access to all of the family-side amenities, but not vice versa). Much of the “luxury soul” of the Ritz-Carlton is still here, meaning a great combination of traditional Jamaican hospitality and all-inclusive comfort.

18. Curtain Bluff, Antigua

curtain bluff

There isn’t really an all-inclusive resort like this anywhere else in the Caribbean, or really any resort period. This is a traditional, old-school, elegant resort that feels like you’re in your own private club. And when you stay in the rooms here, you’re so close to the water that there’s always a built-in soundtrack. There’s no formula here, just excellence.

19. Hermitage Bay, Antigua

best all inclusive resorts

One of the coolest all-inclusive resorts in the Caribbean, this also has some of the region’s best rooms — 27 individual suites, both beachfront and hillside, all in view of a spectacular bay. This is the essence of a boutique luxury all-inclusive.

20. Cocobay, Antigua

cocobay

The story here is really the views of Valley Church beach. But this all-inclusive, adults-only boutique with 57 private cottages (and four plantation houses) has captured an enchanting, romantic vibe on a hillside in Antigua. Expect to find yourself saying “I can’t look away from that view.” And don’t feel guilty if you don’t.

21. Casa Marina Resort

magazineluxe.com

For a spot at a 4 star resort, $660 is quite a bargain. This includes everything and the amenities include nightly entertainment, an in-room safe, satellite TV, a jacuzzi, and all the alcoholic beverages that you can consume. Whats even more of a bargain is flying and experiencing a 5 star vacation for dirt cheap or free. One trick that has been booking a lot of people 5 star vacations for 3 star prices is bidding for hotels using Hotwire or Priceline Auction.

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Editorial Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. Lifetailored has partnered with Creditcards.com for our coverage of credit card products. Lifetailored and Creditcards.com may receive a commission from card issuers Additional Disclosure: This site has affiliate links. We may be compensated when users make a purchase or register to a third party website. For more details read our privacy policy.

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