There are all-inclusive hotels all over the world, as Nick Easen discovers
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The all-inclusive holiday has come a long way since the likes of Club Med opened its doors more than 60 years ago. It’s not just that hotels are offering more inclusions – you can also find all-inclusive properties in almost any corner of the world.
Today, you can check into an all-inclusive property on the shores of the Arabian Gulf, on the beach in Vietnam or in a palm grove in Morocco – the sector has now gone truly global.
MIDDLE EAST
The Jebel Ali Golf Resort & Spa in Dubai has camel riding, a nine-hole golf course and water sports on the calm Arabian Gulf waters thrown in and continues to invest in its offering.
In the last quarter of this year, the 627-room Rixos Bab Al Bahr will open in one of the smaller emirates, Ras al-Khaimah. It will be one of the first all-inclusive properties of this size in the United Arab Emirates, right by the beach, with a focus on families.
In Fujairah, the Radisson Blu Resort, which opened last year with views of the Indian Ocean and the Hajjar mountains, is a good Middle East retreat for couples, with a great selection of cuisine including Japanese, Arabic, Asian and Mediterranean.
INDIAN OCEAN
Lily Beach at South Ari Atoll in the Maldives has now been refurbished as a chic all-inclusive resort offering a spa, tennis, water sports, two children’s clubs and family villas that sleep four people.
On the same atoll, the luxurious and intimate 110-villa Constance Moofushi works well for honeymooners who want to chill out, go scuba diving or sip cocktails.
And it hasn’t been that long since Sainte Anne Resort & Spa, a private island in the Seychelles, has been offering all-inclusive options that include meals, drinks, snacks, snorkelling, kayaking and yoga.
ASIA-PACIFIC
Fusion Maia (pictured below) in Da Nang, Vietnam, is Asia’s first all-inclusive spa, and direct flights from the UK with Vietnam Airlines have made it more accessible. There are suites and villas with private pools here, geared towards couples who want spa treatments by the beach.
Club Med Guilin looks set to open early next year in southern China’s Guangxi province. Anantara Golden Triangle Resort & Spa in northern Thailand is now all-inclusive, offering accommodation, meals, minibar, internet, transfers and activities such as cookery courses and elephant rides in the package.
CENTRAL AMERICA
The Riu Palace Peninsula opened this May in Cancun, Mexico, and is available through Thomson. Geared to couples and families, this is Riu’s 17th property in the country and is one of its most luxurious. It is a 24-hour all-inclusive, with unlimited, imported alcoholic drinks and room service around the clock.
Secrets The Vine will open this August, also in Cancun. The resort has 495 ocean-view rooms and a spa inspired by the limestone caves and subterranean open pools of the Yucatan Peninsula. Wine lovers in particular will like this property because it has its own wine cellar.
A number of properties in the region have gone all-inclusive recently in response to demand, including the Westin Resort & Spa, Playa Conchal in Costa Rica and the Sheraton Bijao Beach Resort in Panama. These resorts work well for families with kids’ clubs and amazing scenery nearby.
AFRICA
The beachside Riu Palace Tikida Agadir opened in Morocco earlier this year, and suits sporty families with its children’s pool, kids’ club, on-site thalassotherapy spa and a complimentary shuttle to the nearby 36-hole golf course.
Club Med’s all-inclusive La Palmeraie resort went through a major refit last year. Located in Morocco’s oldest palm grove, it is just 20 minutes away from Marrakech’s city walls, making it the perfect compromise to allow both relaxation and sightseeing.
Then there’s the Melia Tortuga Beach Resort and Spa on the island of Sal, which is making waves on Cape Verde by catering to all-inclusive holidaymakers looking for a relaxing time, with four pools and three bars. The nearby Dunas Beach Resort is due to open next year and will also be managed by the Meliá brand.
