All-inclusive adventures: 9 resorts you should consider for your next trip

Spending a week at an all-inclusive resort used to mean one thing: sun, sand and a schedule that seldom strayed further than the swim-up bar. But for travelers who pride themselves on seeking out hidden corners of the world, that kind of vacation can feel a little tame. When everything you need is steps from your room, where’s the sense of adventure?

But the all-inclusive concept has evolved – big time. The best all-inclusive resorts are rethinking what “inclusive” really means: being truly welcoming to travelers from all walks of life while weaving immersive experiences and regional character into each stay. Today’s standout properties pair wilderness with wellness programming, hands-on workshops and farm-to-table dining. 

Of course, all-inclusive still means that everything you need is included – yep, even a lazy day by a swim-up bar. But when the hotel part is so simple, I for one have more energy for adventure. I surprised myself by doing a cold plunge into the forest lake outside Spa Eastman in Québec and taking a dawn hike through the Sonoran Desert foothills of the Santa Catalina Mountains right at Canyon Ranch’s doorstep. And with these resorts as your home base, you’ll be set up to surprise yourself too.

These nine all-inclusives from Austria to Australia prove a resort stay doesn’t have to mean checking out from the world.

1. Lopesan Costa Bávaro, Dominican Republic

Less than 30 minutes from Punta Cana, the classic Caribbean all-inclusive gets a major upgrade, thanks to luxe touches (bless you, made-to-order smoothie bar that does not skimp on the dragonfruit) and immersive excursions. Stretching across white sand shores and tropical gardens, Lopesan Costa Bávaro is populated not only by happy guests but also by iguanas and a particularly adorable population of cats, all of whom I befriended. The five-star resort offers plenty of pools (A quiet one! A family one! An adults-only one!) and a variety of beachside dining options, from local flavors to international cuisine – all included. You can book windsurfing lessons, whale-watching trips, snorkeling and guided tours exploring nearby Saona Island. Family-friendly and adventure-ready, this resort transforms the standard all-inclusive into a full-spectrum Caribbean escape.

Make it happen: Packages start at 490 US dollars (US$) per night.

Getting there: Fly to Punta Cana International Airport and hop in a taxi for a 20-minute drive.

2. Calala Island, Nicaragua

Nicaragua’s private Calala Island makes for a supremely elevated escape – and I mean really getting away from it all. You’ll be put up in one of just four beachfront hideaways, pleasantly sandwiched between the ocean and the jungle. When you’re ready to part ways with your hammock, go for a fishing trip or snorkel in the shockingly clear waters to glimpse rays and maybe even a hawksbill turtle. Everything is truly included here, from a morning mimosa (or three, no judgment) to all the mundane minutia like taxes and transfers.

Make it happen: All-inclusive prices start at US$4312 per night for a minimum of three nights. 

Getting there: It isn’t easy, but it’s worth it. Take a major airline to Managua, then a short domestic flight to Bluefields. From there, the resort coordinates the beautiful boat ride to the island.

3. Bamarru Plains, Australia

In Australia’s Top End, amid the jigsaw of wetlands, rainforests and sandstone plateaus, Bamarru Plains offers a front-row seat to natural drama: gamboling wallabies, strutting storks and herds of water buffalo. Ten stilt bungalows, poised above the Mary River floodplains west of Kakadu National Park, are designed with respect for the land and its history, from Aboriginal artwork to bathrooms made from upcycled metal. Mesh walls on three sides allow epic views from your bed, while magpie geese act as a cacophonous alarm clock.

Make it happen: Packages start at 2290 Australian dollars per person per night in the low season. 

Getting there: Bamarru Plains is a 3-hour drive east from Darwin (or a 30-minute charter flight).

4. Canyon Ranch, USA

You can’t beat the OG. This storied beauty put all-inclusive, health-first travel on the map. I expected a stay at Canyon Ranch to be a sort of medical-spa vacation and instead left feeling like I’d attended the world’s most luxurious, personalized and educational summer camp for grown-ups. My days swung from sunrise hikes and nutrition talks to unexpectedly fascinating medical consults and restorative spa treatments. Whether you are at the resort in the Arizona mountains in Tucson or the Massachusetts forest in Lenox, you can start the day discussing sleep science and end it floating in a sound bath. The all-inclusive setup makes experimentation easy: meals, many classes and wellness programming are included, so you don’t overthink it – and the picturesque settings make it easy to escape from real-world worries.

Make it happen: There’s an option to get a fifth night free for the lowest price, starting at US$1000 per person per night for single occupancy and US$900 per person per night for double occupancy. 

Getting there: Canyon Ranch is a 30- to 40-minute drive from Tucson's airport; for Lenox, your best bet is Bradley International Airport in Windsor Locks, CT, about an hour’s drive away.

5. Bhutan Spirit Sanctuary, Bhutan

Bhutan Spirit Sanctuary is an all-inclusive gem hidden in the Neyphu Valley. If you’re into daily yoga, meals from locally grown ingredients and generally holing up in a majestic pine forest for spa treatments that feature native herbs, all included, the imposing flight to Bhutan is well worth it for this spot. And yes, you read that right: the spa treatments (one per day) are indeed included in the daily rate. 

Make it happen: Prices start at US$1285 per night on an all-inclusive basis. 

Getting there: Fly into Paro International Airport via Drukair or Bhutan Airlines (you’ll likely connect in Bangkok, Singapore or Delhi).

6. Spa Eastman, Canada

I don’t think I’ve ever experienced such superb quiet as I did during my solo stay at Spa Eastman’ s more than 300 forested acres. Set in the fairy-tale forests of Québec’s Eastern Townships, this oasis is no newbie to the all-inclusive game: Spa Eastman was a pioneer wellness retreat in the late 1970s. The experience revolves around its famous (and all included) cuisine tonique – a nutrient-forward, anti-inflammatory dining program – paired with an on-site spa and fitness offerings. But it’s truly a choose-your-own adventure. I tried as many new things as I could, from seeing a naturopathic doctor to getting facial acupuncture, plus spent plenty of time getting lost on the property’s 15km of wooded trails. Best of all, every day (sometimes twice) I rotated through the all-included Nordic-style thermotherapy circuit: hot tubs, saunas and cold plunges. The spa even offers very kind micro cold plunges just for your arms and legs, for the uninitiated.

Make it happen: A true deal starting from 275 Canadian dollars (C$) per night, although the C$400 per night Au bout du rouleau (At your wit’s end) package with daily spa inclusions is well worth it. 

Getting there: Fly to Montréal and drive about 90 minutes, or take a shared bus from Montréal's airport. It’s also just shy of 4 hours from Boston by car, making it an easy nature escape from both Canada and the northeastern USA.

7. Cirqa, Peru

In the historic heart of Arequipa, Cirqa turned a 16th-century monastery into an intimate, all-inclusive retreat that history nerds will love. Built from the region’s strangely luminous white volcanic sillar stone, the restored Relais & Chateaux property blends centuries-old architecture (arched cloisters, candlelit courtyards) with understated modern amenities. All-inclusive does not mean layabout days at this gem: from here you can tour Arequipa’s UNESCO-listed old town and take excursions into the surrounding Andean landscape. Then spend evenings under the stars on the rooftop terrace or gathered around the property’s firelit patios with a glass of Quebranta.

Make it happen: The starting nightly rate is US$500; choose half board for two meals per day or full board for three (plus cocktail hour). 

Getting there: The nearest airport is Rodríguez Ballón International Airport, about a 20-minute drive from the hotel, with regular connections from Lima (roughly a 90-minute flight).

8. Club Marvy, Türkiye

Resorts are sprinkled along Türkiye’s Aegean Coast as generously as pistachios on a wedge of künefe (syrup-soaked pastry with sweet cheese). Club Marvy has the swish spa and sandy beach you’d expect at an upscale all-inclusive. Its kitchen aims high, using locally sourced ingredients (the owner’s mother has an organic farm close by). But best of all Club Marvy gives guests the chance to play sea captain with reasonably priced lessons at the on-site sailing club. Kids can bob around in the sparkling water on a dinghy while adults work to get their sailing license – all the more reason to arrive by boat next time, White Lotus style.

Make it happen: Full-board packages start at around US$300 per night. 

Getting there: Club Marvy is less than an hour by road from Adnan Menderes Airport in the ancient port town İzmir.

9. Hotel Nesslerhof, Austria

In Austria’s Grossarl Valley, Hotel Nesslerhof delivers the kind of alpine escape where the scenery does half the work. Snow-dusted peaks in winter, wildflower meadows in summer: no matter what, the mountains are the main attraction. This family-run property balances cozy Austrian hospitality with a polished spa-and-ski vibe, with 80-plus rooms to choose from (the over-the-top Pool Suite even comes with its own rooftop pool). From this all-inclusive home base you can hop right into the nearby natural swimming hole, or spend days hiking, mountain biking or skiing – depending on the season – in the surrounding Alps. You’ll also get to enjoy the classic Austrian spa and daily included meals that showcase local ingredients like nose-to-tail meats prepared in the hotel’s own butcher shop, Großarler Genuss.

Make it happen: Rates start at US$505 for a double room. 

Getting there: Fly to Salzburg, roughly an hour away from Hotel Nesslerhof. From there, you can drive or take the train to St. Johann im Pongau.