All-inclusive resorts offer plenty of excellent amenities that are part of the nightly rate, including a myriad of bars and restaurants, plus all kinds of fun activities and games. But perhaps one of the best features an all-inclusive resort can offer is a refuge like a private pool just steps from your room so you can kick back with no one else splashing or talking too loud.
Whether you’re honeymooning or traveling with your kids, here are some of the world’s most stellar all-inclusive resorts with private pools. All you have to do is jump in!
[roundup-affiliate type=”hotel” capi-id=”8988″ post-id=”1442499″]
Floating above a private 600-acre estate framed by two golden beaches, Jade Mountain feels like you’ve arrived at an airy oasis with perfect views encompassing St. Lucia’s natural beauty.
The 24 open-walled suites here were designed with honeymooners and other romance-minded travelers in mind. No two rooms — referred to as “sanctuaries” — are alike, but all only have three walls, with the fourth side being fully open to offer sweeping panoramas of the lush mountains and beautiful sea. Each of the sanctuaries has soaring 15-foot ceilings and tropical hardwood furnishings.
Outside, which is truly just an extension of your interior sanctuary space, you’ll find large private verandahs with personal pools. They’re the perfect spot to sip Champagne while you watch the light shift on the verdant Piton mountains in the distance.
Keeping things romantic here means also keeping rooms and the resort mostly unplugged. There are no TVs, radios or telephones, making Jade Mountain the ultimate all-inclusive honeymoon resort.
Meals are served at the Jade Mountain Club next to an infinity pool with vistas past the trees and out to the Caribbean Sea. At night, candlelight casts a golden glow over dishes created by James Beard Award-winning chef Allen Susser, who utilizes ingredients from the resort’s organic Emerald Farm alongside fresh Caribbean seafood. Guests can also dine at sister property Anse Chastenet, which is set on the beach below Jade Mountain, or choose private dining in their room so they can take a dip in their pool between courses.
Guests can also relax in the room with couple’s massages for two or head to the small spa for facials, wraps and other wellness treatments. Other activities include coastal kayaking, snorkeling, scuba diving, sailing and windsurfing, plus land-based pursuits such as mountain biking, tennis and yoga.
Rates start at $1,675 per night, based on double occupancy.
[roundup-affiliate type=”hotel” capi-id=”9157″ post-id=”1444081″]
For an adults-only haven where privacy and romance are paramount, consider Sanctuary Cap Cana. This property in the Dominican Republic wows with its location in a 30,000-acre beachfront gated community in Punta Cana. A $45 million refurbishment has revitalized the 324-room Spanish colonial-style luxury resort, spiffing up the five restaurants and turning the spa into a relaxation oasis.
The spa isn’t the only spot where you’ll find a peaceful atmosphere. The resort’s Castle Island Suites feature spacious living areas and two bedrooms with cream-toned furnishings, marble bathrooms and direct views of the aqua Caribbean waters. These suites also boast not one, not two, but three personal indoor plunge pools. Guests who book them receive personal concierge and butler service during their stay for help with everything from unpacking bags to having Champagne waiting poolside at one, or maybe all of, the in-room plunge options.
There are even more opportunities to get wet at the resort’s six pools, and other leisure activities include teeing off at a Jack Nicklaus-designed golf course and partaking in a large variety of classes and entertainment options, such as Spanish lessons and themed cocktail parties.
The resort’s range of international food options includes a formal steakhouse, a northern Italian trattoria and a seafood restaurant, plus more casual buffets and poolside spots for lighter fare.
Rates start at $456 or 120,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night, based on double occupancy.
[roundup-affiliate type=”hotel” capi-id=”9299″ post-id=”1444110″]
A stay at Zoëtry Agua Punta Cana is a combination of relaxation, postcard-worthy views and delicious dining. Although this isn’t an adults-only property, you’ll mostly encounter couples enjoying a quiet, romantic getaway at this upscale all-inclusive. With just 96 suites and 200 yards of white sand, there’s plenty of space to stretch out in uncrowded bliss.
The suites’ design and decor pay homage to the local Taino culture with thatched roofs and natural wood and stone elements. All have private patios to soak up the sun from comfy lounge chairs, as well as romantic tubs for two in the bathrooms. The multiroom garden view villas and junior deluxe oceanview suites also have their own plunge pools. Ground-floor suites are surrounded by soft grass (a rarity at island resorts) and have direct access to the beach, so you can go right from the sand into your cooling retreat.
For more watery fun, the resort has two infinity pools, as well as complimentary water sports equipment like kayaks, catamarans and snorkeling gear that you can use to explore the coral reef just offshore. Guests can also kite surf, scuba and fish for an additional fee. The spa is another prime spot to relax, with a hydrotherapy circuit in addition to couples massages and treatments such as citrus scrubs and diamond facials.
Due to the small size of the resort, you won’t need a reservation to visit any of the five on-site restaurants, which include Olena for elevated Italian, Caribbean-inspired Piragua, Amaya for a range of international dishes, Indigo for casual beachside fare and Coco Cafe, which serves snacks and pastries all day.
Rates start at $478 or 21,000 World of Hyatt points per night, based on double occupancy.
[roundup-affiliate type=”hotel” capi-id=”8883″ post-id=”1444119″]
Set on a forested hill overlooking a white sand beach and the Caribbean Sea, Antigua’s Hermitage Bay feels like a luxurious treehouse thanks to its secluded villas tucked amid the dense tropical foliage. With just 30 rooms at the 140-acre property and no guests younger than 14 allowed, the ambiance is romantic.
The 17 hillside pool suites only add to the idyllic setting, offering a mix of indoor and outdoor living spaces with amenities like four-poster beds and private infinity pools surrounded by flowers and greenery. The latter create the illusion of floating over the beach below when you’re swimming.
When you’re in need of some sustenance, head to the open-air restaurant for organic, seasonal menus featuring freshly caught seafood and produce from the resort’s organic garden. An alfresco bar leads to the property’s infinity pool, where guests can take a dip before heading to the beach.
Yoga, pilates, meditation and cooking classes are also on offer, as are numerous nonmotorized water sports, such as sailing and scuba diving.
Rates start at $1,684 per night, based on double occupancy.
[roundup-affiliate type=”hotel” capi-id=”9215″ post-id=”1444124″]
In Antigua, only one resort features overwater bungalows: Royalton Antigua.
Although this Autograph Collection resort welcomes guests of all ages, the overwater bungalows, which are the standout accommodations here, only permit adults. These bungalows include beautiful glass-front infinity pools where you can watch the waves while soaking in private. The adjacent decks offer both lounge chairs and hammocks over the sea so you can keep an eye on the watery vistas while you’re drying off.
Inside each multiroom accommodation, you’ll find a viewing window in the floor, providing a front-row view of the tropical marine life from the comfort of your living room. Bvlgari amenities, a stylish bar and a bathtub big enough for two are all room highlights.
Snorkeling and swimming in the clear, warm water are two top activities here. Dial up the romance with beachfront Champagne dinners or a couple’s massage at the spa.
In addition to seven dining spots that run the gamut from an international buffet to a refined steakhouse, there’s the splurge-worthy C/X Culinary Experience for an additional charge. Opt for this add-on for a seven-course tasting menu with musical selections to accompany every dish.
Rates start at $437 or 106,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night, based on double occupancy.
[roundup-affiliate type=”hotel” capi-id=”9272″ post-id=”1444127″]
Sandals Royal Curaçao — an all-inclusive, adults-only, couples-focused resort — is nestled on 44 acres within a 3,000-acre protected preserve and private estate.
With 351 luxurious rooms and suites in 24 categories, Sandals’ first and only resort in Curacao is perfect for sun-seeking lovebirds. Two new signature suite categories, the Awa Seaside Butler Bungalows and Kurason Island Poolside Butler Bungalows, come complete with soaking tubs, private pools and butler service.
These aren’t your average minuscule plunge pools. When you choose one of these accommodations, you’ll have use of a private infinity pool that runs the entire length of your villa, meaning it’s large enough to actually swim in, not just take a quick dip to cool off. The private poolside deck also has an outdoor freestanding bathtub, should you wish to enjoy Caribbean Sea breezes while bathing.
There are 13 bars and eight restaurants at this resort, including a sushi spot, a seafood shack and a Mediterranean cafe. Sandals Royal Curaçao also offers the brand’s first off-site dining program, Island Inclusive, which provides guests with credits to eat at other outlets around Curacao.
Other amenities include a large two-level infinity pool and unlimited water sports like scuba diving and snorkeling, plus tennis and other land-based activities. There’s evening entertainment, too, for those who wish to continue the fun after the sun sets.
Rates start at $374 per person, per night. Note that rates include all tips, as well as airport transfers.
[roundup-affiliate type=”hotel” capi-id=”8842″ post-id=”1444133″]
Some resorts have just a handful of rooms with private pools. That’s not the case at Grand Velas Riviera Maya. Here, 90 suites out of 539 available include plunge pools situated on large outdoor terraces with views of the sea.
All of the resort’s suites are large — even the smallest is 1,100 square feet — and dot the 206 acres of tropical jungle and verdant mangroves that roll down to a soft white sand beach. They’re stocked with upscale amenities such as L’Occitane toiletries, artisanal mezcal and Nespresso coffee machines. Bathrooms deserve a special mention, as they have walk-in glass showers, deep soaking Jacuzzi tubs and marble interiors.
Food is a major focus at the resort. Guests can dine at eight different restaurants, including five upscale offerings serving the cuisines of Mexico, Europe and Asia. One dining highlight not to miss is Cocina de Autor, which is helmed by well-regarded chefs Bruno Oteiza and Mikel Alonso. It is the first all-inclusive restaurant in the world to be awarded the prestigious AAA Five Diamond Award. Expect innovative dishes such as “Jack the crab,” which features spider crabs, jackfruit and succulents, and “pork under falling leaves,” with black garlic, figs and watercress.
SE Spa is one of the region’s largest spas, clocking in at more than 90,000 square feet. It offers Mexican-inspired treatments along with healing techniques from around the world and a signature seven-step water journey.
Leisure time centers around the resort’s three swimming pools, two fitness centers, water sports offerings and kids and teens clubs. Musical fun is available as well, whether you prefer karaoke or a top-notch piano bar.
Rates start at $478 per person, per night, based on double occupancy.
[roundup-affiliate type=”hotel” capi-id=”9230″ post-id=”1444148″]
Tucked along a private lagoon with just 24 immense villas spread across five islands in the Maldives’ Noonu Atoll, Soneva Jani truly makes you feel like you’ve landed in a special corner of paradise sequestered away from the rest of the world.
Overwater bungalows here are the stuff tropical dreams are made of; not only can you gaze down into the tranquil water from your private deck’s pool, but you can also take advantage of your accommodation’s slide, which quickly brings you from the top floor of your duplex unit right into the warm lagoon water. If that’s not exciting enough, at night, the roof of your room can retract with just the touch of a button so you can stargaze from the comfort of your bed.
Besides the overwater bungalows, you’ll find beach villas with up to four bedrooms, making them a great option for traveling families. They feature large private pools, including some with slides that start from the second floor. This unique feature is sure to make a “splash” for kids of all ages.
When the tykes tire of the pool — if that’s possible — The Den, billed as the largest kids club in the Maldives, has more fun awaiting. Soneva Academy offers immersive classes for kids in everything from bird-watching to mosquito control and plastic recycling.
Speaking of kids, the resort also has a chocolate room filled with desserts, as well as an ice cream parlor. There are more savory dining options in the cheese and charcuterie room, too. Other culinary highlights include The Crab Shack, with a menu featuring Asian preparations of crab, including a Sri Lankan mud crab curry; and So Wild, an entirely plant-based dining experience (a rarity at an all-inclusive) utilizing produce from the property’s organic garden.
Explore the spectacular seascape with complimentary nonmotorized water sports, including kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, windsurfing, kite surfing and catamaran sailing. Tennis and paddle tennis are also popular daytime options. In the evening, watch movies under the stars.
Rates start at $3,350 per night, based on double occupancy.
[roundup-affiliate type=”hotel” capi-id=”9271″ post-id=”1443295″]
You’ll feel like you’ve stepped off the plane in the Maldives instead of Montego Bay, Jamaica, when you first spy the luxurious overwater bungalows at adults-only Sandals Royal Caribbean.
Just minutes from the airport in Montego Bay, Sandals Royal Caribbean embraces British colonial heritage with a Georgian-style Great House, afternoon tea service and manicured gardens with roaming peacocks. What’s most notable here is the resort’s private offshore island with overwater bungalows (the first property to offer them in the Caribbean). Many of these overwater suites have their own private glass-walled infinity pools that allow you to have an unrivaled view of the sea while you swim on your overwater deck. Next to the pools are dual outdoor showers and shaded swinging lounge chairs built for two.
The private island also has Bali-inspired beach cabanas, a Balinese-style pool with a swim-up bar and an outpost of the brand’s Red Lane Spa. There are nine restaurants to choose from, including an authentic Thai eatery, plus five bars, eight pools, six whirlpools and a variety of included water sports, such as paddleboarding and unlimited scuba diving for certified divers.
Guests here also have access to the neighboring Sandals Montego Bay resort through Sandals’ “Stay at 1, Play at 2” program, which means you can enjoy 12 additional restaurants, six more bars and an additional seven pools.
Rates start at $297 per person, per night.
[roundup-affiliate type=”hotel” capi-id=”9014″ post-id=”1443363″]
Who lives in a pineapple under the sea? If you don’t immediately scream “SpongeBob SquarePants!” when you hear this question, this resort is not for you.
However, if you’re currently hearing the nautical jingle from the animated underwater show ringing in your ears (or from a TV somewhere in your home), grab the kids because Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts Punta Cana is going to be their dream vacation.
One of the best hotels with a lazy river, this Nickelodeon-affiliated property is part of the massive AquaNick water park. There are character-filled meals, live shows and restaurants with plenty of kid-friendly fare, including some with space-themed menus and casual bites like burgers. Plus, there’s slime by the bucketful — yes, the messy neon green kind from Nickelodeon’s early shows. If you’re feeling particularly adventurous, you can even pay extra for a private sliming for you and your crew.
Take a break from the party atmosphere by booking a two-bedroom, two-story Super Pool Villa, which has a large yard with its own pool and lounge chairs, as well as an indoor pool in the entryway for a quick dip when you arrive. (Yes, there are two pools!) The interiors are surprisingly tasteful, with pops of the resort’s signature orange and turquoise colors and contemporary furniture. Swank Plunge Pool Suites offer pools on spacious, furnished wraparound balconies that extend from the one-bedroom suites with king-size beds and pullout couches.
If you have “SpongeBob SquarePants” fans in your group, you won’t want to miss the opportunity to book the Pineapple Villa. Designed to mimic SpongeBob’s iconic home in Bikini Bottom, this standalone villa has a private pool, two bedrooms and plenty of aquatic-themed touches, including coral and seashell decor and a color palette that’s more ocean-themed than cartoonish in the main bedroom and living room. The kids room is equipped with two double beds that have inner tube headboards and framed photos of Gary, SpongeBob’s pet snail, to help set the scene.
Rates start at $430 per night, based on double occupancy.
[roundup-affiliate type=”hotel” capi-id=”9214″ post-id=”1444152″]
Stunning barely describes the views from the pool decks of the private villas that comprise Singita Pamushana Lodge. The only safari property in Zimbabwe’s 130,000-acre Malilangwe Reserve, the luxury lodge is perched at the top of a rocky outcrop facing a wildlife-filled dam.
The pools here may be billed as “plunge,” but they’re easily big enough to swim a few strokes across. While you float, you may spot the ripples from hippos in the dam below following the property’s boats that will later take you on a sundowner cruise. Masseuses are on call for a poolside massage, and you’ll hear nothing but the gentle lapping of the water, birdsong and animal calls of the bush surrounding you.
Inside, the stone-walled villas have one or two bedrooms and living spaces with plush furnishings and large glass windows. Special touches include coffee areas with freshly ground beans and French presses, plus minibars that hold milk, beer and water. There’s also one family villa with an even bigger pool and five bedrooms.
The main lodge is where buffet breakfasts and lunches are served. Evenings bring multicourse meals that are especially impressive, featuring everything from fresh seafood from Mozambique to molten chocolate cake, all served under twinkling stars.
As you might expect, the wildlife experience is stellar here. You won’t see another safari vehicle as you explore the reserve on twice-daily game drives — one in the early morning hours, another as the sun sets. With a bit of luck, you might encounter endangered black rhinos and large populations of elephants, cheetahs, wild dogs and leopards while out and about.
Rates start at $1,940 per person, per night.
[roundup-affiliate type=”hotel” capi-id=”8793″ post-id=”1444162″]
The name says it all — this safari lodge in South Africa’s private Sabi Sands wildlife area is known for its incredible leopard sightings and splendid safari chalets.
The lodge features eight private suites with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the bush and bathrooms with freestanding tubs and both indoor and outdoor showers. There are private decks, too, and they have lounge chairs to watch stars twinkle to life in the African sky when you’re not enjoying a dip in the plunge pools, which serve as the perfect spot to relax while keeping an eye out for the elephants and buffaloes that regularly visit the area. The area’s leopards are also known to occasionally cool off in the pools when guests aren’t using them, so be on the lookout while in your suite.
When you’re eager to check out your surroundings, partake in twice-daily game drives within the Sabi Sands Game Reserve — one in the early morning prior to breakfast and another in the late afternoon before dinner. Chances are you’ll spot the “Big 5” (elephants, lions, rhinos, Cape buffaloes and leopards) while driving through 16,000 acres of diverse ecosystems.
The lodge serves elevated South African cuisine in several locations, including an elegant candlelit dining room and a traditional outdoor boma with an open fire, so you won’t have to worry about preparing meals before or after game drives. For the ultimate safari experience, enjoy breakfast right in the middle of the bush.
Rates start at $1,166 per person, per night.
[roundup-affiliate type=”hotel” capi-id=”9201″ post-id=”1444172″]
It’s all about three S’ — sun, sea and serenity — at Royal Davui. If you’re looking for a romantic hideaway where you can truly disconnect from the rest of the world, this island oasis in the blue waters of Fiji’s Beqa Lagoon is one for the bucket list.
A remote, adults-only enclave, Royal Davui promotes “barefoot luxury” in its luxe villas, meaning you’ll be pampered completely without ever having to worry about dressing up, leaving your beachside seat or, quite honestly, straying very far from your plush villa.
Speaking of those villas: There are just 16 freestanding accommodations, all with their own temperature-controlled pools, spacious living areas and expansive outdoor decks with views of the shimmering turquoise Beqa Lagoon.
No fishing is allowed within a mile of the island, making snorkeling and diving here especially exciting thanks to an abundance of fish swimming through protected coral reefs. Loaner Hobie Cat sailboats, stand-up paddleboards and kayaks are also available.
Beyond the water, you’ll find a spa with treatments like a warm coconut milk foot bath and the Fijian Bobo Massage, which uses oil infused with local flowers. And for meals, there’s the Banyan Bar & Restaurant, which serves artfully presented dishes with a mix of Asian and Western flavors. Try the crispy squid with chili-lime salt and chili jam, the sirloin steak with a Fiji beer vinaigrette or the macadamia-crusted pork schnitzel with bush lemon.
Rooms start at $1,360 per night, based on double occupancy.
[roundup-affiliate type=”hotel” capi-id=”8757″ post-id=”1444184″]
Taking luxury tents to a level well beyond anything that could be called merely “glamping,” Wild Coast Tented Lodge combines sumptuous, cocoon-like accommodations with a glorious natural setting on Sri Lanka’s southern coast. These large, plush spaces are filled with antique safari-style furnishings, deep soaking copper tubs and canopied beds for complete comfort. Each private hideaway also has its own pool that feels like you’re swimming in the jungle.
Wild Coast is an especially good fit for couples, as they can tuck away and quite literally cocoon in their private pods. However, families will be more than content here as well thanks to the ample space available for spreading out. Families can choose a cocoon tent with an adjacent “urchin” accommodation that fits two twin beds so little ones can feel like their camping without parents sacrificing creature comforts.
Anyone staying at Wild Coast will want to make time for open-air Jeep safaris into adjacent Yala National Park for opportunities to spot the area’s abundant wildlife, including Sri Lanka’s largest population of leopards, as well as elephants, sloth bears and an incredible array of birdlife. Guests can also go on a guided nature walk with highly trained guides (families should note that some wildlife activities are restricted to those ages 12 and up, but junior ranger programs on the property are available for younger children). On-site cooking classes are a tasty way to try local Sri Lankan flavors, and there are both adult- and family-oriented options.
Most meals are served in the open-air dining pavilion and feature frequently changing menus that incorporate local ingredients such as sweet calamansi, spicy green chiles and freshly caught seafood. Meals can also be dished up in unique spots like the sand dunes of the beach. The Tusker Bar is the place to sip a cocktail while watching the sun set, a favorite evening activity.
Rates start at $1,054 per night, based on double occupancy.
[roundup-affiliate type=”hotel” capi-id=”8840″ post-id=”1444190″]
On a private 42-acre island off the east coast of Indonesia’s Bintan Island, this adults-only resort has just 20 beach villas and is an easy two-hour journey from Singapore.
Cempedak embodies desert-island chic. Bi-level, thatch-roofed villas facing the water feature king-size beds draped with mosquito nets upstairs and large living rooms and bars downstairs that open to private decks with sun loungers and infinity plunge pools facing the sea. Your personal butler will get you settled and show you around before attending to your activities and arranging experiences like private in-villa dinners.
Meals served in the main dining room include breakfasts of tropical fruits and freshly baked pastries, while lunch and dinner feature local whole fish and lobster, organic vegetables and Asian flavors.
The Rock Spa comprises three double treatment rooms overlooking the ocean. Therapies include a range of massages, body treatments and facials using natural local ingredients such as virgin coconut oil, coffee, cacao, brown sugar, Spanish rosemary and sea salt.
Play tennis on soft green grass courts that are also used for afternoon croquet. Or, try snorkeling, fishing, kayaking, windsurfing and stand-up paddleboarding in the placid waters nearby. Rock climbing and hiking are popular ways to explore the island’s forest, mangroves and rock formations.
Rates start at $475 per night, based on double occupancy. Keep in mind that there’s an extra fee of $95 per person, per day for the food and beverage package.
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