10 All-Inclusive Resorts You Can Skip & 10 Amazing Ones To Experience
Pass Or Paradise?
All-inclusive resorts promise sun, sand, and stress-free indulgence, but reality can be surprisingly uneven. Some properties leave travelers shaking their heads at dated rooms and questionable service, while others deliver jaw-dropping experiences that feel custom-made. Brace yourself for disappointment because we’ll start with the resorts you can skip—then move on to the gems worth your time and money!
1. Grand Paradise Playa Dorada — Dominican Republic
From the moment you encounter the dismissive front desk staff, Grand Paradise Playa Dorada's decline becomes increasingly apparent. Moldy room aromas and maintenance issues plague the dated accommodations, while lackluster buffet offerings and a bare-bones kids' club further dim the appeal. Even the lovely beach can't redeem these systematic shortcomings.
2. Royal Decameron Montego Beach — Jamaica
Although the Royal Decameron's coveted Montego Bay beachfront location promises substantial value, guests should weigh this prime positioning against notable compromises. The dated rooms, inconsistent dining quality, basic pool setup without expected luxuries, and uninspired entertainment offerings may undermine the all-inclusive rate's apparent appeal.
Royal Decameron Montego Beach Resort | Our Experience at a 3-Star Resort in Jamaica by Malinda.dxo
3. Club Med Bali — Indonesia
What could be a peaceful retreat at Club Med's Zen pool in prestigious Nusa Dua is compromised by insufficient shade and rooms that betray their premium pricing through dated furnishings. Yet like its trapeze-swinging guests, the Balinese resort somehow maintains a precarious balance between aspiration and reality.
Club Med Bali | Indonesia by Adventure with Cays
4. Club Hotel Riu Tikida Garden — Morocco
At first glance, Club Hotel Riu Tikida Garden's sprawling pool and nightly entertainment promise a classic Marrakech escape. But the façade crumbles as guests encounter dated, poorly maintained rooms, while the all-inclusive experience further deteriorates through repetitive buffet offerings that consistently draw complaints about quality and variety.
5. Allegro Cozumel — Mexico
The marketing photos showcase Allegro Cozumel's coveted San Francisco Beach setting and professional dive shop. Yet guests encounter a different story: rooms with failing air conditioning, buffets served cold, and staff who seem to vanish. The diving delivers; the resort experience disappoints.
Allegro resort for the day in Cozumel by The Fixation 500
6. TUI BLUE Lagoon Princess — Greece
That first glimpse of TUI BLUE Lagoon Princess on Halkidiki's shoreline sets budget-conscious travelers dreaming, but daily realities quickly reshape expectations. The direct beach access loses its charm when paired with repetitive buffet meals that dodge authentic Greek flavors in favor of British-style basics, while an unfinished water park adds to the resort’s uneven impression.
TUI BLUE Lagoon Princess, Halkidiki, Greece by TUI UK
7. Memories Varadero Beach Resort — Cuba
The glossy brochure promises four-star luxury on Varadero's pristine shores, yet gives you moldering rooms and rusted fixtures. Where elegant dining should flourish, guests find slow service and subpar meals. Behind the beachfront facade, persistent cockroaches, spotty housekeeping, and dated amenities reveal a resort's stark decline from its glory days.
Memories Varadero Beach Resort. Cuba. Varadero. territory and room. by Life in the moment
8. Hotel Riu Palace Cabo Verde — Cape Verde
You expect Riu polish, not peeling corners and lukewarm buffets. The beach still sparkles and the staff try their best, but the experience feels stuck between premium and passable, leaving travelers wondering where the magic went.
9. Tropical Attitude — Mauritius
Investigating the mixed reviews of Tropical Attitude reveals a puzzling pattern. While guests consistently praise the resort's laid-back vibe and warm staff, evidence points to persistent issues: dated accommodations, unreliable service quality, and limited dining options, which ultimately make this budget-friendly Mauritian destination difficult to recommend.
[4K] Tropical Attitude Hotel - Trou d'Eau Douce, Mauritius (review) by Hotel Journeys
10. Viva Wyndham Fortuna Beach — Bahamas
It’s hard to relax when paradise feels worn out. Travelers arrive ready for turquoise water and island bliss, only to find patchy service and tired interiors. Even the ocean breeze can’t mask the sense of something missing, leaving guests wanting more than just sunshine.
Viva Fortuna Beach by Wyndham - Freeport, Grand Bahama Island by Viva Resorts by Wyndham
Enough of the letdowns. Let’s switch gears and talk about the places that actually get it right—the ones where every sunrise, cocktail, and turn-down chocolate feels exactly how vacation should.
1. Jade Mountain Resort – Saint Lucia
Private bridges usher guests into Jade Mountain's architectural marvel, where 30 stunning sanctuaries embrace the Caribbean panorama. Each tech-free hideaway - whether crowned with an infinity pool or sky jacuzzi - frames the magnificent Pitons through missing walls. Below, Chef Susser's cuisine and an organic chocolate lab prepare to lift your sensory experience.
Prayitno / Thank you for (12 millions +) view from Los Angeles, USA on Wikimedia
2. Club Med Maldives – Maldives
A private island emerges from turquoise waters, revealing Club Med Kani's pristine silhouette. Overwater villas and beachfront sanctuaries cascade along the shoreline, while vibrant house reefs teem beneath. The all-inclusive haven unfolds with gourmet dining, water sports, yoga sessions, and open bar.
Club Med KANI Maldives 4K - Volume 1 by JLo
3. Ikos Olivia – Greece
There’s a quiet romance to Ikos Olivia—a place where time drifts as slowly as the tide. Each morning brings sea-salted air through olive groves, each evening a candlelit meal worthy of memory. Luxury here also feels personal, threaded through care and the hush of Greek summer nights.
Greece 2025. Ikos Olivia 5* - all inclusive resort review, 4k video by #otdikhaevi
4. Grand Velas Riviera Maya – Mexico
Choosing a Mexican Caribbean escape can feel like navigating a labyrinth—until Grand Velas Riviera Maya streamlines the decision with three perfectly curated sections. From Zen Grand's serenity to Ambassador's energy to Grand Class's exclusivity, plus eight gourmet restaurants and a transformative jungle spa, the AAA Five Diamond resort orchestrates the perfect holiday.
Grand Velas Riviera Maya Hotel Review | Luxury All-Inclusive Resort in Mexico by TripTalesToday
5. The Brando – French Polynesia
When Marlon Brando discovered Tetiaroa, he envisioned more than a private paradise; he dreamed of sustainable luxury alongside nature. Today, his legacy lives on at The Brando, an all-inclusive eco-resort where solar power and coconut oil fuel pristine beaches, Polynesian-inspired villas, and an island ecosystem thriving under one of the world’s most advanced conservation programs.
6. Royal Davui Island Resort – Fiji
Step into a private Fijian paradise as Royal Davui Island Resort welcomes you to its intimate ten-acre sanctuary. From your beachfront villa (one of just sixteen adult-exclusive havens with private plunge pools), indulge in all-inclusive luxuries before discovering the ultimate escape: bespoke picnics on secluded island corners.
Royal Davui Island Resort, Fiji: Unwind in Paradise | Travel Guide by The Travel Guide
7. Hermitage Bay – Antigua And Barbuda
Set along a serene Antiguian bay, Hermitage Bay’s thirty hillside suites overlook sweeping ocean vistas and lush tropical gardens. The resort's organic garden infuses farm-fresh flavors into every meal, while wellness sanctuaries invite guests to find their center through yoga and meditation sessions.
8. Sandals Royal Caribbean – Jamaica
Escape begins the moment you step into Sandals Royal Caribbean's adults-only haven in Montego Bay. This all-inclusive sanctuary turns seclusion into an art form, from glass-floored overwater bungalows with private soaking tubs to an exclusive offshore island where Thai dining and hidden beach cabanas promise blissful isolation.
Sandals Royal Caribbean Jamaica | Full tour and INSIDER Tips | Room tours by Honeymoon Always
9. Kurumba Resort – North Male Atoll
Named after the Dhivehi word for coconut, Kurumba Resort reflects its tropical heritage through lush gardens and pristine beaches. This famous all-inclusive haven blends authentic Maldivian experiences like cultural performances and cooking classes alongside modern indulgences, including eight diverse restaurants and three bars scattered across the property.
10. Nihi Sumba – Indonesia
Beyond Sumba's untamed shoreline lies an insider's sanctuary known to few: Nihi Sumba. Here, privileged guests ride the exclusive Occy's Left break, trek to hidden cliff-edge spa pavilions, and connect intimately with local communities through the resort's foundation, supporting education, healthcare, and water initiatives.
