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Think all-inclusive isn’t for you? These 8 luxury hotels will change your mind
- James Litston
Published: August 19, 2026 at 10:23 AM
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From water villas in the Maldives to remote Icelandic retreats, this will change your mind on all-inclusives...
There was a time when going all-inclusive meant mega-resorts, predictable buffets and a pre-dawn dash for the best poolside loungers. And sure, while this type of mass-market holiday remains immensely popular, the all-inclusive concept itself has diversified and evolved. From deluxe hotels hidden in nature to beachfront resorts with style and flair, today’s all-inclusive holidays may surprise. No wristband required.
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8 all-inclusive hotels foodies will fall for
Daios Cove, Crete, Greece
For sophisticated luxury lovers
Don't be fooled by its whopping room count of over 280: eastern Crete’s Daios Cove may have the stature of a typical all-inclusive, but its air is that of a much smaller, style-forward hideaway. That's partly because it sprawls across a sea-facing hillside with architecture that blends into (rather than dominating) the landscape. It also helps that over half of the rooms have their own pools. This tempts occupants to luxuriate in their private sanctuaries, thus lightening the squeeze for space on the beach or by the lovely main pool.
The wealth of dining options further dissipates the crowds, so nowhere ever feels overwhelmingly busy. Of the six restaurants, the standouts are buffet-style Pangea, Taverna for its Cretan cuisine and feet-in-the-sand Beach House where Asian flavours meet island produce. Local ingredients might include honey from Chania, meat from Rethymno and olive oil, feta and vegetables from just up the road in Agios Nikolaos. And although you can book in on B&B basis, room categories upwards from junior suites wrap drinks, full-board dining and round-the-clock room service into the price.
Junior suites from £634 per night, all-inclusive. daioscovecrete.com
Ozen Reserve Bolifushi, Maldives
For comfort-seeking castaways
Going all-inclusive makes perfect sense when you’re a captive audience. In the Maldives – where single-resort islands are the norm – guests have no alternative to in-house drinking and dining, so there’s nothing to stop hotels from ramping up prices. All of which makes Ozen’s RESERVE plan feel unbelievably generous. As well as meals and drinks, it covers snorkelling excursions, water sports and treatments at the spa. Even the in-room “maxibar” (replenished daily) costs no extra. Indeed, guests only really need their wallets for the gift shop. It all adds up to an utterly carefree escape.
Located on South Malé Atoll, around half an hour by boat from the airport, Ozen Reserve Bolifushi features 90 beachfront and overwater villas, each with its own pool; and with anything from one to three bedrooms, they’re perfect for couples, groups or families. But whoever you’re travelling with, you’ll enjoy fresh and healthy, leafy greens and herbs grown hydroponically at sister property, Ozen Life Maadhoo. Also don’t miss dining at pan-Asian Soyi, Bolifushi’s best-rated restaurant, where the prawn dim sum and beef rendang are acclaimed.
Villas from £1,237 per night, all-inclusive. theozencollection.com/bolifushi
Lujo Hotel Bodrum, Türkiye
For foodie families
If you’re put off from booking an all-inclusive for fear of a scrum at the buffet, Lujo’s approach is certain to appeal. This luxurious resort on its own peninsula poking into the Aegean is among the first of its kind to do away with buffets entirely. Instead, you’ll find eight exceptional restaurants with a globetrotting spectrum of cuisines, all of which are completely à la carte. Standout dishes might include Anatolian clay-pot kebabs, Himalayan salt-aged steaks or entrecôte with Turkish coffee – and it’s all the better for the laudable focus on sourcing from local farmers.
Beyond fine food, Lujo also excels in its wealth of attractions and facilities. Four beaches, seven pools, a spa and heaps of water sports offer all-day diversions, and there’s even a kids’ club that stays open until 2am, giving parents some real time off. OK, so it comes at a premium price, but the quality is unquestionable; and given the breadth of dining, wellness and leisure experiences covered within the ultra-all-inclusive package, the overall value for money is outstanding.
Suites from £1,900 per night, all-inclusive. Minimum two-night stay. lujohotel.com
Ikos Porto Petra, Mallorca, Spain
For island adventurers
All-inclusive holidays may offer value, but they rather discourage exploring. After all, with everything pre-paid, why bother going off-site? Ikos sidesteps this issue through its highly regarded all-inclusive programme that extends to self-drive daytrips in an electric MINI Countryman and meals at selected local restaurants. With eight hotels dotted around Greece and Spain, this approach helps guests to experience each destination’s attractions and food scene. In Mallorca, that might mean venturing into adjacent Mondragó Natural Park or walking to supper at Amura Porto Petro, the included-in-the-price local restaurant.
That said, the hotel’s own dining outlets are superlative, spanning a buffet and six à la carte restaurants serving Greek, Italian, Spanish, Asian and Mediterranean cuisines. Menus throughout are developed with Michelin-starred chefs yet are deceptively informal, with a focus on island-sourced ingredients. Premium wines, cocktails and room service are also included, as are childcare, fitness classes and selected water sports. No wonder Ikos is considered the brand that’s done more than any other to redefine all-inclusive through choice and quality rather than excess.
Rooms from £550 per night, all-inclusive. ikosresorts.com
Wilderness Mara, Kenya
Wilderness is one of the winners of our olive Travel&Taste Awards 2026, find the full list here
For animal lovers
All-inclusive holidays go way beyond the beach-hotel model. Wild or remote locations also suit a fixed-priced approach, especially when there’s little on a property’s periphery. Safari camps, being marooned in nature, perfectly fit this mould. Among them, Wilderness’s 55 properties across southern and eastern Africa stand out for their commitment to conservation, sustainable practices and excellent food.
The brand’s newest addition is Wilderness Mara, whose 12 tented suites sit within the Mara Triangle and its wealth of black rhinos, elephants and herds of gazelle. Its position gives it access to the Mara River, that crocodile-infested hazard that the migrating herds must cross. Safari drives are among the multiple daily excursions included in the price, along with the likes of community visits or sundowners in the bush.
Mealtimes provide other memorable moments, whether it’s a three-course supper served under the stars or a Maasai-themed Manyatta dinner cooked in cast-iron pots on an open fire. As well as more familiar dishes like slow-cooked lamb or coconut rice, expect to try mukimo dumplings, ugali (maize meal) croquettes and other local staples.
Tented suites from £1,981 per night, all-inclusive. wildernessdestinations.com
Southern Ocean Lodge, Australia
For the wild at heart
Guests at Southern Ocean Lodge are grateful for its all-inclusive offering. This eco-luxurious lodge on South Australia’s Kangaroo Island, a half-hour flight from Adelaide, is just about as remote as you can get. It sits on a wild and empty coastline surrounded by miles of eucalypt forest, right on the edge of Flinders Chase National Park. With no cafés, restaurants, bars or anything else within easy reach, it makes sense to satisfy guests’ every need on-site.
Then again, the food is so good that guests would want to stay put anyway. Produce-driven menus are paired with premium South Australian wines to create a genuine sense of Kangaroo Island dining. The walk-in, help-yourself wine cellar (featuring heritage labels like Yalumba) is a highlight, as are dinnertime hits such as squid with cacao and wattle-seed, or a white chocolate panna cotta with lemon myrtle macadamia crust. Views from the restaurant and all 25 suites are an endless Southern Ocean panorama, keeping guests continually connected to the wildly beautiful backdrop and the kangaroos, echidnas and other Aussie wildlife that lives here.
Suites from £1,765 per night, all-inclusive. Minimum two-night stay. southernoceanlodge.com.au
Jade Mountain, St Lucia
For Caribbean dreamers
Jade Mountain may not have coined the term, but this independently owned hideaway overlooking the Pitons, St Lucia’s twin peaks, is the very definition of barefoot luxury. There’s no such thing as standard rooms here. Instead, there are sanctuaries whose categories (Star, Moon, Galaxy, Sky) are celestially inspired. That may well be because of each one’s open-fronted design, giving epic views of the Pitons by day and the heavens after dark.
Located on a 600-acre estate on the southwest coast, this adults-only retreat is as romantic as it gets. Each sanctuary comes with its own infinity pool or Jacuzzi, and there’s a choice of two sandy beaches for lazy days. But the real treat of staying here is the plot-to-plate philosophy that sees two fifths of the kitchens’ ingredients (from vegetables and salads to nuts and spices) being grown on the resort’s organic farm. Nearly all the rest is sourced from across this volcanically fertile island, most of it hyper-locally. Best of all, even the chocolates delivered each day to your room are from St Lucia: they’re made on-site at Jade Mountain’s Chocolate Laboratory.
Sanctuaries from £1,724 per night, all-inclusive. jademountain.com
Eleven Deplar Farm, Iceland
For budget-blowers
Even if you’re happy to spend a fortune on a holiday, it’s nice not having to think about day-to-day costs. At this luxury lodge in remote northern Iceland, every element of the experience is wrapped into the (considerable) price, from Michelin-level dining to outdoor adventures. It’s all utterly bespoke, too. Each trip begins with pre-arrival planning with an Eleven Experience Manager and includes all necessary gear for wilderness hiking, fly-fishing, kayaking or surfing. Whether under the midnight sun or Northern Lights, all activities are expert-led here on the wild and off-grid Troll Peninsula.
When not out adventuring, guests at this 13-bedroom lodge can relax at the airy spa with indoor-outdoor pool (and swim-up bar) heated by natural hot springs. That same geothermal energy powers the greenhouses that keep the lodge supplied with produce. Elsewhere, ingredients like berries and mountain moss tea are foraged from nearby hillsides, the lake provides char (an Arctic fish) and dairy items are sourced from the neighbouring farm – all of which is transformed into farm-to-table tasting menus by the culinary team.
Rooms from £6,836 per night, all-inclusive. Minimum 3-night stay. elevenexperience.com
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Simon Upton Photography Iceland Deplar Farm
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James Litston
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