Best-Selling Beach Resorts
These favorite all-inclusive spots shine
in the Caribbean, Mexico and the Bahamas
By Rebecca Matheson
Melia Hotels & Resorts
The following all-inclusive properties are some of the top picks for tropical getaways among Vacations To Go customers. Follow the provided links for more information, then book your escape with a Vacations To Go resort specialist at (800) 998-6925.
Iberostar Playa Mita
Say "Adios!" to the daily grind by rejuvenating at this 452-room, five-star hotel near Punta de Mita, Mexico. It offers stunning landscapes and fun for the whole family.
Where you'll find it: Surrounded by the Pacific Ocean, the majestic Sierra Madre mountains and some 200 miles of Riviera Nayarit coast, Iberostar Playa Mita is roughly 25 miles northwest of Puerto Vallarta's international airport.
Favorite features: Oceanfront Spa Rooms come with admission to a private, adults-only waterfront deck equipped with two hot tubs; guests in these accommodations also enjoy complimentary entry to a relaxing spa lounge.
Hit the green: Work on your swing at the Greg Norman-designed Litibu Golf Course for an additional fee. Located on-site, this par-72 course includes eight jungle-surrounded holes and three along the ocean.
To unwind: Sip a margarita at sunset at SeaSoul, the resort's rooftop bar. While the drinks are enticing, the real draw here is the breathtaking panorama. From December through March, it's the perfect place to watch whales frolic in the waves.
Grand Palladium Jamaica Resort and Spa
With water sports, live entertainment and the Disco Boogie Woogie nightclub, The Grand Palladium Jamaica promises day-to-night fun.
Where you'll find it: It's perched on a small peninsula in Lucea, between white Jamaican sands and lush, green hills. You'll be on the beach after a drive of 35 minutes or so from Montego Bay's Sangster International Airport.
Embrace your options: The 540-suite Grand Palladium Jamaica shares amenities with the adjacent Grand Palladium Lady Hamilton Resort and Spa. Together they provide 10 enticing restaurants that serve local dishes as well as international fare (including Indian, Italian and Mexican cuisines), as well as 13 bars, a casino and five pools.
Bring the kids: The youth staff at the resort's Mini Club supervises young vacationers ages 4 to 12 as they enjoy arts and crafts or the children's park.
Take a dip: The Grand Palladium claims to have the biggest pool on the island (it's roughly 48,440 square feet), where you can sunbathe in the shallows on tiled loungers or swim up to the Blue Lagoon bar for a sweet and slushy hummingbird, a Jamaican rum cocktail.
Hotel Riu Guanacaste
This five-star resort can be found on Mata Palo Beach in Costa Rica's Guanacaste province, where it's one of the few all-inclusive vacation options. The hotel is a 701-room oasis with a winding freshwater pool.
Where you'll find it: Hotel Riu Guanacaste is set on the north Pacific shore, not far from sabanero (cowboy) country, in a region that's drier and less humid than many other parts of Costa Rica. The Daniel Oduber Quiros International Airport in Liberia is less than an hour away.
Explore nature: For an additional fee, the staff will arrange an excursion to Rincon de la Vieja National Park, where you can ride on horseback to an active volcano and bathe in hot springs. You may even glimpse pumas, toucans or the blue-and-black-winged morpho butterfly.
To unwind: Grab a glass or two of bubbly and slip away to uninterrupted bliss in the privacy of your own whirlpool suite. Each of these rooms sports a hydro-massage bathtub and a hot tub on the terrace.
For a splurge: Book a massage with an ocean view in Renova Spa's garden pavilion. The rolling waves, stunning scenery and experienced hands of the therapist will melt worries away.
Crown Paradise Club Cancun
The choice location of this 617-room resort puts it at the less-crowded southern end of Cancun's hotel zone, about a 15-minute drive from the city's hub of shops and restaurants. Thanks to an array of on-site activities and a "kids stay free" policy, it's become popular for family getaways.
Where you'll find it: Amid swaying palms along the northeastern shore of Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula, the resort occupies a narrow strip of land that features the Caribbean Sea to the east and the Nichupte Lagoon to the west. Cancun International Airport is about 20 minutes away.
Bring the kids: Up to two kiddos age 12 and under can stay for no charge when sharing the room with adults. They can soak up the fun provided by on-site youth programs (one for tykes ages 18 months to 3 years, another for children 4 to 12), soar down nine waterslides or get their imaginations sailing on the aqua park's pirate ship. Teens can try the zipline and take on the climbing wall.
Get a thrill: Saddle up on the mechanical bull in Wayne's Boots, the resort's Western-themed steakhouse. After you've tamed the bull, dig into a rib-eye accompanied by an ice-cold beer.
For a splurge: Adventurers can spend a day investigating Mayan ruins (the archaeological site of Tulum is about 90 minutes south) or swimming in one of the Yucatan's cool cenotes (natural reservoirs formed with the surface collapses) for an added cost.
Grand Bahia Principe Bavaro
Experience the local culture through food, drink and activities at the 744-room Grand Bahia, edged by forests of mangroves and palm trees at the eastern tip of the Dominican Republic.
Where you'll find it: Perched on warm, white-sand Bavaro Beach, the resort is about half an hour's drive from the Punta Cana International Airport.
Pick your passion: Guests get one hour of nonmotorized water activities each day: Paddle a kayak, clamber aboard a catamaran and cruise turquoise waves, try windsurfing or grab a mask and snorkel for some underwater exploration. Or dive into the culture and get your groove on with dance classes in merengue and bachata, then show off your new moves at the resort's discotheques.
For a splurge: Soothe body and soul at the resort's spa, where you can nourish your skin with a coconut body treatment or submit to an anti-stress facial. Therapists here specialize in a Caribbean-inspired massage that promises deep relaxation -- book it at one of the beachside gazebos for a potential seaside snooze. The kids can follow suit at the Bahia Scouts Spa, where they'll get pampered with either a princess or superhero massage.
Bring your young travelers: At Bahia Scouts, children take on the roles of nature explorers and learn about the local flora and fauna. Other perks are mini-golf, a mini-disco, the water park and beach Olympics.
Melia Nassau Beach
Bahamian hospitality and a prime locale on a famed beach get visitors in the island spirit at this 726-room hotel.
Where you'll find it: Snug on a stretch of Cable Beach in northern Nassau, the resort is just minutes from downtown, where guests have access to restaurants, shops and a happening night scene.
Favorite features: All accommodations have private patios or balconies. Vacationers traveling with little ones can book one of the Kids and Co. Family Rooms; these provide child-approved amenities and a separate reception area stocked with juices and tasty snacks. The resort also boasts two hydro-massage tubs and three pools set in gardens.
Get cultured: In addition to water sports, fitness classes and volleyball matches, the property offers a dose of local heritage, with Caribbean dance classes and straw-weaving lessons.
For a splurge: Spend a little extra on a trip to Blue Lagoon Island to swim with dolphins. You also can snorkel among the vibrant coral or join a shark dive. For drier options, visit the Pirates of Nassau Museum.
Royalton White Sands Montego Bay
Royalton White Sands offers 352 rooms in a lavish environment with dedicated service that leaves guests feeling spoiled.
Where you'll find it: This gem is nestled near leafy hills along White Bay, an inlet in northern Jamaica. The hotel is about 40 minutes from Montego Bay and roughly 35 minutes from Sangster International Airport.
Favorite features: Royalton's "all-in luxury" concept means gentle rain showers and Dreambed mattresses, made especially for the company, in every room.
Bring the kids: The Clubhouse Kids Club gives children ages 4 to 12 a place to interact with favorite characters from the hit Nick Jr. shows "Max & Ruby" and "Mike the Knight." The older set is occupied at the Hangout Teens Club, decked out with games, PlayStations, pingpong tables and more. Other diversions include cooking and dance classes, water sports and beach games.
To unwind: Head to the open-air theater once the sun sinks below the horizon to catch a live show.
Breathless Punta Cana Resort and Spa
This adults-only resort features 750 suites sporting Caribbean-inspired decor and complimentary mini-bars that are restocked daily.
Where you'll find it: This inviting retreat sits along dazzling sand in the Dominican Republic, just under a 40-minute drive from Punta Cana International Airport.
For a splurge: Book an Xhale Club room for the ultimate VIP experience. With upgraded services and amenities, including a hot tub on your private terrace and exclusive access to private lounges, pools and a restaurant, you'll spend a pampered time in paradise.
Hit the green: Schedule a tee time with the concierge to test your skills at a nearby course such as Punta Blanca Golf Club, designed by World Golf Hall of Fame member Nick Price. With a couple of tricky holes and wide fairways, this gorgeous green is challenging yet playful.
No reservations required: Most all-inclusive resorts ask guests to call ahead for a table at their specialty restaurants, but walk-ins are encouraged at the 11 dining venues here. Try Kibbeh for Lebanese fare, Coquette for French-inspired dishes and Sofrito for Creole flavors. Plus, 24-hour room service satisfies the urge for a midnight snack.
The information in this story was accurate at the time it was published in March/April 2015.
Please visit Vacations To Go or call (800) 998-6925 for current rates and details.
