6 September 2023
You might think that the best all-inclusive resorts are found dotting the beaches of Mexico and the islands of the Caribbean. While there are certainly plenty of incredible options in the sunny tropics, there are also plenty of great all-inclusive resorts in the U.S.
Believe it or not, from the Florida Keys all the way to the California coast, there are incredible all-inclusive resorts and hotels where all (or most) of your food, drinks and activities are included in the price and you won’t get sticker shock from the final bill.
Unlike all-inclusives in some other parts of the world, the resorts in the U.S. that offer this option aren’t your stereotypical beach resorts with party vibes and unlimited buffets. In fact, these properties right in our own backyard range from dude ranches serving elevated Western fare under boundless skies to glamping lodges near ski mountains and national parks to wellness-focused retreats in the desert and even America’s only private island resort.
So whether you’re trading in the yearly family vacation to the beaches of Florida’s 30A for a luxury getaway in the Vermont countryside or want a new take on the best family beach vacation you could imagine, here are the best all-inclusive resorts in the U.S. to consider for your next trip.
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If you’re craving an escape that feels totally tropical without having to actually leave the country, it’s probably time to head down to the Florida Keys for a stay at Little Palm Island Resort & Spa, where an all-inclusive-like vacation awaits.
Found on Little Torch Key, about 30 miles from Key West, the adults-only resort really feels like paradise and features beautiful bungalows with thatched roofs, ocean views and plenty of space to stretch out and relax. For couples looking for something extra special, the Island Romance Suites come with outdoor cooper tubs and showers, a beach area with a fire pit and a private deck to enjoy.
At the resort, activities include kayaking, fishing, scuba diving, snorkeling, meeting dolphins at the research center, or letting it all go and just posting up at the spa for a treatment (or two!).
Meals are served at The Dining Room, an airy restaurant with ocean views and cute bar called the Monkey Hut.
Though not a true all-inclusive resort that you’d most likely find in Mexico or the Dominican Republic, the resort’s “Culinary Paradise Package” will sure make it feel like it. The package, which requires a two-night minimum stay, includes daily breakfast, daily three-course lunch, nightly four-course dinner, a welcome bottle of bubbly and a $100 spa credit, per person, per night.
Rates at Little Palm Island Resort & Spa start at $2,590 per night, based on double occupancy. The Culinary Paradise Package starts at $3,610.
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Just an hour’s drive from Phoenix, Castle Hot Springs is a luxury desert oasis in a lush, almost tropical setting with sky-high palm trees and over 1,000 acres of land to explore and relax. The resort, which dates back to the 1800s, has a series of natural hot springs that start at 86 degrees Fahrenheit and top out around 106.
For meals, the resort’s property-grown ingredients are the star of the show, with breakfast, lunch and a multicourse tasting menu in the evening. Though alcoholic drinks aren’t included in the rate, a daily $25 beverage credit is offered per guest per night.
Besides soaking in the natural hot springs (which are reserved exclusively for those staying at the resort), guests can find Zen through meditation, take a farm tour to see where the food is grown, experience nature through a guided hike, or pay extra for spa treatments and adrenaline-inducing activities like an elevated adventure course and utility task vehicle tours.
Rates at Castle Hot Springs start at $1,400 per night, based on double occupancy. Two- and three-night minimums are required for most dates and the resort is closed for most of July and August.
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An adults-only resort hugging the coast of Big Sur, California, which is arguably one of the most scenic areas in the U.S., this resort has long been a favorite of readers and staffers of TPG, even before it was converted into an all-inclusive property in 2020.
At this property, one of three Alilas in California, guests are invited to relax in one of 59 rustic-chic rooms and suites that are as comfortable as they are luxurious; all of them include a walk-in shower, soaking tub, stocked minibar, great views and either a balcony or private deck. To take it up a notch, reserve a room with a fireplace to snuggle up next to or a hot tub for an even more intimate place to relax.
Produce grown on the property, alongside locally sourced ingredients, are front and center at the modern American restaurant The Sur House; just note that alcohol is supplemental to this Alila’s inclusive package. During a visit, explore the great outdoors on a hike, hit up the indoor and outdoor wellness studios for some mental and physical stimulation and take a moment to breathe during a yoga class. Just don’t forget to schedule time in the Japanese hot baths to soak up the power of invigoratingly hot water or, for an added fee, visit Spa Alila for a special treatment, like the Jade Body Ritual ($330), which uses basalt stones and Swedish massage techniques to eliminate life’s stress.
Rates at Alila Ventana Big Sur start around $1,300 per night for double occupancy, including all meals and various activities. World of Hyatt members can book this Category 8 property from 35,000 to 45,000 points per night.
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A working farm, a luxury resort and an internationally acclaimed dining destination, Blackberry Farm, a gem of a resort set on 4,200 acres near the majestic Smoky Mountains, is a truly special place to get away. The resort’s signature “Foothills Cuisine” will change everything you thought you knew about American food. Starting with dinner on the day of arrival through to the very last lunch before checkout, expect meticulously prepared meals crafted with seasonal ingredients foraged from the on-site 4-acre garden and other locally sourced ingredients.
With 69 different accommodations, there’s room for everyone, from three-to-five-bedroom houses with space to spread out to 1,080-square-foot Hill Cottages with typical Tennessee front porch rocking chairs, private golf carts and warm fireplaces. On the smaller side, the farm’s Historic Rooms are intimate, cozy and decorated with antiques that are classy and classic at the same time.
Come for the food but stay for the seemingly countless activities like hiking, yoga, horseback riding and fly fishing, among many, many others (though many of them have an additional cost outside of the inclusive offerings). There are also top-tier concerts populating the farm’s entertainment calendar, alongside a spa, wellness treatments and special programs designed to entertain and educate children.
Nightly rates at Blackberry Farm start at $1,045 and require a three-night minimum stay.
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With three wellness-focused resorts across Arizona, Texas and Massachusetts, any of Hyatt’s Miraval locations is worth considering for a visit, and though it’s no easy contest among them, we’d have to argue that Miraval Berkshires is truly one of the best all-inclusive resorts in the U.S.
A “digital device-free resort,” guests check their phones at the door and instead of checking emails and Instagram likes, they’re invited to check in on themselves through wellness and wellbeing programs that are designed to enhance their lives and their health. That includes deep dives on nutrition, fitness activities like a barre class in the pool, connecting with nature through hiking and limbering up as you practice your lotus pose during yoga.
Other activities, at an additional cost, include learning the art of pottery, mastering the bow and arrow in archery and getting up close and personal with horses in specially designed therapeutic sessions with gentle equines.
Inclusive rates at Miraval Berkshires include breakfast, lunch and dinner at the health-focused restaurant Harvest Moon, or ordered directly to the room. Though the entire experience is top-notch, a further elevated experience (for an additional fee) can be had at 1894, offering four-course, prix fixe menus served as part of an interactive experience.
And as for where you’ll rest your very relaxed head, choose from a range of options like a room in the Gilded Age Wyndhurst Mansion, a 600-square-foot suite with a balcony, or a room in a historic cottage, all of which are stocked with Tibetan singing bowls and meditation cushions.
Rates at Miraval Berkshires start at $1,100 or between 57,500 and 72,000 points per night, both based on double occupancy. Note that every award booking includes a $175 resort credit per person.
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Imagine taking a water taxi from the hustle and bustle of a busy downtown to a charming spa and wellness resort set on 19 acres of lakefront property. If your intention is to leave it all behind for a few days of blissful relaxation, you’ve come to the right spot: Lake Austin Spa Resort.
Located just 30 minutes from downtown Austin (and also accessible by car), this spa resort is an intimate experience, with just 40 bright and airy rooms with private porches, soaking tubs, 12-foot ceilings and a few cottages with hot tubs.
The all-inclusive pricing includes three meals per day, including via room service, along with snacks as well as unlimited fresh smoothies and juices. It also offers guests access to 24-hour fitness facilities, unlimited use of lake equipment like stand-up paddleboards and kayaks, a lakeside beach with swings and hammocks and two outdoor pools, plus a heated indoor lap pool and 20 daily activities including hiking, belly dancing and more.
Considering this is a spa resort, you might be happy to hear the spa itself is a whopping 25,000 square feet and guests have access to its steam rooms, saunas, whirlpools, gardens and relaxation areas. They can also book a range of treatments, from signature facials like the “The Regal by Valmont” ($1,050), which uses Essence of Gold caviar, to custom deep-tissue massages (starting at $225). The only question: Which one will you choose?
Rates at Lake Austin Spa Resort start at $1,100 per night, based on double occupancy.
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You don’t have to be a cowboy to appreciate a luxury ranch — or to simply bask in the wonder of Montana’s natural beauty. The Ranch at Rock Creek gives visitors the best of it all — a truly luxe experience, incredible activities and even the chance to ski — with inclusive pricing that means (mostly) everything is taken care of before you even take off on the trip.
With 29 accommodations on offer, there are options as vast as the Montana sky, from hybrid luxury glamping tents to historic converted barns to multiroom homes with space for the entire family.
Ranch-style food is the name of the game here, with a handful of dining options offered across breakfast and lunch, though the star of the show is the rotating seasonal dinner schedule that’ll have guests do-si-doing under the stars at a barn dance and enjoying a barbecue with a side of a summer rodeo. And for an even more upscale experience, make sure to visit during the weekly chef’s tasting menu experience on Fridays.
Outside of dining, guests can plan every activity through a dedicated “Ranch Ambassador,” who might suggest seasonal activities like snowboarding, skiing or tubing, or other memorable experiences like horseback riding, archery and fly fishing. And when all that makes you feel a little tuckered out, hit up the spa for a rejuvenating treatment so you’re refreshed, revived and ready to do it all again the next day.
Rates at The Ranch at Rock Creek start at $2,000 per night, based on double occupancy.
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Tucked away in rural Vermont, Twin Farms is the antithesis of the stereotypical all-inclusive beach resort. Here, instead of hundreds of cookie-cutter rooms, travelers have a choice of 20 perfectly curated and individually designed cottages and suites with the flavor of a boutique hotel and the coziness of a lived-in cabin.
More like a traditional all-inclusive experience, though, all meals plus alcoholic beverages (including spirits) are offered in the restaurant or served directly in your cottage or suite. For a very special lunchtime treat, request a picnic-style lunch that can be set up anywhere on Twin Farms’ 300-acre grounds.
Despite its seemingly slow and leisurely pace, there’s no shortage of things to do at this luxe retreat. In the winter, take advantage of sledding, snowshoeing or visiting the farm’s private mountain for skiing. When it’s warm, canoeing, fly fishing, kayaking, tennis and swimming in a picturesque pond are all on offer. Or, if relaxing is the only thing on the agenda, the Bridge House Spa therapists will come directly to you for an in-room ritual or invite you into a treatment room for a facial or massage (for an extra fee).
Rates at Twin Farms start at $2,600, based on double occupancy.
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The magic number at Little St. Simons Island, off the coast of Georgia, is 32, because that is the maximum number of guests that can stay at the resort at any one time. Intimate and almost like stepping out of the modern world and into a gentle wilderness, the island offers 11,000 acres of unspoiled beauty to explore, with 7 miles of beaches.
To get to the island property, which dates back to 1979 and is located between Savannah, Georgia, and St. Augustine, Florida, guests must catch a ferry from Hampton River Marina on St. Simons Island, which is accessible by car.
On the island, there are six cottages with one to four bedrooms that can be booked by the room, by the cottage or, if you want to take over the whole place, the entire island is available to book (starting at $8,000 per night). The cabins are rustic but well appointed with cedar furniture, gathering areas — like screened-in porches or living rooms with fireplaces — and postcard-perfect views of the island’s many live oak trees. The various arrangements make mixing and matching room or cottage types based on your group’s needs a breeze.
All meals are included in the nightly rate and feature shared plates made with ingredients grown on the island and procured from the area, like locally dredged oysters, served in The Lodge. Hors d’oeuvres and snacks are also available throughout the day. As for activities, there are fishing experiences with all equipment provided, 26 miles of hiking trails, kayaking through the marsh, a saltwater swimming pool, open-air truck safaris and loaner bikes you can take out to the beach.
A family-friendly experience, the island welcomes kids of all ages between Memorial Day and Labor Day but is limited to kids age 6 and up the rest of the year.
Rates at Little St. Simons Island start at $675 per night on weekdays and $775 per night on weekends for a double-occupancy room. A two-night minimum stay is required.
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Bungalows Key Largo is the Florida Keys’ take on a more traditional beachfront experience, one with all the attributes that folks look for in an all-inclusive concept — meaning a true beach you can visit … with an included drink in hand.
This adults-only resort for those age 21 and up has it all, starting with 135,900-square-foot bungalows with verandas featuring outdoor showers, soaking tubs in the bathrooms and private porches. Restaurants and bars include a beachfront Mexican-style seafood grill, a fine dining experience for an extra fee, a classy cocktail bar and even a sunset tiki-themed bar where tropical drinks are a must-order. And don’t worry about paying extra for drinks, as most top-shelf liquor, beer and wine is included.
Also included are daily group yoga classes, live entertainment karaoke nights and watersports like standup paddleboarding and kayaking. Guests can also ante up for some paid excursions that are well worth the money, like taking the crew out for drinks on a floating tiki boat, going on a sunset cruise, or heading to the Key Largo Spa for a massage in a waterfront tiki.
Rates at Bungalows Key Largo start at $849 per night based on double occupancy. Garden Bungalows have a two-night minimum stay while Waterfront Bungalows have a three-night minimum stay.
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Located along the Hudson River in upstate New York, Rocking Horse Ranch Resort is fun for the whole family anytime of the year. In the Main Lodge, guests can choose between two room types: one with double queen beds that sleeps four and one with double queen beds and bunk beds that sleep up to six. The Oklahoma Building, right next door, has the same room types plus a suite option with a queen bed and bunk beds with a partial wall for more privacy, two full bathrooms, two TVs and two minifridges.
All meals are included for everyone in the group and served buffet-style at breakfast (with 40 options) and lunch (featuring a large salad bar), while dinner is a rotating a la carte menu with items like strip steaks and barbecue. Though alcoholic drinks aren’t included in the rate, the Silverado Saloon is open for adult beverages and Shirley Temples for the young ones.
At the resort, nearly all activities are included in the nightly rate, from horseback riding to tractor rides to indoor and outdoor water park visits with slides and splash pads, winter activities like sledding and tubing, water activities on a private lake, magic and comedy shows, firework displays and laser tag. Whether you want to escape the snow for the heated indoor water park or beat the summer heat with a fun day on the lake, this all-American, all-inclusive resort really does have it all.
Rates at Rocking Horse Ranch Resort start at $499 per night, based on four guests per room.
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For the young and young at heart, Fair Hills Resort is an oasis of fun in Minnesota that’s open from May-September and harks back to the glory days of a typical American vacation: one with goofy games, waterslides, campfires and cabins. Speaking of cabins, this isn’t a Four Seasons and the resort is quick to let you know that its one-to-four-bedroom cabins are basic and have no air conditioning, but that just adds to the camp vibe the entire place gives off.
Three meals daily are included with stays and, fittingly, announced by the clang of a bell echoing throughout the resort. Breakfast is a buffet while lunch is lighter, with a salad bar and twice-weekly picnics. Dinner is a rotating three-course menu that can include dishes such as steak, prime rib or Minnesota walleye fish. And for picky eaters, off-menu cold items are also available.
The activities are wide-ranging, too. In fact, the 94-year-old resort has a detailed calendar showing exactly what the family can expect. Treasure hunts, Zumba classes, capture the flag, river tubing, scavenger hunts and talent shows are all on offer. But don’t fret parents, adult activities like poker night are scheduled, too. Sports include tennis and an 18-hole golf course and lake activities are also available if the calendar gets a little too overwhelming.
All-inclusive rates at Fair Hills Resort start at $232 per night for adults, $124 per night for kids ages 6 to 12 and are free most dates for kids ages 4 and 5. It’s always free for kids under 3. A detailed calendar of rates, including specials if booking for seven nights, is available online.
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There are few truly all-inclusive properties in the U.S. that participate in major hotel loyalty programs. Thankfully, though, Rawah Ranch is one of them. This luxe guest ranch in Colorado’s Laramie River Valley can be booked directly with Hyatt since it’s a member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World.
Guests stay in a variety of rustic cabins that are cozy, homey and decorated with Western touches like vintage oil lamps, antlers galore and sturdy wood and iron furniture. With a variety of configurations, you can bunk down in a 350-square-foot stand-alone cabin with a king bed, lofted twin and front porch, or opt for adjoining ranch houses that extended families can share but still have some privacy.
During the day, go horseback riding without worrying about packing cowboy boots, as the resort provides them for kids and adults, and build a connection with the horse you’re assigned since you’ll be riding the same one throughout your stay. You can also spend time at the river fly fishing (a half-day session is included in the rate) or paddleboarding, learning how to shoot clay traps and arrows, or simply get lost in the beauty of it all on a hike.
Each day, guests are treated to three meals of “Colorado Ranch Cuisine,” starting with a la carte breakfast, a hearty lunch buffet and a cocktail hour followed by a family-style dinner all crafted by chef Jennifer Sanchez.
A seasonal resort open only from June through September, Rawah Ranch charges $1,700 per night, based on double occupancy, and requires a three-night minimum. World of Hyatt members can book this Category 8 property for between 35,000 and 45,000 points.
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At RiverView Ranch, an all-inclusive luxury private ranch in Montana, there are only eight lodge suites to book, making for an intimate experience. Each of the suites has a private deck with a fire pit and views of the ranch’s private lake, cozy slippers and robes to relax in, and receives twice-daily housekeeping. Rooms range from a stately king-size suite with a deep soaking tub down to a room with double bunk beds that can sleep up to six.
All on-property experiences are available for no extra charge with the all-inclusive rate — even the more extravagant options like snowmobiling in the winter, jet skiing in the warm months and taking a hoverboard for a glide. But since it’s a ranch resort, make time for some horseback riding, going for a trail ride and fishing.
Meals are a magical affair, rotating between the Great Room in the main lodge and barbecues at the lake house and out on the deck. The meals consist of “ranch-to-table” menus that feature Angus prime steak and ribs, fresh fish caught on the lake and even bison with sides of hearty vegetables cultivated on the ranch. And for wine, consult with the house sommelier for the perfect pairings.
Rates at RiverView Ranch start at $13,500 for a minimum three-night stay, based on double occupancy.
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Nearly the opposite of a typical all-inclusive resort experience that’s heavy on booze and big on entertainment, a stay at Canyon Ranch Tucson is all about finding, reviving and cultivating yourself through wellness practices and lifestyle changes.
Guests are invited to choose between different “pathways,” or programs, that guide their experience. These pathways can be simple and laid-back, or extremely regimented, with focuses on weight management, learning and breaking habits and even options that include medical scanning followed by guidance from clinical practitioners to shape the experience.
Scheduled activities include yoga and Pilates, meditation, Aqua Zumba, cardio training, cooking classes and photography hikes. Meals are served at the Canyon Ranch Grill and feature healthy dishes “free of additives and unhealthy extras,” like sunflower seed tacos, turmeric cauliflower steak and grass-fed short rib. Grab-and-go options are also available from a cafe.
At the end of a busy day centering yourself, crash into a room or suite with Mascioni Italian linens and a personally selected pillow from a menu with over 20 options.
Outside the room, enjoy three outdoor pools plus an indoor one, a spa, multiple fitness centers and 150 acres of outdoor space to explore.
Rates at Canyon Ranch Tucson start at $2,300 per night, based on double occupancy.
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At Red Mountain Resort, adventure activities are the name of the game — and Zion and Bryce Canyon national parks are the stars of the show. Guests can choose between a number of packages that include three meals each day, guided hikes, fitness classes like yoga and Pilates and activities like nature walks and bike tours. One package even includes a guided trip to Zion National Park with a packed lunch.
Would-be adventurers stay in cozy rooms with king or double beds, a large writing desk and a deep bathtub to soak in after a long day of hiking. For more space, book a villa with a fireplace, balcony or deck. Pets are even welcome in select rooms.
Healthy meals, like sesame-crusted ahi tuna and pepita-crusted rack of lamb, are served at the Canyon Breeze restaurant where indoor tables are set up around a double-sided fireplace or out on the patio.
A spa offers treatments inspired by nature, like the Adobe Lavender Hydrating Cocoon, a mud wrap with red clay sourced nearby.
Adventure package rates at Red Mountain Resort start at $600 per night, based on double occupancy.
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Ghost towns are supposed to be creepy, right? Not in Dolores, Colorado, where the mining town dating back to the 1800s has been converted into a luxury resort full of life. Individual hand-hewn log cabins, some built by the original miners (the resort claims), plus a luxury tent, are full of Western character and design — as well as ensuite bathrooms and high-speed Wi-Fi.
The hot springs, which range from 85 to 106 degrees Fahrenheit, can be enjoyed in a restored bathhouse, in a number of pools, with water bubbling up directly from the source and in the Well House cabin accommodation. At the spa, aestheticians offer facials while massage therapists can work out knots with a deep-tissue rub.
Seasonal activities include horseback riding, mountain biking and fly fishing in the summer and snowshoeing, cross-country skiing and horse-drawn carriage rides in the winter.
An all-inclusive experience, meals plus alcoholic beverages (except premium drinks) are served at a long table in the old-school saloon. Chefs cook in an open kitchen using ingredients grown on the property to create dishes like roasted Bountiful Ridge pork with charred leek grits and preserved green apricots, for which the suggested pairing is a glass of 2018 Cos Frappato wine from Sicily.
Rates at Dunton Hot Springs start at $1,165 per night, based on double occupancy.