Blog 45: 7/29/23: Some of The World's Very Best Adults-Only Vacation Spots
Downtown Cancun, Mexico
Welcome back to Brooke In The Air! This week, for your consideration, we're going over some of the best adults-only child-free vacation spots in the world 🌍🌍🌍!
This is as voted by Travel and Leisure magazine, worldwide, Conde Nast Traveler, US News & World Report, and selected and judged here by Brooke In The Air for your pleasure and consideration…
This list is in no particular order, as you really can't go wrong with any one of these amazing destination choices. While this list is without order, certain criteria were used and taken into account.
Criteria taken into account in formulating this list are as follows: value, service, amenities, pleasantness of stay, culture, and possible romance. As such, many of these choices are in the Caribbean.
If you want to know how to easily afford getting to these destinations, well, I've done a blog on that subject too. Please see Blog 34 earlier in the list. For the rest of you, without further ado, let's dive in, shall we?
LE BLANC SPA RESORT LOS CABOS, Mexico.
2023 Traveler’s Choice Award Winner, Le Blanc Spa Resort of San José del Cabo, Mexico
Website: https://los-cabos.leblancsparesorts.com/
Location: San José del Cabo, Mexico
Rating; 3.8/5.0
A stay at Le Blanc Spa Resort Los Cabos means you'll never have to lift a finger. The all-inclusive rate ensures guests receive personal butler service, which includes packing and unpacking, garment pressing, shoe shine and more. Guests can further customize their rooms with aromatherapy, a handcrafted soap menu and a pillow menu. The resort is an especially good choice for foodies, as its room rates cover top-shelf beverages and meals at eight international restaurants. Past guests were highly impressed with all the dining options but recommended making reservations early to ensure you can eat where you want.
Other complimentary perks include fitness center access, numerous classes and a massive pool complex with poolside bars. And since all guests must be at least 18 years old to stay, you won't have to worry about children splashing in the pools. A spa and salon round out the on-site options and treatments like massages, manicures and more are on the menu (for an additional fee).
EXCELLENCE PUNTA CANA, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC.
Back of the Resort, poolside, Excellence Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.
Location: Dominican Republic
Rating: 4.2/5
A Caribbean dream: from fine dining in Michelin starred restaurants, rife with Caribbean Sea views to numerous swimming pools, this adults-only all-inclusive property in Punta Cana has perfected the recipe for a relaxing getaway. Past visitors loved the resort's romantic atmosphere and raved about the helpful staff members. The on-site Miilé Spa is another highlight, providing guests with a space to prioritize personal wellness. The spa offers singles and couples treatment rooms, a Swedish sauna, an ice room, a hydrotherapy pool, various specialty showers, a boutique and a fitness area.
Guests at Excellence Punta Cana can also enhance their trip with experiences such as Spanish lessons, yoga classes, beach volleyball, dance lessons and other options included in the nightly rate. When evening rolls around, visitors can head to the sophisticated martini bar, catch live entertainment at the theater or retire to their suites, which feature private outdoor spaces, whirlpool bathtubs & well-stocked minibars.
SANDALS GRENADA.
Sandals Resort, Grenada - Photo Courtesy Sandals Resorts
Location: GRENADA
Rating: 3.7/5.0
The plethora of activities at this adults-only all-inclusive resort in Grenada is unmatched. Activities covered by the room rate include tennis, bocce, kayaking, windsurfing and snorkeling. Evening entertainment may consist of live bands, fashion shows, talent nights or beach parties. Visitors at Sandals Grenada enjoy unlimited access to 10 on-site restaurants and numerous bars serving premium liquor (including the crowd-favorite swim-up pool bar).
Every guest room at this resort features either a private balcony or terrace with outdoor dining furniture. Soaking tubs, walk-in showers and minifridges stocked with water, juice and sodas round out the chic room offerings. Privacy is at the forefront here.
At the on-site Red Lane Spa, guests can improve their overall wellness with fitness classes, aromatherapy sessions, massages, body scrubs, facials and salon services (most do come at an added cost though). To top it all off, the resort sits beside the picturesque and exclusive Pink Gin Beach overlooking the ever-beautiful Caribbean Sea. On the other hand, it is Sandals.
BODYHOLIDAY OF SAINT LUCIA.
View of BodyHoliday’s Infinity Pool. Copyright BodyHoliday 2023.
Website: https://www.thebodyholiday.com/
Location: Castries, Saint Lucia
Rating: 4.6/5.0
Another Caribbean dream, a stay at BodyHoliday St. Lucia is all about relaxation and wellness. Before your arrival, the team at the Wellness Centre will plan your health schedule, which includes a massage, a body wrap, facials and thalassotherapy, plus unlimited access to the infrared sauna. When it comes to exercise, you can create a personalized itinerary from the resort's activities, fitness classes and specialized sports programs; options range from archery to dance classes to advanced fitness assessments. BodyHoliday's cuisine also promotes wellness, as all five restaurants emphasize healthy dishes with some indulgence.
Additionally, the St. Lucia property offers a cocktail bar, a piano bar and a wine salon. Visitors especially enjoy the adults-only atmosphere saying it brings a sense of calm and a laid-back vibe. Although the resort leaves travelers removed from the island's most populated areas, the all-inclusive rate covers so many activities you won't feel the need to leave: You can sail, snorkel, water-ski or take golf and volleyball lessons without paying any additional costs.
GSTAAD PALACE RESORT of Switzerland.
Exterior panoramic view of the Gstaad Palace Resort in Switzerland, December, 2022. Copyright TripAdvisor 2022.
Website: https://www.palace.ch/de/ (can be translated to English)
Location: Gstaad, Switzerland
Rating: 4.8/5.0
A personal favorite, andi would be remiss if I didn't include it, this is a romantic idyllic resort hidden in a renovated castle in a small village in Switzerland, Gstaad Palace has presided over the tiny village of Gstaad since 1913, with splendid views of the Swiss Alps. You’ll find 90 rooms and suites around the castle, five restaurants - Michelin-starred at that, two bars with live music, a renowned nightclub, and a full-service spa. The latter is a wonderful spot to rejuvenate with a soak in the hammam spa or a visit to the private spa suite after a day of skiing or golfing.
A squash court, four outdoor tennis courts, and an Olympic-size outdoor pool are available in summer and skiing, snowboarding, curling among other activities are available in Winter. The palace is only open a maximum of two seasons a year, Winter and Summer.
SECRETS MAROMA BEACH RIVIERA CANCUN.
SECRETS MAROMA BEACH RIVIERA CANCUN, a Hyatt Property, poolside view in Playa del Carmen. Copyright Hyatt, 2021.
Website: https://www.amrcollection.com/en/resorts-hotels/secrets/mexico/maroma-beach-riviera-cancun?utm_source=google&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=soci
Location: Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Rating: 4.5/5.0
A Hyatt property, Secrets Maroma Beach Riviera Cancun makes it incredibly easy to relax. Unlimited access to a la carte dining options, top-shelf alcoholic beverages and 24-hour room service ensures guests will always feel satisfied at this Playa del Carmen resort. Past visitors lauded the friendly staff members and said they were impressed by the resort's thoughtful details. Accommodations are luxurious, featuring private balconies or terraces and hot tubs for two with separate showers. If you can bring yourself to leave your cozy quarters, you'll find nine dining areas (including a cafe), as well as two pools and a beach with loungers and wait service, all of which your room rate covers. You'll also enjoy discounted green fees at nearby golf courses and free activities like snorkeling, yoga classes and tennis, among other options. The resort nightlife is also not to be missed: Live music, dancing and theme party nights make for a lively adult-oriented atmosphere. No children or teens permitted.
LIVE AQUA BEACH RESORT CANCUN.
Live Aqua Beach Resort of Cancun - Main Restaurant, The H Azur Restaurant
Website: https://www.liveaqua.com/en/hotels-resorts/live-aqua-beach-resort-cancun
Location: Cancun, Mexico
Rating: 3.8/5.0
This premier adults-only all-inclusive property sits beside the beach in Cancun. Your nightly rate includes airport transfer, access to a wellness center and 24-hour room service, among other perks. Guests should splurge on a visit to the on-site spa, which features indoor and outdoor treatment areas, steam baths, saunas, a Jacuzzi and a temazcal (a heated room used by the indigenous people of Mexico for therapeutic purposes).
Live Aqua Beach Resort Cancún also boasts numerous on-site restaurants serving up everything from pasta to sushi, and meals at each dining outlet are included in the price. In the evening, visitors can enjoy live music and themed parties or head into town.
Guests can customize their accommodations by choosing the room scent from an aromatherapy menu, selecting music to match the vibe and easily adjusting the lighting. Rooms also come with optional heated bathtubs, pillow menus, minibars, Nespresso machines and automated curtains.
BREATHLESS CABO SAN LUCAS RESORT & SPA.
Breathless Cabo San Lucas - Marina View, 2023, copyright Hyatt 2023
Location: Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
Rating: 4.1/5.0
Another World of Hyatt property, adults looking for an exciting vacation full of rooftop social hours, live entertainment and DJ-led pool parties need look no further than this luxury Hyatt-owned resort in Cabo San Lucas. The vibrant atmosphere and unlimited food and drinks make it easy to have fun. Even if you're not keen on partying, there are plenty of other relaxing activities to enjoy at Breathless Cabo San Lucas Resort & Spa. The on-site Relax Spa by Pevonia offers body treatments, facials, hydrotherapy sessions and salon services.
This resort features day-round 24-hour room service as well as poolside and beachside service. According to past visitors, the outstanding service and helpful hotel staff are the highlights of this resort. Guests will find everything from tapas to burgers to seafood at the resort's seven gourmet restaurants (one incurs an additional charge however), and cafe. When it comes to the accommodations, each room offers a private outdoor space with views of the marina. Daily minibar refills, coffee machines and nightly turndown service are also part of the all-inclusive rate.
MAYIA EXCLUSIVE RESORT AND SPA, ADULTS ONLY.
Front and Above the Mayia Resort of Rhodes, 2022., copyright Mayia Resorts 2023.
Website: https://www.hhotels.gr/mayia/
Location: Island of Rhodes, Greece.
Rating: 4.7/5.0
Visitors to the Greek islands expect to find an air of romance and luxury, and Mayia Exclusive Resort & Spa meets these expectations. This all-inclusive resort overlooks the sea from its perch on the stunning island of Rhodes. Rates include meals, access to cooking and mixology lessons, and unlimited snacks, all of which receive rave reviews from visitors. You can have fun in the sun at the outdoor pools or beach, which feature complimentary towels, loungers and umbrellas. Or, spend your day relaxing in the steam room, sauna, Jacuzzi or indoor pool at the on-site spa. Later in the day, you can watch the sun set over the Aegean Sea as you sip complimentary cocktails and savor gourmet cuisine at one of the resort's a la carte restaurants. Past guests visiting for anniversaries or birthdays said the staff members even surprised them with thoughtful touches, like special room decor. When nighttime comes, visit the on-site nightclub, take dance lessons or enjoy live musical performances. To add to the romantic ambiance, lovebirds should reserve the Mayia Suite, which offers a private pool and whirlpool.
SONESTA OCEAN POINT RESORT
Exterior of the Sonesta Ocean Point Resort in/overlooking Maho Bay, St. Maarten, copyright Sonesta Corp. 2023.
Website: https://sonestastmaarten.com/oceanpoint/
Location: Maho Bay, St. Maarten
Rating: 4.1/5.0
Overlooking scenic Maho Bay on the island of St. Maarten in the Caribbean Sea, Sonesta Ocean Point Resort offers an all-inclusive experience in a contemporary atmosphere. Guests can choose from a variety of suites, including butler-serviced suites, penthouse suites and swim-out suites, which lead directly into an exclusive pool. There are two additional pools with poolside service and beautiful sea views on the property, including one built directly into the cliffside.
A fitness center with daily classes, numerous private cabanas, three restaurants and four bars round out the on-site amenities at this adults-only haven. To top it off, the staff is friendly and attentive, according to recent guests. The resort also sits within walking distance of St. Maarten's Maho Village, where you'll find stores, cafes and even a casino.
MIRAVAL ARIZONA RESORT & SPA
Outside of the Miraval Resort, Arizona, The Solace Retreat. Copyright 2022, Miraval Resorts, copyright Hyatt 2023.
Website: https://www.miravalresorts.com/arizona
Location: Tucson, Arizona, USA.
Rating: 3.9/5.0
MIRAVAL, another Hyatt property, guarantees its guests sunshine and relaxation. Located about 20 miles north of Tucson, this adults-only resort benefits from a stunning desert landscape and 350 days of sunshine per year. Accommodations at the resort are simple and elegant, sporting earth tones and in-room amenities like Wi-Fi access, TVs and meditation cushions. The desert surroundings heavily influence the spa treatments – which feature ingredients like prickly pear– making guests feel one with nature. The all-inclusive package covers a stay in a guest casita, meals at the property's restaurants, a $175 nightly resort credit, airport transfers and unlimited access to the spa and health amenities. Guests particularly enjoy the slew of complimentary on-site activities, including photography classes and group hiking trips. Included are the culinary experiences and resort nutritionists.
UNICO 20°87° RIVIERA MAYA OF EL DORADO
UNICO 20 87 Hotel Riviera Maya El Dorado, copyright TripAdvisor 2023
Website: https://www.unicohotelrivieramaya.com/?utm_source=mybusiness&utm_medium=organic
Location: El Dorado, Mexico
Rating: 4.4/5.0
From poolside and beachside service to in-room minibars stocked according to your preferences, this resort makes your stay all about you.
You can wine and dine at any of the five gourmet restaurants for no added cost; previous visitors were blown away by the food, with many saying they had never experienced all-inclusive food of this high caliber. There are also two cocktail bars with delicious beverages created by experienced mixologists, and one features live entertainment some nights. Resort staff members are there to help with your every need, whether it's ironing and steaming your clothes, unpacking your suitcase or preparing your tub for a bath.
If you can bring yourself to leave the heaven that is the resort, the attentive staff will also help you plan daytrips, book tours, make restaurant reservations and celebrate special occasions, essentially hotel-bound impromptu travel agents. The resort sits about 20 miles northeast of the city of Tulum and about 30 miles west of famed Cozumel, both of which are worth exploring if you have extra time.
SECRETS WILD ORCHID OF MONTEGO BAY
Central view of Secrets Wild Orchid of Montego Bay, Jamaica - A Hyatt Property, copyright Hyatt 2023.
Location: Montego Bay, Jamaica
Rating: 4.2/5.0
Yet another World of Hyatt property, the all-inclusive rate of Secrets Wild Orchid means you can go sailing, kayaking, windsurfing and bicycle touring or play tennis and pickleball on illuminated courts nearly 24/7. The resort rates also cover traveler-approved activities like cooking demonstrations, as well as access to athletic venues. What's more, the Jamaica resort offers a promenade that features shops, restaurants and a theater with live performances. When it comes to dining, the a la carte options at the resort's numerous restaurants are unlimited, as are top-shelf alcoholic beverages. (Plus, you don't even need to make reservations.)
Additionally, full wait service is available at the resort's private beach and pools. Couples can dial up the romance even more by opting to purchase one of the property's upgraded all-inclusive packages, such as the wedding, honeymoon or anniversary packages though this is pricey.
DON GREGORY BY DUNAS, LAS PALMAS IN THE CANARY ISLANDS
Exterior poolside view of the Don Gregory by Dunas in the Canary Islands of Spain. Copyright Dunas Resorts 2023
Website: https://www.hotelesdunas.com/hotel-dunas-don-gregory/?partner=6619
Location: Las Palmas, Canary Islands, Spain
Don Gregory by Dunas offers a slice of paradise in Las Palmas, the largest city on Spain's Canary Islands. Accommodations are airy and feature views of either the infinity pool or the sea; past guests were pleased to hear the sounds of the ocean from their rooms. Previous visitors also enjoyed the on-site spa, large pool, fitness facility and direct beach access, as well as the friendly staff members. The property offers two all-inclusive plans: The Standard option includes all alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages in addition to lunch at the buffet, while the All-Inclusive Select plan is an upgraded version that covers three meals at the buffet, snacks throughout the day and one dinner at Las Burras Beachouse Restaurant. You can also visit the spa for a fee.
Brooke’s Addition:
One&Only Reethi Rah Resort
These are the actual Lodging - Rooms of Reethi Rah’s private island resort.
Location: Private Island, Maldives
Handpicked Vacations at The Best Prices on Earth, Through 2023. The resort itself puts it best: One & Only Reethi Rah is one of the largest luxury resorts on the Maldives and, although the island has been augmented to create its distinctive shape (like Dubai’s famous Palm Islands), the results are spectacular, even in the context of the natural paradise it resides.
Widely considered to be the planet’s most exclusive holiday destination, the Maldives is home to a string of ultra-luxurious hotels and resorts that embody the ultimate tropical paradise getaway for honeymooners, sun worshipers, discerning travelers, scuba divers and celebrities. A collection of more than thousand small coral atolls, the Maldives is located on the equator towards the south of India and stretches across 800 km (500 mi) of the Indian Ocean on a north-south axis. The stunningly beautiful islands are the visible coral tips of an oceanic volcanic mountain range whose outer edges at some points plunge to depths of over 3 km, that’s over 10,000 feet!
The archipelago is fortunate to have with some of the world’s most astonishing beaches, crystal clear turquoise lagoons, phenomenal underwater wildlife, and unrivaled luxury resorts that take up their own private islands. (courtesy the Luxury Travel Expert)
The 109-acre island has 3.7 miles of coastline, separated into 12 beaches, rather than one main beach, which is the norm for the Maldives. This means there’s more than enough space for each villa to have sections of private sand, extensive ocean views and spacious private verandas.
To channel the current, the island is split down the center with a small bridge connecting the two pieces of land. It’s one of the resort’s most Instagrammed locations. Beneath the bridge, the crystalline water is as calm as a millpond. There are a few ways of getting to this exclusive North Male’ Atoll resort. The resort’s private (or a charter) seaplane will deliver you to Reethi Rah in just 15 to 20 minutes, but the 45-minute journey aboard the resort’s 56-foot luxury yacht has to be experienced at least once. There are some 700 staffers behind One & Only Reethi Rah’s well-oiled machine.
The friendly and attentive team is used to dealing with A-list guests like Madonna, Tom Cruise and the Beckhams, so when it comes to your own honeymoon, romantic getaway or family adventure, they’ll know exactly how to handle you with care. There are many other world-class resorts, I realize, but these are among the best and often have some travel deals.
I do recommend the travel service Virtuoso, Luxury Escapes, Leading Hotels of the World - they customize your hotel or resort and flight search and experience for you - and of course, I very much recommend my affiliated company Viator Travel, and their connected partner, TripAdvisor. All can find luxury stays for you. The only site without an app is Leading Hotels of the World though their mobile site wprks quite well. All other apps can be easily found and downloaded from either the Google Play store or the Apple store.
