The finest all-inclusives for a gourmet experience
All-inclusive doesn’t have to mean beige buffets and watered-down cocktails. Debbie Ward picks out those with the best menus
As they boomed in popularity, the proliferation of all-inclusives saw the market develop a bad reputation for poor quality buffets and repetitive dining choices. More recently, many of the better all-inclusive resorts have been using food and drink to differentiate themselves.
Some now include multiple a-la-carte and speciality restaurants within the tariff. Others feature high-end dining and celebrity chef involvement. The “ghetto-isation” of tourism is even being addressed by a few all-inclusives, which are strengthening community engagement by incorporating local restaurants in dine-around programmes.
Here are some suggestions for resorts that excel with their food and drink offering within an all-inclusive tariff.
For dining under the sea
“There are some great all-inclusive food offerings available now, but one that always stands out is at OZEN Life Maadhoo, in the Maldives, where all-inclusive dining even includes one dinner per stay in their fabulous Underwater Restaurant, at no additional cost,” says Zoe Saunders, Inspiring Travel Company’s senior product manager, Indian Ocean.
She calls the experience “a holiday memory to treasure,” adding, “The resort also excels with its drinks offering. For example, ‘Gin Is In’ is an adults-only bar with over 18 kinds of rare and delicious gin brands.”
Book it: Inspiring Travel Company is offering a 15% discount for OZEN Life Maadhoo for travel by 30 September 2022. Prices are from £4,349pp (saving up to £500pp) for seven-nights’ all-inclusive with two sharing an Earth Villa plus Heathrow flights and shared boat transfers. inspiringtravel.co.uk
For high-end a-la-carte and local dine-around
Seven restaurants, an external dine-around programme, top chefs and Tattinger make Ikos Andalusia a winner for Classic Collection.
Alex Callahan, product and purchasing manager for Spain, says: “Ikos Andalusia really does redefine the concept of all-inclusive holidays in all their aspects, and no more so than in food and beverages. There are very high-end dining options through multiple a-la-carte restaurants, menus by Michelin-starred chefs and a vast selection of premium drinks including Tattinger champagne, all included in the ultra all-inclusive option.”
He adds: “Guests can also dine at a selection of restaurants outside the hotel, including one of the finest in neighbouring Estepona.”
Book it: Classic Collection Holidays offers seven nights at Ikos Andalusia in a Superior Double room with garden view from £2,039pp all-inclusive, with return flights with luggage, and private transfers, based on 24 September 2022 departure. classic-collection.co.uk
For ample choice across twin resorts
A starter in one restaurant, main course at another and dessert at a third is possible at Secrets Royal Beach Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic, thanks to reservation-free, unlimited access to its seven restaurants, which include French, Mexican and seafood choices and a grill.
“The great thing about this hotel is that you can also freely use the facilities of its sister property next door – five-star Dreams Royal Beach Punta Cana – which adds a further seven dining options, plus a further 11 bars,” explains Ashley Pilkington, Gold Medal’s Caribbean and Mexico destination manager. “So between them, guests at the two properties can choose from nearly 30 different spots for a drink or a bite to eat!”
Book it: Gold Medal offers seven nights’ all-inclusive at Secrets Royal Beach Punta Cana in a Junior Suite Tropical View from £1,589, with BA flights from Gatwick, based on two sharing. goldmedal.co.uk
For wine-matched regional specialities
Many luxury lodges in Australia and New Zealand excel at quality dining within an all-inclusive tariff. Produce gracing the table at Emirates One & Only Wolgan Valley in the Blue Mountains, New South Wales has been grown in its organic kitchen garden, foraged from the wider reserve or sourced from the region’s speciality farmers. Lunches are served on a veranda with valley views and, in the evenings, guests can linger over three-course a-la-carte meals with matching wines in the homestead dining room.
At Saffire Freycinet in Tasmania, a fellow member of the Luxury Lodges of Australia group, multi-course degustation menus matched with local wines are included and designed around what is available fresh each day.
Book it: A Two Night Escape at Wolgan Valley costs from AU$2,290pp (about £1,290pp) in February 2023. The package (available until 31 March 2023), covers all meals, with selected regional wines and beers and two daily onsite activities, such as guided horse riding, biking or wildlife spotting. oneandonlyresorts.com
For afternoon teas and nightly tasting menus
Locally-sourced ingredients and high-end flair combine at Spice Island Beach Resort on Grenada’s famous Grand Anse beach.
“Oliver’s Restaurant has a farm-to-table focus, serving Creole and international cuisine with a seven-course menu that changes every day ensuring guests can enjoy new flavours and authentic local specialities in a beautiful beach-front setting,” says Caribtours head of sales Rebecca Bryson.
Besides the multi-course dinners, guest can enjoy daily breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea within their all-inclusive tariff.
Book it: Caribtours has seven nights’ all-inclusive at Spice Island Beach Resort from £3,499pp sharing a Superior/Garden Suite based on 10 September departure. This includes flights and a current 10% saving (plus $200 resort credit), available on stays until 15 December. caribtours.co.uk
More tempting highlights in all-inclusive resorts
For US-bound clients, ITC suggests The Ranch at Rock Creek in Montana. Besides multiple activities, the all-inclusive tariff here covers meals of up to seven courses.
Caribtours highlights Jumby Bay, Antigua for its included Moet & Chandon, cocktails and rum tastings, and The House, Barbados, for daily champagne breakfast and afternoon tea and the chance to dine off-resort at new island restaurant Positano.
For restaurants with knockout views, Premier Holidays recommends Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp & Resort, in Chiang Rai, Thailand, which overlooks three countries. The all-inclusive Luxury Explorer package also includes a cookery lesson.
A Market Food Hall with a choice of international street food is new at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Punta Cana, Mexico in addition to nine other restaurants.
All-inclusive guests at new 02 Beach Club & Spa in Barbados can team the hotel’s five dining options with a further six at nearby sister property Sea Breeze Beach House.
Community-minded Attitude all-inclusive resorts in Mauritius offer dinner with local families as an option to guests.
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