The words "all inclusive" can mean a lot of different things in the world of travel, something I have experienced firsthand as a longtime travel reporter.
Think icky breakfast buffets, sad lunch offerings, and less-than-stellar suppers that all drive you to leave a resort in search for a tasty meal paired with a drinkable wine.
And then there are the places that make that term something to embrace with gusto, where the culinary offerings are sublime, the wine pairings make you swoon, and even the desserts and post-prandial sips are first class.
These are places you never want to leave, because everything is so delicious, and all you’ll pay is one bundled price.
Here are five places across the globe I've personally experienced with some of the best food and wine I’ve ever tasted at an all-inclusive resort.
In this article
The Ranch at Rock Creek in Montana
Montana's The Ranch at Rock Creek is the ultimate way to discover the Wild West, as this famed luxury ranch in Philipsburg truly has it all.
With only 31 accommodations that range from the classic lodge to glamping tents along the river, this all-inclusive resort is dedicated to fine dining in the midst of the wilderness.
Three meals a day come included, with a focus on local farm-to-table fare with a sophisticated edge. There’s also a social hour before dinner that's packed with craft cocktails and locally produced beer.
The ranch also has an extensive wine list, with numerous choices by the glass included, as well as a cellar full of famed bottles (opened at an extra charge). It's an incredible getaway designed to make you love Montana, no matter what the season.
Grand Velas Los Cabos in Mexico
There's so much great food and drink at the Grand Velas Los Cabos that you just might want to spend all day, every day (and night) of your vacation sampling all the restaurants. And you easily could with seven distinct restaurants, tequila bars, poolside snack stations, sports bars, nightclubs, and other delightful places to dine and imbibe.
The focus on Mexican favorites is strong, but the resort offers other cuisines as well, with Asian, Italian, and continental choices represented.
For an added charge, choose to have a 10-course dinner at Cocina de Autor, whipped up by two-Michelin-starred Chef Sidney Schutte.
And there's lots of other things to do at this vast, welcoming all-inclusive resort with 307 ocean-view suites that overlooks the Pacific Ocean along the eastern edge of Los Cabos, in Mexico's Baja Sur. Think craft and cooking classes, fitness and wellness programming, yacht rides, and more.
Beaches Turks and Caicos in Turks and Caicos
While Sandals Resorts is known for its excellent all-inclusive, couples-only Caribbean resorts, the company also has a separate brand called Beaches, which welcomes solo travelers, groups of friends, and families.
I particularly love the Beaches Turks and Caicos, because of its generous all-inclusive elements that includes scuba diving and kids' club, plus a beautiful setting in Providenciales on 12-Mile Beach.
But another chief reason is the excellent on-site dining and drink offerings. It's a big resort, with 858 rooms and suites, and a whopping 23 restaurants to choose from.
Find Caribbean seafood sourced right from the nearby sea, and don't miss Soy, the restaurant with excellent sushi, sashimi, and a conch ceviche that could be the best I’ve ever tasted.
With 19 bars as well, all serving top-shelf liquors and wines by the glass, this is a place that foodies and wine lovers will embrace.
Yasawa Island Resort and Spa in Fiji
I've visited numerous all-inclusive resorts in Fiji, a country I absolutely adore, but one stands out for excellence in the food and wine they serve at every meal.
That's Yasawa Island Resort and Spa, which sits to the far north in the country's Yasawa Islands chain.
This sophisticated, cozy resort only offers 18 beachfront bures (cottages) and usually caters to adults only, with a few exceptions for kids during certain times of the year.
Being such an intimate resort means the chefs can serve fresh fish and seafood caught the same day, with delightful Fijian locavore specialties always on the menu, and a weekly lovo feast with everything cooked to perfection underground.
For a picnic on a deserted beach, just ask: a gourmet meal will be served in complete privacy.
Plus, wines are paired perfectly, the champagne is always chilled, and every culinary moment is seriously pure bliss.
Anse Chastanet and Jade Mountain in St. Lucia
Anse Chastanet and Jade Mountain are sister properties on St. Lucia, the southeastern Caribbean island with the iconic Piton Mountains on its west coast. That's where these two indescribably gorgeous resorts rise up from the beach to high in the sky, overlooking the Pitons in their front yard.
At either resort, the all-inclusive choice is the smart one. Their small footprints (Anse has 49 rooms and Jade has 29, with 24 having private pools) allow for an extra layer of curation in the food and beverage program.
In both resorts, the Caribbean influence is strong, with special flavors and ingredients that are often locally sourced. In fact, many ingredients even come from the on-site Emerald Farm.
Guests find Indian dishes here as well, which is the result of cultural influences from long ago; and at Jade Mountain, James Beard award-winning chef Allen Susser creates a fusion experience that is unforgettable.
Add in world-class wine pairings, top-shelf liquors and more to make every Anse-Jade visit a memorable one.
The Shortcut
The chef pedigree runs deep: Grand Velas Los Cabos has a two-Michelin-starred chef running its tasting menu, and Jade Mountain's kitchen is led by a James Beard award winner.
Some of these resorts have so many options you could eat somewhere new every night. Beaches Turks and Caicos runs 23 restaurants and 19 bars, while Grand Velas Los Cabos has 7 restaurants, plus tequila bars, a sports bar, and a nightclub.
A smaller resort means the kitchen can do more for each guest. Yasawa Island Resort has only 18 beachfront bures, small enough that chefs can serve same-day catch. Anse Chastanet and Jade Mountain in St. Lucia are similarly intimate, allowing the James Beard-winning chef's culinary vision to shine.
