February 25, 2022
Imagine it: The warm sun is shining down on your face, an ice-cold margarita is in your hand and the sound of gentle waves rolling back and forth on the shore float through your ears. This is a Caribbean vacation — and you absolutely deserve to be on one.
But while it’s easy to picture yourself relaxing on the beach, it’s harder to decide which resort is worthy of your points and best fits your needs.
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While the pandemic had most of us staying closer to home for a while, over the last few months a handful of incredible new resorts have opened around the Caribbean, from long-awaited all-inclusive properties in Mexico to a truly luxurious Rosewood on a pristine beach in St. Barts.
And though you may have had your mind set on one of the many storied resorts dotting the Caribbean, why not consider being one of the first to bed down in a brand-new hotel? Who knows, it might just become your forever resort.
Conrad Tulum Riviera Maya
Tulum may be best known for its hippie-like, laid-back attitude, but it recently got a heavy dose of name-brand luxury when the Conrad Tulum Riviera Maya opened to guests in January of this year.
This luxury all-inclusive hotel has 349 rooms overlooking a secluded bay about 8 miles from Tulum proper. It’s big on design with hand-carved wooden doors and stonework inspired by the surrounding area. Each room has its own plunge pool or relaxation tub, a 65-inch television and a spa-inspired bathroom.
Across the resort, you can enjoy 11 restaurants and bars, from a Japanese izakaya to a Mediterranean spot with an Instagram-worthy design. Five pools, a spa and even an in-house shaman and healer are also on offer.
How to book: Cash rates at the Conrad Tulum Riviera Maya start at $645, plus taxes and fees, and reward nights require at least 90,000 Hilton Honors points a night.
Royalton Grenada, An Autograph Collection All-Inclusive Resort
When COVID-19 took the world by storm in early 2020, the Royalton Grenada had just opened and, like many hotels and resorts, it was forced to close during the worst of the pandemic. Thankfully, this Marriott Autograph Collection resort finally reopened in October of last year.
As an all-inclusive resort, guests can get their fill of fun, sun, booze and bread without having to worry about extra costs. Just five minutes from Maurice Bishop International Airport (GND) in St. George’s, Grenada, the resort offers 269 rooms, including swim-up rooms and multi-bedroom suites.
No reservations are required at the restaurants, and you can choose from French, Indian, Italian or international buffet cuisine. In addition to a beautiful beach and several pools (one is reserved for club-level guests), nonmotorized water sports are part of the all-inclusive package.
How to book: A newly integrated Marriott Bonvoy property, this is a Category 8 all-inclusive that will set you back between 70,000 and 100,000 points per night. Cash rates start at $406 a night for two adults in a standard room.
Rosewood Le Guanahani
If you want your kids to learn French while on a tropical vacation, book a villa at the Rosewood Le Guanahani in St. Barts, a place known to attract the rich and famous.
With 29 rooms, 27 suites and 10 one-of-a-kind signature suites, like a wellness-focused suite with direct spa access, there’s a room with a view for every type of traveler. For fun, guests can hit the tennis courts for exercise, shop at a pop-up boutique from Paris or enjoy the ocean by surfing and scuba diving.
At the spa, feel refreshed with a body wrap ritual or learn the secrets of sleep with Rosewood’s “Alchemy Of Sleep” experience. For food, hit up a Mediterranean restaurant followed by drinks at an upscale cocktail bar.
How to book: Unfortunately, Rosewood Hotel does not have a loyalty program and the luxury brand is on the higher end of the price spectrum with cash rates starting at $1,800 a night.
Hilton Cancun, All-Inclusive
If you haven’t heard yet, all-inclusive resorts are having a moment — a big one.
Brands like Hilton are aiming high with new all-inclusive resorts like its latest property, located 20 minutes south of Cancun. Extending across 100 acres on the Riviera Maya, this Hilton feels more like a Conrad, and since rooms start at 430 square feet, you’ll get all the space of that upscale brand, too.
With a dozen restaurants to choose from, guests don’t ever have to worry about wanting for something delicious to eat. Even better, there are no resort fees, kids under 12 stay for free and there’s a kids club, teen club, small waterpark and two infinity pools to enjoy.
How to book: Cash rates at this all-inclusive resort can be found for as low as $322 for two people. Hilton Honor members can book an award night starting at 95,000 points.
The Ritz-Carlton, Turks & Caicos
Home to some of the most beautiful, crystal-clear waters in the world, Turks and Caicos is always a good idea. And the new Ritz-Carlton on Grace Bay offers even more reasons to escape to paradise.
With a variety of room types, including 27 ocean-view suites, you can look forward to sweeping vistas everywhere you look.
For food, BLT Steak is open for dinner most nights, while Italian and Mediterranean restaurants deliver fresh flavors. Two swimming pools, a spa and a lively casino — not to mention the stunning beach and resort’s own catamaran — make the activities at this Ritz-Carlton resort feel endless.
How to book: A Category 8 Marriott Bonvoy resort, award rates range from 70,000 to 100,000 points per night. Cash rates start at $600.
02 Beach Club & Spa
Tucked away on the south coast of Barbados, the O2 Beach Club & Spa is the all-inclusive reinvention of a previous resort from the family-owned Ocean Hotel Group based on the island.
With 130 rooms spread across three different “collections” (Club, Luxury and Concierge), visitors can choose between your standard hotel room, swim-up suites and even spaces with kitchens that make it easier to stay a little while longer.
Home to the island’s only rooftop pool, the resort has seven bars, six restaurants and a full-service spa that offers Hammam treatments. Colorful and fun, with Barbie-pink umbrellas dotting the pool area, this resort is playful in all the right ways.
How to book: You can park yourself under one those fun pink umbrellas for cash rates starting at $608 per night for a Club Collection room.
Alaia Belize, Autograph Collection
Marriott’s first property in Belize, Alaia Belize is a one-stop-shop when it comes to vacation.
With three pools, including a rooftop infinity pool with awesome ocean views, it’s hard to decide where to post up for some sun. Oh, did we mention the white-sand beaches?
Four bars and three restaurants guarantee there are plenty of food choices, including an upscale international restaurant and a casual beach bar with a seafood-heavy menu. There’s also a wine club, a piano bar and a rooftop lounge.
Of course, not all the fun is at the resort itself. The concierge can help you make plans to go scuba diving at the offshore Belize Barrier Reef or take a tour of Mayan ruins. And then you can relax after a busy day with a treatment at the full-service spa.
How to book: A Category 6 Marriott Bonvoy property, award nights cost between 40,000 and 60,000 points per night. Cash rates start at $379.
Azul Beach Resort Cap Cana
The Dominican Republic has more all-inclusive resorts than you could possibly imagine, and they’re not all created equal.
Late last year, Azul Beach Resort opened in Cap Cana, just 15 minutes away from Punta Cana International Airport (PUJ), and it’s a step above many of its peers. Located on the white-sand beach of Playa Juanillo, guests can take their pick from a variety of room types, including swim-up suites, all with stocked minibars and his-and-her sinks.
Seven restaurants and six bars provide a lot of choice and channel Latin American, Italian and Asian culinary themes. Guests can also dine at the “Gourmet Village,” part of the Margaritaville Island Reserve Cap Cana, just next door. And for entertainment, hit the beach for kayaking, take a Spanish lesson or just let it all go at the 11,000-square-foot spa.
How to book: Azul Beach Resort Cap Cana is part of the Karisma Hotels & Resorts portfolio. Cash rates can be found for as low as $416 a night for two people.
Sandals Royal Bahamian
Another resort that’s getting a second chance at life, the Sandals Royal Bahamian just emerged from a $55 million dollar facelift to celebrate its 40th anniversary.
With 404 rooms on 15 acres, this Sandals property has plenty of space to spread out and amenities on offer for visitors. New to the resort is the “Island Village,” a collection of standalone villas perfect for privacy.
Foodies will be glad to hear that the updated resort boasts 13 new dining concepts, including three gourmet food trucks. The resort also has its own private island which guests can sail to for the day and experience a pool bar with swings, an infinity-edge Jacuzzi and a “boat-to-table” restaurant serving Caribbean food.
How to book: At Sandals, you get a lot of perks included in the rate. That said, expect to pay at least $1,500 a night for double occupancy at this resort.