These all-inclusive resorts enhance the luxury lodging experience with unforgettable rosters of adventures and activities
Sitting on a hilltop within the 85-acre Garza Blanca Preserve, the adults-only Hotel Mousai raises the bar on resort design with its 72 individually decorated rooms, complete with cushy features like plunge pools, hammocks, and porcelain floors. In-room iPads can control everything from the curtains to the temps to the 24-hour room service, so staying in bed all day isn’t out of the question. Opt for the all-inclusive package, which covers meals, snacks, drinks, and activities like kayaking, cooking classes, and live shows. And, if you’re feeling extra indulgent, upgrade to an Ultra Mousai Suite for butler service and access to the sauna and pools in the luxe spa.
Located in a temperate rain forest on western Vancouver Island (remote enough to require a seaplane or ferry to reach it), Clayoquot Wilderness Resort offers accommodations in raised tents, tipis, Airstreams, and yurts set up on mountains, along riverbeds, and in rainforests and redwoods—just waiting for you to check in and exhale. wildretreat.com
Wake up at the all-inclusive Cal-a-Vie Health Spa with a hike along one of 11 trails in Vista, California, before cooling off with a stand-up paddleboard class in the hotel pool. After dinner, stargaze at the new observatory via panoramic big screens or the high-powered telescope. cal-a-vie.com
In the nineties, fashion consultant Joseph “Pepe” Webb bought 1.3 waterfront acres in the exclusive La Punta community in Manzanillo, a port town between Acapulco and Puerto Vallarta. He built seven brightly colored, spacious palapas with the help of local craftsmen, and it wasn’t long before the stylish set were flocking to his seaside hideaway. The chef, who has been with Pepe from day one, cooks up three locavore meals daily. Though the rate doesn’t include activities, guests have access to the community’s beach club and private slice of beach.
The Ranch at Rock Creek nails Montana-style glamping with its streamside "tents" of canvas, wood, and stone. The tent-cabins have heated floors, leather armchairs, and cast-iron beds plumped with pillows and faux-fur throws. For the ultimate stylish hibernation, the secluded Trapper Cabin (pictured) comes with a kitchen, a stone-tiled shower, a hot tub on the snowy banks of Rock Creek, and direct access to the ranch's best cross-country trails. Trapper Cabin also includes use of a four-wheel-drive Jeep to drive to three serious meals a day in the cozy ranch-log dining room. theranchatrockcreek.com
It's three hours from Vancouver to this wild, puzzle-piece land in the Discovery Islands, which has more wolves and black bears than residents. But that didn't stop Sonora Resort from transforming a fishing lodge into an eco inn, with bay windows and cedar trim. Embark on "seafaris" to cedar forests and the Dent Rapids, where Steller sea lions rule. sonoraresort.com
Verana is not technically an all-inclusive, but the stylish, 10-house inn—run by a film set designer and his French wife—has six stellar packages that cover some activities and all meals (but no booze). Perched on a hill in the small fishing village of Yelapa, the mini resort is so remote it takes a car ride, a boat trip, and a short hike to reach your room. Choose from options, like the Be Active package, which includes one activity daily (think whale watching, deep sea fishing, or waterfall hopping) and yoga sessions. Or, opt for the Open Kitchen plan, which can help you fine-tune (or develop) your kitchen skills with daily cooking classes. Whichever route you go, the owners’ attention to detail guarantees the entire experience will be tailored to suit you.
A great option for families, the recently remodeled resort has more than enough amenities to keep everyone happy. A private beach, along with a kid-friendly pool with cabanas for parent R&R, make for a full day of family fun. The little ones can also enjoy time at an onsite day camp while parents hit up the spa or nearby links. monarchbeachresort.com
The American Prairie Reserve has been dubbed "an American Serengeti" for its wealth of animals, including bison and bighorn sheep. Now over 300,000 acres, it has plans to expand to 3.5 million acres, bigger than Yellowstone. Nearby, the all-inclusive Kestrel Camp—with five climate-controlled yurts, a private chef, and wilderness tours led by biologists—is glamping at its peak. americanprairie.org
Opened in late 2016, Grand Velas’ luxe-factor is over-the-top. For proof, look to the $25,000 taco on the menu at restaurant Frida (there’s a gold flake-infused tortilla involved). Five design firms worked on the hotel’s design, which includes a crescent layout that gives all 304 suites views of the glittering sea; a two-level spa; and a sleek restaurant helmed by a two-star Michelin chef. Interiors are peppered with Mexican art and furnishings meant to highlight the region’s beauty and talent. Kids are welcome too, and frills for little ones range from organic baby foods to nanny service to tricked-out birthday parties.
A stay at this renowned spa resort will leave you feeling rejuvenated. With dozens of activities to choose from, you can be as active or as Zen as your mood strikes, with options ranging from HIIT training workouts to restorative yoga. A robust menu of body treatments and wellness courses round out the deluxe offerings. canyonranch.com/tucson
For family excursions in the outdoors without the sleepless nights, check into the North Bank Camp at Paws Up. On a bluff over the Blackfoot River, this small collection of two- and three-bedroom tents has Paws Up’s hallmark swanky amenities like underfloor heating, furnished decks, camp chefs, and private butlers, plus a brand-new dining pavilion and firepit, where s'mores are browned to perfection. pawsup.com
Practically doubling as an art gallery, the 235-room Marquis features 400 works from a mix of renowned and up-and-coming Latin-American artists. Every inch of the property is meant to evoke relaxation, starting with the lobby, which is shaped to resemble the famous Arch of Cabo San Lucas. On either end of the property, you’ll find infinity pools ideally positioned to catch the sunrise and sunset; all of the resort’s hacienda-inspired suites have a balcony or terrace facing the Pacific. Dinner at Canto del Mar, though not included in the all-inclusive rate, is well worth the splurge for chef Thierry DuFour’s ever-changing menu.
At this ultra-deluxe resort, figure on nine hours a day of no-opt-out exercise (hikes in the surrounding mountains, yoga, body sculpting), plus delicious vegetarian food, no cell service or caffeine, and intense bonding with your 13 fellow guests. It's the spa experience for type A's, with a chic cottage of your own. And amazing scenery. theranchmalibu.com