When my husband and I married more than 30 years ago, we honeymooned in Jamaica at an all-inclusive, all-couples resort. Until our travel agent told us about it, I wasn’t really aware of all-inclusives, but I liked the concept. Everything was built into one price, including airfare on Air Jamaica, food, drinks, watersports with diving classes and dives, and even tipping. There were no surprises or hidden costs, which meant no stress and plenty of relaxation without having to worry over whether or not to have that extra celebratory glass of champagne.
While all-inclusives now span the globe, the Caribbean in particular is clustered with them. The pioneer of the idea, though, was Club Med, which officially became a brand in 1950 when the first one opened in the Balearic Islands of Spain. While Club Med wasn’t luxurious, the all-inclusive resort has since metamorphosed into a galaxy of five-star suites with private plunge pools, plush extras like mahogany beds and Egyptian sheets, private islands, gourmet cuisine and top-shelf wines and spirits.
A quick search on the internet provides dozens and dozens of lists of the “best” all-inclusives in the Caribbean. I’m not fond of the qualifier “best” since it’s so subjective, so I instead asked my travel agent for her clients’ firsthand recommendations of their favorite resorts. Here are a few to consider when planning your next romantic getaway.
Blue Haven Resort: Turks and Caicos
With only 49 studios and suites, Blue Haven Resort on Leeward at Providenciales offers privacy and intimacy in a boutique resort setting. Set on a private beach and edged with warm, shimmering water, Blue Haven has an onsite marina providing ample opportunities for diving, deep-sea fishing and stand-up paddle boarding. You’ll love the infinity swimming pool, especially, as it seems to flow directly with quiet harmony straight into the Caribbean. The atmosphere is fresh, clean and peaceful.
Blue Haven has three restaurants: Fire and Ice, Salt for Italian cuisine and Jammin’ by the Sea, a beachside grill. Three bars dot the resort for creative, colorful tropical cocktails, including a swim-up bar in the infinity pool.
