Travel trends are changing constantly, and every year it pops up new, exciting trips in the charter world. Right now, many families go on generational trips with children, parents and grandparents and grandparents together, to have more time together. Many are therefore looking for large family and all inclusive packages.
Earlier, 5-star hotels were considered as the most luxurious ones but as the technology-enhanced and people got smart, 7-star hotels started replacing 5-star hotel. Now the 7-star hotels are awarded (unofficially) as the most luxurious hotels in the world. But what sets them apart? What facilities do they have? What is so special in them?
Quality time with the family is one of the most important things for us when we are on holiday, in addition to peace and solitude. With all inclusive resorts in summer you can enjoy time together fully, from the breakfast table to long lunches in the shade when the sun is warming the most.
All inclusive resorts allows you to choose from a wide range of food and beverages, from refreshing juices to the grilled fish and local specialties, all included in the price. See today's 5-star all-inclusive hotels that stands out with a little extra - with good opportunities for adults, family activities and luxury suites with swim out.
Here are some great luxury resorts to pamper yourself.
1. Daintree Wilderness Lodge, Australia
Nestled between lush rainforests and coral reefs, Daintree Wilderness Lodge is the perfect place to reconnect with nature. Want to unwind in one of the world’s oldest rainforests? Visit the magical Daintree Wilderness Lodge in Australia. Located right in the heart of the Daintree Rainforest, this eco-friendly resort has several cabins where you can see fascinating wildlife right on your doorstep.
Keen bird-watchers, for instance, should keep an eye out for the rare Southern Cassowaries here. You could also join a reforestation project, take part in a photography workshop or book an Aboriginal cultural tour to explore the land of the Kuku Yulangi peoples. It’s a truly sustainable rainforest experience with all your modern comforts.
2. Pikaia Lodge, Ecuador
If you want the right blend of luxury and nature, then book yourself a room in Pikaia lodge in Ecuador. The lodge is located on a spectacular spot on earth as on its every side; there are steep gradients that go down into the crater of an extinct volcano. This is your chance to stay on the Galapagos, Darwin's favorite archipelago.
As the lodge is centrally located, you can enjoy easy access to all of the islands. Guests stay in rooms that have been designed for the environmentally conscious. They can wander around and come face-to-face with nature’s abundance.
Interesting Reads: Top Things to Do in Ecuador
3. Mardan Palace Hotel, Antalya
Mardan Palace Hotel is one of the most luxurious resorts not just in Turkey, but the most elite in Europe. The famed Riviera with 5-star sophistication is indeed located in a picture-perfect location on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea. Get the chance to stay in those sumptuous suites done in Italian marble, plush interiors in gold leaf and crystal.
The splendid resort architecture and meticulously appointed accommodations are sure to sweep you off your feet. Treat yourself to 17 bars, ten dining spots, and pamper yourself to a lavish spa. Take advantage of a 24/7 personal butler and admire the sunken aquarium full of exotic fish.
Interesting Reads: Top Things to Do in Turkey
4. White desert Camp, Antarctica
Get onboard a Gulfstream Private Jet to set off for the icy continent of White Desert. You are in for an ultimate luxury vacation for a day. You get about eight hours to explore the icy area and are treated to a gourmet champagne dinner. The camp is like no other as it is set amidst the vast wildernesses on earth in Antarctica.
Get transported to another world, but are in for a unique but luxurious camp experience. Inside the camp, there are fur throws draped over modern chairs, and the champagne flows freely.
Interesting Reads: Top Things to Do in Antarctica
5. Reefsuites, Australia
Reefsuites is a floating pontoon all-inclusive hotel with two luxury underwater suites. The pontoon is moored at Hardy Reef in the Whitsundays, Australia which is a part of the Great Barrier Reef. It is not a cheap place, $799AUS per person in a Double/Twin room or $1199AUS in a Single occupancy.
But it includes a scenic cruise through the beautiful Whitsunday Islands, full board with dinner under the stars, drinks including beer and wine (a glass of wine on top of the pontoon during the sunset is nothing less than AMAZING!!!) and snorkeling on the reef. You can add to your stay diving in the Great Barrier Reef, scenic helicopter tours and more. This project also helps with the conservation of the Great Barrier Reef.
6. Cape Sounio, Grecotel Exclusive Resort, Greece
Cape Sounio Grecotel Exclusive Resort is perfectly located in a peaceful environment in the Sounio area, within a short drive from Laurium and Anavyssos. Well-known for its beautiful private beaches, lush grounds, beautiful sun-filled big rooms, large pools, the contemporary resort is a real favorite holiday spot among families and couples.
Located by the beach, Cape Sounio Grecotel Exclusive Resort offers scenic views from its beautiful 5-star rooms. The luxurious rooms have all the required facilities and amenities for a pleasant stay including hairdryer, minibar, and free WiFi. The guests can enjoy Sounio National Park, one of the few green spaces remaining in the Attica province which is located behind the Cape Sounio Grecotel Exclusive Resort.
7. Singita
Singita is an extremely high-end safari brand with 12 lodges across Africa: five in South Africa, one in Zimbabwe and six in Tanzania. You can expect 5-star service, exceptional locations in big game territory, gourmet food, few other guests and the finest luxuries and amenities. One of the best aspects of the Singita experience, is that you can always rely on having top-class guides.
These are the people who make your African safari special – the vaster their knowledge and skill in the bush, the more you will see, and the more meaningful and memorable your experience will be.
Singita’s lodges are located in areas with reliably good game viewing; Singita Lebombo and Singita Castleton, for example, are in the Sabi Sands Game Reserve that is renowned for its superb leopard sightings while the lodges in Tanzania are centred on the Mara and Grumeti Rivers to take advantage of the Great Wildebeest Migration River crossings and year-round game viewing.
Singita lodges offer a lot of extra and unusual features that can include well-stocked wine cellars, opulent spas, tennis courts, private airstrips, gym facilities, espresso bars, observation decks with telescopes, art galleries, exclusive-use villas, and suites with private plunge pools. Some of the lodges also offer included activities like mountain biking and archery (in addition to classic safari activities such as game drives and nature walks).
Whether you opt to visit Southern or East Africa, Singita provides a very exclusive safari experience with few other guests, outstanding personalised service and plenty of pampering. If you want to take your family or a group of friends, Singita Castleton is an exclusive-use villa that affords you your own chef, guide and game-drive vehicle.
If you want a more ‘rustic’ safari but without sacrificing any comfort, Singita Explore is a tented camp that doesn’t stint on pampering. When planning your safari, do your research, decide what is most important to you, and talk to a specialist to find the best fit for you. There are many options available: Singita is definitely at the top-end of the scale.
Singita is expensive, there is no doubt about that. And the clients who find that it is worth the cost are usually people who can easily afford those rates, and are not too focused on the cost but on the quality of the experience.
You can compare it to flying first class, business class or economy class. The majority of passengers on long haul flights fly economy class, and may not feel that business class or first class is worth the cost. But for those who can afford it and fly often, the comfort of business class or first class outweighs the cost factor.
The same at Singita. It is about the experience and what Singita can offer, compared to less expensive safari lodges. All the Singita properties are situated in prime game viewing locations with some of the best private traversing areas. They can offer exclusivity and fantastic game viewing in prime locations, without having to share traversing with other lodges like some of the less expensive safari properties.
They have a high staff to guest ratio which includes the highest possible levels of service, a private butler, and every guest need taken care of. Cheaper lodges usually have a lower staff to guest ratio. They can afford to employ the very best chefs and kitchen staff, and offer world-class cuisine to ensure that the culinary experience is on par with the top notch game viewing experience they can offer. And of course, everything is included.
They can invest in the best rangers and trackers, and pay them well enough to keep them longer term, so guests can benefit from highly experienced field guides. Often (though not always), cheaper lodges pay lower wages and attract less experienced guides.
Singita’s spacious guest rooms in most cases are beautiful, opulent, luxury suites with no detail overlooked. Except for their tented camps, they usually offer complete privacy, huge bathrooms, outdoor shower and private plunge pool, a cozy fireplace, and every modern convenience you can think of. Altogether, Singita is right up there with the best luxury safari experiences money can buy, and whether it’s worth the cost will depend on you, your budget, and what you want out of a safari.
Of course, many guests who have not stayed at Singita say that it is not worth the cost, and have opted for a less expensive safari lodge. It comes down to your budget and what your expectations are. Prices of safari lodges typically range from as low as $200 per person sharing per night, up to $2000 per person sharing per night, with Singita coming in at the upper end of this range.
8. Manta Resort Pemba Island, Tanzania
This resort located on the Zanzibar archipelago has floating rooms, with beds above the sea. If you are indeed lovers of water or diving enthusiasts, it is very suitable to spend the night here. You will know how it feels to live in a house that floats on a clear blue sea. The first floor of the inn has a depth of 13 meters below sea level.
9. JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country, USA
If you are looking for romantic getaways near Dallas, you should go ahead and enjoy your weekend at The JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort and Spa. It is a massive resort, which is paired with a water park. On top of that, you can find seven different restaurants and a 36 hole golf course as well. On top of that, you can find more than 85 different suites in the resort.
No matter what suite you get, you will have lots of space to unwind yourself. That’s because all the suites that you can find in this resort have an area of at least 1,000 square feet. All the suites that you can find in The JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort and Spa are decorated and designed in a natural style. They have walkout balconies as well. Hence, you can have a relaxing time with the loved ones during the time that you spend here.
The dining options available to you at this resort are outstanding. As mentioned earlier, it is equipped with 7 restaurants, where you can find numerous dining options. You can enjoy Mexican cuisine, Southwestern Cuisine, and many other options based on your preferences. You can find multiple hiking trails, waterfalls, and lakes around this resort. It is possible for you to visit them and add more value to the time that you spend here.
10. Hotel Saint Cecilia, USA
Any family interested in quick weekend getaways near Dallas can think about visiting Hotel Saint Cecilia. It is located in Austin. As soon as you step into this hotel, you will feel like you are traveling back in time. That’s because the entire hotel is decorated according to a unique Rock and Roll theme. This theme would make the hotel look like it is belonging to the late 1960s.
You can find six poolside bungalows, five suites, and three studios in this hotel. You have the freedom to go through those options and reserve anything as per your wishes. No matter what accommodation option you select, you will get the opportunity to unwind yourself in the heated lap pool. The pool is open to guests throughout 24 hours of the day.
If you are willing to have a gathering during the weekend getaway, you can think about doing it in the Saint Cecilia Lounge. It offers luxurious seating facilities to you. You will cherish the time that is spent by the fireplace as well. It is important to keep in mind that Hotel Saint Cecilia doesn’t have any restaurants. However, you will still be able to find a mini-bar in your room.
It offers some decent European and local products to enjoy. If you want to dine in, you can find numerous nearby restaurants as well.
11. Sailrock Resort, Turks & Caicos Islands
Sailrock Resort is the epitome of secluded luxury. The natural beauty of tiny South Caicos, coupled with luxurious (but not plentiful) accommodations and highly professional staff results in a feeling of exclusivity and privacy at Sailrock that is second to none.
You are treated like a VIP from the moment you step off the charter flight that shuttles you from Providenciales. The food in the restaurants is gourmet delicious (especially the conch ceviche and fresh fish), and can be delivered to your room. Communication with resort staff is via WhatsApp, and they are extremely responsive and polite.
The beachfront villas are spacious, modern, and immaculate. They each have private, heated pools and full kitchens which are very convenient. It’s neat to have everything you could possibly need in such a remote location.
If your objectives are to relax and “get away from it all”, and you don’t want to be bothered by obnoxious tourists, Sailrock is the place to go. However, it may not be for everyone - loud partygoers seeking nightlife and crowds should stick to Ibiza.
12. T Bar M Resort, USA
T Bar M Resort is one of the most beautiful resorts that you can find in the region. It is quite popular among people who are looking for short trips from Dallas. You can find lots of greenery in this hotel. Therefore, it would be possible for you to have a relaxing time along with nature as you are staying here.
There are multiple accommodation options available for the guests who are staying at T Bar M Resort as well. Out of those options, Country Inn rooms are the most popular. These rooms are offering decent space for you. On the other hand, you can also find log cabins in this resort, which can accommodate up to 36 people at a given time.
No matter what accommodation option you reserve, you will be able to get a snug and intimate experience. That’s because all of them are decorated in a unique country style. Facilities available for the people who visit T Bar M Resort include an outdoor swimming pool, a fitness room, a sports center, and a game room.
On top of that, people who stay at T Bar M Resort will be able to take part in numerous sports such as air hockey, shuffleboard, volleyball, baseball, and foosball. This resort doesn’t have a restaurant, but you can still get complimentary breakfast and free ice cream. Since there are numerous restaurants in the neighborhood, you will not encounter any challenges as you spend your time here during the weekend.
