The 6 best all-inclusives in the world

On holiday to an all-inclusive resort. Something that you don’t really like admitting to in company. It sounds like my beautician who always used to go on vacation with a band around her arm. It made no difference if she went to Isla Marguerite or somewhere in Turkey, once she got there she ‘wanted out’. There was sun, a pool and different restaurants but they all tasted exactly the same, she thought.

I had my first all-inclusive experience a few years back. My best friend was getting married and no matter what, she wanted sun at her wedding. A trip to the Maldives was too expensive, so she booked the whole company a trip to Club Robinson in Turkey. The beaches are gorgeous, the food was good and the wedding was heavenly. The day after the big day found us all chilling on the private beach. I accompanied the brand new groom to the bar so he could order a bottle of wine. “How many glasses would you like with that?” the bar-boy asked. The answer was short and very stern. “One, why?”. Then it dawned on me; an all-inclusive resort is not such a crazy idea.

Because today is intensely cold today you are probably wishing for one of those sun beds, with Will Grayson from John Green in one hand and a strawberry daiquiri in the other with absolutely nothing to do, so I’m about to share the very best all-inclusive resorts in the world with you. They have been crowned with the Traveler’s Choice Awards by Trip Advisor 2014.

Of course you’ll be doing something incredibly cultural in May and playing a local again, but for now in deepest winter, just enjoy the luxury, rest and heavenly superficiality that comes with it.

Think 2 pools, 24 hour butler service, private houses. A minimum stay of 7 days is required but I’m sure you won’t mind that.

This is big favourite of mine. Especially because it is so beautiful and doesn’t look so resort-ish. The massage rooms, the huge inside pool (high point of luxury), the photos of the cocktails and the knowledge that it is around 26 degrees in January makes me want to book NOW.

No wedding plans? When you see this place, you’ll want to go on honeymoon. Destination Maldives. The most beautiful houses, a bar on the beach, massage huts on the sand. Everything, absolutely everything oozes luxury. The good news is that you can fly with Arke Fly. They have all-inclusive deals from 1850 euro, including flight and full board. I think that’s good news.

I personally find this one too massive. Huge, not cozy and quite impersonal. But it’s on the list, so I’m sharing it with you. But I wouldn’t go.

This one reminds me of Carrie Bradshaw and her disaster honeymoon with Big. I’d personally skip this one but for a small price with your dearest girlfriends, you’d probably end up having a lot of fun.

Luxury Bahia Principe Cayo Levantado Don Pablo Collection, Dominican Republic

What is it with these places and their extremely long names? This is one of those tried-hard-but-not-quite resorts. Private beach, different pools, an average temperature of 28 degrees but take note, with 11 days of rain per month. Although they probably have a masseuse and an indoor pool so your vacation is not ruined by rain.