Booking Luxury Resorts: What To Consider
Planning an overseas holiday and want to treat yourself a little? There are plenty of indulgent luxury resorts at your disposal in some of the world’s most desirable locations. Making the right choice can make all the difference to your experience. Let’s discuss what to look for to find the best luxury resorts that suit your personal needs and tastes. We’ll also recommend suitable resorts in popular holiday destinations.
Suitability: what luxury resorts to choose
The first thing to do is to find luxury resorts that suit your travelling party.
- For families, there are plenty of family-friendly resorts that offer safe, supervised children’s activities, facilities and room features. Couples without children can choose between several dozens of adults-only resorts, from the Indian Ocean to the Caribbean.
- Romantic holidays are also well-catered for, with options ranging from resorts with secluded swim-up villas on palm-fringed private beaches to those nestled in tropical forests. Solo travellers can go for a busy resort with socialising opportunities or enjoy time alone somewhere private.
- If you’re holidaying with friends, you can stay in adjacent rooms or villas at resorts that offer an array of activities for groups, like water sports, outdoor movies and sightseeing excursions. Luxury resorts are also available for the eco-conscious, often tucked away in protected natural reserves.
Resort size
Whether you’re a family on holiday or by yourself, you’ll have an idea of what size resort you prefer. There are expansive options with over 300 rooms or premium boutique resorts with limited rooms for a more personalised service. For instance, the Maharaja Boutique Hotel in Zanzibar only has 20 rooms in a secluded botanical garden setting. On the other end of the spectrum, Breezes Bahamas in Nassau has almost 400 rooms. The Sea Breeze Beach House in Barbados strikes a pleasing balance between the two with its 122 rooms.
Accommodation options at luxury resorts
Of course, the type of accommodation is crucial. When you stay at luxury resorts, you rightfully expect king-size beds, superior linen and upmarket room appointments. Size is another consideration – would you like an extra seating area, for example?
Once again, you don’t have to worry about finding just the right room or suite in any of the world’s favourite tourist spots. The Grand Palace at Hurghada on Egypt’s Red Sea coast highlights what you can expect. It offers everything from Junior Suites of 48 sqm to Royal Villas with private pools or Jacuzzis and 360 sqm of space.
Some offer a unique touch, like Rabot Hotel Chocolat on St. Lucia. Situated on an active cacao farm, each room has its own Velvetiser machine that creates artisanal hot chocolate from those very beans.
Price
Even if you want the best luxury resorts, you still also want good value for money. You won’t be able to avoid premium prices, but all-inclusive packages can save your holiday spending money without compromising on top quality. Have a look at our resort holiday packages and Subscriber Exclusive Offers to find these.
Many of the best luxury all-inclusive resorts also offer plush extras, such as the Planet Hollywood Costa Rica. Billed as an “autograph collection” all-inclusive resort, its rooms have Elite Spa bath products, and handcrafted beds for ultimate comfort. There’s a butler service for Star Suites guests and a beauty salon too. The stay also includes a free scuba-diving test, if you want to try it out.
Coco Reef Resort & Spa in Tobago includes Rolls Royce transfers, an advanced fitness centre and an expansive spa with trained therapists.
Proximity to the beach
What are luxury summer holidays without the beach? You can wake up and step straight onto power-white sands with near-transparent water in the exotic island destination of your choice. The Manchebo Beach Resort & Spa on Aruba is set on Eagle Beach, and you’ll stay in a palapa on the beach itself. Or treat yourself to the ultimate experience of a swim-up villa jutting out over the sea. Hit Jamaica and book at secluded Sandals South Coast for this.
Luxury resorts pool facilities
While some people head straight for the beach, you may prefer a tranquil lounge in an infinity pool. Or you might just want the convenience of taking a dip in a resort swimming pool whenever you get the urge. Blue Waters & The Cove Suites on Antigua fits the bill magnificently. It has no fewer than seven freshwater pools, four of which are reserved for private use if you book a Cove Suite. On Cape Verde, the Hotel Riu Palace Santa Maria is another excellent choice. It has six pools, including a heated indoor pool, an adults-only infinity pool, a kids’ splash pool, and two private whirlpools.
On-site activities and entertainment
The best luxury resorts provide wide and varied entertainment and all kinds of activities, whether you want to exert yourself or be pleasantly sedentary. Standard offerings include:
- Spa
- Fitness centre
- Swimming pools
- Easy beach access
- Sports facilities (tennis courts, yoga, water sports)
- Daily and evening entertainment
- A variety of world-class dining options
- Children’s facilities
- Personalised bespoke service
Most luxury resorts will have these and more, like the Royalton Grenada Resort & Spa on the island of St George’s, Grenada. Or choose the Calabash Luxury Boutique Hotel & Spa, voted the “#1 Hotel in the Caribbean” in the Traveller’s Choice Awards 2017.
Kids’ facilities at the best luxury resorts
Families will want a family-friendly resort with children’s facilities and activities. Dining options should include kids’ menus. Ideally, there should be some form of supervised entertainment for youngsters, so that you can take a break on your own while they’re enjoying themselves. Riu Funana on Cape Verde is a great example. It has double or triple rooms, a children’s playground and swimming pool, and a RIU Land Kids’ Club.
In Mauritius, Le Meridien Ile Maurice is a dedicated family-friendly resort. It has a children’s outdoor cinema and swimming pool. There’s a supervised kids’ club where they can go crab-hunting, while you unwind at the adults-only Nirvana hideaway with its private beach.
Getting to the best luxury resorts
Travel time and ease of access are further considerations. If you’re holidaying with children, long-haul flights can be stressful. Perhaps choose destinations closer to home, like Portugal’s Algarve region. The 5-star Domes Lake Algarve offers superb luxury family accommodation and amenities, with an award-winning spa.
If you’re travelling solo or as a couple, you won’t have to worry about travel stress as much, and you can virtually choose any of our recommended destinations and resort holiday packages.
Safety
It’s always wise to be a little watchful when you first arrive in a new place, but you won’t have to worry about safety at any of the luxury resorts we’ve chosen for you. They’re all modern, with proper security measures, and the latest technology available to you. Staff are attentive and observant. You can also trust the supervised facilities for children, with specially trained personnel looking after them.
It’s time to book your resort holiday packages
It’s really not difficult to find luxury resorts that cater to your preferences in the world’s most popular holiday destinations. With the recommendations we’ve provided, you can browse through and find one that’s just right for you at Blue Bay Travel.
