The 16 Top Affordable All-Inclusive Resorts in Mexico, Caribbean and the U.S. in 2024, Vetted by a Travel Editor

• Getting There: Punta Cana Airport is 18 km away
• Rates: $183/night

Just 20 minutes from downtown Punta Cana, this little resort off white sand Bavaro Beach has a fitness center, outdoor pool and five restaurants to choose from. If you do trek down to the beach one minute away, you’ll be able to order a tropical drink right to your beach chair.  There’s a full-service spa, tennis courts and mini-golf, too.  

• Getting There: 20-minute drive from Punta Cana Airport
• Rates: $192/night

An active family won’t be bored at this 500-room resort which offers snorkeling, windsurfing and for the littles, a lazy river. An interactive Kids Club as well as a Teen Zone area means kids can socialize on their own while parents chill poolside or at the luxurious day spa. And the setting, right on a palm-dotted beach, gets high marks as a no-fail Instagram backdrop.

• Getting There: 32-minute drive to Luis Munoz Marin Intl. Airport
• Rates: $226/night

Near a promenade in the charming colonial section of San Juan, near Castillo San Felipe del Morro and Pan American Pier, this spot is an ideal romantic getaway for history or architecture buffs. Nature lovers can stroll to Condado and Escambron beaches, and a city tour can be arranged at the front desk—or tickets to the Jose Miguel Agrelot Coliseum or Sixto Escobar Stadium. And the charm extends to the colorful rooms, decorated with pieces made by local artists.

• Getting There: 7 miles to the Curaçao Airport
• Rates: from $299

History buffs and longtime Caribbean travelers will appreciate the sophisticated environs of this resort, located in the middle of the brilliantly painted colonial buildings of Curaçao’s capital, Willemstad. While not strictly following all-inclusive pricing, the spa, restaurant and bar options—and even full casino—offer a full range of adult pastimes on-site. Bonus: It's near the historic Rif Fort, with its four-foot-thick walls built to keep out pirates in the 18^th century. But you’re not just going to be gaming and guidebooking here, as you'll want to make time to lounge on the specially constructed elevated beach that’s got killer views out over the water.

Getting There: 8 miles to Cancun airport

Rates: $212/night

This 336-room hotel sits directly on the beach at the northern tip of the Yucatan Pensinsula, so it gets four stars for location, location, location. Multiple pools overlook the ocean, and both buffet and a la carte meals at multiple restaurants are included in the nightly rate. Nightly shows at nearby Aquaworld are included, however you’ll want to pay extra for day trips to nearby cenotes or Chitchen Itza.

• Getting There: 13 miles to Cancun Airport
• Rates: $153/night

This boutique hotel has a distinctive sleek look and minimalist aesthetic, a departure from many Mexico beachside spots. Under the all-inclusive plan, guests can go to any of the four restaurants, although for a reservation at the fine-dining Italian restaurant Chianti, you’ll need to book at least three nights. A real standout here are the four-poster beds on the beach for some seriously luxe naps.

• Getting There: 30 miles to Cancun Airport
• Rates: $310/night

The eco-conscious ethos of this beachfront hotel, 320 rooms in buildings scattered across a palm-dotted landscape, includes eco-friendly toiletries and showers, recycling practices and LED light bulbs. There are no kids’ clubs at this adults-only spot, but you will enjoy complimentary use of non-motorized watercraft like kayaks as well as tennis and onsite entertainment. And it’s all worry-free, with inclusive meals at five restaurants, including the open-air thatch-roof Mexican grill, and endless cocktails.

• Getting There: 40 miles from Tulum Airport, 59 miles from Cancun Airport
• Rates: from $372/night

When you’re a giant—like this beachfront property of 773 rooms and suites, 13 bars and restaurants, spa and three children’s areas, separated by age range—then you have the muscle to keep everyone entertained (or blissed out, as the case may be). The two-story villas that make up the resort never overwhelm the natural beauty of this sandy coast; on arrival, you’re assigned a personal concierge to help you and your family make the most of your time here, with daily fitness and yoga classes, optional spa appointments and nine resort pools, as well as nighttime outdoor family movie night, a silent disco and a Cuban orchestra.

• Getting There: 10 miles from Puerto Vallarta Airport
• Rates: from $440

Situated on picturesque Flamingos Beach, an 8-mile stretch of sand in the residential section of northern Nuevo Vallarta, this upscale all-inclusive is worth its premium price for its spacious suites, Spanish colonial hacienda design and attentive service. There are 11 bars and restaurants on premises, and guests are also given access to another three dining options at sister property Villa del Palmar Flamingos. Activities nearby include horseback riding excursions, swimming with dolphins, golfing and even something for the thrill-seekers among us: ATV and zipline tours. Note: resort and spa credits are awarded along with the room rate, which includes all meals and beverages.

• Getting There: 2.5 miles to Cozumel Airport
• Rates: From $359/night

With rich Palancar Reef, one of the world’s largest coral growths, just a short way away, diving and snorkeling here is one of the primary draws. But this property adds to its natural allure with its four restaurants, three pools including one children’s pool and two bars all included in the room rate. Kids and teens stay for free in your room, as well as enjoy kid’s club activities. Ecotours and parasailing can be arranged for an additional fee off-property…or you can just nap on a pool sun lounger and call it a vacation.

• Getting There: 28 miles from Los Cabos International Airport
• Rates: $377/night

Guests are spoiled for choice with 11 bars and restaurants, including a swim-up pool bar, to choose among, and afternoon adult activities from dancing and tequila tasting to nighttime fire- and circus-themed shows. There’s a kids club, too, at this 272-room spot that has a modern, lively feel.

• Getting There: 6 miles to Cancun airport
• Rates: $256/night

Conveniently situated in the Hotel Zone of Cancun, this 617-room property offers daily aerobics, ping-pong, tennis, volleyball, basketball, bingo, billiards and shuffleboard, as well as a kid’s club, a teen club and even a mini water club for infants. Nightly live music shows, karaoke and a nightclub keep the adults entertained and the multi-level water park will tire the whole gang out, day after day.

• Getting There: 13 miles from Cancun Airport
• Rates: $361/night

Spacious rooms and delightful sunsets of Nichupte Lagoon are the draw at this 287-room coastal Cancun resort. Double whirlpool tubs, daily refreshed mini-bars and in-room liquor dispensers, oh my!—are some of the grown-up delights, while the super-kitted out kids club is called The Dreamery. (We recommend shelling out an additional $99 for one of the kids’ amenities kits, which include a faucet cover, pirate or princess outfits and a Bliss light in-room star projector). A circus night, Broadway-level shows and more evening entertainments are on offer in addition to all the daytime pool and surf fun.

• Getting There: 50 miles from Cody
• Rates: from $700/week

Whether you loved horses as a girl and have gotten away from it, are a devoted Yellowstone stan or just want to get away from your computer and into nature for a while, this trip can be just the thing. Stay in a twin bed cabin or four-person bunk house, and get riding lessons or learn advanced equestrian skills at this working ranch. Local off-ranch activities include the Cody Nite Rodeo, white water rafting, floating on the Big Horn River, soaking at the hot springs in Thermopolis, fishing and an overnight trip to nearby Yellowstone, all of which the staff will schedule around your horse duties. A stay here is rustic, can include rough riding and will turn you into a cowgirl yet.

• Getting There: 96 miles from New York City
• Rates: From $334

Come for the kitsch, stay for the scenery. That’s our word on this classic upstate New York resort famous for its seven-foot-tall Champagne glass hot hub for two. It’s couples-only, a tradition of this honeymoon spot kept in place to ensure clients are focused on making babies rather than chasing after them. Only an hour drive upstate from the George Washington Bridge in New York City, treat yourself and your SO to days filled with nature tails (really exceptional during fall foliage season) and nights of dining in your choice of two restaurants before retiring to your suite with round king-size bed, heart-shaped tub and the aforementioned towering Champagne glass tub. (Your Instagram followers will appreciate it.)

• Getting There: 9 miles from Grand Bahama International Airport
• Rates: from $279

The stunning sand flats of Grand Bahama front this resort which spans 26 acres of Bahamian beachfront. Outdoor tennis courts, a fitness center and a kids’ pool are among the draws here, as well as nearby limestone caves you can swim in and wildlife-filled Rand Nature Center. Best of all, the low-slung design of the buildings means you never feel you’re in a big resort. Oh, and did we mention you can swim with dolphins?