ANI Anguilla Resort provides its guests with breathtaking views from its clifftop perch.
Call them the “inclusive exclusives.” It’s the newest trend in ultra-premium hospitality, one that’s borrowed from how the safari lodge industry has long operated: opt to charge higher rates up front and then offer guests whatever they wish while in residence without ever needing to present a check to sign. It was developed by those lodges out of necessity, mostly driven by their isolated location, but the idea has now spread to urban properties and island resorts, too.
Where once all-inclusives might have simply been shorthand for piled-high buffets, this represents a new, refined approach to the concept. It emphasizes more than simply unlimited food and drink (though that’s a must-have too). Perhaps you’re a guest with a need for daily massages, or someone keen to sail out to a hard-to-reach surf spot every morning? Then again, you might want a private tour of a world-class museum, or a heliskiing adventure on fresh powder daily. We’ve rounded up the five best-in-class of this new concept around the world, from tropical hideouts to Alaskan lodges—just remember, as ever, to check the fine print on every stay.
The ocean is steps from your back door at The Brando.
The Brando, French Polynesia
Order up a cocktail, Marlon-style, at Bob’s Bar, named after Brando’s own personal bartender on the beachfront. Book a daily, included spa treatment in the Fare Manu room at the spa, a bird’s nest-like cocoon on stilts, or a cold- plunge dip in the ice bath installed at the request of former guest Jack Dorsey. Pick a daily, included excursion, whether deep-sea fishing or whale watching when the season’s right. Try some classic poisson cru, perhaps at one of the resort’s own restaurants. If you’re staying on the atoll that was once the name- sake movie star’s private hideaway, it’s more like being his houseguest than staying at— and paying for—a hotel; everyone here is equal. The only decision to make is which side of the island you prefer: Snorkelers should ask for a villa on the rocky Turtle Beach, the best perch for sunset views, while sunbathers will prefer sandy Mermaid Bay–facing villas.
Villa Amber at Áni in the Dominican Republic
Àni Private Resorts, Dominican Republic, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Anguilla
Jane Street Capital founder Tim Reynolds is behind this series of ultra–high-end, single-use inclusive properties, where guests’ every whim is included in the nightly rate—and with a one-to-one staff-to-guest ratio, it’s easy to accommodate. In the Dominican Republic, for example, there’s a private chef who creates culinary delicacies in different settings around the resort, up to 12 spa treatments daily, kids’ activities, beach barbecue lunches, dance performances, a rum-tasting and cigar-rolling master class, and a trip along Laguna Gri-Gri followed by a sunset cruise. At the Anguilla property, the first in the collection and a site that was originally a vacation home for Reynolds and his family, the rates include up to six daily spa treatments, all food and beverage, a pool butler to tend to your needs while lounging, kite flying lessons, and rum tasting classes. Thailand and Sri Lanka follow similar models to these. Reynolds was left paralyzed from the waist down after a car accident in 2000, which became a transformative experience in many ways—and one reason that Àni’s sites also act as prosocial operations, underwriting a local namesake art academy that’s open to local young adults and artists.
The Jardins de l’Orangerie at Airelles Resorts’ Château de Versailles.
Airelles Resorts, France
This under-the-radar French firm is slowly establishing itself as a power player in the ultra-luxe, all-inclusive space, with properties around the country and soon also in Venice, Italy. Its focus is on gestures of generosity to guests, and a feeling that its premium rates are great value for money. There’s no additional charge for sunbeds at its private beach in St Tropez, for instance, or for an exploratory excursion in its mini Mokes, while inclusive rates at the property at Versailles include multiple exclusive tours. Guests can opt for old-school full board, with all meals included in the rate, and every night’s turndown gift is more impressive than a chocolate or two. At its Courchevel or Val d’Isère outposts, for example, that’s a jacket produced in collaboration with Fusalp, while those who stay at the Versailles property will leave with a liquette, the nightshirt traditionally worn at that court. No wonder there’s even a full-time staffer who, in addition to managing the boutique, is also responsible for wrangling those turndown treats.
Tordrillo Mountain Lodge’s majestic landscape.
Tordrillo Mountain Lodge, Alaska
Olympic gold medalist in alpine skiing Tommy Moe co-owns this adventure lodge a 40-minute flight from Anchorage in Alaska’s pristine wilderness, so it’s no wonder he wanted his guests to enjoy the outdoors without any constraints. Pick a package depending on the season, and there’s an unlimited adrenaline rush on tap. In peak winter season, expect heli adventures every day, scouring the landscape for the best places to ski and board, under the auspices of pro-level guides (there are five flight hours per group of four to spend as you wish across your stay). In summer, when the wildflowers and forests burst into life, pick the heli excursions to fish, raft, or climb a via ferrata at no extra cost, or choose from a variety of included activities such as surfing, kayaking, and water skiing. During June, there’s a special, all-inclusive program: heliskiing on perfectly soft snow in the morning, and fishing for king salmon by night. All meals and a connection from Anchorage by plane are also included, whatever the time of year.
Poolside at Naviva
Naviva, A Four Seasons Resort, Mexico
The White Lotus has given this hotel chain a much-needed pop-culture punch-up in recent years, and it’s responding by opening refreshingly contemporary resorts that resist the somewhat cookie-cutter approach to luxury for which it was once known. The standout among them is Naviva, an adults-only tented camp on Mexico’s west coast, which opened in December of 2022. It has just 15 rooms (actually, tents) squirreled away amid an almost 50-acre tropical forest on a private peninsula. The goal is for guests to fully disconnect from the world—so nightly rates include anything you might wish to enjoy on property. Book a massage using locally sourced tepezcohuite, a type of mimosa known for its anti-aging and healing abilities, or a workout in the al-fresco gym, where the dumbbells are hewn from stones found on the property rather than steel; all food and beverages are included, as are the resort’s surprising bonuses, which might include a spontaneous picnic in the jungle.
