Romantic all-inclusive hotels for couples seeking a dreamy break

With just six villas, The Palms Zanzibar is a secluded hideaway in a paradise setting. Decorated in a refined blend of coffee and cream tones with hardwood floors and billowing curtains, your spacious island home features bedrooms, a living room, two bathrooms and a terrace looking out on the glittering blue of the Indian Ocean. Watch the dancing waves from your four-poster sunbed next to a private plunge pool, as you decide what to have for dinner. Expect options such as freshly caught red snapper or prawns cooked with Zanzibar’s fragrant spices, all served on the grand collonaded terrace of the Plantation House restaurant. Naturally, all meals are included.

Burn off some energy by learning to dive among the coral reefs, coming face to face with turtles and dolphins. Or explore like a local, sailing a traditional Swahili dhow through the forest-green mangroves of the Michamvi Peninsula. Afterwards, the Sanctuary Spa is waiting to welcome you with flickering candles and aromatic spices. Try an authentic Balinese massage as you gaze out on ocean views.

The ‘Unlimited Privileges’ package at Samabe Bali Suites & Villas on the sandy beaches of Nusa Dua includes a personal butler to wait on you hand and foot – from unpacking your case to arranging activities. Before he books your 60-minute aromatherapy massage or batik painting class, why not order a breakfast served on a floating tray in your private pool? Spend the day in sliding through Bali’s turquoise waters in kayak, catamaran or stand-up paddleboard, then learn how to craft authentic Balinese dishes in a cooking class. After all that, you’ll be glad to wind down with the cooling cucumber eye compresses delivered poolside each day at 3pm.

Romantic experiences are plentiful at this resort. Dine in a beach cavern made up as a lantern-lit wonderland or take a sunset tour of the clifftop Hindu temple of Uluwatu. Then as the sky turns midnight blue, return to your stylish contemporary suite, where rich Balinese hardwoods meet plush sofas and a spacious balcony offers ocean views – the ideal place for a star-gazing session with your in-room telescope.

The all-inclusive package at Belmond Napasai on Koh Samui, one of the most popular islands in the shimmering Gulf of Thailand, sates appetites with afternoon tea as well as a daily buffet breakfast, lunch and dinner. Look out for dishes such as roast duck with tamarind sauce and cashew nuts, made using home-grown herbs, spices and tropical fruits. Choose from a high-octane daily activity to work off all those indulgences: learning the art of Thai boxing, explore hidden coves and reefs in a kayak or snorkel above colourful coral reefs.

For a more sedate pace, learn to balance the fragrance and heat of Thai cuisine in a cooking class or practice some serene and energising yoga postures. Or just retire to the haven of your villa, decorated in dark woods with intricate Thai wall hangings. Large wooden balconies look onto lush jungle or out to the palm trees of the resort’s private beach. One-bedroom villas also feature their own private massage sala, the ideal place to indulge in the aromatic Five Flowers Scrub, a treatment beloved by Thai royalty

Hold hands as you gaze in awe at majestic creatures – from rhinos to lions – on your holiday at Rhulani Safari Lodge. Situated in South Africa’s fifth-largest game reserve, this hotel’s all-inclusive package includes two drives a day in an open Land Rover with an experienced guide. Once you return from your close encounter with the Big Five, gather around the fireplace for a traditional boma dinner under the stars, featuring South African fare such as Eland steaks with cranberry sauce and curried beans. As well as the game drives, you can discover the 350 species of bird life, gaze at the stars through dazzling clear skies or unwind on your private terrace with a Tree of Life massage, using oil from the baobab tree.

Your cabin includes its own personal plunge pool with views of the watering hole, so you can watch the animal activity with a sundowner – perhaps Rhulani’s classic Pimm’s, with cucumber, apple and mint. Constructed from traditional thatch and local woods, your room is furnished with romantic four-poster beds, deep freestanding baths and fireplaces to snuggle up beside on cooler nights.

Pure relaxation is a way of life at Adler Spa Resort Thermae. Located in the undulating hills and cypress groves of southern Tuscany, the hotel features 1,000 square metres of thermal pools to sink into and unwind. From the organic produce in the restaurant to the wine-based, anti-oxidant treatments in the spa and the historic landscape, everything here is designed to rejuvenate body and mind.

There are spa treatments created especially for two: try the luxury oriental ritual, with scents of lotus, jasmine and frangipani. After a blissful session in the subterranean Dead Sea salt grotto or ancient Etruscan steam bath, take that feeling of calm back to your room. Each one faces the central courtyard or the green hills, and features landscape paintings and wooden beams in a modern evocation of Tuscany’s time-honoured style. Sip a sparkling rosé grown in the hotel’s grounds as you look out from your private terrace. Then dine on local produce and classic regional dishes in the restaurant, modelled on a romantic town square, with a glass roof for stargazers.

Coveting your own infinity pool where you can gaze out at clear blue ocean and volcanic mountains? Then check into Jade Mountain, a renovated colonial plantation in St Lucia. With the all-inclusive Total Romance packs, you’ll be greeted with a bottle of champagne in your luxe hideaway, crafted from tropical wood with blush-toned walls made from Barbados coral plaster. To make your first night even more special, try private dining. Dishes such as tropical red snapper with baby courgettes and champagne butter are served on your private terrace, or you can head to a candlelit sanctuary on Anse Mamin beach where you might experience the hotel’s lavish take on surf and turf – a Chateaubriand for two with giant prawns.

Slip on matching Frette bathrobes and slippers the next morning before preparing for a sunrise yoga class with your partner, then call the staff to arrange a trip climbing volcanoes, biking through the jungle or scuba diving. There are gentler excursions on offer too, such as dipping in and out of mud baths or sipping champagne on the deck of a skippered yacht at sunset.

A sense of the exotic pervades this adults-only hotel in Lanzarote, with cool, contemporary interior design fusing elements from Spanish and Middle Eastern culture. Nowhere is this more evident than in H10 Sentido White Suites’ La Haima bar, where you’ll sit on Persian rugs while sharing a flavoursome shisha pipe. Indulge in yet another relaxing moment together at the Despacio spa’s Turkish bath – access is complimentary with an all-inclusive package.

Witness fiery cooking displays at Bamboo restaurant and tuck into dishes from the buffet – expect to dine on anything from perfectly grilled steaks to spicy stir-fries. At La Choza, you can snack on light bites such as burgers on the open-air poolside terrace. For a romantic dinner, treat your partner to a private meal at Palapa, an exclusive island retreat at the centre of the azure pool.

After a sumptuous meal, retire for a nightcap to your bright, airy room, decorated in understated tones with bold contemporary art prints. There’s a free minibar for all-inclusive guests to make their own cocktail or Nespresso machines in the suites if you’d prefer a rich coffee on your private terrace.

Right by the turquoise waters of Pachyammos beach this all-inclusive, adults-only hotel is a carefree place for romancing someone special. With the Ultra All-Inclusive package at Constantinou Bros Athena Royal Beach, you can tuck into an ice-cream, play a game of tennis, head to the sauna and then cool down with a refreshing Brandy Sour – Cyprus’s favourite cocktail – before settling down to a four-course dinner on the terrace of the Aphrodite Restaurant. All this, and you never need to take out your wallet.

In your elegant room, which blends rich wood and blue accents with a floral feature wall, you’ll wake up on a soft, king-sized bed. From the private balcony, you might be able to see the Mediterranean or the hotel gardens as you welcome the day with an espresso from your in-room machine. Choose one of the hotel’s three pools and dive right in, or catch some rays by your own private beach cabana. Then unwind together in the couples’ suite of the Elixir Spa, as you receive an indulgent aromatherapy massage.

The adults-only section of Komandoo Island Resort & Spa on a pristine beach in the Caribbean is all about peace and quiet – ideal for couples who prefer a calmer holiday. Ultimate tranquillity is found within the spa: relax during a couples’ massage surrounded by lush jungle or sit and whisper sweet nothings in each others’ ears amid the bubbles of the whirlpool.

For a more lively change of pace, dress up in your evening finery and test your luck at the on-site casino. Get competitive with a tennis match or join in with a game of beach volleyball. Alternatively, try windsurfing or scuba diving in the warm waters of the Caribbean.

Choose a swim-up room and you can wake in your king-sized bed, refresh yourself under a rainfall shower in your marble-and-wood bathroom and then plunge into a river-like pool directly from your terrace. After the day’s activities, dine under native trees hung with lamps in the Jungle restaurant – just one of 11 venues. There you can choose from local dishes such as charcoal-grilled octopus or suckling pig roasted over an open fire.

String leis, play ukulele and husk coconuts together at Travaasa Hana – a stay here introduces guests to the charms of Hawaiian culture. After learning how to hula, Maui-style, head back to your ocean bungalow, where you can take in sweeping views of the glittering Pacific from your large lanai, or balcony. Panoramic sliding doors let the cooling trade winds into your room, decked out with light wood, blue accents and artistic photos of island life.

Live hula music accompanies your meals at the Preserve Kitchen + Bar, while vistas of the bay and verdant Ka’uiki Hill lie around you. On the menu are dishes such as pan-roasted fish of the day with papaya salad or crispy beef with edible Hawaiian ferns and a chilli pepper sauce.

Spa treatments are inspired by traditional knowledge about the human body, along with local plants and essential oils. Your all-inclusive package could include a native lomilomi healing massage or the Ohe’o forest massage, using organic bamboo and lime oils. For more adventurous experiences, take a traditional canoe out into Hana Bay or go on a horseback trail ride with a local guide.

Go from suite to sand in seconds with a stay at the Valentin Imperial Riviera Maya. With an Emerald Junior Suite, you’ll settle into a beachfront location on Playa del Carmen’s coastline with a romance-inducing Jacuzzi tub that has room for two. Soak with your partner while discussing dinner plans – seven eateries are available to all-inclusive guests, including a sushi restaurant with a miniature zen garden. Candlelit beach meals (for an extra charge) are multi-course affairs, featuring dishes such as smokey duck carpaccio and cajun-spiced lobster tail.

There’s just as much choice when it comes to activities, from Latin dance classes to jet skiing. Explore the history of the Mayans with excursions to historic sites such as Chichen Itza or simply bask in the sun by one of the two vast pools – then dive in and head to the swim-up bar for cocktails. Alternatively, seek out the blissful calm of the spa, where you and your partner can have a traditional back massage, tropical body scrub and hydrating facial side by side.

A luxury bungalow on a private peninsula can be your own secluded haven when you check into Ponta dos Ganchos Exclusive Resort. Each lodge blends rustic charm with contemporary design, combining earth tones, rich wood and sleek glass. Spacious decks offer glistening ocean vistas – some have private infinity pools, wine cellars, personal saunas or spa bathrooms. This Emerald Coast hotel is as eco-friendly as it is luxurious, so you can hop on an electric golf cart to start exploring.

First visit the sandy beach, where you can canoe around secret coves or snorkel with tropical fish in crystal clear waters. Unwind afterwards with the hotel’s signature massage in the wellness centre’s tranquil gardens: warm cinnamon oil and fragrant herbs send you deep into relaxation as the masseur gets to work.

The resort is full of opportunities for romantic meals together. Have an intimate dinner on a small island off the beach, sampling an exquisite tasting menu as the lamplight flickers around you and the moon reflects off the water. Or have the staff prepare you a picnic of bread, cheese and fruits with champagne to indulge in after you’ve wandered the rainforest trails.

It’s hard not to fall in love with – and in – Voyage Bodrum. On the one side, you can dive right into the blue Aegean Sea, while on the other is the romantic city of Bodrum, with its whitewashed streets and flower-filled cafés watched over by the historic castle. Your room reflects these surroundings with soothing white walls, a blue tiled bathroom and a balcony offering far-reaching views.

The all-inclusive package, available in the summer months, allows you free reign of the hotel’s patisserie, where you can indulge in treats like delicate fruit tarts or rich chocolate cakes, as well as the restaurants and bars. Tuck into the grills at the beachside snack bar, whether it’s a burger or a spicy doner wrap, and at night sit down to artfully plated international cuisine at the à la carte eatery.

Crafted from polished marble with cherubic illustrations adorning the walls, the hotel’s Ottoman-style spa has an alluring, old-world feel. Take a break from the rays with a traditional Turkish ritual in the hammam or lie back for a hot-stone massage.

From dining to activities, this all-inclusive hotel is ideal for couples who want to try it all. Cosy up in the New York-style coffeehouse at Hyatt Ziva Rose Hall, sit on swinging chairs while sharing jerk chicken at a beach-side barbecue shack, or sip on sake cocktails at the Yakitori-inspired Asian grill. For a romantic end to your day, listen to the tinkling of the ivories as you try each others’ signature cocktails in the wood-panelled Piano Bar.

When you’re not making the most of this resort’s culinary creations, make the most of your tranquil suite, with its rainfall shower, freestanding bathtub and terrace. A swim-up suite means you can step directly from your private patio into the pool or onto your deck chair in the water.

But don’t miss all the other adventures on offer. Take a catamaran out in the warm Caribbean waters, join a beach volleyball game or ride a bike through the jungles of Jamaica. When you want to wind down, practice your yoga postures on the beach or get a couples’ massage in the candlelit, Eastern-inspired serenity of the Zen Spa.

Your all-inclusive package includes three meals a day of Pacific Rim cuisine inspired by the island’s produce, but you might still be tempted to splash out on the resort’s unique dining experiences. Impress your partner with the ultimate dinner-and-a-movie date at Nanuku Resort & Spa. First, your personal chef and butler serve you with a three-course meal at sunset. Then you watch a favourite film on the 12-foot, open-air screen, accompanied by candyfloss and popcorn from the machine.

There are more than 50 activities to choose from at this hotel (some at an extra charge), including reef surfing, island hopping and sandbank jet skiing. Bond over adrenaline-boosting experiences, then balance it out with a gentle stroll along the pristine sandy shoreline of the resort’s private island. Relax in your Beachfront Pool Suite afterwards: decorated in restful tones with jungle prints, it features a four-poster bed, private plunge pool and whirlpool bath that are ideal for romantic nights in.

Fijian treatments are available at the spa, such as the healing Bobo massage, as well as couples’ packages including an orange blossom milk bath. Take yours in the treehouse to unwind with your other half while listening to the tropical breeze rustling through the trees.

Spanning cuisines from gourmet Italian to spicy Tex-Mex and sophisticated Japanese sushi, the ten restaurants at Mitsis Blue Domes Resort & Spa offer a world of flavours to explore. Classic Greek cuisine is, of course, also on the menu – reserve a table at Ellinadiko Restaurant to share dishes such as meltingly tender slow-roast lamb kleftiko.

Awash in fresh white and blue tones and decked out in blond wood, the rooms have a light, beachy aesthetic to match the coastal location. The most romantic feature private pools and panoramas of the Aegean Sea from your own garden or terrace. Even if you don’t splash out for a private pool, you have plenty of options for a dip: the hotel boasts a vast 650 metre complex of pools, split into eight main sections.

The seaside theme continues at Mitsis’ Sapphire Spa, where the treatment menu includes saltwater therapies to soothe skin. Take the full-body, skin-rejuvenating thalasso experience together – the calming, blue-tinted lighting of this atmospheric space will leave you feeling blissful.

As soon as you arrive at this hotel hidden among 40,000 hectares of jungle and undulating mountain topography, the luxury begins. With Sleeping Giant’s Ultimate Romance Package, you’ll be whisked from the airport to the hotel and welcomed with champagne on arrival. That’s just the start: you’ll also get romantic private dinners, couples’ massages and experiences such as hiking to a jungle waterfall, snorkelling with turtles or taking a river trip to spot birds and iguanas.

There’s plenty to captivate you inside the resort, too. Dine under lush greenery at the Grove House, which serves farm-to-table delights like grilled flank steak with home-made chimichurri sauce and tomato salsa. At the spa, the relaxation menu is just as tempting: try a tropical fruit scrub with pineapple, mango, papaya and honey, as you look out over distant mountains and verdant foliage.

Opt for a river view suite and you’ll be surrounded by natural stone, dark mahogany and flowing curtains as you relax. Bask in your private plunge pool as you watch the river flowing by and the Sleeping Giant mountain range looming above.

With 23 swimming pools, nine open-air whirlpools, 12 restaurants and 16 bars, the sheer scale of Excellence El Carmen is jaw-dropping. Lie back on a sun lounger at the powder-sand beach as the waiter brings you complimentary freshly squeezed juices. Then plunge into the bright blue sea for a snorkelling session – an introductory scuba lesson is also free of charge if you’d like to venture deeper into the ocean.

Keep things fun and casual with a bite to eat at the Food Shark, a sunshine-yellow VW van firing out American comfort food like hamburgers and tacos. Or put on your finery and make it a holiday date night at the elegant Chez Isabelle. Expect dishes such as seared scallops with lemon butter and fresh herbs served in a regal wood-panelled room.

Treat your other half like royalty by booking a romantic package: a champagne breakfast in bed, a spa ritual for two and a bath with essential oils and rose petals. Your plush suite is the ideal place to enjoy luxuries like these: decorated in sunny yellows, lush greens and ocean blues, it also offers a Jacuzzi and rain shower for two.

Wine tasting in Napa Valley doesn’t come much dreamier than a stay at Auberge du Soleil, set within an aromatic olive grove spanning 13 hectares. This 5-star hotel is renowned for its Michelin-star, fine-dining restaurant focusing on Mediterranean fare including dishes such as heirloom tomato risotto and seared Ahi tuna. Round it off with a glass of crisp Californian Sauvignon Blanc, one of 15,000 bottles available in the hotel’s cellar.

For an all-inclusive holiday with your partner, packages include the ‘Tres Romantique’, a one-night getaway that begins with a candlelit bath for two in the open air. That’s followed by a sensuous couples’ massage and an indulgent dessert, paired with the ideal wine. As the stars come out, you can soak in the spa pools and bask in the hammam steam.

Breakfast – such as eggs Benedict or brioche French toast – can be delivered to your bright, airy room. There you’ll wake up in your king-sized bed, surrounded by golden-toned decor and blond wood, with classic French doors opening up to a terrace with Napa Valley views.