Seven Extraordinary All-Inclusive Stays with Transat

WELCOME TO A COLLECTION of unparalleled escapes, where luxury meets nature and every moment is designed to elevate your senses. Curated by the discerning editors at BOLD Traveller and the seasoned experts at Transat, these remarkable destinations transcend the ordinary, offering not just a stay, but also a journey into carefree bliss. From the secluded shores of Cayo Levantado in the Dominican Republic to the romantic allure of Isla Mujeres in Mexico, each resort invites you to immerse yourself in the culture, landscapes and stories that define these extraordinary places. These are all-inclusives reimagined, where sustainability, serenity and sophistication come together to redefine what it means to travel well.

Impression Isla Mujeres By Secrets
Costa Mujeres, México

This Is The Most Instagrammable Hotel In The World. Photo: Impression Isla Mujeres By Secrets

ROMANCE IS IN THE AIR at Impression Isla Mujeres by Secrets. It begins before you even step foot on the island, off the coast of Cancun, when you board the resort’s private catamaran. After a 25 minute sail through the turquoise Caribbean, you arrive at the southern end of Isla Mujeres and are greeted by the concierge who will introduce you to your personal butler.

With only 125 suites, all with views of the sea, the Mediterranean-inspired architecture, designed to seamlessly melt into the surrounding tropical landscape, paired with the coastal vibes, instantly sets the mood – for romance and for relaxation. The sky is the limit – sip sundowners on the rooftop terrace while watching the sun sink into the sea in an explosion of joyous colour, snorkel with gentle whale sharks or scuba dive at the MUSA Cancun Underwater Museum of Art, stoke your adventurous spirit with an adrenaline-fuelled zip-line ride over crystal waters at Garrafon Natural Reef Park (only a three-minute walk) or take a wellness journey via the resort’s Hammam and Floatation offerings. But why choose? Guests can do it all, while reconnecting with each other and connecting with nature.

Impression Isla Mujeres by Secrets

We are in Mexico, after all, and the history and the culture run deep. The community leads the sustainability conversation, and the resort is steadfast in its practices, from protecting the natural flora and fauna to the use of solar energy. Safeguarding sea life and the ocean is at the romantic heart of Impression Isla Mujeres, through the Saving Our Sharks foundation as well as advancing the lives of local fisherman communities and their families. Speaking of romantic vibes, a sanctuary dedicated to Ixchel, the Mayan goddess of Moon, Fertility and Happiness is not far from the resort, and where the goddess’s spirit is kept alive and well.

Cayo Levantado
Dominican Republic

Cayo Levantado Resort

OFF THE COAST OF SAMANÁ BAY lies the Dominican Republic’s Cayo Levantado, a secluded tropical island that is home to Cayo Levantado Resort. Opened in 2023, this 5-star resort goes beyond all-inclusive, and features locally inspired design and architecture, with authentic details sourced from Dominican artisans. Being one with nature is easy here; the only resort on the island, it is intentionally at one with the landscape. And with the seascape, too. Even a simple swim off the resort’s beach immerses the body and the spirit with a sense of calm, bobbing and floating on the clear salt water.

The North Atlantic Humpback Whales can be seen during mating season from January through March. On land, the sounds of the flora and fauna are the music of the day. And all day, the resort’s restaurants and bars offer a culinary and cocktail experience that uses local ingredients (including from the organic garden) to create Dominican cuisine and international fare.

Cayo Levantado Resort

The approach to well-being at Cayo Levantado is holistic, with four wellness paths designed to Refresh, Restore, Relax and Renew everything from your exercise routine to your diet; a state-of-the-art spa can be personalized for your unique well-being journey. Sustainability is redefined: preservation of the ecosystem and ensuring a gentler footprint on the environment goes hand in hand with lifting up the local community. Partnerships with the island’s people, such as artist Nini Carela, allows social development, cultural awareness and the sharing of Dominican traditions, cuisine and artistry with the guests.

It’s a regenerative approach to travel. The Forbes stamp of approval and partnership with Forbes Travel Guide also ensures world-class service. Guests are encouraged to discover this special island’s rhythm – natural, cultural and their own inner rhythm – and get a greater understanding of the Dominican Republic’s vibrant people and Caribbean lifestyle.

TRS Yucatan Hotel
Riviera Maya, Mexico

TRS Yucatan Hotel lobby

A STYLISH ADULTS-ONLY OASIS on the Riviera Maya, TRS Yucatan is the place for privacy seekers. Each suite is its own spacious hideaway – with balconies that come with plunge pools or hot tubs, you can soak in warm waters and soak up the mood-boosting Caribbean sunlight, all in the sophisticated seclusion of your room. An exclusive beach that hugs the sea on the northern edge of Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula speaks to those looking for undisturbed barefoot luxury, yet the resort is only 35 minutes by car from Cancun airport.

TRS Yucatan Hotel infinite pool

The unique, three-tiered saltwater infinity pool offers uninterrupted scenes of the beach and the ocean – that same stretch of oceanfront is transformed into an Ibiza-style beach club. With half a dozen culinary offerings, from French to Italian to Argentine Steakhouse, TRS has put the focus on international cuisine, but the fun really begins at the resort’s Chic Cabaret & Restaurant, which has been voted by users of TripAdvisor as the number 1 restaurant in Playa del Carmen. It’s an entertaining night out that features music, dancers and dazzling acrobats over three hours and includes a special gourmet menu, cocktails and an invite to the show’s private after-party. Recover from the party with a spa day at the Zentropia Palladium Spa & Wellness Center, where Hydrotherapy – from waterfalls to saunas and steam baths – is at the centre of well-being.

Looking to celebrate? Guests at TRS Yucatan have full access to event planners at the neighbouring Grand Palladium Hotel & Resort. (TRS guests are also able to enjoy most of the amenities at the Grand Palladium, including dining and entertainment.) The experts at Weddings by Palladium are also available to assist couples create their big day or their dream honeymoon. That’s what it’s all about. Celebrating life and each other, in a slice of Mayan paradise.

TRS Coral Hotel
Costa Mujeres, México

TRS Coral Hotel Junior Suite Swim Up

NEW TO THE COSTA MUJERES AREA, TRS Coral Hotel is an exclusively adults-only property along Quintana Roo’s Mexican Caribbean coast. TRS calls it “an upgraded luxury experience,” and there’s a few reasons why. After about a half hour drive from Cancun airport, guests are given the VIP treatment upon arrival, driven by its designation as a Leading Hotel of the World. With more than 450 suite and bungalow accommodation styles to choose from, along with hydrotherapy baths, plunge pools or jacuzzis, each private guest hideaway is stocked with luxe amenities and serviced with a spirit ofhospitality that continues to make the region world-renowned and world class.

Like its sister property, TRS Yucatan, TRS Coral is also home to the brand’s award-winning dinner theatre-style entertainment, ChicCabaret & Restaurant, as well as Helios, the Ibiza-inspired beachfront bar and restaurant. Sporty types can get their game on at the exclusive Rafa Nadal Tennis Center. Here, racquet sports enthusiasts can up their skill level or first-time players can learn to play tennis with instructors trained in the experiences and techniques of one of the world’s greatest players.

Hydrotherapy circuit at Zentropia Palladium Spa and Wellness.

After the game, set and match, soothe those worked out muscles with a massage at the two-storey Zentropia Palladium Spa & Wellness Center, then hop aboard a boat transport that plies the canal system of waterways that connect TRS Coral with the neighbouring Grand Palladium Costa Mujeres Resort & Spa. Here, TRS guests are treated with equal elegance, having access to all this resort has to offer.

Or go off resort with the TRS People of Palladium program, where you can discover the local community and their Yucatan culture through art, cuisine and nightlife, or explore the wonders of the Caribbean Sea. Think snorkeling among colourful coral reefs, swimming in caves and floating carefree in an ancient cenote.

Casa Velas
Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

Casa Velas pool

THE VELAS BRAND OF HOSPITALITY is synonymous with Mexico. The family-owned company keeps its focus on its home country, sharing the joys of Mexican culture and cuisine with its guests. Located at Marina Vallarta on the Mexican Riviera near the vibrant city of Puerto Vallarta, Casa Velas is an intimate, adults-only getaway with the Mexican community and the Pacific Ocean at its heart. And, with the resort only five minutes from the Puerto Vallarta airport, the getaway will start almost immediately upon landing. Colonial-style architecture designed to be reminiscent of the old Mexican haciendas, this boutique hotel is an invitation to rest and relax. A choice of seven suite accommodation styles are thoughtfully decorated with works by Mexican artists throughout; all feature either terraces or private gardens and plunge pools or outdoor jacuzzis.

Casa Velas pool

Inspired? Take an art class with a local artist to nurture your creativity. Towering palms ring the oversized swimming pool, lush gardens enhance the mood where resident peacocks make their daily stroll, golden-orange Koi fish dip and dive in their ponds, outdoor terraces allow for taking in the sea air and the exclusive Táu Beach Club is the perfect ocean-side retreat for experiencing beachfront dining and crafted cocktails while you soak up some well-needed vitamin D and dig your toes in the sand. And cue the romance, and celebrate the end of the day with a sunset dinner.

The restorative nature of the sea is paired with the top-levelMexican cuisine at the AAA four-diamond restaurant, Emiliano, served up with fresh herbs from the organic garden. Learn how to use these ingredients with a cooking class or refine your spirits knowledge with a tequila tasting. Picnics in the garden, romantic proposals, a round of golf at the Marina Vallarta golf course, beach days and starry nights – mission accomplished.

Iberostar Coral Esmeralda
Cayo Cruz, Cuba

Iberostar Coral Esmeralda

THIS LESSER-TRAVELLED AREA OF CUBA is appealing for fans of the island but looking for something new. Cayo Cruz is a narrow key located in the Jardines del Rey (King’s Gardens), which is part of a sandy-beach dotted archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean that runs 200 kilometres along the north coast of Cuba.

A tropical paradise indeed. Iberostar Coral Esmeralda sits on a secluded beach, giving this adults only resort an exclusive feel, and a boutique hotel within a resort appeal. Coral Level guests have the best of both worlds – the space of an expansive resort and the service of an upscale hotel. Take a dip directly from your swim-up suite, or book a rooftop suite for unparalleled views of the Atlantic.

Iberostar Coral Esmeralda

Peace and quiet are the buzzwords here, with a focus on non-motorized water sports, which help to maintain the natural balance and well-being of the sea. Take a Spanish lesson, or maybe a dance lesson, or try a Tai Chi class to help you feel centred and strong. The spa features water circuits, massage treatments and soothing saunas. The lobby will make you want to linger: from listening to tunes playing on the baby grand piano to the open air verandah, it feels like home. The low-slung architecture doesn’t disrupt the desert-like landscape, and the sweeping swimming pool lines the buildings’ edges.

Toast the day at the al fresco terrace, or take a swim in some of the bluest-blue water in the Caribbean. Hungry? The gastronomy offered at Coral Esmeralda features elevated Cuban cuisine, Mediterranean and international fare, as well as Creole flavours. And it wouldn’t be Cuba without a cigar bar. At Cedro, you can indulge in a perfectly hand- rolled Cuban cigar and sip on a crafted cocktail.

Catalonia Royal Bávaro
Dominican Republic

Catalonia Royal Bávaro, Dominican Republic

SITUATED IN CABEZA DE TORO on a coveted stretch of Playa Bávaro that is among the most celebrated beaches in the Dominican Republic, the Catalonia Royal Bávaro is a favourite adults-only getaway for tranquility and romance. About a 20-minute drive from Punta Cana International Airport, the all-inclusive resort features a private beach and suite accommodations – couples might prefer one of the romantic-themed suites, with dreamy decor and amenities; the exclusive suites come with swimming pools and access to the property’s flourishing tropical gardens.

Spend the day at the beach exploring the coral reef-rich waters, book a cabana to take the shade or pool-hop with a choice of infinity and lagoon-style ways to take a refreshing dip. Swim up to the bar at the Aqua Pool and get to know your fellow guests over an icy Margarita. Book a tee time at one of the resort’s two golf courses –where the green fees are included. Want to learn something new? How about painting with a local artist or taking a tropical dance
lesson?

Catalonia Royal Bávaro, Dominican Republic

Off the resort, there’s more to play with. Experience a cultural and sensory immersion within the Punta Cana area. The Indigenous Eyes Ecological Park is a nature reserve where you can hike among more than 500 species of plants, with more than a third being unique to the island, as well as a sanctuary for birds, such as the endangered Ridgway’s Hawk. Pack your swimsuit, as the reserve is home to a dozen freshwater lagoons. Relaxation becomes your body’s default setting.

Evenings may start with a cocktail at the Piano Bar, and then a taste for regional and international gastronomy (Asian, Peruvian, even Catalan vegetarian, among others). After a spectacular dinner, work it off on the dance floor at the resort’s disco, and flaunt your new moves.