The luxury of all-inclusive: Why discerning travellers are coming around

From Greek island villas to Australian wilderness lodges and Balinese wellness retreats, a new breed of all-inclusive is winning over even the most sceptical luxury travellers

It was, quite simply, one of the most tranquil, indulgent travel experiences I have been lucky enough to enjoy. I wined, I dined, I lazed, I explored. And then, at the end of it all, I headed (reluctantly) to the check-out desk where I was greeted first by a warm welcome and then by the bill.

It is precisely this point at which one might ordinarily imagine pop culture’s most dramatic sound effect: dun, dun, duuuuuun! Alas, no imaginary three-note ‘sting’ to be heard. Instead, the bill amounts to exactly zero and I am good to go.

To be fair, I am describing the tail-end of a cruise, which is a segment of the travel industry renowned for employing the all-inclusive model. I wasn’t expecting an enormous bill, but I did have an inkling that, in all my excitement, I might have missed (ignored) an “additional cost applies” footnote or two.

Not so. I floated off that ship feeling as buoyant as the ultra-luxe, 14-deck vessel itself. 

On reflection though, it wasn’t just the absence of a post-trip payment that put the pep in my step. It was also the absence of thinking about it. It was the removal – albeit for a sweet but short five nights – of decision fatigue.

The luxury of freedom

The term ‘all-inclusive’ might conjure images of long, loud buffet queues, overflowing resort pools, one-size-fits-all day trips, or disturbing excess. But there is another side of this model.

Far removed from the mass-market all-inclusive hotels and resorts, an increasing number of luxury properties are offering all-inclusive packages that focus not on excess but rather on comfort, flexibility and freedom. 

On the Greek island of Crete, Daios Cove puts guests in a paradisical natural setting where design-led accommodation and fine dining coalesce. For guests staying in one of the property’s suites or villas, the Residents’ Club is an all-inclusive “gastronomy privilege service”, which comprises gourmet meals, beverages and a dedicated concierge.

Resort Manager, Kyrillos Chalkiadakis, says: “All-inclusive has historically carried certain expectations about what a holiday might look like, and it hasn’t always been associated with high-end travel … we approach it differently. 

“The concept itself is a form of luxury after all: it removes the need for planning, eliminates stress around timing and cost, and gives guests complete freedom to move through their day as they wish. 

“That simplicity allows every moment – whether dining, resting or exploring – to feel curated and effortless.”

A 2025 survey of more than 2000 North Americans by travel industry news site Skift (commissioned by Hyatt Inclusive Collection) found a growing interest in experiencing the best all-inclusive resorts. The survey showed 87 per cent of respondents had either stayed or considered staying at an all-inclusive resort, while 60 per cent agreed they are more likely to opt for all-inclusive than they were five years ago. 

The all-inclusive concept is deeply embedded in the North American travel sector, driven in large part by major hotel groups, such as the aforementioned Hyatt arm. 

The snapshot in Australia is different. 

The Australian way

While comparable Australian data is lacking, CBRE research published in 2025 found that luxury lodges were the strongest performing sector of the Australian and New Zealand hotel market. And, as it happens, luxury lodges in these two countries favour an all-inclusive arrangement.

Case in point: each of the independently owned and operated properties represented by Luxury Lodges of Australia operates on an all-inclusive basis. This typically includes meals, drinks and snacks, and often equipment hire and activities. 

60 per cent agreed they are more likely to opt for all-inclusive than they were five years ago

And because properties such as these – Sapphire Freycinet, Southern Ocean Lodge, Pretty Beach House, to name a few – tend to be ultra-luxe and experience-rich, the inclusions are highly curated, making for a more meaningful stay.

Says Chrissie Williams, General Manager of Orpheus Island Lodge: “When experiences are included, guests tend to move away from decision-making and transactional thinking, which creates a more fluid relationship with time. 

“Activities are chosen by ‘what feels right today’ rather than pre-booked experiences. This often results in deeper engagement with nature-based experiences like reef time or guided walks. The overall effect is a more immersive stay where attention shifts from consumption to presence.”

Wellness tourism is another subsector in Australia that leans on the all-inclusive model. Retreats such as Gaia, Gwinganna, Eden, Elysia and Samadhi all offer packages that incorporate chef-prepared meals as well as additional health and wellness activities.

Comprehensive wellness

A niche sector in Australia, wellness retreats are mainstream in several overseas markets and, along with safari holidays, were arguably the original all-inclusive experience, having embraced the concept decades ago. 

COMO Shambhala Estate, an award-winning wellness retreat set within the lush Balinese jungle, is an idyllic example. The resort’s multi-night Wellness Paths, each curated to target specific health goals, allow guests to “surrender to the process”, according to Wellness Manager Erica Meliala.

She continues: “What we offer at COMO Shambhala Estate is almost the inverse of the usual perception of an all-inclusive holiday. 

“The Wellness Paths are effective precisely because they remove distraction – creating the space and structure for genuine transformation by distilling the experience to elements that serve a distinct purpose.”

Price certainty and decision reprieve are core benefits of all-inclusive packages for guests across all sectors, but perhaps most relevant in the wellness space, where travellers seek tangible, meaningful health benefits. 

And although such outcomes cannot be guaranteed, the potential to recharge, reset or recover is certainly a valuable bonus, adding further value to the all-inclusive approach.