Two hotels in Greece and one in Cyprus, are among the top 10 hotels in the world for all inclusive dining, according to TravelWeekly. These are Sensatori Resort Crete in Hersonissos, Ikos Olivia in Halkidiki and Olympic Lagoon Resort Paphos in Cyprus.
The british magazine suggests: “Reinventing your image isn’t easy to do – just ask any Hollywood A-lister who’s fallen off the wagon at some point. But anyone who’s been following the fortunes of the all-inclusive market for the past few years will know it has undergone a radical transformation.
A reputation for pile ’em high buffets and dodgy local plonk is waning, and the era of the upscale all-inclusive is on the rise. But amid an overall improvement in standards, some properties still stand out, proving it’s possible to combine an all-inclusive stay with seriously good food – and not necessarily at a sky-high price.
There are plenty of options out there so this list is just a handful of the best, but it should whet your clients’ appetite for their next all-inclusive escape”.
Here is the top 10 of hotels with the best all-in dining service:
1. Sensatori Resort Crete, Greece
Dining is central to this Thomson brand, which emphasises the variety and quality of its cuisine as key selling points. One look at the options available in its Crete hotel and it’s easy to see why.
There’s the core buffet restaurant, which has show-cooking stations and children’s dishes, although there’s an adult-only section at dinner for couples who want to enjoy their meal uninterrupted.
Also within the all-inclusive package is Red Saffron, a modern Greek taverna with a terrace where guests can enjoyal-fresco dining during the warmer months, tucking into meals cooked on the terrace’s stone barbecue.
The taverna also has an adult-only breakfast in July and August as well. The resort’s other dining experiences include: Tex-Mex, which serves tacos, fajitas and smoky ribs by the pool; and Five Flavours Thai, which mixes old favourites such as Thai green curry with a few less familiar Oriental options.
For a supplement, guests can also try the fine dining in Al Dente, with a menu designed by a Michelin-starred chef; beachfront grill Aroma Stone, where steaks and salmon fillets come to the table still sizzling on a hot-stone slab; and sushi in the Japanese-themed restaurant.
Book it: A seven-night holiday at Sensatori Resort Crete starts at £605, based on two adults staying all-inclusive with flights from Gatwick departing on March 31, and transfers. thomson.co.uk
2. Sandals Ochi Beach Resort, Jamaica
3. Evason Hua Hin, Thailand
4. Lux* Belle Mare, Mauritius
5. Ikos Olivia, Halkidiki
If fresh local flavour is top of your clients’ priority list, look no further than Greece, where even the simplest ingredients are transformed with just a drizzle of olive oil and a dusting of oregano.
That local cuisine quite rightly takes centre stage at Ikos Olivia in Halkidiki, not only in open-air restaurant Ouzo, run by Michelin-starred chef Lefteris Lazarou, but also in its ‘Dine Out’ option which lets guests eat out in a nearby taverna at no extra charge.
However, those local dishes face some stiff competition in this resort with fine French dishes at Provence, run by the Michelin-starred Pourcel brothers, Mediterranean restaurant Flavors, authentic Italian cooking at Fusco and pan-Asian dishes at Anaya.
Book it: A week at Ikos Olivia starts at £5,825 all-inclusive with Sovereign, for a family of four flying with easyJet from Gatwick on August 2. The price includes a cocktail by the beach, a farewell gift, private transfers and UK airport lounge access. sovereign.com
6. Secrets The Vine, Cancun
7. H10 Las Palmeras, Tenerife
8. Heritage Awali Golf Resort & Spa, Mauritius
9. Olympic Lagoon Resort Paphos, Cyprus
Any agent who books Cyprus regularly can’t fail to have noticed the much-heralded arrival of this all-inclusive resort, which opened in June.
Catering as much to couples as families, every restaurant in the hotel is included within the all-inclusive package, so guests can fill up on the array of Cypriot meze at the Captain’s Deck one night, watch chefs rustle up sushi and cook teppanyaki-style at alfresco Kiku Japanese, then indulge their inner child at the ’50s-themed Rock ’n’ Roll diner.
There are some charges for additional visits, but the main Royal Olympic restaurant, all-day Italian snack stop and swim-up bars are available any time.
There are adult-only areas or times in some restaurants, usually later at night, so families don’t need to worry about interrupting other guests’ meals, and couples can enjoy a more adult atmosphere.
Book it: Olympic Holidays offers seven nights’ all-inclusive in a deluxe inland view room at Olympic Lagoon Resort Paphos from £925, flying from Manchester on May 21, with baggage and transfers. olympicholidays.com
10. JA Jabel Ali Beach Resort, Dubai
