Sitting in the shadow of the Taurus Mountains, on Türkiye’s Mediterranean coast, the sprawling Rixos Premium Belek resort offers everything you could wish for if you were looking to book an upscale, all-inclusive holiday. There are eight beautifully designed restaurants serving curated cuisine, from authentic Greek dishes to hand-rolled noodles and Japanese sashimi; seven swimming pools; a dedicated sports club; and a sprawling spa. It’s a far cry from the all-inclusive resorts of yesteryear, when buffet dining, plastic wristbands and enforced entertainment impressed the hoards of fly-and-flop tourists.
In short, all-inclusive resorts have come a long way since their mass-market heyday in the 80s. In 2024, boozing and buffeting have given way to fine-dining in upmarket eateries; soulless resorts have been superseded by new architecturally-led properties, which are rooted and relevant to the destination, and water aerobics classes have been replaced by personalised wellness journeys. Best of all? While the all-inclusive model has been fine-tuned, overturned even, to meet the demands of a more discerning traveller, it’s main draw remains: guests pay for everything upfront and are not faced with hidden costs at check-out.
Hospitality brands, such as Marriott , Hyatt , Hilton and Rixos have overseen a roster of new all-inclusive openings of late, indicating a renewed focus on the sector. In particular, Rixos, one of the world’s fastest-growing luxury hotel chains and pa.