We polled our Instagram followers, read hundreds of reviews, and compiled everything into this article.
Here’s a list of the best tropical resorts in the world.
1. Aruba Ocean Villas
(Recommended resort for couples)
Location: Savaneta, Aruba
Aruba Ocean Villas is a beautiful resort located in a secluded area of Aruba. It’s a great choice for couples and honeymooners looking for a private vacation to enjoy some time together.
You can kick back and relax in one of their overwater bungalows or beach villas. But, let’s be real, their overwater bungalows are the main attraction.
Notable Features
- Fine Dining Restaurant
- Uniquely designed by artist, Osyth
2. Renaissance Aruba
(Recommended resort for families)
Location: Oranjestad, Aruba
Aruba’s family option is the Renaissance Aruba Resort & Casino, a tropical resort with something for everyone. Located in Oranjestad, Aruba, choose between the adults-only and family-friendly parts of this resort for your beach vacation.
Notable Features
- Overwater cabanas
- 10 Restaurants & Bars
- 24-hour casino
3. The House by Elegant Hotels
(Recommended option for couples)
Location: Saint James Parish, Barbados
Barbados’ best resort for couples is The House by Elegant Hotels. Known for their incredible ultra-luxury service, you won’t have to lift a finger from the moment you arrive until the moment you leave.
Notable Features
- Adults-Only resort
- Jet Lag Revival Massage
- Complimentary water taxi
4. Beach View Barbados
(Recommended option for families)
Location: Saint James Parish, Barbados
If you’re looking for a mix of luxury and family fun, Beach View Barbados is your resort. Located across the road from Paynes Bay’s turquoise waters, you’ll find a nice mix of activities, relaxation, and sun at this resort.
Beach View Barbados is also a great option for those of you who like to wander off the resort, as their team can recommend local spots for you to visit.
Notable Features
- On-site car rental
- Four pools to choose from
- 5 minutes from Holetown
5. Intercontinental Bora Bora
(Recommended option for couples)
Bora Bora’s “Pearl of the Pacific” is this resort, the Intercontinental Bora Bora Resort & Thalasso Spa. We recommend this resort for couples, as it is a unique place where you’ll find romance, relaxation, and adventure.
They’re even the first resort in Bora Bora to cool their entire resort using deep seawater air conditioning.
Notable Features
- 84 luxury overwater bungalows
- Glass bottom coffee table
- Private pool options
6. Four Seasons Bora Bora
(Recommended option for families)
Getting there: Fly directly into the Bora Bora airport, followed by a 15min boat ride. Yup, it’s that simple.
Bora Bora is quite possibly the most exotic tropical destination you could visit. Out of all the resorts in Bora Bora, the Four Seasons seems to be at the top.
Overwater bungalows perched among exotic coral reefs… sound too good to be true? It’s not, because this is exactly what you’ll experience when staying at FS.
One of the coolest experiences they offer is dining on a private motu (reef islet w/ vegetation) Canoe through the tropical lagoon, sip on champagne and eat the most romantic dinner of your life.
Notable Features
- Private island dining
- Private lagoon for snorkeling
- 24-Hour Business Centre
7. Encantada Tulum
(Recommended option for couples)
One of the best resorts in Tulum, Mexico is Encantada Tulum – a boutique resort located on the beach.
This resort gives you a taste of both Mexican and Mayan culture, and it boasts incredible customer service. Choose this resort for a relaxing and fun vacation where all your needs will be anticipated.
Notable Features
- Luxury beach cabanas
- Two onsite Mexican restaurants
8. Dreams Tulum
(Recommended option for families)
Dreams Tulum Resort & Spa is an all-inclusive, family-friendly resort in Tulum. This resort allows you to explore Tulum’s ruins and cenotes or just lounge by the pool – whatever you want, Dreams Tulum Resort & Spa has.
Notable Features
- All-inclusive
- Turtle release program
- Supervised children’s program
9. LUX Grand Gaube
(Recommended option for couples)
Location: Grand Gaube, Mauritius
Lagoons, coves, gardens, and beaches are calling your name at the LUX Grand Gaube. This stunning resort offers visitors a taste of whatever they want – from food to activities to landscape. You’re sure to enjoy this tropical resort with a loved one in Mauritius.
10. LUX Belle Mare
Reopening October 2023
(Recommended option for families)
Location: Belle Mare, Mauritius
The LUX resort franchise is also a great option for family-friendly fun in Mauritius – at the LUX Belle Mare. This resort offers visitors of all ages a perfect mix of energy and relaxed island life with its enthralling views and various activities.
11. Likuliku Lagoon Resort
(Recommended option for couples)
Location: Malolo Island, Fiji
Likuliku Lagoon Resort Fiji is an adults-only luxury resort in Fiji. If you want unique, this is the resort for you, as it is the first and only resort in Fiji with overwater bures in a natural ocean lagoon. Come here to enjoy a wilderness island retreat.
12. Outrigger Beach Resort
(Recommended option for families)
Location: Viti Levu, Fiji
Are Fiji’s blue waters calling your name for a family vacation?
Then this resort, engulfed in Fijian culture with a taste of luxury, is the one for you. Here, visitors of all ages can enjoy the crystal blue waters, kids and teen activities, and the glamorous spa – what more could you ask for?
13. The Remote Resort
Getting there: You can only get to the remote resort by boat. Take an hour’s flight from Nadi International Airport into either Savusavu or Taveuni, and from there you can get a boat to the resort.
As you probably could’ve guessed, the Remote Resort is indeed, quite remote. Explore the vibrant reefs, breathtaking waterfalls, or indulge in the culture by visiting the nearby village.
One of the coolest parts about this resort is that they’re located a few minutes away from Fiji’s Rainbow Reef (Soft Coral Capital of the world) So if you’re an avid diver/ snorkeler, this is a resort for your bucket list.
14. Le Blanc Spa Resort
(Recommended option for couples)
Location: Quintana Roo, Mexico
Le Blanc Spa Resort is Cancun’s best tropical resort option for couples. With beautiful beaches, world-class cuisine, and impeccable customer service, this resort will have you feeling like you’re in a fantasy world that you’ll never want to leave.
15. Club Med Cancun
(Recommended option for families)
Location: Quintana Roo, Mexico
Club Med Cancun is an all-inclusive, family-friendly resort that will keep you coming back every year for more. As this resort offers an open bar for the adults, gourmet dining, and unlimited water and land activities, it truly is the resort that has it all.
16. Four Seasons Resort Lanai
(Recommended option for couples)
Location: Lanai, Hawaii
Ahhh, Hawaii – one of the most beautiful tropical destinations in the world. FS Lanai is located on the Southeastern coast of Lanai Island, surrounded by many adventure opportunities. Either get around by foot or their Polaris 4×4 UTVs.
Charter a private 50-foot catamaran, learn to strum a ukulele or hit the links at their championship, Jack Nicklaus-designed Manele Golf Course.
Whether you’re looking for non-stop adventures or just relaxing, FS Lanai is a great luxury resort option.
17. Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa
(Recommended option for families)
Location: Kauai, Hawaii
The Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa is a beautiful beachfront resort in Kauai, Hawaii. If you’re searching for private lanais, golf courses, gardens, and more pools than you can imagine – this is the place for you. And, it’s family-friendly!
18. The Kayan Resort
(Recommended option for couples)
Location: Ubud, Indonesia
Surrounded by a holy river perched atop Bali’s hillside is The Kayan Resort in Ubud, Bali. This boutique resort was designed for those looking to escape the hustle and bustle of their lives and connect with nature. There, you will do just that while relaxing in a five-star adults-only resort.
19. Sofitel Bali Nusa Dua Beach Resort
(Recommended option for families)
Location: Nusa Dua, Indonesia
What mixes French elegance, Balinese culture, and everything tropical? That’s right, the Sofitel Bali Nusa Dua Beach Resort. At this resort, visitors can spend their days in the lush gardens, sunbathing by the pools or beaches, or doing whatever they want to unwind and detox.
20. Bawah Reserve
Location: Anambas Archipelago, Indonesia
Getting there: You will have to fly to Singapore, where a private limousine will pick you up. From there, you will take an 80min seaplane ride to access Bawah.
The Bawah Reserve is spread across six islands, three lagoons, and thirteen beaches. Located about 130 nautical miles from Singapore, Bawah was founded in 2012 as a rescue mission from illegal dynamite fishing.
The founders made it their mission to protect the area by making the islands, lagoons and beaches a marine conservation area. There’s no fishing allowed on the reserve.
Sustainable luxury is a good definition of what Bawah is all about. If you want to vacation at a secluded tropical paradise, while helping conserve the marine reserve – look no further.
21. Soneva Jani
(Recommended option for couples)
Location: Noonu Atoll, Maldives
Couples can take their tropical vacation in the Maldives at the Soneva Jani resort. Offering adults both privacy and relaxation, this resort’s uninterrupted ocean views make for the perfect getaway.
22. Vakkaru Maldives
(Recommended option for families)
Location: Baa Atoll, Maldives
The Vakkaru Maldives is a unique family-friendly resort option in the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve of Baa Atoll. This resort is known to be one of the best tropical resorts in The Maldives due to its location, activities, food, and views.
23. Forte Village Resort
Location: Sardinia, Italy
Forte Village is one of the best tropical resorts in Sardinia, spanning over 115 acres. They offer five-star hotels, 3-star hotels & even luxury villas. You’ve many options for eating – pick between 21 different restaurants (during high season).
From fashion boutiques to a vast amount of swimming pools, Forte Village is the ultimate luxury resort in Sardinia. Their white-sand beach is located between Pula and Capo Spartivento, sheltered from the strong winds that most beaches have. I honestly could go on & on about how beautiful Sardinia is, but you’ll just have to visit to find out.
24. Sandals South Coast
Location: Whitehouse, Jamaica
Getting there: Fly directly into Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay, from there it’s about a 90min drive to South Coast.
Similar to the Montego Bay bungalows, these also have views into the ocean below, with a glass panel in the floor. The bungalows are as romantic inside as the scenery is outside. Enjoy the tranquility tub or the outdoor shower while you admire the views of the Caribbean.
25. Pacific Resort Aitutaki Nui
Location: Aitutaki, Cook Islands
Getting there: An hour domestic flight from Rarotonga Island to Aitutaki Island via Air Rarotonga (the only domestic flight carrier in the Cook Islands). You’ll be picked up by resort staff and only have about a 5-minute drive to the resort.
Aitutaki Nui is easily one of the best tropical resorts in the South Pacific. It’s spread across 19 acres of lush tropical gardens, with about 1 mile of beach frontage.
There are 29 bungalows and villas perched along the stunning waters of the Aitutaki lagoon. Each accommodation comes with a private deck that has a view of the lagoon.
If you like to adventure, hike to the top of Maunga Pa (Aitutaki’s highest point) and you’ll find one of the most beautiful views. A 360 view of Aitutaki’s tropical lagoon.
And there you have it – the 25 best tropical resorts in the world.
