All-inclusive travel has moved to the top of the luxury list. According to a Caribbean Journal summary published on October 2, 2026, Virtuoso’s 2027 Luxe Report ranks all-inclusive experiences as the No. 1 ultraluxe travel experience for the coming year. The report draws on responses from more than 3,100 travel advisors worldwide.
What the report found
The ranking puts all-inclusive ahead of celebration travel, privacy, hyper-personalization, and active and adventure trips. Alongside it, the advisor survey gives a picture of expected demand:
- 53 percent of advisors expect leisure demand to rise slightly, and 22 percent expect a significant increase.
- 59 percent expect at least a modest increase in spending per trip, and 13 percent forecast a significant jump.
- 47 percent say ultraluxe travel is on the rise.
The report also describes a trend it calls “Fancy-flation.” This is the idea that affluent clients start with a set budget and ask where it buys the most luxury. The Caribbean Journal summary says these clients are not necessarily trading down. They are looking for more for the same money.
Examples from the Caribbean
The summary points to its own list of the 15 best luxury all-inclusive resorts for 2026, published on January 9, 2026. Examples named include Spice Island Beach Resort in Grenada, Sandals St Vincent and the Grenadines, Hammock Cove in Antigua and Cayo Espanto in Belize. Hammock Cove is described as offering private infinity-edge plunge pools, dedicated service and a culinary program with Michelin pedigree. Cayo Espanto is described as offering private-island villas, dedicated staff, personalised menus and customised excursions.
What the figures do not tell you
It is worth reading the headline with care. The Caribbean Journal piece is a secondhand summary, and it notes limits to what is available:
- It does not give the score or percentage behind the all-inclusive ranking, or the scores of the other categories.
- It does not define “ultraluxe.”
- It does not describe the survey method or how respondents were selected.
- It does not say whether the 3,100 figure applies to the whole survey or only to some questions.
- It gives no prices or room rates for the resorts mentioned.
The survey also measures advisor opinion, not guest spending, so it reflects what advisors believe clients want. That is useful context, but it is not a count of bookings. The summary itself relies on Caribbean Journal’s reading of the report, not a direct quote from Virtuoso, so the original report is the place to check any figure you plan to repeat.
What it means for travellers
For most readers the practical question is not whether all-inclusive is fashionable but what the label covers at the price. At the luxury end the term can include premium drinks, a la carte dining, private pools and tailored excursions. At the lower end it can mean a buffet and a house-brand bar. Our guide to what 24-hour all-inclusive actually means shows how to read the fine print.
If demand and spending are indeed rising, as most advisors in the survey expect, it may mean tighter availability and firmer rates at popular luxury resorts in peak periods. That is a forecast from advisors, not a fact, but it is a reason to book early for holiday weeks. A few habits help whatever the market does:
- Compare on total cost. Our method for building the real total cost of an all-inclusive stay adds state charges, transfers and extras so two resorts can be compared fairly.
- Check what upgrades buy. Our explainer on what a club level or Elite upgrade buys shows how premium tiers differ.
- Ask about published facts. Resorts that publish room counts, ages and fact sheets are easier to compare. See what a resort fact sheet tells you.
Using the “Fancy-flation” idea on your own trip
The budget-first approach described in the report is easy to copy. Set the total you are willing to spend, then compare resorts on what that total buys: room category, dining access, included drinks, transfers and activities. Two resorts at the same price can offer very different value. A smaller resort with fewer rooms may give better dining access, while a larger one may offer more pools and activities. Our list of resorts that publish a room count helps with that comparison.
A note on perspective
A trade survey placing all-inclusive first is a signal about where the industry sees momentum, and it explains why so many brands are launching or converting resorts. It does not mean every all-inclusive is luxury, and it does not change the basics of choosing well: read the inclusions, check recent reviews and compare total costs. We will keep tracking resort and pricing news as the 2027 booking season develops.
Source: Caribbean Journal, October 2, 2026, summarising Virtuoso’s 2027 Luxe Report.