Finding Paradise: Six Adult-Only Getaways

Ask any parent: A getaway with kids is qualitatively different than one without them. And when you encounter squealing kids or rambunctious teens—that aren’t even your own—at a hotel or resort, the experience can prove even more grating.

Here are six distinctly different kid-free zones, getaways where adults, single or coupled, can relax and pursue their own passions:

ROMANCE SEEKERS

Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort, Aruba

The ambiance of Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort exudes an air of sophistication from the moment you’re offered a champagne flute at check-in. With only 104 rooms, this resort feels intimate and sedate. The resort is not all-inclusive but breakfast is complimentary and you can dine in town or at any of the three restaurants on the property. Watch the waves from the comfort of paired lounge chairs on Eagle Beach at sunset; book a couples massage at the spa; or catch one of the twice-weekly movies on the beach, shown under the stars. Booking an oceanfront suite will easily ramp up the romance quotient. If you need more inspiration, contact one of the resort’s romance concierges who can customize anything from sizzling salsa dance lessons to moonlit hikes at nearby Arikok National Park. This four-star resort was named Trip Advisor’s No. 1 Hotel for Romance in the Caribbean for three successive years: 2016, 2017 and 2018.

GOLF LOVERS

Casa Velas, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

Casa Velas is a luxury all-inclusive boutique hotel and ocean club, conveniently located five minutes from the Puerto Vallarta Airport. This hacienda-style property sits on the greens of Marina Vallarta’s 18-hole golf course designed by Joe Finger, offering a par 71 layout that is 6,701 yards long. The course features lush vegetation, natural lagoons with wildlife, and stunning views of Banderas Bay. Guests also enjoy golf privileges at two other top 18-hole golf courses designed by Jack Nicklaus and Tom Weiskopf at the Vista Vallarta Golf Club, only 20 minutes away. (The Nicklaus Course offers 72 par at 7,073 yards; the Weiskopf Course features a 72 par layout and is 6,976 yards.) The terrain is extreme with dense jungles, deep ravines and swift creeks. Unlimited golf at Marina Vallarta and Vista Vallarta is included in the nightly rate (a cart fee of $65 is not included). After a day on the greens, you’ll be able to relax in one of 80 spacious suites, some of which have private pools and Jacuzzis. The resort’s signature restaurant, AAA Four Diamond Emiliano, serves both Mexican and international fare. Forbes Travel Guide has awarded Casa Velas four stars, the only boutique hotel on the Mexican Pacific coast to receive that rating.

WINE CONNOISSEURS 

Secrets The Vine Cancun, Mexico

As you might surmise from its name, the AAA Four Diamond Secrets The Vine Cancun is a luxury, all-inclusive, wine-themed resort. Set in a contemporary, high-rise structure on a white sand beach—between the Nichupté lagoon and the Caribbean Sea—every room, suite and most public spaces offer inviting views of the surrounding aquamarine waters. This lively resort celebrates fine wine in both its design and menu offerings—with sommelier-led wine tastings and wine pairings. A unique wine wall housing more than 3,000 varieties of wines from Mexico and other wine regions dominates the lobby. Wine lovers can meet up with kindred spirits at two complimentary tastings that take place each afternoon; premium wine and champagne tastings are held daily at a nominal extra cost. Even the spa’s signature treatments utilize products made from wine or grapes. As part of the resort’s Unlimited-Luxury® privileges, complimentary premium wines (and other top-shelf beverages and cocktails) are available poolside or on the beach. Guests also have the option of experiencing complimentary dinner, drinks and live entertainment every evening at a large number of nearby participating AMResorts.

YOGA DEVOTEES

Sansara Surf and Yoga Resort, Cambutal, Panama

Whether you’re traveling solo or with friends, Sansara Surf and Yoga Resort, offers opportunities for holistic adventure, relaxation and wellness. Located in a small village on the Azuero Peninsula (at the southernmost tip of Panama), guests can stay in one of 11 oceanfront cabanas, each with a private patio steps away from the Pacific Ocean. In this Zen-like setting enhanced with creature comforts, the food is healthy and delicious. The property hosts inspiring weekend and weeklong yoga retreats led by educators from around the globe. Each retreat is unique to the teacher and his/her teaching style. The property’s popular surfing program can accommodate participants of all levels, from beginner to advanced.

ACTIVE SPORTS ENTHUSIASTS

Jewel Dunn’s River Beach Resort & Spa, Ocho Rios, Jamaica

Part of the Curio Collection by Hilton, the 250-room, 4-star Jewel Dunn’s River Beach Resort & Spa offers an active adult-only oasis. Options for off-site daytime adventures range from zip-lining and cave- exploring to water and land sports (think snorkeling, sailing, beach volleyball and more). In addition to a long list of all-inclusive amenities including a choice of six restaurants and seven bars, no additional fees are charged for nonmotorized water and land sports (such as the 9-hole on-site golf course and four outdoor tennis courts). Located near the northern coast of the island, guests can also visit nearby Dunn’s River Falls, play golf at Runaway Bay Golf Club or learn about and swim with dolphins at Dolphin Cove. Another alternative: Just a few miles down the north coast, the adult-only all-inclusive Jewel Paradise Cove Beach Resort & Spa offers a variety of options such as complimentary week-long yoga retreats, free green fees at Runaway Bay Golf Club, a ten-course fit trail strategically placed throughout the resort and much more.

FREE-SPIRITED KIDS AT HEART 

Temptation Cancun Resort, Mexico

Many all-inclusives promise a party-like ambiance but Temptation Cancun Resort kicks it up a notch: Guests on TripAdvisor variously call the experience relaxed, friendly, flirty or sexy. This 430-room property brands itself as a “playground for grownups,” offering topless-optional areas, both at the pool and the beach. Daytime frolics range from sexy aqua aerobics to dance contests, to live bands with resident and guest DJs, to beach barbeques and pole dancing lessons. The hotel has seven restaurants, including a signature aphrodisiac restaurant called “SHE.” After dark, a variety of themed entertainment encourages conversation and connection; For example, on “Let It Glow” night, guests are invited to dress up in white and neon. Although the resort has a minimum age of 21, most guests fall between the ages of 30-45, including both singles and couples. Not for the faint-hearted.

 

Irene S. Levine Contributor