18 Epic Tropical Island Resorts for Your Bucket List

Are you searching for an unforgettable tropical resort getaway? From spectacular luxury resorts in the Maldives to the top-rated overwater stays in the Caribbean and beyond, this guide will inspire you and help kickstart your travel planning.

Lori and I absolutely LOVE spending time on islands in the tropics, both near and far. The warm weather, friendly locals, and simply being away from the mainland seem to slow time down and make everything all good.

And these are the tropical island resorts we think are worthy of being added to your travel bucket list.

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Our Guide to the Top Tropical Island Resorts on Planet Earth

✪ 5-Star, Adults-Only, All-Inclusive A long-time reader favorite, Sandals Royal Caribbean Resort—yet again—finds its way onto our latest travel bucket list guide.

Why? We believe it’s because this stunning all-inclusive resort in Montego Bay offers the tropical island stay that couples dream of—and truly delivers!

Hot Tip If you’re thinking of booking a honeymoon stay at a Sandals resort make sure you take advantage of their FREE Honeymoon Package.

An escape to Sandals Royal Caribbean transports you to another world—one of crystal clear waters, white-sand beaches, and a luxurious and truly all-inclusive tropical resort designed to capture the essence of a Caribbean paradise. Not to mention their iconic Caribbean overwater bungalows!

Get ready to be pampered with rejuvenating spa treatments and full-body massages. Feast on private chef-prepared meals and regional Jamaican cuisine like jerk pork and spicy mussels. And entertain yourself with seemingly endless options of included activities.

Hands down, one of the best adults-only all-inclusive resorts in Jamaica!

✪ Our Mid-Range Jamaica Pick For our mid-range pick in Jamaica, check out The Cliff Hotel.

✪ 5-Star Adults-Only All-Inclusive World-renowned Hermitage Bay on the stunning island of Antigua (in Antigua & Barbuda) is the ideal escape to paradise and a superb place to call home for a while.

We think this award-winning, adults-only, all-inclusive, and eco-friendly tropical resort is an excellent choice for couples looking for a luxurious, private getaway in the Caribbean.

Hermitage Bay offers 16 acres of tropical gardens, a quarter-mile-long beach, and a nearby reef with vibrant underwater life.

It’s also an ideal destination for a wellness vacation, offering meditation, yoga, and pilates classes, massages and spa treatments, and custom meal plans that cater to your specific dietary needs and fitness goals.

There’s so much to love about Hermitage Bay, it was an easy choice for the top spot on our list.

✪ Our Mid-Range Pick Check out our mid-range resort pick in Antigua & Barbuda, Siboney Beach Club.

✪ 5-Star Adults-Only If you’re looking for a romantic getaway to the Hawaiian Islands, Lori and I think you’d be hard-pressed to find a better stay than the fabulous Relais & Châteaux Hotel Wailea.

This luxurious adults-only five-star resort is surrounded by lush tropical gardens, offering a wide range of amenities and activities to enjoy at your leisure.

Kick-off your honeymoon or couples vacay with a relaxing spa treatment, and enjoy a variety of activities such as golf, tennis, hiking and snorkeling.

Hotel Wailea also offers a number of excellent eating and drinking options, from fine dining to casual beachside bars.

And if you’re looking for a romantic night out, we recommend making your way down to the resort’s private beach for a truly memorable sunset stroll.

✪ 5-Star Family-Friendly Gili Lankanfushi is not only one of the top-rated five-star resorts in the Maldives, it’s widely considered one of the very best resorts in the entire world!

Reaching Gili Lankanfushi takes only 20 minutes by speed boat from Male International Airport, where you’ll be welcomed by a tropical vacation paradise of crystal-clear waters, white sandy beaches, and lush vegetation.

The resort features a variety of spectacular accommodation choices, from villa suites to private residences. For the ultimate experience, check out Gili’s jaw-dropping Crusoe Residences, accessible by private boat only.

✪ Our Mid-Range Pick Ayada Maldives

✪ 5-Star Family-Friendly All-Inclusive Ambergris Cay Private Island Resort & Beach Club is one of the most exclusive and luxurious resorts in Turks and Caicos.

We think this lush island—a 1,100-acre gem with white sand beaches, turquoise waters, and palm trees—is a perfect choice for a romantic honeymoon or beachfront vacation for families looking for a tropical playground.

Your unique island getaway offers all-inclusive dining, private beach access, sumptuous spa treatments and services, beachfront pool suites, luxury villas, and more.

Few all-inclusive resorts in Turks and Caicos can compare with what Ambergris Cay is able to offer for visitors across the board.

✪ Our Mid-Range Pick Ocean Club Resort Turks & Caicos

✪ 5-Star Family-Friendly All-Inclusive Get ready for a relaxing, comfortable, and stress-free getaway at Zoetry Villa Rolandi Isla Mujeres Cancun, located a mere 25 minutes from Cancun and mainland Mexico by private yacht.

This five-star 35-room all-inclusive resort offers the personal feel of a boutique hotel with the amenities of a large tropical beach resort.

Featuring Mediterranean-inspired beachfront suites with breathtaking Caribbean views, gourmet beachfront dining options, a variety of water sports, and a relaxing island vibe, Zoetry Villa Rolandi is a dreamy tropical island paradise within easy reach of the U.S.

✪ Our Mid-Range Pick Ixchel Beach Hotel Isla Mujeres

✪ 5-Star Family-Friendly Four Seasons Resort Bora Bora might just be the quintessential Polynesian luxury escape of your tropical island dreams.

We realized that no list of tropical island destinations would be complete without at least one Bora Bora overwater bungalows resort located in magical French Polynesia.

Enjoy private yacht airport transfers, chef-prepared meals delivered to your doorstep from one of four onsite restaurants, and spectacular views from your luxurious overwater villa or deluxe beachfront villa.

The ultimate honeymoon stay or tropical island resorts escape for the whole family!

✪ 5-Star Adults-Only All-Inclusive Incomparable Jade Mountain Resort is a striking natural extension of its beachfront counterpart, Anse Chastenet on the beautiful Caribbean island of St. Lucia.

Conceptualized by its architect owner, this adults-only, all-inclusive resort is perched high above two crystalline bays, affording incredible views of the UNESCO-designated Pitons.

Relax and recharge in one of 29 luxurious open-air “sanctuaries,” many featuring spectacular views from private infinity pools—making Jade Mountain Resort an incredible St. Lucia honeymoon option.

Enjoy full guest privileges at Anse Chastenet, including access to two amazing beaches, three more restaurants, and numerous activities to choose from like scuba diving, sunset sailing, hiking, and more.

✪ Our Mid-Range St. Lucia Pick Calabash Cove Resort & Spa

5-STAR RESORT ▪ FAMILY-FRIENDLY

✪ 5-Star Family-Friendly Tanah Gajah, a Resort by Hadiprana is a unique tropical island stay and one of the best resorts in Bali, Indonesia.

Located just outside of Ubud and surrounded by stunning rice paddies, it’s hard to imagine a more tranquil setting for a luxury resort.

Offering spacious and artfully designed suites and villas (many with private pools and terraces), Tanah Gajah is an ideal retreat for those looking for peace and seclusion in an inspiring destination.

Take advantage of a variety of activities from yoga and cooking classes to rice paddy treks and even a hot air balloon ride. Feast on local and international dishes at the excellent onsite restaurant or explore much more in nearby Ubud.

✪ Our Mid-Range Bali Pick Padma Resort Ubud

✪ 4-Star family-Friendly Resort & Residences Ready for something a bit different? Grand Isle Resort & Residences re-imagines the luxury tropical island vacation in paradise.

We think that this is an ideal stay for those looking to shift into low gear, settle into a comfortable abode and make it their own in the beautiful Bahamas.

Embraced by manicured fairways, lush tropical gardens, and stunning turquoise sea, this exclusive gated community features 78 super-spacious and lavishly-appointed villas (1 to 4 bedrooms) equipped with everything you could want in your ideal home-away-from-home in paradise.

If that weren’t enough, Grand Isle offers many of the services, activities, and amenities you’d expect to find at a large beach resort—from excellent onsite restaurants and bars to scuba diving and snorkeling, two pools, and a full-service spa.

And no need to worry about getting around this sprawling property—your own personal golf cart comes standard with every villa.

✪ Our Mid-Range Bahamas Pick Saint Francis Resort & Marina

✪ 5-Star Family-Friendly All-Inclusive We’re thrilled to have a chance to include a resort from one of our favorite travel destinations on the planet—Zanzibar! And we think Baraza Resort & Spa Zanzibar is one of the very best stays on the island for a bucket list island escape.

From the time you arrive, this five-star all-inclusive beach resort in stunning Dongwe (just north of Bwejuu) will have you feeling like a sultan, with plush villas surrounded by hand-carved decor and Swahili architectural flourishes.

You’ll also feast like a sultan too, at one of four fabulous restaurants serving mouthwatering dishes from a variety of cuisines.

✪ Our Mid-Range Zanzibar Pick Emerald Zanzibar Resort & Spa

✪ 5-Star Adults-Only All-Inclusive Fronting the powder sands and turquoise waters of stunning Juanillo Beach, Secrets Cap Cana Resort & Spa is a perfect choice for couples dreaming of the quintessential tropical island resort stay.

Located in the exclusive gated community of Cap Cana, this five-star resort offers the ultimate Punta Cana adults-only all-inclusive resorts vacation with luxurious and artfully-decorated suites, full-service spa, and a variety of eating and drinking choices across eight restaurants and six bars.

When you’re ready to kick it up a notch, Secrets Cap Cana offers live entertainment, fun excursions, two outdoor pools, a breathtaking beach, and more. And golfers are sure to love the nearby Jack Nicklaus-designed golf course.

✪ Our Mid-Range Pick Live Aqua Beach Resort Punta Cana

✪ 5-Star Family-Friendly All-Inclusive Looking for a truly unique and exceptional tropical island stay? Be sure to check out Anantara Maia Seychelles Villas!

Perched on its own peninsula in the spectacular Seychelles, this striking five-star all-inclusive resort will wow you with impressive hillside villas and jaw-dropping Indian Ocean vistas.

Anantara Maia aims to offer one of the most exclusive and personalized vacation experiences on the planet, complete with personal butler service, private and customized dining options, and individually-tailored children’s programming.

✪ Our Mid-Range Seychelles Pick Constance Ephelia Seychelles

✪ 5-Star Family-Friendly Welcome to Banyan Tree Samui on the dreamy Thai island of Koh Samui!

Imagine a picture-perfect palm-fringed golden strand fading into a magnificent turquoise cove surrounded by lush tropical forest.

Now, picture yourself relaxing in your own private pool villa taking in your commanding view of this inspiring landscape.

The Gulf Islands of Thailand are one of our absolute favorite beach destinations in the entire world, for the relaxing and low-key vibe, spellbinding food and culture, and tropical ocean vistas that take our breath away at every turn.

And Banyan Tree Samui encapsulates the best of the Gulf Islands in a truly exceptional and luxurious stay.

✪ Our Mid-Range Samui Pick Garrya Tongsai Bay Samui

✪ 5-Star Family-Friendly Meals Included Billed as the ultimate luxury resort in Fiji, award-winning Taveuni Palms Resort impresses even seasoned jet setters with breathtaking hillside villas—each set on their very own lush and private acre (with private pool, of course). And that’s only the beginning!

Each luxurious and self-contained villa comes standard with an exceptional staff of seven, including a manager and two personal chefs, with housekeeping two times daily. A delectable breakfast, lunch, and five-course dinner is included in the nightly rate.

Just steps away from your private villa, enjoy snorkeling and kayaking from the private beach, as well as an array of other activities to keep you and your travel buddies entertained.

An ideal stay for the ultimate honeymoon, wedding, or family get-together in paradise.

✪ Our Mid-Range Fiji Pick Coconut Grove Beach Cottages

✪ 4-Star Family-Friendly There’s so much to love about The Sands at Chale Island it’s hard to know where to start.

For beach enthusiasts and solitude seekers, Chale Island offers a lush tropical hideaway, native wildlife, and some of the best snorkeling and scuba diving on the Kenyan Coast along the offshore coral reef.

Tailor-made for honeymooners and anyone who dreams of a picture postcard paradise, The Sands at Chale Island offers a luxurious island stay on one of the best beaches in Kenya—with three restaurants, open-air spa treatments, loads of water-based activities and much more!

✪ 5-Star Family-Friendly Nestled among ancient tropical forest overlooking one of the top-rated beaches in the world, The Datai Langkawi offers a truly exceptional tropical island getaway in magnificent Malaysia.

Relax in your luxurious beach villa or suite with all the amenities. Take a dip in one of two outdoor pools, lose yourself in their award-winning spa, or enjoy a round of golf at one of Southeast Asia’s best 18-hole courses.

Prepare yourself for mouthwatering Malay and Indian cuisine in their rainforest restaurant, with Thai and western options also available at the two additional onsite eateries.

✪ Our Mid-Range Langkawi Pick Casa del Mar Langkawi

✪ 5-Star Adults-Only All Meals Idyllic, secluded, and ecologically-crafted, Elysian Eco Island Retreat in Australia’s tropical Whitsunday Islands offers an unforgettable escape-from-it-all in paradise.

Barefoot luxury and eco-seclusion await you at this top-rated adults-only boutique-style beach resort combining 5-star personalized service with many of the amenities of a much larger all-inclusive resort.

Up to just twenty guests at a time are permitted to stay at this exclusive resort, making Elysian Retreat an ideal destination for an exceptionally private and truly relaxing getaway.

✪ Our Mid-Range Pick Palm Bay Resort

What Else to Know About Tropical Island Resorts

What is considered a tropical island?

For the purposes of our guide to the best tropical island resorts in the world, a tropical island is a land body completely surrounded by water located in the tropics (south of the Tropic of Cancer and north of the Tropic of Capricorn) where warm weather and relaxing vibes abound.

How many tropical islands are there?

According to scientists who study this sort of thing (namely Hertha and Erik Arnberger in their book, The Tropical Islands of the Indian and Pacific Oceans), there are a whopping 45,000 tropical islands in the world (give or take a few).

More Tropical Island Inspiration

• Caribbean: Overwater Bungalows for Couples
• Caribbean: Family-Friendly All-Inclusive Resorts
• Caribbean: Adults-Only All-Inclusive Resorts
• St. Lucia: Top Honeymoon Resorts
• Lamu Island (Kenya): Top Reasons to Visit
• Chaloklum Beach (Koh Phangan, Thailand)
• The Bahamas: Adults-Only All-Inclusive Resorts
• Turks and Caicos: All-Inclusive Resorts
• Jamaica: Adults-Only All-Inclusive Resorts
• Bora Bora: Bucket List Overwater Bungalows

Featured Image: Moosa Haleem / Unsplah