Early in 2004, my business partner and I had our first disagreement. He wanted to add a little known resort to our web site CMTravelonline.com. After two and a half months of debating and going back and forth, I finally gave in and granted him permission to ‘try’ this resort in our web site. Within two months, this little resort became one of our biggest sellers.

This wasn’t the direction I expected to take nor was it a product I wanted to add to our portfolio, yet, I couldn’t say “no” to this rapidly growing anomaly.  As this anomaly continued, we became ensued with curiosity, and shortly thereafter, the adults-only resort section of CMTravelonline.com was born. Today, the adults resort section of CMTravelonline.com and Vacations for Adults.com (its sister site) are among the most comprehensive travel sections on the internet.

This little known resort (by the way) is the Desire Resort & Spa, Riviera Maya, Mexico.

In 2004, there were only a small number of adults-only resorts to include Sandals Resorts, Couples Resorts and SuperClubs to name a few. Today, the adult resort niche is one of the fastest growing segments in the travel industry, and one that will continue to flourish in the years to come.    Brands that have now joining the Adult resort ‘bandwagon’ includes the Fiesta Americana Resorts with its Luxurious Live Agua in Cancun, Paradisus Resorts, Barcelo Resorts and RIU Hotels and Resort. The latter two will open properties in Punta Cana Dominican Republic in 2012.

The adult resort niche is much larger and more complex that one could imagine. There are many adult-only resorts in far-reaching corners of the globe; from Banyan Tree in the Maldives to The Pavilion in Phuket;  Qualia in Australia to the Canaves Oia Suites in Santorini Greece.

Today’s adult resorts are no longer one dimensional – great hangouts for swingers, singles , and couples alike, they have transcended into multifaceted resorts catering to different styles and tastes. To help you understand the many facets of this great niche, I will try to explain the different types of resorts and who they cater to:

Learn the differences between:

Adults-only Resorts:  Resorts that caters to adults-only (18 years of age and older).

Adult-oriented Resorts:  Caters to everyone – families, couples and singles, and offers adult-oriented theme.

Clothing-optional Resorts:  Resorts offering clothing-optional facilities, or a clothes-free environment.

Couples-only Resorts:  Couples only all-inclusive resorts offering the perfect settings to rekindle romance, celebrate your honeymoon or that perfect wedding.

Lifestyle Resorts: Those resorts now catering to specific lifestyles – particularly the hedonistic lifestyle.

Adults-only Resorts

Most adults-only resorts are well suited for couples, singles and, to a certain degree, families with older teenagers. True adults-only resorts define adults as age 18 and up; others start at 16. Examples of true adults-only resorts include the Iberostar Grand Hotel Bavaro in Punta Cana, Club Ambiance in Jamaica, Secrets St. James in Jamaica, El Dorado Resorts in Mexico, The Royal in Cancun, Temptation Resorts and Excellence Resorts and the Valentin Imperial Maya, Riviera Maya Mexico.

 Adult-oriented Resorts

There are a number of adults only resorts that claim to be adults-only resorts with a minimum age of 16. The problem is that I do not see these resorts as being true adults only. And to be quite frank, a true adults only resort should have a minimum age requirement of 21 {and especially for drinking purposes}.  Let us imagine for a minute that you’re taking your family of four (two adults and two sixteen year old teenagers} on an all-inclusive vacation and the resort you’ve chosen is an  to adults only resort and its minimum age is sixteen.  Your daughter decides to take a dip into the main pool with the swim-up bar. Let’s extend this a little further; would you like to see your 16 year old daughter get hit on by a 45 year old man by the swim-up bar? Certainly not!!!   Then why would you take your family to such a resort?

Adult-oriented resort caters to everyone – families, couples and singles, and offers an adult-oriented theme. Some may have minimum age requirements of 12 or 13, and others may have an adult section (or block) within its boundaries.  Popular adult-oriented resorts with minimum age requirements include Breezes Bahamas (13), The Rockhouse Negril (12), and Jade Mountain in St. Lucia (14). Resorts offering separate adult facilities or complexes include Sunset at the Palm in Negril, Oasis at Sunset beach Resort (a clothing-optional Beach), Majestic Elegance Punta Cana (an entire block of buildings set aside especially for adults only), and the Radisson Aruba with its marina wing which was designated as adults only.

Clothing-optional Resorts

Most beach resorts, especially in the Caribbean, have clothing optional beaches, although clothing is required in most areas of the resort. These are not the same as a nudist resort where nudity is the order of the day throughout the entire resort. Properties such as Temptation Resort Cancun, Punta Serena Resort in Manzanillo; Jamaica’s Club Ambiance and Breezes Grand resort & Spa in Negril are the most recognizable clothing-optional resorts. Other Clothing-optional Resorts include Sandals Royal Bahamian and Royal Caribbean (with their private island) and Couples Resorts in Jamaica.

Clothes-free Resorts

Clothes-free resorts are similar to your clothing-optional resorts. However, clothing is not required in most areas of the resort, and nudity is mandatory on the beach and in the swimming area. Popular clothes-free resorts include Orient Beach Resort in St. Martin, Hidden Beach Resort, and Desire Resorts of Mexico.

Resorts with European-style Sunbathing (Topless Sunbathing)

These hotels and resorts allow women to go topless at a designated area such as a swimming pool or a section of a beach set aside specifically for topless sunbathing.

Couples-only Resorts

This type of resort allows only couples – no singles or adult families. The popular Sandals resorts and Couples Resorts fall into this category. Our top couples-only resorts include Couples Negril, Couples Tower Isle Ocho Rios, Rendezvous St. Lucia, and Desire Resort in Cancun.

Lifestyle resorts

This up and coming trend got its start from the boutique hotels. Boutique hotel is a term popularized in North America and the United Kingdom to describe hotels which often contain luxury facilities of varying size in unique or intimate settings with full service accommodations. However, this new trend tends to cater to a hedonistic lifestyle (and to some degree, swingers). This lifestyle was popularized by the Desire Resort Group which now counts three of these properties with one in Los Cabos and two in the Riviera Maya.  Another popular lifestyle resort is Hedonism II in Negril Jamaica.

The Biggest Myth: Adults-only Resorts are perfect for Singles

On the contrary to popular belief, most adults-only resorts are not popular choices for singles and especially single women where safety becomes paramount. As such, resort brands such as Gran Melia, Grand Pineapple, RIU and Barcelo are ideal for this particular group.

Clothing-optional resorts tend to draw a significant number of single males and as such, I recommend that single women try to avoid them – unless of course, this is what they are looking for.

Conclusion

You’ll find that adults only resorts offer a totally serene environment designed to pamper body, soul and spirit in luxurious surroundings with impeccable service and those that offer a fun-loving, socially interactive escape with activity and fun on tap throughout the day and long into the night, catering to a free-spirited crowd with racy games and contests. But more important, adults only are the best places to go for a child-free vacation experience.