The best, most luxurious resort you have ever been to for a holiday?

[SparklyNewMe]

Currently browsing TUI all inclusive options and I am surprised how many 5 start rated hotels have low ratings on Tripadvisor. There is clearly a gap between expectations and perceptions. This made me wonder if anyone has been on a package holiday at a resort they cannot fault in any way?

Burj al Arab without question

Secrets Akumal in Mexico, fantastic service good choice of a la carte restaurants and beautiful resort.

Beach club at Hamilton island, the whitsundays, was amazing!

Amanyara, Turks & Caicos. Understated, refined luxury and not at all in your face brash tackiness.

The Datai in langkawi

Four Seasons in Sharm el Sheikh, it was like a museum- marble everywhere and the service was ridiculous, they brought me a tiny table to put my handbag on when we had dinner.
Having said that I also loved Kuramathi in the Maldives and Santorini.

That looks gorgeous, my sort of place for sure! Prefer this to a big swanky hotel.

@FeegleFrenzy we went in November, it was honestly the most incredible experience in every way. Worth every penny!

Ritz-Carlton Grand Cayman. Absolutely gorgeous and I had an amazing pre-natal massage in the spa.

The banyan tree Indonesia, so amazing we have booked the banyan tree Maldives.

It was on the Amazing Hotels programme with Monica Galetti a few months ago.

Kuramathi- hands down!

Kuramathi would be my choice too. Absolutely perfect.

Barcelona.

My favourite place on earth.

The Oberoi in Jaipur was amazing.

Kuramathi is gorgeous.

The Six Senses Yao Noi was amazing.

How funny. I was there the other day.

I’m going to the Datai in March. I cannot wait!!

Sandals in Antigua. Until Hurricane Irma hit... Don't go on hurricane season!

We went to a Tui Blue which claimed to be a 4*. It was lovely and we enjoyed it, but lots of complaints on Trip Advisor seem to be unreasonable expectations IMO.

I've been to some grotty places over the years but paid peanuts for them so I was happy. I remember one couple complaining heartily at a place in The Gambia, but it transpired in conversation that they had paid at least three times per person what I had, so our expectations of the resort and the facilities were very different indeed!

Unfortunately, I always think the most luxurious places aren't going to be on TUI. They are going to be word of mouth places where you have to sell a kidney to go to! And people's idea of luxury is very subjective. When I was younger luxury was a free swimming pool towel!
Sani and Jumeirah beach hotel were both great, but not AI.

Jade Mountain, Saint Lucia.

Fabulous - swimming pools actually IN the bedrooms, and no 4th wall!

I’m not a resorts-type of gal as I like touring when I’m on holiday, but I was very lucky to get to stay at the Heritance Kandalama in Sri Lanka a few years ago. It’s a place like no other, built into a rock formation, with stairways and corridors open to the jungle (which makes for some interesting meetings with the local wildlife - a praying mantis on the handrail I particularly remember!). There’s an infinity pool looking out over a watering hole where you can watch elephants taking a drink, and the showers are all glass so there’s often a troupe of pervy monkeys watching you in the altogether! A fantastic place to stay for a few nights as part of a tour.

www.heritancehotels.com/kandalama/

A more affordable suggestion for you, we stayed at Tivoli La Caletta in Tenerife last year and it was one of the best package holidays I've been on. The staff were so attentive, the facilities lovely and our room was beautiful.
Obviously Tenerife is no competition to the Maldives and other tropical destinations, but great for some affordable luxury.