7 Caribbean all-inclusive resort deals for Christmas week 2026

Puerto Plata is one of the Dominican Republic’s original beach resort areas, and it’s still one of the first places I check for a cheap Caribbean all-inclusive. The resorts here tend to be older than the sprawling complexes in Punta Cana, but if you’re mainly after a warm beach and a week away over Christmas, the price difference can be hard to pass up.

The resort I found is in Sosúa, a beach town east of Puerto Plata itself. When you’re comparing flights, look for Puerto Plata airport (POP) and check the airfare before you settle on a resort. A cheap room is only part of the deal, especially if you can get a much better flight to Punta Cana or Cancún from where you live.

Casa Marina Sosua, Trademark by Wyndham Resort – about US$200 per night for two, all-inclusive

Casa Marina Sosua is a large, older beachfront resort with two outdoor pools, a kids’ pool, and four restaurants, including a buffet. Its Expedia guest rating of 7.4 out of 10 is above average for the area, though I’d go in expecting a basic all-inclusive. If the choice is between spending Christmas here and staying home, it looks pretty appealing to me.

I found a room for US$1,399 for the full December 20–27 stay, which works out to just under US$200 per night for two. I’d also found another Puerto Plata resort for US$185 per night, but it had sold out for the week when I checked again. If this one fits your budget, I’d check the current rate sooner rather than later.

>>>Click here for rates at Casa Marina Sosua, Trademark by Wyndham Resort

The Riviera Maya is a good place to look if you want a Mexican beach holiday but don’t especially care about staying in the Cancún Hotel Zone. The coast south of Playa del Carmen has plenty of large all-inclusives, and this was where I found my cheapest Christmas-week option in Mexico.

The resort is on the beach a bit south of Playa del Carmen, so I’d check the transfer price from Cancún airport when comparing it with a Hotel Zone property. If you find a good fare into Cancún, the room price here leaves some room in the budget for that longer ride.

Catalonia Riviera Maya – US$296 per night for two, all-inclusive

Catalonia Riviera Maya has five outdoor pools, two swim-up bars, two beach bars, and seven restaurants. That’s a lot of choice, especially if you’re spending most of the week at the resort and want somewhere different to eat or sit by the pool each day.

The resort had an Expedia guest rating of 8.2 out of 10 when I checked. With that score and those facilities, I would have expected to pay at least US$400 a night over Christmas. At US$296, this was one of the biggest surprises in my search.

>>>Click here for rates at Catalonia Riviera Maya

Cancún is where I’d start if I wanted to keep the travel day simple. Depending on where you live, you may have more flight choices into Cancún than to some of the smaller islands below, and staying in the Hotel Zone keeps the airport transfer relatively short.

I found several Hotel Zone all-inclusives around the same price, including one I’ve booked for my own trip in December. This one stood out because it combines a beachfront setting with a smaller property and a solid guest rating.

GR Solaris Caribe – US$343 per night for two, adults only and all-inclusive

GR Solaris Caribe is a four-star resort right on the beach, with 195 rooms, seven restaurants, and an Expedia guest rating of 8.2 out of 10. If you want an adults-only Christmas stay in Cancún without paying luxury resort prices, this is one I’d look at closely.

The US$343 rate was an Expedia member price when I checked, so sign into a free account to see if it comes up for your dates. I’d also check the signed-out total. I’ve seen it go both ways, and the final price matters more than the discount label.

>>>Click here for rates at GR Solaris Caribe

Samaná is worth a look if you like the idea of a Dominican Republic beach holiday but want a quieter setting than Punta Cana. This is the stop on the list I’d picture for a week of beach time, long lunches, and very little on the schedule.

Getting there takes a little more planning. I’d compare the flight options and transfer times together, since the cheapest flight may leave you with a longer ride to the resort. If the connections work for you, Samaná offers a different sort of trip for almost exactly the same room price as my Punta Cana pick.

Wyndham Alltra Samaná – US$370 per night for two, all-inclusive

The Wyndham Alltra Samaná is right on the beach, with three pools, five restaurants, and an Expedia guest rating of 8.4 out of 10. The beach and the friendly staff come up repeatedly in the guest reviews I read, and those reviews made me want to book it myself.

At US$370 a night over Christmas, this looks like good value if the beach is the main thing you care about. It was only US$9 a night less than the Punta Cana resort below, so I’d choose between them based on the setting, flight options, and how much you want to do at the resort.

>>>Click here for rates at Wyndham Alltra Samaná

Punta Cana is where I’d look for a Christmas trip with several generations traveling together. The big resorts offer enough to do that everyone can spend the day a little differently and still meet up for dinner.

It’s also worth comparing flights here before settling on another part of the Dominican Republic. Punta Cana has plenty of flight options, and a better fare or a more convenient nonstop can easily outweigh a small difference in the nightly room price.

Ocean Blue & Sand Beach Resort – US$379 per night for two, all-inclusive

Ocean Blue & Sand has eight restaurants, a bowling alley, and a nightclub, along with water sports and a full spa. Check which activities and spa treatments cost extra, but there’s plenty to keep a group occupied even if some of you would happily spend the whole day on the beach.

Its Expedia guest rating of 8.6 out of 10 was the highest of the seven resorts I picked. At US$379 a night for Christmas week, it’s the one that stood out most to me for families or groups who want lots of choices without moving into a much higher price range.

>>>Click here for rates at Ocean Blue & Sand Beach Resort

St. Lucia gets my vote as the most beautiful island in the Caribbean. If the island itself is a big part of why you’re going, this is where I can see paying more than you would for an all-inclusive in Mexico or the Dominican Republic.

The resort I found is in the Rodney Bay area. Check flights and transfer costs before comparing it with the larger resort destinations, particularly if getting to St. Lucia involves a connection from your home airport. The extra cost may be worth it if this is the island you’ve been wanting to visit.

The Soco House – US$437 per night for two, adults only and all-inclusive

The Soco House has just 76 rooms, one restaurant, four bars and lounges, and an attractive pool. It had an Expedia guest rating of 8.0 out of 10 when I checked. This is more the sort of place I’d consider for a quiet trip as a couple than for a group that wants a different restaurant every night.

The hotel isn’t right on the beach, but guests describe it as walkable, and there’s a free beach shuttle. At US$437, it was the lower-priced of the two smaller-island options I picked. The key question is whether you’d rather have a bigger beachfront resort for less money or spend Christmas on St. Lucia.

>>>Click here for rates at The Soco House

Barbados was one of the pricier destinations in my Christmas search. Once I started looking for a smaller all-inclusive near a good beach, the prices climbed quickly. This was the option that stood out before the rates jumped considerably higher.

I’d put Barbados on the shortlist if you’re planning a trip as a couple and want a smaller hotel where the room is part of the experience. At these prices, I’d also compare the total cost of the trip, including flights, before deciding how much of a premium you’re happy to pay.

The Abidah by Accra – US$521 per night for two, adults only and all-inclusive

The Abidah has only 44 rooms, with a pool, a restaurant, a bar, and a full-service spa. It overlooks a beach just across the street, where loungers are included. Its Expedia guest rating was 8.2 out of 10 when I checked.

The rooms are surprisingly spacious, and the standout feature is the private hot tub on the balcony, which guests rave about. Check the room category if you want an ocean view as well. At US$521 a night, this was the most expensive resort on my list, but it gives you a good idea of what a more intimate Christmas stay on a smaller island can cost.

>>>Click here for rates at The Abidah by Accra

If price is your main concern, I’d start with Puerto Plata and the Riviera Maya. They were the two cheapest options I found, and Cancún, Samaná, and Punta Cana all came in under US$400 a night for two. If you’d rather spend Christmas on a smaller island, St. Lucia and Barbados give you a good idea of what that upgrade might cost.

I found these rates in early November for December 20–27, 2026, and some had already changed by the time I checked again. If a resort looks right for you, I’d check the room and flights together soon. It’s also worth comparing the Expedia price signed in and signed out: some of the best rates I found were member deals, but one of the lowest showed up while I was signed out.