All-inclusive resorts in Florida: the one we recommend and the best alternatives

A holiday village on the river

voco Sandpiper sits on the St. Lucie River in Port St. Lucie, a couple of hours' drive from both Miami and Orlando. Many still know it as Club Med Sandpiper Bay. It is now run by IHG but remains all-inclusive, with two outdoor pools, three restaurants and two bars on site.

It suits families and couples who want everything paid for and no need to drive out each evening. The trade-off is that it faces the river rather than the ocean, so the beach means a short trip. Check exactly what the rate covers, as the terms have changed since Club Med left.

The white grand hotel on the lagoon

The Grand Floridian is Disney's flagship, a white Victorian-style hotel with red roofs on Seven Seas Lagoon. The monorail stops right outside, and Magic Kingdom is across the water.

It suits families planning most of their days at Magic Kingdom who want a quick way back when the youngest need a break. It is one of Disney's priciest hotels, and about as formal as Disney gets.

Giraffes beyond the balcony

Animal Kingdom Lodge curves around a savanna where giraffes, zebras and antelope roam. From a savanna-view room you can sit out early in the morning as the animals come down to drink.

It is a calm base between park days, and for many children the animals end up the highlight of the trip. It is further from Magic Kingdom than the Grand Floridian, and transport is by bus.

A water park inside Walt Disney World

The Four Seasons sits within the Walt Disney World area but is not a Disney hotel. It has a large pool complex with waterslides and a lazy river, a golf course and a rooftop restaurant looking towards the parks.

It suits families who want Disney close by and somewhere calm to recover between park days. Disney's dining plan does not apply here, so budget for meals.

A palace on the Atlantic

The Breakers was built in Italian Renaissance style in the 1920s, with painted ceilings in the lobby and a long facade facing the ocean. Behind it are a beach club, pools, a golf course, a spa and a string of restaurants.

Stay here for history and old-school service, or as a family that wants everything in one place without the theme-park feel. Palm Beach is quiet and manicured. For nightlife you will need to drive south towards Miami.

A long beach in the far north

Amelia Island lies at the top of Florida, close to the Georgia border, and the Omni resort there is almost a small town. It has miles of beach, golf courses, bike paths under moss-hung oaks and several restaurants.

Choose it for a family holiday built around cycling and swimming, or to see a side of Florida far from the neon of the south. Winters are cooler up here than in Miami, so it is best in spring, summer and early autumn.

Gulf sunsets in the south

Marco Island lies south of Naples, where Florida's west coast starts to give way to the mangroves of the Everglades. The JW Marriott sits on a wide, pale beach, with several pools, a spa and restaurants on one site.

It suits families with school-age children and couples after a slow week of swimming and sunsets. It is big and can feel busy in school holidays. The Everglades are a short drive away.

The Florida Keys without driving all the way to Key West

Cheeca Lodge sits on the ocean in Islamorada, roughly halfway between Miami and Key West. Islamorada is known for sport fishing, and the resort has its own beach, pools and a pier reaching out over the shallow, clear water.

It suits couples and families who want the Keys mood and a calm base for snorkelling and fishing trips. Evenings are quiet, and Key West's nightlife is a couple of hours further down the road.