On the final approach to the newly opened Hinata Retreat in Western Massachusetts, guests may spot wild turkeys, deer emerging from the trees, and hawks alighting atop the pines as they drive along gravel roads winding through forested hills to this tranquil retreat three-and-a-half hours north of New York City.
As you arrive at your property and climb above the tree line, the vast Berkshire Mountains come into view, with 12 modern cabins equipped with fireplaces and outdoor hot tubs on private patios. Surrounded by nature, children are nowhere to be seen.
Hinata Retreat owners Jeff and Jen Nielsen opened the property in early October as an adults-only retreat for guests 18 and older. They drew inspiration from what they themselves crave during the holidays as busy parents of three children under the age of eight.
“Finding a place that’s affordable and being able to escape there and not have to worry about a lot of noise or kids being around is just the kind of thing that allows us to disconnect and reconnect with each other,” says Jeff.
And he’s not the only one hoping for such a reprieve.
Increased demand for adults-only hotels and resorts
George Morgan-Grenville, CEO and founder of UK-based luxury travel company Red Savannah, says adults-only resorts are becoming increasingly popular in the hospitality industry, not only for parents but also adults without children.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, his company estimates that bookings for adults-only travel experiences are up about 15% year-over-year.
Morgan Grenville believes the increased interest in adult-only properties is at least partly due to falling birth rates in developed countries. In other words, more people are deciding not to have children, as evidenced by data from Germany’s Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research’s 2025 report.
“I think these trends are skewed toward resort settings, but they’re actually happening across the industry, even on the safari circuit, including adults-only hotels,” Morgan-Grenville says.
All-inclusive luxury – no children
Alongside the trend for adults-only resorts, there is also a boom in demand for luxury all-inclusive resort experiences, said Hugo Desenzani, managing director, Luxury Group, Caribbean and Latin America, Marriott International.
There are travelers across the spectrum who seek these hassle-free accommodations for those 18 and older.
“In particular, the luxury adults-only subset will appeal to couples, groups of friends and solo travelers looking for a curated, tranquil getaway that prioritizes health and fine dining offerings,” says Desenzani. “Rather than locking families away, it’s about creating spaces where adults can truly explore and seamlessly recharge.”
Desenzani noted that Marriott has received an “enthusiastic” response from guests at its adults-only properties in Marriott International’s Caribbean and Latin America collection, including Sanctuary Cap Cana in the Dominican Republic and Almare, a Luxury Collection Resort on Mexico’s Isla Mujeres.
There’s also the adult all-inclusive Paraiso de la Bonita Luxury Collection Resort, which opened in January on Mexico’s Riviera Maya, and the adult all-inclusive W Punta Cana, which opened this summer.
Demand for all-inclusives with a minimum guest age requirement of 18 years is strong and growing. Desenzani points out that this is a great opportunity for global hospitality brands to create unique experiences across their global portfolio of accommodations tailored to the individual needs of their guests.
“This is more than just a flash in the pan. It’s a thoughtful, fundamental shift in luxury hospitality designed to meet the evolving expectations of today’s discerning traveler,” Desenzani said, adding that the company plans to make its debut. W Costa Mujeres, All Inclusive for Adults in 2029.
something for everyone
Other hotel brands with both adult-only and family-friendly properties in their portfolios are showing similar interest in child-free options that perhaps complement rather than detract from family-friendly offerings.
Acquis Neocleas, executive director of Mexico’s Hotel Xcaret, acknowledged “extraordinary growth” in the company’s adults-only, all-inclusive division, adding that interest is primarily driven by “discerning travelers from the United States, Canada, and Europe who are looking for a more customized…experience.”
“They are looking for a sanctuary where they can reconnect with the spirit of themselves, their partners and the destination,” Neocleas says.
The brand’s adults-only, all-inclusive hotel in the Riviera Maya, La Casa de la Playa, attracts couples looking for a quiet stay as well as parents of adult children, whose children and grandchildren may check into nearby family-friendly hotels such as Hotel Xcaret Mexico and Hotel Xcaret Arte.
Many resorts also manage to toe the line, with adult-only and family enclaves on the same property or nearby.
These include the JW Marriott Marco Island Beach Resort in Florida and the adjacent Paradise by Sirene. The latter has 94 rooms and suites for guests 21 and older.
The family-friendly Pueblo Bonito Sunset Beach Golf & Spa Resort in Cabo San Lucas features six pools, a teen club and a kids’ club, and is just a short walk down the slope from the beachfront and adults-only Pueblo Bonito Pacifica Golf & Spa Resort. Direct access to Quivira Golf Club’s Jack Nicklaus signature designed course makes it a popular resort for adults.
Ultimately, this distinction allows the hotel and its environment to cater to the right audience.
“By adopting an adults-only policy, hotels are clearly targeting a specific demographic,” says Morgan Grenville.
“There’s nothing like the sound of your own children playing, and nothing like other people’s children. Adults-only hotels are an obvious way to escape that.”
Adults-only hotels recommended by Travel Advisor
Travel advisors confirm the interest in adults-only offerings.
Kristen Nix of Kristen Nix Travel, a leading travel advisor, says the sense of freedom and opportunity to connect at adults-only resorts is what drives her clients to book.
“My clients seeking an adults-only vacation are drawn to resorts that give them freedom without structure and space to move at their own pace, whether that means doing everything or doing nothing at all,” she says. “They want time to reconnect with themselves, their partners, or just the world around them.”
Nicks’ favorite adult-only properties include Castle Hot Springs in Arizona, Post Ranch Inn in California, Green-O in Montana, and Sensei Lanai, a Four Seasons Resort in Hawaii.
The best adult resorts focus on quality over quantity, she says. “Our small guest count, strong sense of purpose, thoughtful design, and outstanding food and wine program create an atmosphere that is both easygoing and deeply purposeful.”
Janelle Carnero, a luxury travel advisor at Embark Beyond, said she’s seen a significant increase in customer demand for purely adults-only experiences over the past two years.
She attributes the increased interest in adults-only stays to current hospitality trends in the luxury market, such as quiet luxury and pampering wellness.
“The (adults-only) market is one of the fastest growing segments of the luxury hospitality industry, justifying major brand investments,” Carnero said.
Miraval Resorts is one such brand. Luxury wellness-oriented properties in Texas, Arizona, and Massachusetts, such as Miraval Berkshires Resort & Spa in Tucson and Miraval Arizona, only accept guests 18 years of age or older. There, couples retreats offer carefully selected experiences such as yoga, spa rituals, and mindfulness practices to strengthen the connection and communication between partners. (Massachusetts resorts make exceptions for youth under 18 twice a year during Family Connection Week family wellness programs, with the caveat that they are recommended for children 5 and older.)
