It's sunny and warm during the optimal post-lunch pool timeslot of 3 p.m. But there's a serene stillness lingering over the beachfront pool at Hermitage Bay, a 30-bungalow property perched on a lush hill on the Caribbean island of Antigua. On loungers, guests quietly turn pages of their novels to the sound of chirpy bananaquits flitting in the pink bougainvillea while the distant hum of a blender churns out another frosty piña colada.
There's something missing at this beach resort: children. There are no splashy Marco Polo matches, you can hear the sound of waves, and everything is designed for adults. Hermitage Bay is adults-only (ages 14 and up), and part of a growing number of resorts that don't allow kids.
Once upon a time, the term "adults-only" sounded anti-family and almost lewd. But after the pandemic forced parents to homeschool their kids, adults-only properties hit a new nerve and skyrocketed in popularity. Today, they're becoming synonymous with quiet retreats and places to deepen your travel experiences while reconnecting with your friends, partner, or just yourself.
In 2021, Small Luxury Hotels of the World, of which Hermitage Bay is a member, introduced a portal on their website for adults-only hotels. Similar adults-only tabs can be found at booking sites like Airbnb, Tablet Hotels, Five Star Alliance, Booking.com, Mr & Mrs Smith, and numerous others.
According to International Hotel Consulting Services, the number of bookings at adults-only hotels has multiplied three times in recent years.
Individual boutique properties have also seen a sharp rise in adults-only policies, with different rules and age limits they can customize to their needs. Sea Dragon Lodge, a 250-acre resort on Australia's Kangaroo Island, was reimagined by new owners in 2021 and offers safari excursions like kangaroo sundowners, seal snorkels, and koala excursions, but is reserved for guests aged 12 and up. Numazu Club, a former 1913 tea house on Japan's historical Izu Peninsula meticulously restored to become an upscale resort in 2023, is also ages 12 and up (but reserves three of its rooms for kids who are younger than 12). High in Switzerland's Bernese Alps in the ski town of Adelboden is a new 22-room adults-only property named The Brecon, a stylish new all-inclusive chalet that opened in 2024 with a sophisticated restaurant, art-adorned walls, and a wellness area — all reserved for those 18 and older.
While individual properties can fine-tune their own adults-only rules, it's more challenging for big hotel companies, who don't want to alienate families with young children. But big chains like Hyatt, Royalton Hotels, Melia, and Iberostar all launched adults-only hotel portfolios within their brands in recent years. After years of luxury hotel chains aggressively marketing to families with everything from kids' menus and game centers to teen spa treatments and kids' concierges, many big chains started to notice a neglected demographic in the market: childless adults or those who want a grown-up getaway.
Hyatt even developed a new brand. The adults-only Hyatt Vivid, which in 2022 launched with Hyatt Vivid Grand Island, an all-suite hotel on an island off the coast of Cancun, Mexico.
"Hyatt introduced the adult-only Hyatt Zilara to cater to distinct traveler preferences and to provide a sophisticated, tranquil environment where guests can recharge, reconnect, and indulge in a variety of local and global culinary offerings, and effortless activities and entertainment," says Ana Tomicevic, vice president of Hyatt's Inclusive Collection, which includes adults-only properties like Hyatt Zilara (near Cancun), the soon-to-open Secrets St Lucia Resort & Spa, as well as additional adults-only properties from Spain and Bulgaria to Aruba and The Bahamas.
The Inclusive Collection's adults-only locations offer elevated experiences for guests, such as indulging in Mexican fusion cuisine and seven-course wine pairings at Teadoro inside Impression Moxché by Secrets in Playa del Carmen, immersing themselves in enriching cultural experiences like Temescal ceremonies at Secrets Tulum Resort & Beach Club, or signing up for activities like rum tastings, horseback beach rides, snorkeling, mariachi dinners, and more.
"We are committed to evolving alongside today's travelers, and the rise of adults-only hotels is a natural extension of that strategy," continues Tomicevic.
And while some hotels are creating outright adults-only properties, others are developing new hybrid models.
Set along the gurgling banks of the West Fork of the Dolores River, Dunton River Camp, a sister property of Colorado's famed Dunton Hot Springs, is introducing an adults-only concept just for the 2025 summer season. This June, they will offer an exclusive retreat for couples, solo travelers, and grown-up groups, including activities like private riverside dining, fly-fishing workshops, outdoor painting classes, and stargazing Champagne evenings. But they will also include a few select family-friendly dates, including the 4th of July weekend, where the camp will shift its focus to guests of all ages and offer treasure hunts, guided nature tours, and family fishing competitions. This allows properties to remain on the bucket lists of families but still offer sanctuaries for DINKS (dual income, no kids), friend groups, solo travelers, or parents who want a more adult getaway.
Even cruises and airlines have jumped on the adults-only trend. While cultural leaning cruise lines like Viking have long stuck to their 18+ passenger policies, adults-only cruising includes newcomers like Virgin Voyages, founded by Sir Richard Branson in 2021. Airline AirAsia X introduced a Quiet Zone on its A330 long-haul flights exclusively for guests aged 10 and above, and Corendon Dutch Airlines, a sister company to the Turkish-owned Corendon Airline, introduced a 16+ zone aboard its Amsterdam to Curaçao route, charging passengers an additional $50 for the benefit. Singapore Air's subsidiary, Scoot, recently launched Scoot-in-Silence, a quiet zone cabin reserved for ages 12 and up.
The biggest twist of the adults-only trend is that many travelers taking advantage of adults-only options are parents in need of a break. "Many of our guests are parents who value family time but also recognize the importance of dedicated time as a couple," says Daniel Shamoon, co-owner and director of Luxury Hotel Partners, which manages Hermitage Bay, Puente Romano Marbella, Nobu Resort Marrakech, and Maribel Sierra Nevada, among others.
"At Hermitage Bay, they're experiencing a different yet equally important dimension of their lives and understand that nurturing their relationship separately from their role as parents strengthens the entire family. These parents aren't escaping family life, rather, they're investing in another essential part of themselves."
As Shamoon reminds us. "The industry increasingly recognizes that true luxury isn't about uniformity but about creating the perfect setting for each chapter of our guests' lives. This evolution allows us to become more relevant, more meaningful, and ultimately more exceptional in creating unforgettable experiences."