The era of mass-produced furnishings and restaurants that could be found anywhere is over. These upgraded resorts provide tourists looking for both serenity and flair.

Adam Stewart, executive chairman of Sandals Resorts International, calls me on Zoom and says, "You still haven't been to visit us. For more than a year, I've been idly considering taking my family to an all-inclusive resort in the Caribbean as a "set-it-and-forget-it" getaway from the stress of modern life with young children.

It turns out that this type of vacation is best taken right now. The all-inclusive model, which includes lodging, food, drinks, and activities on-site, has always had its fans, but now all-inclusive is adapting to customer demands for customization, more room, better food, and more luxuries.

With swim-up suites, private pools, and what Stewart refers to as "a more luxurious take on casual Caribbean," a series of Sandals and Beaches renovations and new projects, including a $55 million revamp of the 404-room Sandals Royal Bahamian (doubles from $429 per person) and the 351-room Sandals Royal Curaçao (doubles from $393 per person), offer guests a bespoke experience.

Josh Alexander, a luxury travel consultant with Protravel International, asserts that "people want to have a range of options and diversity of experience." His customers are making reservations at an increasing number of all-inclusive resorts in response to expanded restaurant options and COVID-era amenities like butler service and plunge pools.

My personal experience has shown that eating has been the all-inclusive industry's biggest room for improvement. Fortunately, hotel brands are starting to pay attention to how much customers value upmarket, reservation-only restaurants with more specialized menus, such as teppanyaki or tapas. In response, all-inclusive resorts are consistently enhancing and expanding their selections.

With a sushi bar, a steak restaurant, a taqueria, and a trattoria that serves "phenomenal homemade-dough pizzas," the new 715-key all-inclusive Hilton Cancun (doubles from $538) exemplifies this culinary ambition, according to Juan Corvinos, a senior vice president at Hilton.

In response to the rising demand for all-inclusive resorts, particularly in Mexico, the brand has expanded its portfolio by adding properties like the 444-room Hilton Vallarta Riviera (doubles from $353) and the recently built 735-room Hilton Tulum Riviera Maya.

Of course, the luxury goes beyond the meals. The 117-room Delta Hotels Riviera Nayarit, operated by Marriott and oriented for families, will open in August 2021. Double rooms start at $259 there, and I can't help but see my kids lazing poolside. The resort is also developing a waterpark with a lazy river and cascading pools in addition to a new beach club.

According to Diana Plazas-Trowbridge, Marriott International's chief sales and marketing officer for the Caribbean and Latin America, all-inclusive resorts are also embracing wellness trends for tired parents like me. Spa services will be available as add-ons to daily rates at the 164-room Westin Porto de Galinhas (doubles from $483), which opens this month in Porto de Galinhas, Brazil.

Rate-matching policies were initially used by many major hotel chains to promote direct bookings, but smaller chains have also started to follow suit. For instance, the 731-room Moon Palace Jamaica by Palace Resorts (doubles from $436) promises to match any published rate from a U.S.-based travel agency.

And insiders claim that brand loyalty is important when looking for the best room at the greatest price. According to Plazas-Trowbridge, Marriott Bonvoy points can be utilized to get an enhanced all-inclusive experience. Similar options for category upgrades and other benefits exist in other loyalty programs, such as World of Hyatt.

When at all feasible, Stewart advises talking to someone, whether it's a representative from your chosen hotel or a travel agent. These experts have access to exclusive deals and last-minute offers that aren't accessible online. Planning will help you secure the best deals and your preferred dates as the market grows and caters to a wider range of tourists.

I'm certain that I won't hold off much longer.