An Anti-All-Inclusive Resort Snob Repents!

I would never, ever, ever go to an all-inclusive resort for a vacation – or so I thought. Until my wife Laurie found one in the mountains of Vermont that she suggested we stay at during our annual escape from the summer heat and humidity of Florida. After that week-long experience, I officially denounce my previous snobbery and fully embrace all-inclusive resorts. Here’s the story of my about-face!

Twin Farms Inn in Barnard, Vermont

Whenever I think of all-inclusive resorts, I conjure up visions of all-you-can-eat buffets complete with sneeze guards similar to what you would find at the Golden Corral; resort guests guzzling watered-down tropical drinks at alarming rates to get the most out of their alcohol credits; and densely crowded pool decks and pools filled with loud club music and drunken revelers trying to hook up and drink their cares away until the next morning when they wake up with serious hangovers and even more serious regrets. I vowed to never frequent any of those establishments and have been quite snobbish in my attitude toward them, along with those who choose vacation there.

And then, it all changed. Laurie was doing research on possible places we could go for our annual summer escape from Sarasota, and she came across an all-inclusive resort in Vermont that focused on and promised an adult-only, elite, high-end dining, wine, and spirits experience. The accommodations were luxury cottages scattered over 300 acres of pristine and secluded Vermont countryside high in the mountains, many of them luxury tree houses built 20 feet above the ground. Sounds like my kind of place! So, I reserved judgement and reversed my long-standing aversion to all-inclusive resorts as I made our reservations at Twin Farms Inn.

Mountain view from Twin Farms Inn

Upon our arrival, we were greeted with Champagne and provided a grand tour of the property that showcased everything that was included during out stay – biking, hiking, swimming, tennis, canoeing, kayaking, paddleboarding, pickleball, fly fishing, and archery to name a few. And of course, three gourmet meals a day, along with hand-crafted cocktails and canapes each evening, and after-dinner evening treats delivered to our cottage. Oh, and our own golf cart for the duration of our visit as well! We chose one of the treehouse suites for our stay, which was amazing.

Our Treehouse Suite at Twin Farms Inn

The staff frequently apologized about the weather and how hot and humid it was. Laurie and I just chuckled and informed them that temperatures in the low-80’s with 45 percent humidity was what we Floridians consider absolutely perfect weather in July!

We took advantage of all that the resort had to offer! On our first day exploring the grounds in our golf cart, Laurie spotted a black bear nearby – she snagged a picture before he got skittish and wandered away, but it was our first ever close encounter with a bear, so we were excited about that.

Close encounter with a black bear

As far as activities go, Laurie and I kept busy with a bit of hiking, hot soaks in the Japanese Furo, spa treatments, a pasta making class, and a couple of picnics as well. They have a number of locations on the property that they created for picnics, usually at the end of one of their trails. Waiting for you at the end of your hike is an amazing view, and a packed picnic basket with a 3-course lunch and a chilled bottle of wine. Our two lunches included one in a treehouse overlooking the mountains, and one in a small cabin at the top of a sky lift with amazing views of the resort grounds and surrounding mountains.

Our picnic locations at the Tree House and Lift Shack

We also ventured out to visit the nearby town of Woodstock and other local attractions. Woodstock is a quintessential small New England town with beautiful bridges, shops filled with local artisan goods, and great locally owned restaurants as well. We also visited two distilleries, one in Killington and one in Woodstock, and enjoyed some wonderful gins and bourbons during our tastings there.

Bourbon sour at Killington Still on the Mountain

But of course, the highlight of our stay was the food. And the wine. And the hand-crafted cocktails. You told them what you wanted, and they delivered. Whenever you wanted it. And as much as you wanted. It was a bacchanalian feast every day that showcased local ingredients, amazing 10-course tasting dinners with paired wines for each course, beautiful pre-dinner cocktails and canapes, delicious breakfasts served outside on the patio overlooking the Vermont woods and countryside, and beautiful wines delivered to our suite every afternoon to enjoy out on our deck for happy hour. Oh, and don’t forget about the fresh-baked chocolate chip cookies, homemade vanilla ice cream and chocolate gelato, and a couple of fingers of bourbon delivered to our room after dinner to enjoy in front of the fire.

Seared salmon with Bok Choy and happy hour canapes out on the deck

10-course tasting menu, breakfast al fresco, and herb-ricotta stuffed pasta

The experience permanently changed how I thought about all-inclusive resorts! The staff were singularly focused on ensuring that each guest had the experience of a lifetime. They communicated with us before our visit to learn more about our likes and dislikes, and anything else we wanted to experience during our stay. That resulted in wine pairings during lunches and dinners tailored to our tastes and personally selected by the on-site sommelier, as well as wines selected exclusively for us that were ready and waiting in our in-suite bar and dining area.

It also resulted in menu changes to ensure we weren’t served dishes we noted weren’t our favorite and instead substituting a dish that was! So the first night, lamb was on the menu for one of the courses, but instead they brought us fillet of beef. And we didn’t have to lift a finger or ask for a substitution – it was simply taken care of behind the scenes!

Just to give you a sense of how focused the staff was on ensuring our experience was perfect, one day I requested they deliver a nice bottle of a Napa Valley Pinot Noir to our room for Laurie and I to enjoy before dinner. When it was 30 minutes past the time we requested the wine be delivered to our suite, I called to ask about it. They were horrified that the wine hadn’t been delivered on time and noted that they would send a special wine to make up for the error. Well, imagine my surprise (and excitement) when they delivered a $120 bottle of 2017 Kosta-Browne Pinot Noir – I’ll take it, and apology accepted!!

Happy hour with a beautiful bottle of Kosta Browne pinot noir

Laurie is already on the hunt for our 2025 summer getaway. I have no idea what she will find, but I can tell you that if it’s another all-inclusive resort like Twin Farms, you can count me in!