These 11 tropical resorts are debuting major makeovers in 2026

Who doesn’t love a good makeover? When that makeover takes place at a hotel or resort in an oh-so-desirable tropical location, it’s all the better. From the beaches of Hawaii and Florida to locales in Mexico and the Caribbean, some of the world’s top hotels and resorts are debuting major makeovers in 2026. Here are 12 tropical resorts that are either starting off 2026 with fresh new looks or will be unveiling big transformations later this year.

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1. Club Med Punta Cana

Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

Club Med’s flagship resort in North America is entering “a new era of all-inclusive luxury” after recently unveiling its extensive renovations. Guests at Club Med Punta Cana can now stay in renovated Family Superior Rooms and new Costa del Coco Deluxe Rooms that take design cues from the Dominican Republic’s coconut palm-lined coast.

On the dining front, there’s a new food hall concept at the main restaurant offering everything from French cuisine to Asian eats, a new poolside bar, and a new coffee shop for your daily caffeine fix or a sweet treat. This family-friendly all-inclusive resort is also home to Club Med’s largest water park, a Circus School, and all kinds of other fun amenities. (Read FamilyVacationist’s full report about what’s new at Club Med Punta Cana here.)

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2. Hyatt Ziva Los Cabos

Los Cabos, Mexico

What’s new at Hyatt Ziva Los Cabos after its recent $50-million renovation? All 248 guest rooms in the all-inclusive resort’s Tower B have been reimagined with modern furnishings and refreshed bathrooms. The expanded KidZ Club features new play areas and interactive programming, and a new Teens Club offers activities like arcade games and air hockey.

New dining options are also on the table, including a train station-inspired snack bar and a beach-side restaurant serving rustic Italian fare. A completely redesigned lobby with a new Premium Check-In area gets your vacation started off on the right foot.

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3. The Royal Sonesta Kauai Resort Lihue

Lihue, Kauai, Hawaii

Kauai’s already a pretty dreamy place to be. What could make it even dreamier? Staying at The Royal Sonesta Kauai Resort Lihue, which recently completed a multimillion-dollar, multi-year transformation. Refreshed guest rooms and suites blend modern style with Hawaiian heritage, incorporating features like custom woodwork and basalt countertops sourced from the Big Island. Floor-to-ceiling windows and private lanais help you take in the views.

The hotel’s amenities also got a glow-up, with new offerings like a weekly luau spotlighting Pacific music and dance. Spend your days surfing, standup paddleboarding, and swimming in the calm waters of Kalapaki Beach; lounging by the lagoon-style, flower-shaped pool (the largest single-level pool in Hawaii); or enjoying an open-air massage at the spa. Hawaiian cultural activities are also at the forefront here, from lei-making to hula workshops.

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4. Coconut Bay Beach Resort & Spa

Vieux Fort, Saint Lucia

Coconut Bay Beach Resort & Spa kicked off its 2025-26 season by unveiling a total redesign of all 125 rooms in its adults-only Harmony wing. Each room was completely rebuilt and reimagined with new plumbing, electrical systems, flooring, and fully remodeled spa-style bathrooms with walk-in showers. They’re bright and beachy but also sophisticated, with hand-crafted Saint Lucia-made mahogany furnishings.

The Harmony pool area now has new deck tiling and a renovated bar, and additional enhancements were made across the resort’s food and beverage venues. Amenity improvements include resurfaced tennis and pickleball courts, new equipment at the fitness center, and enhancements to the lazy river in the CocoLand section of the resort. Still to come: new looks for the 125 rooms in the family-friendly Splash wing, which will be completed during the 2026 annual fall closure.

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5. Royalton Riviera Cancun and Royalton Hideaway Riviera Cancun

Cancun, Mexico

Family-friendly Royalton Riviera Cancun and adults-only Royalton Hideaway Riviera Cancun started off 2026 with fresh new looks after a comprehensive multimillion-dollar renovation program. Suites, restaurants, and public areas have all been reimagined at the all-inclusive resorts, giving guests an even better vacation experience. At the kids club, that means refreshed furniture and play structures, new spots for video games and movies, and other improvements and enhancements to amp up the fun for young guests.

Suites have a more modern vibe than in the past, with neutral color palettes and totally new mattresses and furniture. What hasn’t changed? The long list of inclusions that comes with a stay at either resort, like access to multiple restaurants, bars, and pools; activities ranging from watersports and tennis to cooking and dance classes; and the ability to earn Marriott Bonvoy points since the hotels are part of Marriott’s Autograph Collection.

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6. Wyndham Grand Rio Mar Rainforest Beach & Golf Resort

Rio Grande, Puerto Rico

Wyndham Grand Rio Mar Rainforest Beach & Golf Resort sits in an enviable spot between the Atlantic Ocean and El Yunque National Forest (the only tropical rainforest within the U.S. national forest system). And it took inspiration from its idyllic surroundings for the $60-million complete reimagination it unveiled in December 2025. A new entrance and lobby set the scene with lush greenery, custom artwork, and design touches like ceramic tiles and warm terracotta.

All 400 transformed guest rooms face either the rainforest or the ocean to immerse guests in the scenic setting, and new menus can be found across the resort’s 10 dining venues. Families will appreciate the new zero-entry Turtle Cove Adventure Pool, new waterslide tower, and the new Xplorers Club, which offers programs for children and families exploring Puerto Rico’s natural wonders and culture in hands-on ways. And for adults there’s a 1950s-inspired casino and new speakeasy-style cabaret.

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7. Bahia Principe Grand Punta Cana

Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

Bahia Principe Grand Punta Cana begins 2026 better than ever after a major refresh that updated 820 of the resort’s guest rooms, as well as restaurants and leisure spaces. Bright and airy two-bedroom family suites give everyone space to spread out, sleeping up to seven guests.

Head to the La Isla section of the resort to enjoy a wave pool, kids club, playground area, and climbing wall. There’s also a food truck so no one gets hangry. New restaurant concepts include a steakhouse, new coffee shop, and a spot serving Mongolian cuisine. A total of five pools, a spa, tennis, and snorkeling are among the activities and amenities you can expect when you stay here.

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8. The Ritz-Carlton Key Biscayne, Miami

Miami, Florida

Reopened in December 2025 after a $100-million transformation, The Ritz-Carlton Key Biscayne, Miami leans into seaside glamour, blending its beachfront Key Biscayne setting with the energy of Miami in a sophisticated way. Take the elegant guest rooms, for example, which feature color palettes inspired by the sea and sand and floor-to-ceiling windows capturing the views.

Enjoy a range of relaxing treatments and sensory experiences at the new Ritz-Carlton Spa, Key Biscayne, which includes 16 treatment rooms and a soothing spa garden. Resort pools have been refreshed, and the Cliff Drysdale Tennis Center now offers tennis, pickleball, and padel courts for players of all levels. Young guests can take advantage of the fun interactive programming at the new nature-inspired Ritz Kids Club.

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9. voco Sandpiper All-Inclusive Resort

Port St. Lucie, Florida

The former Club Med Sandpiper Bay and Sandpiper Bay Resort in Port St. Lucie, Florida, has been completely transformed into the new voco Sandpiper All-Inclusive Resort. Part of the IHG portfolio, the Florida all-inclusive resort began welcoming guests in January 2026, offering modern rooms and suites, each with a private balcony or walkout patio and some with views of the St. Lucie River.

Family vacations will be made easy here with amenities like a refreshed family pool and new kids splash pad, tennis and pickleball courts, complimentary kayak and paddleboard rentals, a new arcade and mini-golf course, and family-friendly activity programming and entertainment options. Seven new restaurant and bar concepts will keep everyone well fed and refreshed, and a marina and water sports outfitter offer opportunities to add to the experience.

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10. The Westin Playa Vallarta, an All-Inclusive Resort

Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

In May 2026, The Westin Resort & Spa Puerto Vallarta will transform into The Westin Playa Vallarta, an All-Inclusive Resort. The rebrand will make it the first Westin all-inclusive in Mexico, and it will follow a multimillion-dollar renovation reimagining every aspect of the property.

The resort embraces its natural setting, and its 281 renovated suites—including 30 private plunge pool suites and 16 adults-only swim-up rooms—offer ocean views. Upgraded recreational offerings include refreshed pools and new pickleball and padel courts, and 10 culinary and entertainment venues range from an open-air, botany-inspired cocktail lounge to a California-inspired burger spot.

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11. Signia by Hilton Diplomat Beach Resort

Hollywood, Florida

After a comprehensive renovation, The Diplomat Beach Resort will be rebranded as Signia by Hilton Diplomat Beach Resort in May 2026. The beachfront resort located between Miami and Fort Lauderdale has already debuted five fresh restaurant concepts, including a breakfast cafe, a beachfront bar and grill serving Latin cuisine, and an all-day café offering coffee, pastries, sandwiches, smoothies, and juices.

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The South Florida resort aims to bring a touch of glamour to a beach vacation, and spaces like the Infinity Pool do just that with its cabanas, daybeds, and views of the Atlantic Ocean. Coming soon? The luxe Verandah Social Club, a new adults-only pool and beach club.

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