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10 best IHG all-inclusive resorts to book

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INTERCONTINENTAL MALDIVES MAAMUNAGAU/FACEBOOK

We admit IHG Hotels & Resorts hasn’t traditionally been an all-inclusive-heavy hospitality group. That’s soon to change, though, thanks to IHG’s new partnership with Spanish hospitality company Iberostar. The move will incorporate the all-inclusive Iberostar Beachfront Resorts into the IHG One Rewards program. The partnership will include up to 70 resorts across the Americas and the Mediterranean, including Northern Africa.

Until the IHG-Iberostar alliance comes online, travelers can choose from several true all-inclusive resorts within the IHG family and more properties that include full-board or half-board rates. Family-friendly hotels in Jamaica, ultra-luxe wellness retreats in India and Maldivian resorts with overwater bungalows — these are some of our favorites.

Holiday Inn Resort Montego Bay All-Inclusive

Montego Bay, Jamaica

HOLIDAY INN RESORT MONTEGO BAY/FACEBOOK

Best for: Families sticking to a budget on a Caribbean vacation.

Why stay here: A vacation at this all-inclusive resort won’t break the bank, but it still comes with a private beach in a prime Montego Bay location.

Best way to book: Book directly with IHG to earn or redeem IHG One Rewards points and enjoy any elite benefits.

One of IHG’s true all-inclusive resorts, the Holiday Inn Resort Montego Bay has a prime location on Jamaica’s northern shore. It’s less than 10 minutes from Sangster International Airport (MBJ) and just 15 minutes from Montego Bay’s commercial center. Since this is an all-inclusive resort, though, there’s no real need to leave the property.

The hotel has a private sandy beach plus a small island with lounge chairs for sunbathing across a shallow lagoon. Access to nonmotorized water sports is included.

For activities and entertainment, there are two pools, a spa, kids and teens clubs, and sports courts. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are also included in the rate. Meals are served at the buffet or four a la carte restaurants that span Jamaican to Italian cuisine. There is also a smattering of bars, including a pool bar at the adults-only section of the resort. (The pool bar is a welcome spot for couples, as the 500-plus rooms here are often filled with families.)

Rates at the Holiday Inn Resort Montego Bay All-Inclusive start at $197 or 50,000 IHG One Rewards points per night.

Holiday Inn Resort Ixtapa All-Inclusive

Zihuatenejo, Guerrero, Mexico

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HOLIDAY INN RESORT IXTAPA ALL INCLUSIVE/FACEBOOK

Best for: West Coast families or couples seeking a long-weekend getaway.

Why stay here: This beachfront resort is located within a five-minute walk of downtown Ixtapa.

Best way to book: Book directly with IHG to earn or redeem IHG One Rewards points and enjoy any elite benefits.

Ixtapa may not be the first place that comes to mind when considering resort destinations on Mexico’s west coast, but that means you’ll find solid deals here. This is true of the Holiday Inn Resort Ixtapa, an all-inclusive beach resort with an ideal location across the street from Ixtapa’s main shopping and entertainment area. There are 431 rooms, including suites with two bathrooms that are ideal for families. Adjoining rooms are also available.

The property features two pools, four restaurants, a sports bar, a kids club and a gym. Unfortunately, though, there’s no spa. The resort offers access to a public beach, so you’ll likely have to contend with beach vendors. Compared to other all-inclusive resorts, amenities are more limited, so we recommend this property for long-weekend getaways rather than full-week stays. Still, there’s no denying you can find great deals here.

Rates at the Holiday Inn Resort Ixtapa All-Inclusive start at $182 or 50,000 IHG One Rewards points per night.

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Six Senses Vana

Dehradun, India

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SIX SENSES VANA/FACEBOOK

Best for: An all-inclusive wellness retreat in a serene, nature-friendly environment.

Why stay here: Enjoy an in-depth wellness consultation at the start of your stay. Based on this consultation, a plan of treatments, activities, experiences and meals will be designed just for you.

Best way to book: Book directly with IHG to earn or redeem IHG One Rewards points and enjoy any elite benefits.

If beach vacations aren’t your thing, consider an all-inclusive wellness retreat. One of the luxury brand’s newest properties, Six Senses Vana sits outside the Indian city of Dehradun on 21 private acres in the foothills of the Himalayas. Though you can book single-night stays, the property is best known for its multi-day wellness programs. Options include five-night sleep, detox and yoga programs, and 14-night and 17-night Ayurveda programs.

Even if you don’t select one of those more intensive programs, you’ll still receive wellness consultations and personalized treatments, nutrition plans and access to group activities — all of which are included in the rate. You’ll receive a kurta, or tunic, to wear while you’re on the property and given a red-string blessing for your wrist.

Beyond all the wellness treatments and programs, there’s also time for a little fun. Enjoy a pool, sports courts and a cinema when you’re not getting a massage, taking a yoga class or spending time in the meditation cave.

Rates at Six Senses Vana start at $1,003 or 100,000 IHG One Rewards points per night.

InterContinental Bora Bora Resort & Thalasso Spa

Bora Bora, French Polynesia

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INTERCONTINENTAL BORA BORA RESORT & THALASSO SPA/TIM MCKENNA/FACEBOOK

Best for: Island-hoppers searching for that perfect overwater villa experience.

Why stay here: The 13,000-square-foot Deep Ocean Spa offers Polynesian-inspired treatments performed in serene glass-bottom bungalows.

Best way to book: Book through our partner Skylark to earn IHG points while enjoying elite-like benefits and on-property credits or via American Express’ Fine Hotels + Resorts or Chase’s Luxury Hotel & Resort Collection, or redeem your points by booking directly with IHG.

Scratch your overwater bungalow itch with a stay at the InterContinental Bora Bora Resort & Thalasso Spa, where all 84 guest villas hover above the water. You can upgrade from a standard beach view to a Mount Otemanu view or splurge on a two-bedroom villa with a private pool.

Though not an all-inclusive property, the resort does offer a half-board rate that comes with breakfast and dinner. (Potential guests should note that dinner does not include drinks or room service.) Breakfast is absolutely worth it, though. Our reviewer noted extensive offerings, from cold spreads to an omelet station to a Polynesian specialty table.

The included dinners are three-course meals at either the Reef Restaurant or the Sands Restaurant, which serve French and international cuisine, respectively. You’ll have to pay out of pocket for the exquisite dining experience at the Le Corail Restaurant, a romantic French fine dining spot.

One can’t-miss amenity at this resort is the Thalasso Spa. As its name indicates, the spa focuses on thalassotherapy treatments that incorporate sea-based ingredients. The treatment rooms are overwater, so you can look at the fish beneath you during a massage.

Rates at the InterContinental Bora Bora Resort & Thalasso Spa start at $1,148 or 120,000 IHG One Rewards points per night.

InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau Resort

Raa Atoll, Maldives

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INTERCONTINENTAL MALDIVES MAAMUNAGAU RESORT/FACEBOOK

Best for: Families and couples looking for a Maldivian experience with a more all-inclusive feel.

Why stay here: From The Retreat, an adults-only enclave, to the family-centered, three-bedroom overwater residences, each guest can find a space right for them.

Best way to book: Book directly with IHG to earn or redeem IHG One Rewards points or via Chase’s Luxury Hotel & Resort Collection.

Though it’s not an all-inclusive resort, the InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau does have an all-inclusive package — a pretty stellar one at that. The package includes three meals daily, unlimited alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages, seaplane transfers, a 30-minute photoshoot, and Club InterContinental benefits like afternoon tea and happy hour.

Keep in mind that there’s a four-day minimum stay to book this package. If you plan to stay for fewer days, consider the half-board option that just includes breakfast and dinner (and that 30-minute photoshoot and Club InterContinental benefits).

The resort has 81 villas — including overwater bungalows — and caters to all types of travelers, including families. There’s a kids club with a water park, but there’s also an adults-only pool with a swim-up bar (not to mention a spa and fitness center) for couples or adult groups on vacation. The cuisine is quite varied at the five restaurants, one of which is a Mediterranean spot at the lighthouse.

Rates at the InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau Resort start at $974 or 120,000 IHG One Rewards points per night.

InterContinental Resort Mauritius

Fort Balaclava, Mauritius

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INTERCONTINENTAL RESORT MAURITIUS/FACEBOOK

Best for: Families and couples who don’t mind having kids around.

Why stay here: It’s easy to relax at this beach resort, where the vibe is delightfully laid-back and low-key.

Best way to book: Book directly with IHG to earn or redeem IHG One Rewards points and enjoy any elite benefits.

Coming off a renovation in 2021, the InterContinental Resort Mauritius is a high-design resort on a private beach. While it has offered all-inclusive packages in the past, they’re not always available. Instead, you might have to go with a half-board package.

Still, hotels in Mauritius, including this one, often have lower prices than their counterparts in other Indian Ocean nations. This can make spending on lunch a palatable affair (pun intended). There are four restaurants here, plus a beach bar and a lobby bar.

The resort is largely family-friendly and offers a standout kids club with robust programming. It also has extensive event and meeting space — you’ll really find all sorts of travelers here. While the hotel is set on a beach, the sea here isn’t all that great for swimming. However, there are two lovely pools. There’s also a boat house where you can rent kayaks and snorkel gear, and book boating excursions.

Rates at the InterContinental Resort Mauritius start at $336 or 76,000 IHG One Rewards points per night.

InterContinental Phu Quoc Long Beach Resort

Phu Quoc, Vietnam

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INTERCONTINENTAL PHU QUOC LONG BEACH RESORT/FACEBOOK

Best for: Beach-loving families and couples looking for a Southeast Asian getaway.

Why stay here: On Vietnam’s largest island, this resort has everything you need for a tropical vacation, from two massive pools to six bars and restaurants to a spa.

Best way to book: Book directly with IHG to earn or redeem IHG One Rewards points and enjoy any elite benefits.

The InterContinental Phu Quoc Long Beach Resort is not an all-inclusive property, but it actually has a pretty impressive full-board package. The deal includes a buffet breakfast plus a three-course lunch and dinner at three of the property’s four restaurants (excluding the fine-dining restaurant Lava).

Each guest also receives a daily cocktail at the Ink 360 rooftop bar, as well as 20% off food and nonalcoholic beverage bills as part of the IHG One Rewards Dining Privilege. That includes sweet treats at the Pearl Lounge and grab-and-go items at Mercado.

The resort houses most of its 459 rooms in one of five towers, including the 19-story Sky Tower, which features a rooftop bar. However, there are also stand-alone three- and four-bedroom villas with private pools. Enjoy shared amenities like four pools (including a lap pool and one with a waterslide), a spa, a fitness center, a kids club, sports courts and a beach hut from which guests can partake in nonmotorized water sports for free.

Rates at the InterContinental Phu Quoc Long Beach Resort start at $148 or 26,000 IHG One Rewards points per night.

Holiday Inn Resort Aruba-Beach Resort & Casino

Noord, Aruba

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HOLIDAY INN RESORT ARUBA-BEACH RESORT & CASINO/FACEBOOK

Best for: IHG One Rewards members who want to earn and burn points while vacationing in Aruba.

Why stay here: A massive resort in the center of it all, this property is ideal for budget-conscious families, as kids 11 and younger stay and dine for free and only a dining fee is charged for guests between 12 and 19.

Best way to book: Book the Holiday Inn Resort Aruba-Beach Resort & Casino directly through the resort’s website, as it’s the only way to reserve the all-inclusive package.

The Holiday Inn Resort Aruba-Beach Resort & Casino is a solid choice for families. It offers a “kids stay free” deal for guests 19 and under who stay in a room with their parents, and a “kids eat free” deal available to children 11 and under.

Its all-inclusive package kicks the hotel up a notch for adults, too. It includes three meals a day in any on-property restaurant, house drinks and nonalcoholic beverages, a $75 spa credit, and a 25% discount for tours and water sports by a third-party operator. The package does require a four-night stay, but that shouldn’t be hard to meet.

The 590-room resort is located on the popular Palm Beach in Noord, and it offers guests three pools, a kids club, sports courts, five restaurants, a lobby bar and cafe, a spa and a casino. There are also complimentary bike rentals for guests who want to explore the area.

Rates at the Holiday Inn Resort Aruba-Beach Resort & Casino start at $250 or 45,000 IHG One Rewards points per night.

Holiday Inn Resort Kandooma Maldives

South Malé Atoll, Maldives

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HOLIDAY INN RESORT KANDOOMA MALDIVES/FACEBOOK

Best for: IHG One Rewards members looking for a reasonable redemption rate in one of the world’s most exclusive destinations.

Why stay here: This is one of the more affordable resorts in the Maldives that still has overwater bungalows — and solid snorkeling and surfing.

Best way to book: Book directly with IHG to earn or redeem IHG One Rewards points and enjoy any elite benefits.

The Maldives might have a reputation for over-the-top luxury, but there are several properties that offer a strong value. The Holiday Inn Resort Kandooma Maldives is one of them.

Though it’s a more basic property, it has overwater bungalows and an all-inclusive package that comes with three meals a day at Kandooma Cafe, a beverage package for alcoholic and nonalcoholic drinks, shared airport transfers and complimentary nonmotorized sports. On top of that, kids 11 and under stay and eat free here.

If you’d like to dine beyond Kandooma Cafe, there are a few eateries and bars for light snacks. The Kitchen restaurant offers a full sit-down affair. The resort features a spa, a pool and a kids club. However, overall, amenities are a little limited. There are free snorkel trips each morning, and you can snorkel on your own around part of the resort. This is also one of the few places in the Maldives you can surf.

Rates at the Holiday Inn Resort Kandooma Maldives start at $183 or 30,000 IHG One Rewards points per night.

Crowne Plaza Jordan – Dead Sea Resort & Spa

Swemieh, Jordan

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CROWNE PLAZA JORDAN – DEAD SEA RESORT & SPA/IHG

Best for: Travelers exploring Jordan who need a few days of rest and relaxation.

Why stay here: A grand resort on the Dead Sea, this property has a nearly 60,000-square-foot pool called The Lake, as well as an adults-only infinity pool.

Best way to book: Book directly with IHG to earn or redeem IHG One Rewards points and enjoy any elite benefits.

Many visitors to Jordan rush off to Petra and Wadi Rum on an action-packed itinerary. When it comes time for a rest, though, there’s no better place to go than a beach resort on the Dead Sea. The Crowne Plaza Jordan – Dead Sea Resort & Spa provides the perfect respite — with an all-inclusive package to boot. The offer includes three meals a day plus soft drinks.

This is a sprawling resort with 420 rooms set on a private beach, but its nearly 60,000-square-foot pool can easily compete with the Dead Sea. There’s also a similarly sized spa with 30 treatment rooms, a hydrotherapy circuit and a Dead Sea saltwater pool, among other wellness amenities.

Of the four appealing dining venues, the Burj Al Hamam restaurant, which serves Lebanese cuisine, is a standout. The Promenade Restaurant is also popular for its beach views and cocktails at sunset.

Rates at the Crowne Plaza Jordan – Dead Sea Resort & Spa start at $160 or 27,000 IHG One Rewards points per night.

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Social media blocks are “a suppression of an essential avenue for transparency”

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In this photo illustration the word censored is seen displayed on a smartphone with the logos of social networks Facebook, WhatsApp and YouTube in the background.

Once praised as the defining feature of the internet, the ability to connect with physically distant people is something that governments have recently been seemingly intent on restricting. Authorities have been increasingly pulling the plug, putting over 4 billion people in the shadows in the first half of 2023 alone

Social media platforms are often the first means of communication to be restricted. Surfshark, one of the most popular VPN services, counted at least 50 countries guilty of having curbed these websites and apps during periods of political turmoil such as protests, elections, or military activity.

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Former Myanmar colonel who once served as information minister gets 10-year prison term for sedition

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Former Myanmar colonel who once served as information minister gets 10-year prison term for sedition

BANGKOK (AP) — A former high-profile Myanmar army officer who had served as information minister and presidential spokesperson in a previous military-backed government has been convicted of sedition and incitement, a legal official said Thursday. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison.

Ye Htut, a 64-year old retired lieutenant colonel, is the latest in a series of people arrested and jailed for writing Facebook posts that allegedly spreading false or inflammatory news. Once infrequently prosecuted, there has been a deluge of such legal actions since the army seized power from the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in February 2021.

He was arrested in late October after a military officer from the Yangon Regional Military Command reportedly filed a change against him, around the time when some senior military officers were purged on other charges, including corruption. He was convicted on Wednesday, according to the official familiar with the legal proceedings who insisted on anonymity for fear of being punished by the authorities.

Ye Htut had been the spokesperson from 2013 to 2016 for President Thein Sein in a military-backed government and also information minister from 2014 to 2016.

After leaving the government in 2016, Ye Htut took on the role of a political commentator and wrote books and posted articles on Facebook. For a time, he was a visiting senior research fellow at the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute, a center for Southeast Asia studies in Singapore.

After the army’s 2021 takeover, he often posted short personal vignettes and travel essays on Facebook in which he made allusions that were generally recognized to be critical of Myanmar’s current military rulers.

The army’s takeover triggered mass public protests that the military and police responded to with lethal force, triggering armed resistance and violence that has escalated into a civil war.

The official familiar with the court proceedings against Ye Htut told The Associated Press that he was sentenced by a court in Yangon’s Insein prison to seven years for sedition and three years for incitement. Ye Htut was accused on the basis of his posts on his Facebook account, and did not hire a lawyer to represent him at his trial, the official said.

The sedition charge makes disrupting or hindering the work of defense services personnel or government employees punishable by up to seven years in prison. The incitement charge makes it a crime to publish or circulate comments that cause fear, spread false news, agitate directly or indirectly for criminal offences against a government employee — an offense punishable by up to three years in prison.

However, a statement from the Ministry of Legal Affairs said he had been charged under a different sedition statute. There was no explanation for the discrepancy.

According to detailed lists compiled by the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, a watchdog group based in Thailand, 4,204 civilians have died in Myanmar in the military government’s crackdown on opponents and at least 25,474 people have been arrested.



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Top CIA agent shared pro-Palestinian to Facebook after Hamas attack: report

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Top CIA agent shared pro-Palestinian to Facebook after Hamas attack: report

A high-ranking CIA official boldly shared multiple pro-Palestinian images on her Facebook page just two weeks after Hamas launched its bloody surprise attack on Israel — while President Biden was touring the Jewish state to pledge the US’s allegiance to the nation.

The CIA’s associate deputy director for analysis changed her cover photo on Oct. 21 to a shot of a man wearing a Palestinian flag around his neck and waving a larger flag, the Financial Times reported.

The image — taken in 2015 during a surge in the long-stemming conflict — has been used in various news stories and pieces criticizing Israel’s role in the violence.

The CIA agent also shared a selfie with a superimposed “Free Palestine” sticker, similar to those being plastered on businesses and public spaces across the nation by protesters calling for a cease-fire.

The Financial Times did not name the official after the intelligence agency expressed concern for her safety.

“The officer is a career analyst with extensive background in all aspects of the Middle East and this post [of the Palestinian flag] was not intended to express a position on the conflict,” a person familiar with the situation told the outlet.

The individual added that the sticker image was initially posted years before the most recent crisis between the two nations and emphasized that the CIA official’s Facebook account was also peppered with posts taking a stand against antisemitism.

The image the top-ranking CIA official shared on Facebook.

The latest post of the man waving the flag, however, was shared as Biden shook hands with Israeli leaders on their own soil in a show of support for the Jewish state in its conflict with the terrorist group.

Biden has staunchly voiced support for the US ally since the Oct. 7 surprise attack that killed more than 1,300 people, making the CIA agent’s posts in dissent an unusual move.

A protester walks near burning tires in the occupied West Bank on Nov. 27, 2023, ahead of an expected release of Palestinian prisoners in exchange for Israeli hostages. AFP via Getty Images

In her role, the associate deputy director is one of three people, including the deputy CIA director, responsible for approving all analyses disseminated inside the agency.

She had also previously overseen the production of the President’s Daily Brief, the highly classified compilation of intelligence that is presented to the president most days, the Financial Times said.

“CIA officers are committed to analytic objectivity, which is at the core of what we do as an agency. CIA officers may have personal views, but this does not lessen their — or CIA’s — commitment to unbiased analysis,” the CIA said in a statement to the outlet.

The top CIA official has since deleted the pro-Palestinian images from her social media page. Hamas Press Service/UPI/Shutterstock

Follow along with The Post’s live blog for the latest on Hamas’ attack on Israel


Neither the Office of the Director of National Intelligence nor the White House responded to The Post’s request for comment.

All of the official’s pro-Palestinian images and other, unrelated posts have since been deleted, the outlet reported.

Palestinian children sit by the fire next to the rubble of a house hit in an Israeli strike. REUTERS

The report comes as CIA Director William Burns arrived in Qatar, where he was due to meet with his Israeli and Egyptian counterparts and the Gulf state’s prime minister to discuss the possibility of extending the pause in fighting between Israeli forces and Hamas terrorists in the Gaza Strip for a second time.

Israel and Hamas agreed Monday to an additional two-day pause in fighting, meaning combat would likely resume Thursday morning Israel time if no additional halt is brokered.

Both sides agreed to release a portion of its hostages under the arrangement.

More than 14,000 Palestinians in Gaza, including many women and children, have been killed in the conflict, according to data from the Hamas-controlled Ministry of Health.



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