7 Key Design Considerations for a Perfect Holiday Resort
P.S: Article updated on 25th March 2025
When people go on holiday, they want to relax, enjoy, and escape from their busy lives. A holiday resort should feel like a dream destination—a place where guests feel comfortable, welcomed, and surrounded by beauty.
As an architect, I believe that a well-designed resort is the key to a great holiday experience. Good planning can make all the difference between a resort that people love and one they never return to.
Let’s talk about the seven most important things that make a holiday resort successful.
The success of every resort is influenced by the following seven factors:
- Location: The Heart of the Resort
- First Impressions Matter: The Look of the Resort
- Beautiful Landscaping: Nature Makes Everything Better
- Easy Movement: Guests Shouldn’t Get Lost!
- Quick and Friendly Service: How Design Helps Staff Work Better
- Cleanliness and Maintenance: A Resort Should Always Feel Fresh
- Good Food: A Resort Experience Isn’t Complete Without It
Let us move on with the discussion on some of the most important factors that are necessary to be considered while designing a “Holiday Resort”.
Location: The Heart of the Resort
The location of a resort can make or break its success. People choose resorts for the views, the weather, and the surroundings. That’s why most resorts are built in stunning locations like beaches, mountains, or forests.
Some great location ideas:
- A resort on a hilltop with a view of the sea.
- A beachfront resort where guests can step onto the sand.
- A jungle retreat surrounded by nature and wildlife.
The location should also be easy to reach, but still feel private and exclusive. No one wants to spend hours on a terrible road just to get to their holiday!
First Impressions Matter: The Look of the Resort
The first thing people notice when they arrive is the design of the resort. If it looks beautiful and inviting, guests will feel excited to be there.
A good resort should feel natural—blending in with its surroundings. For example:
- A beach resort can have wooden villas with thatched roofs to match the tropical setting.
- A mountain resort can have large windows and stone walls to create a cozy, warm feeling.
Inside, the resort should feel spacious, bright, and relaxing. I always love resorts with open-air lobbies, natural materials, and lots of greenery.
Beautiful Landscaping: Nature Makes Everything Better
One thing that makes a resort special is its outdoor spaces. I always feel more relaxed in a resort that has gardens, water features, and open-air lounges.
A good landscape design can include:
- Small garden pathways that lead to rooms and villas.
- Infinity pools that blend into the view.
- Soft lighting at night to create a warm, peaceful atmosphere.
Even a simple fountain, pond, or flower garden can make a resort feel magical!
Easy Movement: Guests Shouldn’t Get Lost!
A resort should be easy to explore. Guests should be able to find the restaurant, pool, and spa without getting lost or walking too far.
Here are some smart design ideas:
- Rooms should be close to key facilities like the restaurant and reception.
- Walking paths should be well-lit and signposted.
- Service areas (like kitchens and staff quarters) should be hidden, so guests don’t see the “behind-the-scenes” work.
A good rule: It should take no more than 5 minutes to reach any important facility from a guest’s room!
Quick and Friendly Service: How Design Helps Staff Work Better
Great service is one of the reasons people return to a resort. But did you know that good resort design can make service faster and smoother?
For example:
- A well-placed kitchen makes it easier for staff to serve food quickly.
- A central reception area helps guests check-in without waiting in long lines.
- Wide roads and parking areas make it easy for guests to move around.
Good design isn’t just about looking nice—it also helps staff work efficiently, so guests are always happy!
Cleanliness and Maintenance: A Resort Should Always Feel Fresh
No one wants to stay in a resort that feels old, dirty, or broken. That’s why good maintenance is key to success.
A resort should be easy to clean and maintain. Some tips I follow when designing resorts:
- Use high-quality materials that last longer and don’t fade.
- Choose easy-to-clean flooring in public areas.
- Make sure rooms have good ventilation to keep them fresh.
If a resort is well-maintained, guests won’t even notice it—they’ll just feel comfortable and relaxed.
Good Food: A Resort Experience Isn’t Complete Without It
Food is a huge part of a holiday! A resort with great food will always have happy guests.
Some key things to consider when designing a resort’s dining area:
- A restaurant with outdoor seating makes meals more enjoyable.
- Bars and lounges with views create a great atmosphere.
- A well-planned kitchen and delivery area keeps food service running smoothly.
Even if a resort is beautiful, people will remember bad food. So, the design should support the chefs and staff to serve the best meals possible!
Final Thoughts: A Resort Should Feel Like a Dream Destination
When I design a holiday resort, I think like a guest. I ask myself:
- Would I feel happy and relaxed here?
- Is this place easy to explore?
- Does it have a unique, beautiful setting?
A successful resort isn’t just a building—it’s an experience. And a great design makes all the difference.
What do you think makes a resort special? Share your thoughts in the comments!
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hello
im architecture student ,im in 5th of architecture. we have thesis nd my thesis topic is resort, im searching site for resort …plz can any one help
You can build a resort anywhere. Just open Google Maps and pick a seafront resort site in Goa. Or a mountain resort in Ratnagiri. Or an desert-oasis resort near Jaipur. Or a snow resort near Shimla. You will get some inspiration.
hey, i am a 5th year architectural student and my thesis topic is resort. due to lack of permissions and lack of time, we are not able to carry out a thorough case study. if you can provide any good case study on resort then it will be really helpful.
Hello Kity,
We help students achieve their aims and objectives and help them become good Architects. We dont supply reports. Unfortunately we havent got the time to waste after students who are not seriously involved with their studies. If you had done a casestudy and asked me to review it, I would have happily done that. Please get serious with your studies. Needless to say you are in your final year now.
I have chosen to design – destination themed resort …..
theme: bamboo and palmyran.
I want to give best with details of interiors as it is a theme based resort.Artificially taking form and also incorporating bamboo material in specific space design like restaurant and bar.
10 acres site i have chosen. Im confused in the requirements of no. of rooms/cottages/suites to be provided.. minimum how many can be given on bases of?….
hey, i m a 5th year architectural student and my thesis topic is resort. i need a library study on beach resort. if you can provide library study on beach resort then it will be helpful.
hello ,
i am a 5th year B.Arch student, i have chosen ,resort , as my thesis topic, but i am confused on how to make it more interesting.
sea front resort is what i have detailed the topic out. but how should i make it more detailed as in:
how to make the thesis topic , urban planning related or environment related.
i am not able to decide how to attach the architectural factor to the topic.
please help.
It is not very clear to me as what exactly are you trying to link to your thesis topic. Designing a sea front resort could possible link to a small part of an urban design masterplan possibly for a tourist destination. Resort would attract more tourists and therefore it will be social, cultural and economic benefits. You could focus on this pointers. Or if you could explain in more detail as to what you are trying to achieve then maybe I could help you figure out how to do that.
Hello
I am 3rd year in bachelor of arts textural technologist and my project title is holiday resort but a problem is I don’t know how to make it interesting. Help me what should I do toake it interesting and pleasing
I mean architectural technologist
Hi, Im also a 5th year architecture student with resort as thesis typology. It‘s a farm resort with lots of mango trees located in rural agricultural setting and there are a lot of resort in the vicinity as well. My problem is because there are many competition I need to think of something unique about it aside from trying to achieve net-zero energy and promoting sustainable lifestyle aside from leisure. If you could provide some insight that would be really helpful. Thank you so much?
This is such a well-explained and helpful guide! I never realised how much thought goes into designing a great holiday resort. The points about landscaping and easy movement really stood out to me – it makes sense that guests should feel relaxed and not struggle to find their way around. Looking forward to reading more of your articles!