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Did you not see that series on TV high lighting just how bad for the economy AI is? Aside from that it seems a bit odd to go to a different country and then eat hotel food. Most wine and beer is cheaper abroad so shouldn't we all try at least to help the country you holiday in rather than just one corporation?

I totally agree, some of my favourite resorts in Menorca are being slowly killed by AI hotels, leaving the local bar and restaurant owners with half empty premises in the height of the season.

I think, sadly, that as long AI continues to offer the idea that you're getting value for money, people on a budget will keep choosing it. Personally, I can't think of anything worse, and after doing it in Tunisia many years ago, I will never do it again.

I agree too. Plus I can't see the point in travelling anywhere if you just spend the entire time in a hotel. We did it once in Cuba, but at least spent some time in Havana first. The AI on the beach bit was very dull. Never again.

I went into a AI resort in cuba to use their scuba school, was grim, cartooney salsa costumes and dancing when there was fantastic bars and salsa all over the place outside. was one of the crapest beaches I saw there too. And why would you want to sit watching beetroot coloured brits and americans when you could be watching bronze cubans go by?????

I didn't see the programme, but have wondered the same thing in the past.
I imagine AI will continue to be popular while economies are struggling.
TBH, we can't afford to go abroad this year, if we could it would probably be on an AI break.

Some people just want a 'fly & flop' holiday, nowt wrong with that. All Inc. suits lots of families, many go abroad simply to have guaranteed sun and not have to think about anything else, Inc food.

It is also a shit holiday experience.
I can understand anyone booking it - we have - to fix the budget to ensure we won't end up short and ruining the holiday.

But our last experience was so hideous with people queuing to get pissed at the bar the very moment it opened, queuing and emptying the buffet, taking food for their friends and for the room etc etc. And the weddings, dear god.

Never ever again.

Ive never done one but, I imagine, with a few children they are the way too go. I was looking at Italy this year and all inclusive is the same price as b and b in some smaller hotels. Surely in Italy you would eat at the hotel and go out as a treat to eat proper food? I don't blame anyone for choosing that option.

We use AI hotels but always go out for dinner as the food is usually pretty awful in buffet style restaurants.

I usually go on one all inclusive holiday a year and two other types of holidays. Or sometimes twin center holidays with a bit of both.I have visited some destinations where I may not have gone if an all inclusive type of holiday wasn't available. I can't see that they are all bad if creating a lot of jobs for local people. I did watch the series that has been referred to. I always book my trips with local companies instead of giving more money to a tour operator.
I must be going to different hotels to others because I have only experienced good food. I do tend to avoid hotels that offer only buffets or that are very large plus i do a lot of research.

There is so much wrong with the package holiday industry, it's difficult to know where to start. I think they do vary hugely though. If you book, like fluffy says, with a local company, then that is very different to a huge hotel complex which employs no local people.

There are also many issues with water poverty etc.
A good site about Responsible Travel here.

This is the Campaigning organisation I was thinking of.

The problem with not being AI in countries with the euro is the cost of eating out. We went HB in Majorca last year and every time we ate out (3 main courses, few drinks) it was costing £100. Whereas pre euro eating out on holidays was always so cheap.

Never in my life did I go to an AI, although it was considered on a few occasions.

AI is a particular madness in Cuba, where people are very hospitable and the country generally very very safe to travel around. Just hire a car and drive around. There are practical things to consider, but that is true even about a holiday to Devon. Stay in private houses if good hotels are not available, it an amazing option and cheap (we stayed in XIX c house filled with antiques for 3 nights). You will meat people, learn about real day=to-day life and have a great time. One of the best holidays we had. And I do regret not taking our (older) 4 dsc with us then, it was fab.

I would be a lot more careful in Africa, but even then, just get advice/guides from a GOOD travel agent like Audley

and when i say cheap it is CHEAP (was at least in 2007) at 30USD per room per night and breakfast 5USD per head in Trinidad.

Trinidad, Cuba

I went to one once in Kenya. We had no money and only a week.

Big complex right on beach. The complex ended at the beach where waited always a line of desperate locals and security from the hotel with big sticks at the ready.

Women with cornrowed hair and burnt heads. Awful people thinking they were experiencing Africa because their rooms were cleaned by a black person.

Just all so VILE in every way we left on a trip we couldn't afford until it was time to go home.

They are just beyond appalling.

Like bunnyspoiler. says it's now £100 a meal in Majorca and that's nothing posh.
I hate the idea of AI, but I can see the attraction of knowing pretty much what you are going to spend up front.
We were staying at a mostly AI hotel and people really do not move from the pool which is a real pain if you want a quick swim and a quick read, but not to take route on a sun-lounger for the entire day.

Root

I've done a few AI holidays, it is handy for budgeting...saying that, I do go out and about as well and we always eat out a couple of times, but it's really useful to not have to spend extra money and know that you can get meals and cold drinks for children without worrying about how much money you've put aside (I don't really drink, so it's not alcohol that makes it attractive, it's the neverending thirst of children, lol)

I've just come back from one in Egypt and I have to say it was a fantastic experience. It meant that we didn't have to worry about money and there were HUGE numbers of egyptians employed at the hotel. We didn't leave the resort as it was huge and had an aquapark as part of it. Perfect for us as a family. We are never going to be "travellers" doing the local thing. We go on holiday

I didn't see the programme but I agree with you 100%. AI hotels do damage the local economy. I lived in a tourist resort in Turkey for a few years at a time when a lot of hotels were changing over to AI and local businesses were suffering because of it.

I hate the idea of AI anyway. I go on holiday to experience a different country, try local food and drink and get out and about to explore, not to be stuck in a hotel for 2 weeks queuing for my food and drinking out of plastic glasses!

I have lived in the Caribbean and AI is quite controversial there - so much so that some countries (Barbados being one, I think) have banned them completely. In others, Jamaica, St Lucia etc, they have a stranglehold. The problem in that part of the world is that they are SO popular with the Americans and that is their biggest market so they keep opening them. On the plus side, they do provide a lot of jobs and some of the more responsible AI's do use local ingredients - however, they have to be of a certain standard and often you won't find ingredients of that standard locally so they also import a lot.
I have been to many AI's because, living and working in these countries, they were a good weekend break as we got local rates. Some are definitely better than others and I do think it's a shame when people miss out on the "local" experience by not venturing out of their hotel. Some AI's scare their guests so much about crime etc that they don't want to go out at all!

ben10 - ssssh, which hotel was it? Quite interested in doing a family holiday to Egypt as we love diving....

Agree with the comments regarding the Euro, we stay in Cyprus at an AI and it's because we are saving money by doing so. The Cypriot restaurants seem to be reacting to the crisis by simply putting their prices up further. It is a complete myth to say that food and drink is cheaper there than in the UK.

As with any business it's the really shit ones that will go out of business, and given many resorts have umpteen exactly the same restaurants that's just the way it is.

At the AI we stayed at last year our bill was exactly the same as when we stayed there the previous year non AI. Personally I see then that we can choose to eat at the hotel, or go out occasionally to the really nice restaurants in the resort.

It's all about the flexibility innit?