To think all inclusive holidays are very good value?

I thought they might be good value but for a family of 5 have only seen them for £7-8k for a week, which seems very expensive (we are doing 10-14 days for that atm). If anyone has any recommendations for decent cheaper ones would be keen to know! Love our hols but it's never relaxing with cooking and cleaning a rental.

I think to derive the value you probably have to eat all your meals at the resort and for me that sort of defeats the object of going away. Part of the attraction for me is to get off the resort and explore, do activities, bars and restaurants. I suppose half board would be ok though. Depends what you want from a holiday. By the third day by the pool on a resort we're bored and wanting to get out and about. Horses for courses though.

It’s cruises that I think are especially good value. I was so impressed with the price and cost vs other holidays in school holidays, then add being able to see different locations to the mix!

I like them. We never eat in the hotel all the time, we go out lunchtimes and evenings a few times every holiday and also go sightseeing etc. But for drinks, snacks and other meals they are good value. But I am size TUI (iykyk) so get my moneys worth. Teeny tiny mumsnetters couldn’t possibly.

I find resorts a bit boring TBH so we would usually prefer somewhere with more stuff to do.

Lalandia in Billund is perfect for us - great waterpark but also Lego stuff

From what I hear they can be much cheaper overall than paying for meals and snacks out, and entertainment separately. There's a reason they are so popular especially with families and people who want to know costs in advance. But I do think it can take some of the adventure and joy out of holidaying abroad...and I say this as someone who is rather cautious and risk averse. Some years back now (well before pandemic) I was on a package ...not AI...stay in a Greek resort. There were a few cafes along the main strip but only two restaurants...we were told the others had closed because the holidaymakers who used to visit now did AI. I do think this is a shame for the local economy.

I prefer ai, when my daughter was younger it was for value. Now it’s for convenience. We are off to Caribbean towards the end of the year, going to a small boutique hotel , just us two and we booked ai, this means we don’t need to think about it at all.

https://capmaison.com

last year we went here

https://www.simplebooking.it/ibe2/hotel/9935?lang=EN&cur=USD&_gl=1fcasx5_gcl_au*MTAxMjkwOTQ5My4xNzg3NDAxNzk4

Again ai, and for us worth it, we have what we want, when we want, and don’t give it any thought,

It’s been honestly amazing. Stopover in KL Malaysia for 3 days too. The hotels and value are just amazing. We spent on average £100 per day for all 4 of us for trips/taxis/food/drinks and buying souvenirs. Even got all the laundry done before flying home cos it was so cheap! Do it! I can highly recommend

They are brilliant if you just want to stay in pretty much the same place every day otherwise you're pretty tied to the hotel. I like to see something different every day. We did a similar one to you in Turkey that had its own private section of the beach, with an AI beach bar. But I really like ordering from a menu for dinner which I know you can do if there's an a la carte restaurant too but that's not always the case & I find it more relaxing rather than everyone getting up all the time to get things to eat.

We did lots of AI when our dds were little and as they tried so many different foods they are not fussy eaters now. It's also great for cocktails 😊

We've always chosen carefully and had good experiences. I find it gives me a proper break, actually get to read my book as the kids just want to swim for hours.

Never done one and I never will, unless I book an adventure like an Alaska trip. Same way I would never book a cruise. These holidays with limited options and not leaving the base much, are not for me at all. I can see the appeal for people though.

So this is what id like to do when my kids are all 3/4 years older!

We’ve just had 10 days in Vietnam for the same price as a week A/L in Europe. It was a no brainer. The experiences and food was tremendous and our boys 13 and 18 had the experience of their young lives

I went to Eden Andalou in Marrakesh. Has a water park attached. Very clean, quiet, food was good. Mostly French and Arabic speaking guests.

Also did Valamar Sunny Dubrovnik. More how I imagine an AI as in busier for sun beds. But fine. And had a very good kids activity place attached with trampolines, soft play and construction stuff. Quite a few British and then Germans, French, Italians and Croatians.

I've only been on one AI holiday and I was gutted with it. Food was poor quality, buffet style with the same crap churned out all week (as in there was a stray chip in the same tub of beans all week). I presumed my kids would have had a choice of ice cream etc but the AI lollies were cheapo orange or lemon only not a walls selection pf ice creams etc which the bar also sold. And we dont drink very much so didn't make up the value in alcohol consumption.
That being said I would very much like to do an Ai Like yours because it sounds much classier than the one I did nearly 20 years ago and now we get villas and I cook and clean all holidays.

I’m a recent convert to AI. Just back from one in Croatia and did one last year in Morocco. For us having picky eaters under 14 years old who love being in a pool, it works. I personally find it a bit dull as I’m not a pool person, but the fact that I don’t have to think once about feeding my kids makes it more of a holiday than slepping around desperately looking for a restaurant my kids will like where the bill comes in under €100. Would I rather be in a b and b and spend the day wandering around looking at restaurants/sight-seeing? Yes. Is it worth trying to make my kids do that? No. I’m looking forward to everyone being older and hopefully fitting in with my style of holiday soon.

I think it can be great value with teens who otherwise cost a fortune to feed and entertain! We have gone to a couple in Greece in October half term. Usually there are split family room options so you are not all in the same room. I would also love to know what hotel you stayed at as the waterpark is a key requirement for my kids!!

I’ve found the best AIs by looking at reviews. The negative ones that say there’s ’too much foreign food’ or quibble about something stupid normally turn out to be the best!

I used to be snobby about them but the ones I’ve been to will make you a packed lunch (with sufficient notice) so you’re not tied to the hotel for lunch.

The last one I went to was a Greek hotel. No frills, clean, lovely pool, basic choice of alcohol (didn’t bother me), near the beach and bus route.

Cost £1300 for me and DD including transfers for ten days during the summer holidays.

No budgeting needed for snacks/ice creams/drinks/meals.

YANBU, we've had some amazing AI holidays before. You have to do your research though!

Sounds great, are you willing to tell us what the hotel was? I always like a recommendation!

I agree they can be great and it depends on what kind of holiday you want!

Personally my non negotiable is we (2 adults, 2 DC) are not all in one single room. For me that is just not enjoyable in any way and only reserved for a travel lodge or similar for a night or 2. I don’t mind a one bed apartment or suit where the kids have a sofa bed.

So that would massively increase the price right away!

Also we did fully AI and I just felt a bit of cabin fever after a week eating all meals in a fairly busy environment, but there wasn’t a big choice of different eating places. Perhaps a resort with several restaurants would have a very different feel. I just for me personally find a lot of my enjoyment is going out and about and trying new restaurants.

As someone who's only ever paid 180 - 600 for a holiday 3k for a week still seems so much money to me. I do hope to do an abroad holiday at some point but the thought of spending so much on one week vs what could we do at home for 3k that we could enjoy all year round 🤔 does crop up for me.

Brilliant when you have kids. If an all adult holiday I probably wouldn't.