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Original poster

Any positive all inclusive stories?

50 replies

GinUnicorn · 22/08/2019 08:10

Hi,

DP and I have a toddler. I’ve never been keen on the idea of all inclusive before but as she is pretty demanding we thought all in might be the best way to enjoy the holiday. I know it will be mostly work but at least no cooking or washing up...

I’ve seen so many people posting recently about how awful all inclusive is I am now completely doubting if it’s the right thing to do.

Are we insane looking at all inclusive, likely Canary Islands or Balearics?

Anyone got positive stories or recommendations?

OP posts:
Normandeeside · 22/08/2019 08:12

Never had any issues, mid range holidays, love it with kids so stress free.

Original poster
GinUnicorn · 22/08/2019 08:13

@Normandeeside thank God! All I really want is a beach and kids pool but all the posts about how awful they are have really thrown me. Don’t want to throw money away.

OP posts:
Normandeeside · 22/08/2019 08:16

Honestly fine, we do adventure type holidays other times but love just a week that I completely chill and stress about nothing! None of mine have been overly expensive and really haven't witnessed bad behaviour.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Holidays
Wellhellojonsnow · 22/08/2019 08:17

We did it with our 2yo DD a few years back. I’m not going to lie - it was hard work. We stuck with centerparcs for the next 2-3 years after that.

You have to eat together so you are having dinner at 5, they make a horrendous mess when eating and most evenings you are sitting quietly in your hotel room when they sleep (unless you are lucky and have a chilled toddler who you can take out in the evening and they just crash in the pushchair when tired - neither of mine were like this!).

If you really want to go - pay to go to one with excellent childcare e.g Mark Warner and get a one bedroomed apt so she is in a separate room so you can at least enjoy the evenings.

Good luck!

Bunnybigears · 22/08/2019 08:17

Never had any issues with All Inclusive. Do your research, read the reviews. On trip advisor I always read a few of the 5 reviews and a few of the 1 reviews. I normally find when I read the 1* reviews that what the person is unhappy about would be something I wouldnt mind. For example no Sunday Dinner provided at a AI in Portugal! A holiday is what you make it, as long as we have a pool, beach, some food we are happy.

Mrsjayy · 22/08/2019 08:18

I don't know what some posters expect going AI in the summer school holidays people are going to be queueing reasturants are going to be packed and yes some like a drink or 3, anyway go AI out of school holidays till toddler goes to school go for meals earlyish read reviews pick quieter resorts and you will be fine, we always go half board because we have no young children now but did go AI a couple of times because of the kids and it was fine.

MrsBungle · 22/08/2019 08:18

I’m just back from a week’s all inclusive with the kids in Cape Verde. It was lovely and the hotel was fab. Check the reviews before you book.

Original poster
GinUnicorn · 22/08/2019 08:19

@Wellhellojonsnow thanks good points. We were thinking one with a balcony so we could read or have a drink while she sleeps. I’ll have a look at Mark Warner too.

OP posts:
Original poster
GinUnicorn · 22/08/2019 08:22

@Bunnybigears thank you! Good idea about reading bad reviews too.

@Mrsjayy thanks - we are going when the schools are back as it’s waaaay to expensive otherwise!

@MrsBungle that’s a relief to hear. Will definitely check reviews thank you.

OP posts:
ems137 · 22/08/2019 08:22

We've always gone AI until a couple of years ago when we had our 4th child and most hotels don't have large enough rooms at a reasonable cost for us now.

We have taken children of all ages to all inclusive and never ever had a problem. Do you research on trip advisor to check what the hotels offer food wise etc. Make sure you pick child friendly hotels and then you know there'll always be something suitable to eat and do. We liked the Holiday Villages with First Choice. If you want to avoid the queues and busyness then go slightly out of school holidays. We always used to go the first week in September. This meant that the pools were nice and warm after heating up in the sun all summer!

Benes · 22/08/2019 08:22

I only have positive stories of AI. For the last 3 years we've gone to a Tui family life hotel ( Greece, Spain, Italy) and every single one has been fantastic. Amazing food, great entertainment and perfect for young children. I can't recommend them enough. We went to Sardinia in may and our 4 year old is still talking about it.

PastTippingPoint · 22/08/2019 08:23

We stayed in a lovely hotel in Costa teguise, lanzarote in May this year. It was fabulous! We stayed at H10 Suites Lanzarote Gardens, booked through Jet2.

We had no fighting over loungers (although we went out of school holidays). They had a baby and kids club so we had a few hours child free, and staff were lovely. 3 pools and a 5 min walk to the beach. We were only half board (not cost effective to pay for AI for us) but food delicious and great variety. Other guests pleasant and considerate. Rooms spacious with good air con.

AI packages were our idea of hell pre-DC but we all had a great time!

PuffHuffle5 · 22/08/2019 08:24

We’ve been on 4 and only one wasn’t great - the other three were fantastic. Don’t try and go for a really cheap deal - the rubbish one we went to was an online booking. Best to go with a travel agent.

Mrsjayy · 22/08/2019 08:24

We always went Thompsons now Tui and were never dissapointed

Seeline · 22/08/2019 08:26

We've been doing them for a while and never had any problems. Have been to both the Balearics and Canaries. Love the fact that there is a wide choice of food available all the time which is great for little ones.

We used to try and get them to nap for a while after lunch, which meant they could cope with a later night so we didn't have to eat ridiculously early.

Crèche/kids clubs are great for some of the time if available.

We usually went for a 1 bed apartment which meant that there was a separate area for us while DC were sleeping.

0lga · 22/08/2019 08:27

When our children were small we had the best holidays at Mark Warner and Neilson reports. They loved the kids club and we loved a few hours to sail, windsurfing, cycle or play tennis without them.

Of course it will be busy if you go on school holidays. But “busy” for adults means lots of friends for children.

And you might sigh when another toddler throws a fish finger across the floor at kids tea. But when your tired toddler has a meltdown at breakfast you will be glad that most people are not judging because they are in the same boat.

Seeline · 22/08/2019 08:28

YY to Tui and First Choice holiday villages.

Fallofrain · 22/08/2019 08:29

Went ai to a big hotel in la palma last september and it was ok.

We stayed away from the pool with the activities in it, and had a quieter pool fairly to ourselves. We didnt like the entertainment, but found it easy to avoid and did our own thing.

Food was good, nothing exceptional but there was lots of fresh food being made so we ignored the buffets and headed for that.

It was a lovely hotel, and was cheap enough for us. We literally only bought one cava each, and our train to and from our house and the airport during the whole time there.

Im sure there was probably lots of stodgy chips and pizza in the buffets, drunk parents and loutish behaviour going on but as we didnt want any of that, we found it easy to avoid.

GaraMedouar · 22/08/2019 08:30

I went with First Choice (Tui) to Menorca. Lovely time. I’d recommend, AI so easy - plus kids clubs, entertainment, pools. Good to just chill. Although I might do a self catering , but more out of the way thing next time as DD refuses to do the kids club or kids disco this year - too grown up now (at 8). So - not needed. Nice to have on tap drinks and ice creams. Always a good choice at the food buffets for fussy eaters. When we’re on holiday the kids just help themselves.

TravellingSpoon · 22/08/2019 08:37

We do a mix of holidays buy have never had a problem with AI. It's nice to nit have to worry about where to eat for a week. I always do my research and make sure the food is rated highly on trip advisor.

Yes they are busy, but it's the summer. Of course its going to be busy in spain/Greece etc.

Mummyilovejokes1 · 22/08/2019 08:37

We do them as we have a 5year old and 3 year old and we have been happy. We are due to go to our next one on Monday and cannot wait. We prefer AI as our two can be fussy eaters and so the choice at the buffet means there will be something they like to eat and if they pick something they dont like they can choose something else. It works well having drinks available all day (water etc) plus ice creams and snacks. The places we have stayed the restaurants tend to open around 6pm and we are ok eating at that time, usually better to get there early to avoid the rush (we found eating later was actually busier in the places we have stayed). Always check trip advisor and some hotels have facebook groups set up which also give different opinions and up to date photos, they are a great place to ask random questions you might want to ask, for example, what breakfast cereals do they serve.
We booked our next years holiday and joined the facebook group and have since changed our minds as it turns out they have foam parties etc which is great for older kids but not something we want to go to so have decided to find a more suitable hotel so they are a good source of info.
One thing we tend to look for is a big open space with lots of pools so you dont feel cramped, as you are going outside of school hols you will probably be ok but something to bear in mind.

Zenithbear · 22/08/2019 08:39

I much preferred AI to any other holiday, especially with young children. Takes the stress off with dc rather than adds to it imo.
We only did one self catering holiday and it didn't work for us. Also went on lots of cruises which worked out very well.
But I actually like other people on the whole and have a high tolerance for noise, queues etc as I'm pretty patient and laid back.
I think if you are a highly strung, easily stressed perfectionist you will have a different experience.

reluctantbrit · 22/08/2019 08:43

Do your research as others said. Also check carefully the kids club requirements, some don’t take under 3s without a parent or charge for the extra babysitters. Also, some resorts don’t run the clubs outside school holidays.

Def get a apartment/suite style room. DD was/is a terrible sleeper so in one room meant lots of disturbed nights. And sleeping in the buggy outside naps was the biggest no-go.

In Southern Europe restaurants, even in AI resorts won’t do early teas, dinner is at 7pm. I came across one resort who did a children dinner at 6pm and then offered babysitting so the parents could eat alone. But that meant getting everybody out of the pool a lot earlier and I saw several miserable older children and most families abandoned the idea after one or two nights and just went with the general crowd.

Think also how early your toddler gets up in the morning. Not all think sleeping late means waking up late. If a restaurant only opens at 7.30am but your toddler wants at least milk etc earlier you have to think of a plan. Look for a suite/apart,ent with a kitchenette or at least a decent fridge.

At that age preparation and planning is vital.

Swishyswash · 22/08/2019 08:45

We did several when DS was small. Canaries, Morocco and Spain. The only issue I had was the buffet style meals, got a bit fed up with getting my own food!

We're going to a fancy one in the Caribbean later this year. It was the only option that we all agreed on, DS is now 17 and very difficult to please.

NC4this123 · 22/08/2019 08:45

All inclusive with kids is the only way we’d go tbh. Takes out all of the stress, we took our kids when they were very young, youngest being 8 months once and honestly found it stress free. However that said, once the kids are grown up, we definitely will not be going all inclusive as it is not as nice as eating out but I hate eating out with young kids, all inclusive in a family resort everyone is in the same boat :)