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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:

youarenotkiddingme · 22/08/2019 08:45

I'm assuming as you have a toddler you can go term time? Most are fine then.

As for others just read reviews. I avoid tour operator sole use hotels as these tend to be worse but I can only go in school holidays so it's busy then.

TaraLaraMara · 22/08/2019 08:50

It's just a 'thing' on mn to sneer at AI unless they're mark warner/club med/Neilsons. A villa/cottage in rural france/spain/italy where you wistfully wonder down to the nearest bakery and shop and marvel at the unusual food for an hour a day is the mn ideal.

We've been in 4 AI's since our dd's were born, all booked via Tui and I have enjoyed each one. Our last holiday was a bit harder as we now have a baby who was teething at the time but we still enjoyed ourselves. The first three holidays were easy.

With a toddler you can presumably go out of season so the hotel should be a bit quieter. Be prepared for the restaurants to busy as that's a given. Read reviews carefully taking into account what is important to you (I don't care if the adults entertainment is rubbish but I do care if the children's entertainment has poor reviews).

youarenotkiddingme · 22/08/2019 08:50

The most important thing to look at when booking AI is what the meals and snacks schedule is.

Some are snacks including hotdogs and chips etc from 3-6, some are ice cream 3-6 pm only, some are snacks all day of various varieties.

What you want is to make sure if you wear tiddler out swimming and she sleeps in buggy whilst you and OH have a quiet lunch - that there is something substantial for her when she wakes up. Also check they have 'children's buffet'. That tends to mean they have chips, nuggets and pasta type things which usually means there's something they'll eat!

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Holidays

exLtEveDallas · 22/08/2019 08:51

We've done AI since DD was a baby. The only bad one was the first one we did, and we learned from that mistake!

We only choose 4* or over. We look for hotels labelled 'family friendly' or 'best for - families'. We used kids clubs (DD liked them) during the hottest parts of the day and always scheduled a 'nap' around 4pm so that she would last a little longer in the evening. We also took a buggy long after she had stopped using one as it came into it's own if we we walking around shops/sightseeing and in the evenings.

Our best hols when she was little were at the Louis Phaethon Beach Hotel in Cyprus, the Atlantica Oasis in Cyprus, the Holiday Village Manar in Tunisia and a hotel I can't remember the name of (sorry) in Costa Caleta.

Hotels with on site splash parks are a good call as well, they are a lot of fun for little ones. As she got older and more adventurous we booked hotels with on-site water parks - we've continued that as we all enjoy them :)

BrunettesDoItBetter · 22/08/2019 08:56

We stayed at the Atlantica Akti Zeus in Crete this May and it was great,on the beach,delicious food and a very good kids club plus splash park for small children and water slides for adults

MrsBungle · 22/08/2019 09:22

Agree with tui being good, that’s who we’ve just been with. I’d also really recommend Cape Verde - a bit further than the canaries but not built up (yet). We stayed at the Riu Palace and it was beautiful and good for the kids. Right on the beach and you can get a bit of culture on the island too (Boa Vista).

Mrsjayy · 22/08/2019 09:26

I really fancy cape verde MrsBungle is it nice ?

Crunchymum · 22/08/2019 09:34

To be honest, my AI have been crap. Mainly as we went a but cheap.

Now we have 3 kids, there is no way I'm going SC or Airbnb as it wont be a break for me. So we've paid a bit extra and gone somewhere we know people have been very recently (and have had rave reviews!)

BarbaraofSeville · 22/08/2019 11:02

I agree that a lot of the problems people report such as queues and lack of sunbeds won't apply if you go in term time.

We've never done AI but we have stayed B&B in a hotel in the Canaries that did AI. It was probably some time in April and our last couple of days must have overlapped with the start of the school holidays because the hotel suddenly went from fairly quiet to absolutely packed.

Hoppinggreen · 22/08/2019 11:05

mrsbungle that’s where we are going on a Sunday so I’m very relieved you enjoyed it! Never done AI with the kids, usually go SC

Chuffingchuff · 22/08/2019 11:10

We went all inclusive last year and this year and we think it's great. We have 2 DC, my DD is 2 and fussy, so makes it easier she can choose what she wants and try different things without worrying about paying a bill at the end. I think the hotels are more the issue that the all inclusive, so I would read trip advisor reviews before you book anywhere.

LochJessMonster · 22/08/2019 11:11

We only go AI now, its much easier not having carry cash around, kids (and adults) can go up and get drinks/food whenever without having to get the money.

LochJessMonster · 22/08/2019 11:12

Tui is the best company we have been with.

imclaustrophobicdarren · 22/08/2019 11:17

We went to barcelo castillo in fuerteventura. Honestly it was amazing. The accommodation is really good, little bungalows so on a night DS4 went to bed and then we could stay up on the terrace for a few drinks. Lots of pools, on the beach. Lots of restaurants and things to do all on site. I think we'd even go back which is not like me! Everything was just so easy. Quite a long flight but then transfer was 5 mins. And a golf buggy is waiting for you to take you straight to your bungalow.

MrsBungle · 22/08/2019 11:24

Mrsjayy - I’d thoroughly recommend it! The island is unspoilt (I only went to Boa Vista). So much so that there aren’t even really any roads! We got out and about on the island visiting villages and Santa Monica beach which has been voted one of the best in the world. The highlight was turtle watching. We went to a very remote beach at night (organised tour) to watch wild loggerheads laying their eggs. It was spectacular. Go now before the island is more developed!

Hoppinggreen - the palace is beautiful. I also went in to the Touareg on the south and the karamboa which is next door to the palace (and you can use karamboa facilities but they can’t use the palace’s) and the palace is, IMO, far nicer. It’s all brand new. The food was nice, no queuing and always easy to get space by the pool. It’s right on a beautiful beach. I’m sure you’ll enjoy it - have fun!

isseywithcats · 22/08/2019 12:33

though i dont have little ones now last year we went all inclusive for the first time and i was pleasantly surprised, we went to Kos and though the food was a bit hit and miss there was plenty of choice and not having to cook or go out and find a decent restaurant each night was a bonus and we were lucky there was a good selection of cocktails included in the drinks package so drank cocktails that i wouldnt be able to afford at home

Neoflex · 22/08/2019 13:34

I love Iberostar. They have hotels dotted around Spain as well as a few other destinations like Greece, Africa and Bulgaria, and Mexico, Cuba etc. They have options for both adults only and families.
The food is high quality and everything clean. Good entertainment.
There has never been any "rif raff"
Everything is beautifully done.
Can get good deals outside of school holidays which is perfect for a toddler age.
I find with a toddler you either need ai or self catering. Dragging them to restaurants every night and disturbing others who are trying to eat a nice meal in a quaint place while your own food gets cold is hard work. At least an ai place has a buffet restaurant and usually a kids corner with other families who understand your struggle.

BlueSkiesLies · 22/08/2019 13:37

Yes, I love AI but you get what you pay for.

I like adults only if it is just a relaxing beach trip, or sports focused e.g. Club Med ski, or Neilson water sports

Original poster

GinUnicorn · 22/08/2019 13:37

Thank you so much! Sorry toddler has been taking all my attention but really appreciate the responses and super relieved.

OP posts:

JocastaJones · 22/08/2019 13:43

I've been to great ones. I think if the hotel offers b&b etc as well as AI then the quality has a better chance of being good as obviously they need to sell the drinks and food to the non AI people. But check carefully what's included. Trip advisor is good for this.

Mrsjayy · 22/08/2019 17:18

@MrsBungle sounds gorgeous i will definately look into cape verde

Northernsoullover · 22/08/2019 17:22

I didn't stay there but I met a woman in Menorca who was staying at the Binimar in Calan Blanes. All inclusive but accommodation was an apartment. So you have room to chill if your little one is an early sleeper. I loved the beach there. It was so shallow and sheltered, really safe for little ones.

Original poster

GinUnicorn · 23/08/2019 11:32

Thanks wonderful people! You have restored my faith.

OP posts:

Mrsjayy · 23/08/2019 11:54

And remember it is a hotel not jail go out and about I read and hear people stay around the hotel all holiday no wonder they go stir crazy and moan!

Northernsoullover · 23/08/2019 14:26

I forgot to mention that my last 3 holidays have been AI. I've thoroughly enjoyed them all. I feel truly privileged to have gone away at all and while some places were better than others we always look to make the best of things.

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