Budget all inclusive greek island experience

[Dreamsofthebeach]

I have never done this sort of holiday with DC. Wondering in anyone has gone on budget all inclusive breaks and was it good?

I cancelled a holiday, now planning on booking next Easter but for various reasons with less money. Kids set on Greek island. It'll be April and it won't be particularly warm.

I originally planned all inclusive by beach as desperate to relax. But thinking now if it's not warm maybe better to be somewhere interesting.

Also all inclusive seems good value but if not paying much maybe quality dodgy so perhaps better to self cater and eat in local cafes restaurants.

@speakout yes, that sounds so easy.

"I refuse to go on holiday and wash dishes"

You know self catering doesn't involve washing dishes for the vast majority? In Greece it would mean eating in local restaurants.

They also wash up for you.

"Hotel service so beds made, fresh towels, rooms cleaned every day."

But is irrelevant to your board basis. This happens for self catering guests too

*You know self catering doesn't involve washing dishes for the vast majority? In Greece it would mean eating in local restaurants.

They also wash up for you.*

Eating three meals a day in restaurants? Why would you need self catering facilities?
Going out to a restaurant three times a day with young children sounds quite stressful TBH.

Aside from ethical considerations which are fine if you can afford them there is a place for AI and it suited us when DC were teens.
However AI in Greece is poor, I would do AI anywhere else but Greece.You can get very cheap s/c and eat out cheaply.

Dreamsofthebeach you see what I mean OP- Mumsnet is very hostile to AI.
Do your own research. Ther are lots of people who enjoy AI- even in Greece. I have been to small AI hotels 8 or 9 times in Greece with children and laways had fantastic holidays.

Ethical issues aside,

The convenience really appeals of staying/eating in one place, eg, children getting familiar with a hotel, restaurant, staff etc would be relaxing compared to lots of eating out, boring as that may sound.

My youngest was totally fed up with eating out last holiday and I think would feel less stressed eating in same place each mealtime.

I think I want a break from thinking... like where to eat, which street is the restaurant on, how much is the bill etc

OP I don't know how old your children are, but mine always loved the independence of being able to serve themselves or order a drink- without me having to do it for them. No fishing around for money.

All inclusive sounds perfect for the type of holiday you want but I agree for Easter it would be better to look at other countries. Canaries or Cyprus would be a bettter.

I’m sure there are plenty of local family run hotels in Greece if you avoid the big branded chains. They might not do all inclusive per se but will have a restaurant where you could eat all meals (and will probably offer a half board deal). Ammos and Eleonas on Crete are worth a look tho maybe be above budget.

Hax I’ve had some lovely all inclusive holidays in Greece, they’ve worked really well for my family. So relaxing and I love going out about every couple of days and enjoy lunch out in different little towns or on boat trips.

We've looked at AI before and found that Spain had free children's places where the Greek resorts didn't. Depeneding on how old your kids are, that may also be a factor.

"Eating three meals a day in restaurants? Why would you need self catering facilities?
Going out to a restaurant three times a day with young children sounds quite stressful TBH."

Ha, no stress on my holidays but as a family we've travelled everywhere regardless of the kids ages.

Like I said, I've done AI several times with and without kids. I wouldn't do it in Greece having someone personal experience of the tourist industry there and the direct effect AI had on many of the local family businesses.

We don't tend to eat 3 meals a day on that type of holiday, I'm not sure if you're completely unfamiliar with SC as an option but it tends to give you a bit more space as you get an apartment rather than just a hotel room. We found that handy when the kids were still babies. In fact, somewhere like Cape Verde where every hotel was AI we still upgraded to an apartment.

I never cook on any holiday though and it's never stressful going for a meal!

You're calling posters hostile @speakout but you are being very defensive despite me saying that yes, AI can be good. All I mean is I wouldn't do it in Greece.

I agree with @walkoflifewoohoo about s/c. When DC were little it gave us so much more space than a hotel. I've never cooked a meal on holiday though, breakfast, snacks and drinks is all I'd use a kitchen for.

I love Greece and it sounds like it's what the OPs family want. Just choose your AI hotel carefully, read the reviews and don't go to Greece in April if you want a beach / pool holiday.

I have always gone for villa style AI, always gave more space than a hotel block.
breakfast, snacks and drinks is all I'd use a kitchen for. - prefer not to have to do that on holiday. Sounds like shopping, washing up, dealing with garbage and trips to the supemarket. I do enough of that at home.

We stayed at Mitsis petit palais hotel on Rhodes a couple of years ago, 10 minutes stroll to the Old town, harbour and The Street of the Knights.

May would be perfect - we were there 1st week of July and it was so hot.

"breakfast, snacks and drinks is all I'd use a kitchen for. - prefer not to have to do that on holiday. Sounds like shopping, washing up, dealing with garbage and trips to the supemarket. I do enough of that at home."

I don't do that either - but I can manage to accept that some people don't find it stressful in the slightest.

Are you from the US with the mention of garbage? The hotel would deal with any bin emptying that needed doing here, it's really not a big deal.

OP - there are some lovely all inc hotels around. If you're absolutely set on Greece then don't go in April! 🥶

There's no way I'd go to a cheap all inc in Greece when there are so many lovely tavernas to choose from (not expensive either)

There's no way I'd go to a cheap all inc in Greece when there are so many lovely tavernas to choose from (not expensive either)

Unless you have a 4 and a 7 year old child with you.

I agree there are lots of amazing places to eat in Greece- and without kids I wouldn't dream of going AI.

Going AI is often so cheap that you can also eat out often anyway.

I think different strokes for different folks.

My kids ate out at that age without issue, really lovely times. Even all inclusive involves getting ready and going to the restaurant surely? Even if it is on site.

Anyway, there are some great deals on jet2, anyone know what the weather is like in Dubrovnik or Montenegro in April? You've got me booking holidays OP!

My kids ate out without issue either.
But not twice a day for a fortnight.
Yes people still get ready for dinner, at AI hotels but the room is usually 3 minutes away. So more like a BBQ in the garden than going out to a restuarant. No hot walks, no taxis, take food back to the room for sleepy ones, parents can do tandem shifts for reluctant young diners.
Although my kids have been used to dining out from a young age, tiny tired ones may not like their first selection or want to eat an hour earlier than adults, a little more later or go in for dessert after a walk on the beach.
AI gives massive flexibility for families with young kids, and it's a very short walk for full tired tummies back to bed.

Like I said, different strokes for different folks. Your family sound very different to mine and if we did have lunch or an afternoon snack we could still use the hotel restaurant or pool bar or whatever. Self catering guests aren't barred 😂

We never had tired tummies or taking food back to the room. Hot walks, well, not generally unless we chose to. We always sit down to eat together and never had a problem.

We're weird then but I don't have temperamental kids or feel stressed by things some people obviously do. Again, we're all different and AI is great for many - just not for the Greeks.

Guests can leave all inclusive hotels and eat in tavernas etc.

Very true @SwimBaby they can. It's a shame that more didn't do just that and help keep all those Greek businesses afloat.

Honestly, the tourist industry in Greece was just not compatible with existing alongside the all inc models that moved in. It's done now but for many it stings. It's all very well saying "all the staff are Greek, it gives them jobs" - yeah, ask them, the money that now goes in the pockets of a few used to go to the many 🤷🏽‍♀️.

I've never said AI isn't a good thing, I'm talking about the Greek industry specifically.

Fact is, most looking for a budget AI holiday don't leave the hotel much to spend elsewhere at all.

If you are going on a holiday in April or May you may want to visit places other than the hotel pool or the beach. Less likely if you are on an AI holiday I would suspect.

In terms of destination, perhaps consider OP if you or any of your DC have learnt another language (most likely Spanish or French) and could use the holiday to speak a few words and not be the typical Brit abroad. Presumably unless you are the Rees-Moggs it is unlikely any of you speak any Greek.