All inclusive help!!

[PeacheyPeach]

Having just returned from a lovely ( but quite tiring!!) Holiday to Devon, I'm thinking maybe if circumstances allow next year we will book an all inclusive holiday.
We usually have a villa or euro camp type of holiday, but I think i just a holiday were we don't have to food shop or drive every were . Never been All-inclusive before but would like to try it.
Can anyone suggest a nice hotel that is suitable for little ones and teenagers am thinking maybe Greece or South of France. Something with a waterpark would be a bonus xx

@BirdsRoundandRound

We're going to an Ikos hotel in Greece in May - haven't been to one yet, but I have friends who have and they sound amazing. Properly all inclusive (minibar and all) with multiple restaurants with Michelin starred head chefs, activities, kids clubs and water sports included, free mini car hire to explore the island.

Not cheap, but when you factor in the additional costs of AI hotels where in fact there are lots of additional costs, it's not too bad.

You will not be disappointed IKOS are in a different league to other all inclusive resorts.

Oh so excited to hear the good reviews of Ikos as am going twice in 2022 hopefully ! Once with friends and once with the family .

Cannot wait ! I think if going AI you really need 5 star or it's grim.

We love all types of holidays though - villas, campsites ( not as much now kids older ) , skiing , theme parks and all inclusive .

AI feels like a proper holiday though.

Has anyone travelled to Turkey this year?

Have you thought of a cruise? Just got off a 'round the med ' on the ncl epic. So much to do....climbing walls, huge water slides, arcade style places , even bowling. Huge number of eateries from formal to buffets. Always food available. You an get drinks packages for soft or alcoholic drinks. We paid
99 pounds each for all we could drink, some WiFi and speciality dining. The drink is very well branded. Usually excellent child clubs.
Just be aware that different brands have very different vibes. Cunard....formal, Disney...fab but expensive.

I looked at Marina Parc a few years ago and the reviews were awful.

For good mid priced AI I’d recommend Insotel, Club Cala Mandia is my favourite as has a small water park. Menorca is stunning surroundings but you would need an upgraded refurbished room. They also own Sensatori Ibiza,
Protur brand is nice too as is Zafiro

@sunnysal that sounds amazing. Have you got a link so I can take a look and work out how much it would be for us?

@PeacheyPeach

Has anyone travelled to Turkey this year?

It’s on the red list.

I’ve rescheduled mine for next year

Caretta beach, zante. All inclusive with a water park. My early teens loved it and beach nearby often has turtles swimming

We have been to Marina Park for Easter but it was around 10 years ago. It was fine for what we wanted, which was just a waterpark with a few excursions out and we aren't that fussy about food but think the food was OK/good. It depends what you are looking for though - AI holidays are very easy, everything is done for you and lots of things to do onsite when there is a waterpark. They tend to be large and can be busy though never had an issue getting a sunbed or into a restaurant. Often food in the more moderately priced ones like Marina Park is buffet style, if you are looking for very fancy food its not for you. If your kids prefer plain food and you are happy with about 200 meals to choose from, some of which will be a lot better than others, similar quality to a uk takeaway its fine.

The Aliathlon in Cyprus we were in a villa and that had better food but no waterpark and that would be so hot in summer. Another alternative is apartment hotels which are on a resort and you can buy food when you want or eat out if you want. We have done that in Maderia (PortoBay), very nice apartments and pools and hired a car to explore the island. We always tend to eat on resort so either book a hotel with meals available to buy or AI. AI tends to be cheaper.

Kinder Hotels in Austria are a bit similar - one we stayed at was restaurant service, half board and more like restaurant food. Good range of activities for younger children. Less busy.

PeachyPeach. Look at ncl cruises. They have some really good deals on at the moment..
On MSC you get free children up to 17 years old, but they are no where near as good.

I can back up the Ikos suggestions. They are AI Ultra. I can't say how much we enjoyed our time at two of them.

We did Ikos Aria on Kos a week after it opened in 2019, we then went to Oceania in Halkidiki in August 2019. We had two more booked for last year which unfortunately we had to cancel, of course.

Nothing is ever too much trouble.

Each site has multiple restaurants, French, Italian, Greek, Asian etc. Also a buffet restaurant. You can pre-book three restaurants before you go and the rest on arrival. Part of the package includes eating out at a local restaurant. This maybe the only 'disappointment', as you have a limited menu to choose from. But no big deal, we ate well

Also part of the package is the use of a Mini for a day, free. (just replace the fuel you use) Normally on holiday we'd hire a car and explore. At both resorts we went out for the day but the Hotels were so luxurious and relaxing we stayed in the rest of the time. Aria is quite a large site.

And I've always maintained I'm not a beach person but when each hotel has a private beach with a bar and you can get full room service while lounging in the sun I was converted.

Once things are sorted out we're booking Ikos first.

One warning is don't book through Ikos Holidays. They may be an Ikos partner but I found their service to be diabolical and we had real issues getting a refund when the holidays were cancelled last year. Kept agreeing to refund, but then every excuse under the sun when it actually came to it. It took months then had to resort to a chargeback. Jet2 on the other hand were brilliant. Called us and gave us the option of rebooking, credit or refund. Chose refund and it was back in our account in three days.