to go on an All Inclusive Holiday??

[TheClitterati]

I'm a single parent (now lone parent as DC no longer seeing their father - long stressful story, much pressure on me) - 2 DC, 7 & 10. I work FT.

All Inclusive/Package holidays are not normally my/our thing - we usually go glamping, or to a cottage in UK, or to visit friends and family. This year I was planning on Inter Railing around northern Europe for a couple of weeks as youngest is now 7 and can take a small suitcase herself. We like exploring and have always had lovely holidays.

But....

We've had a mega year, with lots of stress, anxiety, change and tension. DD1 has 11+ exams coming in early September. 7yo has been anxious to the max and we are working on that now, but it has all come down to me. And I have been super stressed out - some days I honestly feel like I might have a breakdown or physical collapse.

The though of 2 weeks of sun, reading, with all food prepared, not washing up etc sounds heavenly. Inter railing, though it would be amazing, is just too much on me to plan out at this stage - it feels too much. Not enough rest involved. A cottage is lovely but there is no break for me from cooking, cleaning etc.

All Inclusive is more than I would usually pay - a lot more. But we all really really need to chill out and have fun. I'd choose somewhere with a water park and kids club and I am thinking of going to a resort in an area not far from where friends live, so we can have some evenings off site visiting with them. So I'm thinking fuck the money, spend some savings and lets do it! Its what savings are for right???

Not sure if I might have completely lost my mind just thinking about this. But 2 weeks of same same food and deckchair/towel wars might just finish me off. AIBU to go? Will I really hate it? What do I need to look out for when choosing somewhere?

On the plus side the DC love pools and I have a large reading list.

Another vote for do it! We tend to do HB and stick lunches on our bill, because I don't drink alcohol, which is priced into AI prices, but we're both working so hard at the moment, that a fly & flop to a really nice hotel in the Indian Ocean somewhere is heaven. DH never thought he could do a 'do nothing' type of holiday until I convinced him to try it for our honeymoon. Two days of having drinks brought to him by the pool, lovely people coming round to clean the smudges off your sunglasses and bring fresh coconut ice, and then moseying back to your room around 5pm to find canapes and an aperitif waiting for you on the coffee table before going down to dinner completely converted him! We still go out for the odd day here and there and explore, but in the main it's our downtime to recharge our batteries and we love it. We'll go back to the cultural city holidays when we're less busy.

I absolutely detest AI holidays. But have “accidentally” been on. Couple. It has taught me that my dislike for them is down to me.

Your situation is different and seems to be what AI holidays are geared towards. I would advise going for it like others have said. But research the resort first.

Your children are the perfect age to enjoy AI holidays. They are old enough that you don't need to watch them every second. They will love the entertainment and activities and you'll hardly see them as they will be off with new friends.
You can relax and do nothing.
I've done a few of these. Yes it's true they are bad for local economy and the cheaper hotels can be a bit canteen like in the restaurant.
My tip is to go 4* minimum and pick somewhere with more than one restaurant.

Go for it.
AI is great in the right resort. As others have said, do the research and if you’re near to friends then even better.
Have a fabulous time and I hope all of you enjoy a well earned rest

I love all inclusive. Doesn't stop us eating out some nights but takes the pressure off.

Beware that a lot of these resort hotels are quite isolated from other places so you can feel a bit trapped. Agree, do your research, book the best you can afford and consider issues such as evening entertainment, kids clubs and the demographic likely to be there with you to get the right fit.

An alternative would be a villa with a pool near a village. Daily maid service, your own pool and a choice of places to eat. Doesn’t have to be hard work. Only you know which you’d prefer. Having done AI in the Caribbean recently I’m feeling more inclined to a villa next time.

DH has a strategy when we do an all inclusive, he is very restrained with the food and rather than attacking the buffet putting a bit of everything he fancies on the plate he browses then chooses one or two things on the basis that it will be repeated later and just enjoys that with the salads or veg... I on the other hand can't help myself

Try Crete or Cyprus OP. The hotels are very central, most are on the beach.

You will probably save money by going all inclusive, as you will less likely have to buy takeaways, groceries, meals out , drinks, ice creams etc. If it's all free at the all inclusive resort

Absolutely do it. I love all sorts of holidays but AI is the easiest and involves the least amount of thinking so you will get a complete break. I go to ones with multiple restaurants so the food can be mixed up too but if the DC want the same thing each night fine. You don't need to worry about bags by the pool as you have no money on you so you can be in the pool with the kids and not worry about your bags etc.

I would not holiday any other way with kids.

Wall to wall ice cream, drinks, snacks.
No trips to the supermarket, no lugging stuff.

Also, while I love a villa, there are three issues 1. They will almost always have a pool so you need adults monitoring the kids all the time

1. You are constantly “stocking up” which racks up costs quite a lot unless you eat out for every meal
2. To get to a reasonable supermarket you need to hire a car

Do it!

My mum is currently away for 2 weeks to Corfu with 9 & 11 year old.

2 weeks (1 term week, 1 half term) cost £1100
1 week (half term) would be £1800!

She will be fined, but for the sake of £120 (also lone parent), it's worth her doing 2 weeks!

She books a year in advance and pays monthly, with Thomas Cook I believe.

We did a week with TUI last year in the Balearics. Not our usual thing, but SO relaxing and the kids loved feeling independent.

read hotel reviews on tripadvisor.com - some all inclusives are great, others are not. Half-board is also a very good option - all inclusive can be expensive but worth it if you intend to drink a lot of alcohol, BUT it also often means you go to the restaurant buffet to eat for lunch. Half-board means you can buy lunch by the pool etc.

As everyone else says Do it!!! I think AI is great if you have kids ice cream, drinks and food all without additional cost. I'm open minded though the food may not be 5* and a bit repetitive but you can nearly always find something to eat. If you don't like your first choice- try something else
The place you're thinking of sounds fab for your kids.
I can't afford this year but i have mine booked for next year and I'm already counting down the days.

I did it having always turned up my nose at it, I did club med, a bit more classy than some and my son and I had a great time. There was football coaching and tennis and even windsurfing and trapeze included.

Yy to choosing carefully, I'd do club med again, but a week would be enough. I need to feel like I've visited the country I'm staying in and get out of the complex to really feel like I've been away. But for R&R you can't beat inclusive.

Do it! I'm going on a package holiday tomorrow, can't bloody wait and I don't care if anyone sneers at me for not being Highly Cultural and Middle Class!

The problem with Trip Advisor, is that people that book a mountain view room always complain that they weren’t immediately upgraded to a beach front bungalow with a private pool.

AI, as with most other things in life, is a case of getting what you’ve paid for. Pay peanuts, get monkies.

On the short haul topic, if you post a list of hotels you’re considering five will get you ten that at least one MNer will have been there and can give you top tips.

Do it.
We fly to Menorca in just over 2 weeks and I can't wait to chill out by the pool, wander to the beach, shop. But not have to worry about cooking or cleaning.

do it! Mexico has amazing AI resorts!

I am a single parent and did our first all inclusive holiday last year to Tenerife and I am only wondering why we didn't do it sooner.

Go and enjoy, it really is the best and most relaxing holiday you will get as a single parent!

YABU. AI is killing resorts and local businesses.

we did Holiday Village Menorca 3 times - it's in a great location - near a beach and marina with shops and bars and there is a shop 5 mins walk away which my kids used to go to in a gan - sans adults - it was a big adventure!

gang