Are all inclusive holidays worth it?

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Just throwing it out there - I got excited and went online to book an all-inclusive holiday in Corfu next May half-term. Spent ages looking at various hotels - it's a once in a decade thing, for us so a really one-off opportunity. BUT:

Can't find many AI hotels that offer a family room with adequate space or number of rooms. Don't want to spend thousands of pounds to sleep in the same room as my two children for a week (ages 9 and 5.) I've got a better set up at home - i.e. at least one or two doors between me and them at bedtime!

Trip Advisor reviews - they really freak me out. Especially as every hotel has bad ones it would seem, which is to be expected I suppose however, a pattern of comments around the buffet-type food halls which in general, people seem to dislike after day 3 - one person describing them as cattle-sheds! Lots of complaints in general about food being under-cooked, and lots of queuing for the buffet. Clearly, you get great reviews as well but there does seem to be a theme to some of the concerns.

Lots of reviews complaining about other people - their mess, their noise, again, the queuing and overcrowding of certain favourite areas, like splash parks/play areas.

For the money, is it worth it? I know there's always a mix of opinion on these things but themes do seem to crop up with the all-inclusive topic and it's made me nervous about booking something. Some of them seem absolutely huge in terms of their layout as well - does it get a bit tedious having to make the same journey to get a bite to eat in the morning with young children, then perhaps queuing for ages to get to the buffet table? Then again at lunch, and again at dinner - some people seem to wait ages to get seated at mealtimes by which time the kids are grumpy, overtired, fed up.

I looked on Booking.com to see what properties are available for the location we're interested in and you can get a lovely 3 or four bedroom flat right by the beach for half the price - self-catering obviously. But no kid's clubs, no fun splash park, and all the easy wonders of an all-inclusive environment - IF that's what it is!!! I just don't know!

What are other's experiences opinions on this?

Yes they are amazing with kids but you get what you pay for!

AbreathofFrenchair could you let me know the details of your AI holiday please? Sounds great!

@AbreathofFrenchair please can you also tell me where you holiday is?! Sounds perfect!! Thanks!!

I think Greece/Green islands are not supposed to be so good for AI. Not many offer it.

I went to an Egyptian AI with access to I believe 6 different themed sit down a la carte table service restaurants (Chinese, Mexican, Egyptian, Indian, Greek, Vegi/Vegan/Healthy) and a Steakhouse for an additional supplement - on top of the standard buffet dining area with different themes and chef stations open every evening. Buffet breakfast and lunch with chef omelette station etc. Free hot snacks e.g. burgers, hotdogs, chips all day. Free ice cream.

Kids club in day and kids evening entertainment until about 8/9. Adult entertainment ran in separate locations alongside and until later - lots of it still kid friendly e.g. beach party with a fire dancing show. Animation team doing daytime activities such aqua aerobics suitable for all, yoga, beach games etc.

Waterpark and kids pools in the sister hotel next door which you can access without leaving the site, just walk through.

All alcohol included - non brand spirits and local beer. All tasted fine and the cocktails regardless of how cheap the spirits are taste all the better sat on a lounger by the pool.

Highly recommend it!

We went half board last summer on a cheap deal with DDs 4 and 1. We ended up spending much more time by the pool than planned and I loved going to the buffet in the evening and just putting whatever I fancied on my plate rather than having to go out and find a restaurant then look at a menu and decide what I wanted to eat. It sounds ridiculous written down like that but it meant I could actually, properly relax. We thought about upgrading to AI when in the resort but it wasn’t really worth what they were charging. We are hoping to do an AI holiday in the next couple of years though as DH and I both said it would be perfect with small DC. Next year’s prices really high though!!

Well i've just looked up these Ikos resorts and 2 adults and 2 children for summer 2023 is only going to set us back £24,000 with a free child place, flights not included.

Bargain.

The key with AI is to find the perfect hotel so it is a gamble, when we do other types of holiday I will go for budget hotels and cheap food as we are moving around, but when you're at an AI for a week it's so important (to me at least) that it feels clean, luxurious and entertaining so I want to stay there!

If I was on a budget I would do a villa type holiday, budget AI wouldn't work for me. We have been back to the one we like multiple times, just when we want sun, nice pools and good food, we know and trust the hotel so we go back. We do more travel type breaks, and in very good at doing those on a strict budget and am not as fussy.

It's great if you have kids because of ice cream soft drinks etc . Plus you don't have to take loads of money it's all been paid for . The alcohol is not full strength and the staff watch your drinking. They don't want drunk people everywhere. The only thing I dislike is that some people's eyes are bigger than their bellies . The amount of waste is disgusting. I've seen people take one sip of a drink or one bite of something and just leave it . Some people just pile their plates and leave half of it. Most of the food is fine and can be very healthy, local fruit , salad , vegetables and fish

I think Greece/Green islands are not supposed to be so good for AI. Not many offer it.

Eh?? Some of the best AI are in Greece; Rhodes, Kos, Crete to name a few.

We love AI , haven't been to a bad one yet . I do a lot of research and have always got value for money I feel . I like the fact we don't have to save up spending money too, just take a bit of money for a couple of trips .

Go on a med cruise. Mostly AI (for excursions you can DIY most of them) and the kids clubs are fantastic on them.

Depends on what you enjoy. I go alone with 3 teens, all inc works well, i usually book somewhere with a waterpark. I can lay by a pool with earphones in reading worrying about nothing, kids can go off in the safety of the complex, have drinks and snack when they want, meals are easy no decisions on where to eat and when, they like the entertainment and arcades in the evening. We usually arrange a couple of day trips, but they are more than happy with a pool ice-cream and waterslides and I'm happy in my own little haven. Wort every penny for a week of stress free no decisions to be made bliss for me. But not for everyone

There are some lovely AI hotels where the restaurants serve a huge variety of really good food and there are enough ‘stations’ that queuing is minimal and only for food that is cooked to order like eggs pancakes or steaks. There are others that really are little a cattle market both in terms of experience and quality of food.

We stayed at one cheap AI once and didn’t end up saving any money because the food was so awful we ended up eating out twice a day, but nicer ones have been amazing, and great for children. They loved being able to go and get their own ice creams or drinks when they wanted and I appreciated no cooking and no clearing up.

Unless you drink excessively I wouldn't in Corfu anyway, as it's pretty cheap and the food in the multitude choice of restaurants in my experience is absolutely superb! And if you book independently I.e. flights and apartment/hotel you can some really good deals

It’s like anything, it depends what you want and what your kids are into. My DD still talks about AI holidays we did as the best thing ever, so we’re going again this year as a treat.

For fussy children they’re great - if they want pasta and cheese every night it’s fine, and there’s more variety for adults. Also the entertainment/kids club is good if you’ve got a kid who likes that stuff. DD is an only so having the chance to play with other kids is perfect for her and we get to relax whilst she’s there. She is also a child that loves being in the pool for hours so again perfect for us to have those facilities there. A villa pool is usually smaller so can’t just bob about as much. But I know some kids who’d hate having to go to kids club etc, all depends on your situation.

Don’t think we’d go AI as a couple maybe? But happy kid is happy holiday for us!

No I always go out for breakfast and late tea .went all inclusive once and food was horrible when the first time I went to Tenerife.

I’ve just booked an ai for myself and kids in Spain this year. I’m a single parent, my kids pre-teens. No way am I self catering and doing what I do everyday at home, on holiday! I’m sure we’ll leave the hotel at points, but knowing I don’t need to save a load a load of money for eating out and budget everyday and finding places to eat or a supermarket.

Yes to Ikos! Excellent quality, good range of food offerings and a great kids club.

Never done it and never will. Kids are now adults. I hate the idea of a buffet and wristbands and eating all your meals in one place.

Why not google a nice small hotel with a pool in a decent village in corfu and have control over your meals and activities. Pick somewhere with great tripadvisor reviews! .

We did AI when are DS’ were little, as there was always a meal, snack or ice cream available for them. AI vary greatly in quality, we have had brilliant ones, and no so good, so check tripadvisor for current reviews, to save disappointment. We often chose to have some meals out too. Once our DS got older we found hiring a villa with a private pool was better, more space. Have a great holiday.

My DH who is normally not that observant about others eating moaned half the dinners about this. How disgusting behaviour. It actually surprised me.
Some people were absolutely ridiculous with how much they left. And no, it was not bad food

Everything said here!
It worked out WAY cheaper for us than if we'd done it all independently (we've done 2 AI holidays). The first one was a budget one which was v v cheap and pretty basic, but also meant we had some leftover money for going out for meals etc.
The second was a more expensive TUI one which was great. Multiple restaurants on site which were all fantastic, really good drinks (not watered down ones etc), we paid extra for a bigger suite. Worked out at about £100 each (per adult) per day which for the room + food + plane tickets was v reasonable. This was pre covid though.

We've been on 2 AI holidays when DC was younger. I wouldn't do it again. The food isn't great, it's just not a great experience. In my opinion.

We go to an AI resort in Crete. It is great. They do connecting rooms for families as well as bigger suite type rooms with two seperate rooms. Resort is called Kiani Beach resort. It has two outdoor pools, indoor pool as well as being right on the beach. There is two AI restaurants as well as another restaurant. It is not a huge resort but is lovely. It has a kids club.

Never done it and never will. Kids are now adults. I hate the idea of a buffet and wristbands and eating all your meals in one place.

The one we went to was AI only so no wrist bands. It had several A la carte restaurants too, we only really did buffet for lunch and that was delicious anyway. The restaurants ranged from Chinese through to local speciality. You have plenty of control assuming you select the hotel carefully, the one we like is the size of a small town! Beach, water park and water sports. We always explore outside as well too though, we either eat out or take a packed lunch from the hotel.