Are all inclusive holidays worth it?

[Blueisthecolour1]

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?

We’ve done it in Crete. I wouldn’t have done it before we had kids but it’s great with little ones. Just takes all the stress out as they can have as many drinks and ice creams as they want and you don’t have to faff around paying for stuff.

Corfu is the kind of place where eating out locally is so reasonably priced and absolutely superb quality.
That's why AI (unless in ££££ resort) is generally perceived as not good in comparison in places like this.

I've visited corfu about 30 times (and taken holidays elsewhere too). It's a beautiful island and you should definitely put some money aside and venture out for a meal or two and maybe even a boat trip to corfu town if you'restaying elsewhere. We always book a self catering hotel with a pool and then explore the nearby towns for our meals and activities.

Yes - only if you do an Ikos!

I prefer half board, so you get breakfast and evening meal, pay your way on alcohol, and sort out your own lunch.

Generally it works out much cheaper.

Several reasons:
I'd rather buy less alcohol but not drink the basic wine given as part of All In (it can be okay - or very headache inducing for me!)

It feels too much to have three full meals a day, so we go out to a local taverna for snacks, or just a local bread shop and make up sandwiches for lunch.

But it depends on how far you are from a local village. Some hotel complexes are in the middle of nowhere so it's tricky to not be All in. But if you can mix it up with some local food, you get the best of both. Lots of relaxation but a bit of variety and local experiences

We prefer to just pay for an Airbnb apartment so we have separate rooms, and eat in different local restaurants each night.
Different strokes for different folks and all that but you don't seem to like the AI concept.

Basically with AI you get what you pay for, you pay for a superior one and you may get a choice of restaurants maybe. Yo get separate rooms/suite you'll be paying big bucks

This all depends upon why you want to go all inclusive?

Also you mention concerns about rooms

If your budget is good enough you could easily go to a hotel with a separate bedroom and a wonderful AI option - think cancun

However you do get what you pay for so I’m afraid if you don’t have a decent amount then you will have to adjust your expectations and accept there might be queues, repetitive food, and your budget will reflect that of those holidaying with you

What is your budget? 5k should get you something decent

I wouldn't do AI in the Eu ever again add I've had nothing but awful experiences but I do love AI Iin Turkey, Tunisia and Egypt.

Yes just to add OP, on the Tui website at least, what you do is search the holiday then when on the hotel of your choice you choose the room options, some/many of them offer 2 bedroom suites, so you're only booking "one room" unlike when you're booking for other types of breaks where you book a number of rooms. Our last one had its own corridor with bathroom and 2 bedrooms coming off it. Worked out about £500 more for the week, so not double but an upgraded room type.

We've been AI three times when the kids were little. First time was Tunisia. The food and drinks were actually fantastic as we picked a hotel aimed at French people who have higher standards than your average Brit and there were a few a la carte restaurants included. I hated Tunisia though.

Next one was in Greece. Again there were a few a la cartes included and it was a lovely place. I remember it being within walking distance of Kos Town as lots of them are in the middle of nowhere.

Last one which put us off for life was a Holiday Village in Mallorca. The actual hotel was lovely with great rooms and fairly good entertainment. Cava was delicious. Unfortunately the food was shite and the shuttle bus was full of guests heading into Cala Millor to eat out. I took my own box of cornflakes to breakfast as even that was terrible. One highlight was when they'd made Paella but substituted noodles for the rice 😖

The prices have increased so much now that for a decent one you're talking 5k plus for two adults and two kids in school hols so I'd never consider it again as you could get a lovely villa or apartment for that and have lovely meals out.

We've booked a lovely little modern hotel in Greece this year which brings breakfast to your room and apparently there's so much that there's enough for lunch too! We only paid 1800 for a week so plenty left over for meals out and trips. We aren't people who need to socialise on holiday though. My friend goes all Inc as they love the entertainment and meeting other couples which totally is not my thing.

We have booked all inclusive but will be going out for meals too. Overall it definitely works out cheaper- even if we just have breakfast, snacks, alcoholic drinks and the odd lunch.
I wouldn’t be able to stay in an all inclusive for every single meal for 7 days though! Although I know some people that love doing that and not going out of the complex.

Have been AI twice, both times in lanzarote:

1st:Relaxia at Easter. AI, 3 pools and access to a water park. Yes, we enjoyed it, but you become conditioned to structuring your day around feeding time at the zoo.

Lazlo s Bell sirens and all the guests trot off to be fed, 3 times a day.

Everyone eats too much, and you are stuck at the hotel, so sucked into all hotel activities.

But for us, that week, it was enjoyable and luxurious, and I first time, new experience.

2:Los Zokos - timing middle of the pandemic, so weird in general. Anyway we DIDN'T go AI, however we could buy the AI package by the day. I thought this was better, could decide if you wanted to do AI for one day, and go do something else the next day

Overall the food is good, but it reminds me of being in a boarding school, everyone lines up for meals. It suits people that are very food focused......

If you dislike routine, then do do thing else.

I prefer having a kitchenette and having the option to eat in or out.

@AbreathofFrenchair which hotel have you booked? We have had a lovely time in AIs in the Balerics

More importantly May half term is often only just warm enough in Greece for a beach holiday. Sea and pools can be a little chilly

I was a total snob about AI until we actually tried one (Neilson) .... it was wonderful. . Obviously you get what you pay for and ours wasn't the cheapest but with a teenager (only DC) who loves sports and being with other teenagers it was fantastic, DH could do all the cycling & exploring he wanted & I could relax by the pool. Delicious food and nice, friendly people.

We have 4dc 2 of whom are fussy eaters. AI is the only way we holiday. That doesn’t mean we don’t go out to a local taverna and eat. But the constant rounds of can I have a drink, I’m hungry is too much to bear self catering-it’s my holiday too!

We are a regular at a lovely family run AI hotel in Cyprus. We love that place and the food is great.

We visit Turkey a lot and always do HB, the AI places tend to be big and flash and out of town so that means a cab or bus etc to see other places and we like to walk a lot. Did AI to Ibiza once, it was super cheap last minute offer but food was dire and it was expensive to eat out instead. Did AI once to Mombassa and food was lovely, all local dishes and spicey which we loved, we have family over there but rarely stay but did go over for dinner etc.

We've always liked them and found them great value for money. Dh is superb at finding fab cheap AI deals.

For me, yes. But I'd be the one cooking and entertaining DC if we didn't go AI and I flat out refuse to deal with the stress of packing and travelling for "same shit, different location".

There is a time and a place for them for sure. If it's just DP and I then we love heading out to find places to eat, trying local stuff and having an adventure.

With children in tow, it's so much easier that they can just eat what they want and when and you don't have to worry about fussy eaters.

We love an AI holiday for our extended family holiday. Always school summer holidays, always Tui always 4.5 on Trip Advisor. We fill in all the things we want then choose. Strangely Ikos didn't come up as a suggestion - not that we'd pay that anyway.

Costa Adeje Be-Live La Nina

Also done a few in Benidorm Old Town which gets a bad rep but you barely bump into another Brit! Again, all Spanish staff in hotels and lovely food and on the beach front

I'm in Tenerife as we speak all inclusive, have been here a week tomorrow and can honestly say I've enjoyed every meal and the experience has been great, expensive coffee machine on tap and pop etc for my daughter, I always book 4 or 5 star, keep looking and you'll find a place you are happy with - even the best places you will always get someone who moans on the internet

I did it once - we really needed a proper break and my husband had always fancied it so did give it a go. The food was ok - choice varied quite a bit but it wasn't amazing and you were always eating in the same location except for the two dinners included at separate restaurants onsite (which weren't that different from the normal buffet). The booze was not great quality, but with a four yr old we weren't drinking much anyway. She loved the splash park and other stuff, but tbh I felt really claustrophobic. We were in Cyprus, but could have been anywhere. Not something I want to repeat, although I know other folk love it! I much prefer self catering and exploring local restaurants. I know some folk who swear by the super high end AI places, but I just don't think it's for me.

Only if you’re a boozer.

Book a 2 bed apartment and go out for lovely Greek food.