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?

Absolutely love AI. we've done it twice with DC (9&6). As previous posters have said, it gets alot of stick on here for reasons unknown to me! We've been to one in majorca and one in lanzarote. We really appreciate the endless choice of snacks and good food and we just don't have to worry. Kids get great use out of the pool. The most recent trip we actually didn't leave the hotel as we were all so knackered, but the first time we used it as a base and explored.
Honestly holidaying with kids is hard so I am all about making it easier, and that means no cooking and no constant nagging.
The Holy grail is 10 days for us.

I’ve been on lots of these holidays with my kids over the years and my favourite, most relaxing place we’ve visited was Green Gardens resort in Tenerife. It’s small, friendly, and we had a house rather than all crammed into a room!

I used to love all inclusive when my kids were younger. We did loads - started with First Choice holiday villages, then started booking myself independently and experienced a variety of different standards. I'd agree that the food generally is of a poorer standard than eating out - or at least a bit samey. Quality of booze wasn't great - especially if you like to drink wine with your dinner. Could be either watered down or just plain rank. Overall, though we enjoyed them. Especially the larger ones with evening entertainment and daytime activities.

Having said that though, we've booked to go to Corfu this summer, self catering, and I'm looking forward to eating out at different places and going on more trips. I've only got my 15 year old now who wants to holiday with us, so this suits us better. When I had 3 under 10 though we all really enjoyed AI.

We went to two in Corfu. One was near Kavos and I wouldn't really recommend it. The second was in St Georges South. Not a particularly scenic resort, but the hotel was fantastic and straight on the beach, loads to do, and the kids (well adults now) still talk about what a great time we had there. Can't remember the name but there were a few pools, one with slides, seem to remember there being a lot of Russian families (not that that's a problem) and quite a few dining options. Plus we ate out of the complex a few times too just to break it up. They had fresh Baklava every single mealtime too which is always a bonus! Even breakfast.

Not been to Aska but have been to a couple of the other Lara hotels, highly recommended with young kids, the facilities are amazing.

In my experience you have to spend a LOT of money on AI before it becomes enjoyable.

Can I be nosy and ask where you are going, that's am amazing price

Me too! That's an amazing price

We've just paid 1700 for 3 self-catering in August in Corfu for a week. Ryanair flights, only priority boarding so just cabin bag. You've got a way better deal than me!

We got back last night from an AI and it will be our last. We have been to 4 and 5 star in Europe and Dubai.

I find them grim and all my child eats is cheese sandwiches and chips. We went at first to find it easier not to have to wait in a restaurant for food to arrive.

during the past week, I’ve lost weight because the food was bland and eating on several side plates was hard work. No veg or plain salad to be found.

there were hardly any staff at the one bar so the queue was long. The cocktails were premixed and not worth the sugary calories.

the number of steps I did at a meal were crazy: collecting water and drinks, side salads, child’s meal, my meal, anything extra another water as the glasses are so small.

DH likes them and doesn’t find it annoying and hard work but he was bored of the food by Day 3 so we went out for steak and cocktails.

we have a villa booked for summer and I can’t wait! To be able to choose to eat in or out, what we will eat etc. and if it’s cheese sandwiches, sausage and chips like DD has had all week then we will save a fortune. 🤣

the last week showed me that everyone likes different things from a holiday so only you know what is right for you.

PS I also work in a school so it felt like school dinners/ canteen noise a bit too much.

£5k for a week in July at the Delphin Be 2Adults, 2 Kids , booked last September! It's gone up massively over the last 6 years

Depends what you want really - I did Holiday Village Menorca (3 times as they loved it) as a single parent with 3 smallish kids and it was great - not food to worry about, buffet was really good, wide range of choice, changed daily, loads of kids activities - which meant I could relax

Now me and the youngest do Eurocamp in France and self cater - but tend to eat out anyway!

We went for a week in Rhodes, and it was lovely. 2 bed apartment so the children were in one on their own, fab water park on site, and only a 5 minute walk to the beach. There were 2 or 3 different restaurants to choose from, and we didn't have any of the queuing or busyness but that may be because we always go during term time.
I don't fancy self catering because I don't want to have to cook on holiday, and it works well with ND children as they know what to expect.
I am looking for one in June, but can't find somewhere that can fit us all in the same apartment, or a villa. We haven't been on a holiday since 2018, and there's more of us now and it's tricky to find something that ticks all the boxes.

It's got to be the Labranda in St George's South. We went self-catering there but so many people there were raving about the Labranda

For us, we prefer an apartment/villa because:

Hate sharing a room with the kids - hard/super expensive not to with AI

DS1 has food allergies so buffets feel fraught with peril rather than relaxing

Prefer going to a variety of restaurants/getting take away

We don’t do them for every holiday but we do enjoy a lazy AI now and again (just back from a week in feb half term). It’s a nice break to not have to think about it at all and easy with a 4 year old!

As with all things it depends on the resort. High end top quality resorts like Ikos or Sani are nothing like some of the beige food, drink like a fish, queues everywhere places described here. But, the price reflects that. If they are possible for you, they are ideal for large family groups or travelling with young kids. And none of the allergy worries or cheap wine worries!

Only look at 4 stars and up
Only look at the middle ranking comments, it is not the hotel’s fault if it rained, faced east, wasn’t closer to the airport, had other guests
If you enjoy a drink, your kids like ice cream etc you typically get your moneys worth
We eat out out at least once a week, and like to wander the shops, get a coffee etc
Get a hotel with beach access, not being able to get a pool chair will piss you off in the morning
Its not an AI issue re room occupancy, that’s just hotels in summer

We went to a Marbella hotel in Greece last year with our then 2yo and 11 month old - it was the Elix on mainland Greece but they have one in Corfu with a splash park. It was absolutely incredible. Not cheap but not Ikos prices.

We could afford that level of resort for a week but I would rather do something else for two weeks.

I think also it depends on what you like to do on holiday - we like to sightsee as well and while it is possible to find an AI resort where you don't have to share a room close to tourist attractions, an Airbnb is often easier

Part of a holiday for all of us is exploring places to eat so no we don't do all inclusive

We went on one AI when DDs were 11 and 14. Was Menorca and right on beach but only 2 restaurants and room was tiny with DDs on bunk beds and us in same room!! Balcony had 2 chairs.🧐
We are not big enough drinkers to make the most. Some were drinking from 11am in the sun and we are not up for that. We also like to experience other restaurants so though it was good for the DC to experience, wasn’t something we wanted to repeat.

We've been on loads of different holidays and always enjoy it but I think unless it's a really good AI, they are not really that great. I'd probably only do 5*.

Maybe you could do an apart hotel where you could get a bigger apartment but with facilities on site if you want or you could go off and eat out if you fancy. Or just have breakfast etc. At your apartment.

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

This is why we don't do all inclusive. I want my lunch and dinner served to me at a table outside. Or I quite like to sit on my own terrace with drinks and snacks like cheese olives crisps etc.

We go self catering or B&B and make sure there's restaurants and a supermarket in walking distance. Then we stock up on easy food, drinks, snacks etc. We'll eat out at least once a day, sometimes get something like a big ice cream in lieu of lunch.

A nicer experience than buffet AI but nowhere near as expensive as Ikos level AI.

It depends on what you want from a holiday. I don't want to do self catering as for me it's the same shit different place. I wouldn't want to just stay at the hotel all day everyday so wouldn't book an all inclusive as we'd have to be there for meals, unless they gave us a packed lunch as some hotels will do. I'd prefer half board as I have young children that would want breakfast, then I'd like to have the flexibility to have a day at the hotel pool or head out to explore and experience local food and then be back for kids to have dinner and a rest.

It can get a bit repetitive but on the plus side with kids they can just get drinks and snacks when they want. You don’t have to carry cash around which is a big plus. Plan to go out of the hotel fir at least one nice meal.

I love it!!!! At home am always soooo busy so on holiday I love to just relax I love waking up and there's food there's no time wasted with ordering n waiting