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AIBU?

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Original poster

Are all inclusive holidays worth it?

266 replies

Blueisthecolour1 · 25/02/2023 18:03

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?

OP posts:
jetadore · 26/02/2023 14:08

Grumpybutfunny · 26/02/2023 11:40

We enjoy having the entertainment and facilities that come with all inclusive. We can book a 5* with slides, kids club and unlimited al carts for the same price as we would spend day going full board and paying for drinks but without the facilities. Have you looked further afield? 10 nights in the Caribbean or 14 nights in Egypt is often the same price as 7 in Europe. We really want to go back to the Greek islands but we can get Mexico for the same price!

How much are we talking, if you don’t mind me asking?

BarbaraofSeville · 26/02/2023 14:25

Aphrathestorm · 26/02/2023 13:24

There's been a cultural shift in holidays over the last 20 years.

Back then I took toddler dc abroad. S/c was the norm. I bed apt so then in bedroom me in living/kitchen.

Apt complexes had pools, restaurant, playground apparatus etc.

Local supermarket had fruit/bread etc for snacks/light meals. (No oven in apt)

Went out for lunch/and or dinner to pizza/burger type places where I knew dc would eat.

Day trips to big water parks.

I really don't see how AI would have made our holidays better.

AI is much much more expensive than the total cost of any of my s/c holidays.

(Spain/Greece)

That's pretty much what our SC holidays look like today. I don't recognise the illustration of dishing up 3 times a day and lots of cleaning. We're either lazing about, in the water or visiting museums, walking around etc

KatharinaRosalie · 26/02/2023 14:55

I am not so picky otherwise but will only do AI if it's 5* (exceptionally 4 in Kinderhotels, but DC are getting a bit old for those now. With toddlers, Kinderhotels/Familotels are amazing).
Cheap AI is shit. If you commit to stay somewhere for a week or 2, you don't want to risk cattle-style buffets for crap food, morning sunbed races, filthy pools etc. But good AI does allow me to switch off and just relax - does not necessarily mean drinkikng by the pool for a week.

stressedoutstudent · 26/02/2023 15:12

jetadore · 26/02/2023 14:03

Whenever I look at an AI/resort type holiday, prices work about 800-1000 pp for a family of 4 for anywhere that looks half decent, is that about right or am I doing it wrong?

Thats about right, but i often take advantage of child free places when booking. We have been to some amazing AI places and spent 90% of our time there, some less amazing were it was more like 20%, but still had a great time as a family, enjoying the sunshine, mooching local towns and beaches, excursion style days out etc. Just because you are AI doesnt mean you have to stay at the resort all the time, but for a few chill days of doing nothing they are great even if its not the best resort IMO

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 26/02/2023 15:19

I have been to AI once with my children and going again this year. It takes all the stress out of worrying about meals etc, or budgeting for them once there.

Silversalt · 26/02/2023 15:31

I found they were particularly good when I had teenage boys with their constant need for food. At an AI hotel they could graze, drink and eat ice cream all day (and still make the most of restaurant).
Plus they are entertained by wall to wall sports and activities.
I wish I had discovered them when DC were little. We used to go S/C and eat out. Could be tricky with hungry children when food takes an age to come and then they don't like it. Much better the instant food of AI.
As they got older we would often visit similar hotels but go B&B so we could eat out.
I wouldn't choose AI now because no DC and we don't drink enough to make it worthwhile but I will still go half board or B&B in similar hotels.

Ponoka7 · 26/02/2023 16:47

I'm pricing for 2024. The AI hotels are in slightly better locations and work out about £22 a day more. I don't cook on holiday and we don't eat cereal. So the £22 would easily be spent on breakfast, coffee and the odd drink, even none alcohol. It's worth it for us. Definitely worth it for total time off from everyday life.

Chittering · 26/02/2023 17:09

We have had good experiences of all inc food. We have had a cruise, a hotel in turkey and recently a hotel in Tenerife. All of them had excellent food and it is so easy and relaxing. The kids really loved it too. I was all over the reviews before I booked though. Bad food would have ruined it.

NewDogOwner · 26/02/2023 18:34

AbreathofFrenchair · 25/02/2023 18:32

Ideal with kids and often cheaper for us. Be warned though, they are really hated on here but lots absolutely get over excited at the opportunity to mock AI holidays and do this weird fucking faux snobby thing about how they prefer to have authentic holidays, despite often staying in the same resort but self catering!

We always pick hotels with more than one place to eat. With kids its great because if you decide to have a pool day, the snacks and drinks are unlimited.

People also have this utterly weird notion that you cannot leave the hotel for two weeks because you are AI.

My job is quite stressful and my two weeks in August is my only block time off. The rest of the year is odd days and long weekends. I spend the first 3 days relaxing and unwinding by the pool then the holiday really starts.

We've been to the same AI place for the last 4 years as its exceptional and gives a bloody brilliant base for exploring the island. As a comparison, weve got 14 nights AI, transfer, return flights, 25kg baggage each, 2 adults and 2 teens for £2400. We looked at b&b and cheapest we could get was 12 nights, transfer 20kg baggage each for £2900 plus then have to factor in money for 4 lunches, 4 diners plus drinks etc. A drink in the hotel for 2 orange juices, a pint of lager and a gin and tonic is £14 euros. Surrounding bars and cafes are of course cheaper but sometimes we like to enjoy the hotel entertainment (again, often sneered at on here)

We also spend our days exploring the area, going up the mountains, boat trips, snorkelling etc and the hotel includes a packed lunch on the AI which is often breads and tapas type food.

I don't want to go away and cook or prepare lunches and the foods in restaurants are often the same as hotels and a decent AI will change their food every day, the one we go to has themes each night, so english, indian, Spanish, Greek, Japanese, Chinese, french etc and all is beautifully cooked.

The resort we are currently using also doesnt have any English speaking staff which really winds people up and that's what gets it its bad reviews along with no tv channels being in English 😂😂

Give it a go and don't let the travel snobs put you off, who think a proper holiday is travelling to far flung countries where humans have only just been discovered and you have to hunt for your own authentic and local grubs to eat while their children live free range and off the land 😂

Show quote history

Where is this AI place? It sounds really good.

girlfriend44 · 26/02/2023 18:52

Depends if you want to be tied to the same eating place everyday.

HunterCarrie · 26/02/2023 19:51

With the kids nothing beats them. I have 2 teens that are always hungry and whenever they moan on all in I always point to them the magic bracelet (most hotels put the bracelets on arrival). Hardly spend any money while on holiday too. I Have finally gave up on organising holidays by myself with them. Book all in with aqua park and I can also get some rest. Love camping but it costs me a lot for what is on offer as they are always hungry.

KatharinaRosalie · 27/02/2023 21:02

Depends if you want to be tied to the same eating place everyday.

Last AI (Ikos) resort I went to had 8 restaurants, which is not unusual.

Lincslady53 · 27/02/2023 21:34

Have a look at Hotel Nana Beach in Crete. We had a super holiday there a few years ago.

Abraxan · 27/02/2023 21:45

They can be worth it but equally they can be busy, noisy places with cheap food and drink. You need to check what you actually get for your money.

We don't like the Ines with buffets, especially for anything other than breakfast. We've only done 2 or 3 AI over the years but will only chose ones with at least 3 or4 individual restaurants where you order al a carte, with proper bars with drinks made up, rather than cocktails from a tap, etc.

Apollonia1 · 28/02/2023 08:15

Umbrio · 25/02/2023 19:28

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.

Hi @Umbrio , do you mind saying the name of the small modern hotel in Greece with the great breakfasts?

ScreamingTree · 28/02/2023 08:26

We usually do cheao & cheerful b&b or sc if abroad, or camping in the UK. Whilst we've enjoyed every single holiday the one and only time DH and I felt truly relaxed and rested was our one and only AI holiday. It was absolute bliss. The kids club, the pools and the evening entertainment meant the DC were kept busy, and we didn't lift a finger. The family room was huge with a sliding door across the middle and the buffet food was very good with so much choice.

It was nearly 4 years ago we went but we're seriously considering gping back to the same hotel this year.

It was Rodos Princess Beach in Rhodes.

MissAmbrosia · 28/02/2023 10:22

Much prefer S/C as I am not a huge one for breakfast and hate having to be up and dressed. Would rather mooch about on a terrace with a coffee. On holidays normally we would have an "out" day with sight seeing and nice lunch and then come back and chill out. Or a beach/pool day and then get showered and go out to eat. I don't ever do much cooking - maybe if we picked something up nice from the market / bit of a BBQ sort of thing. Or get takeaway. The idea of a buffet fills me with horror. I want to be waited on and choose from a menu. When dd was younger and wanted all the pools and entertainment we did Eurocamp - 2 bed 2 bath mobiles with large terrace and air conditioning.

DuvetDownn · 28/02/2023 10:56

I like them
and only pick ones with a few different restaurants. We like to go out every other day and have a lunch out.
I love being able to try different cocktails and if I’ve been on a big day out can just have a quick meal at the buffet rather than paying out for a meal.

budgiegirl · 28/02/2023 11:08

I found they were particularly good when I had teenage boys with their constant need for food. At an AI hotel they could graze, drink and eat ice cream all day (and still make the most of restaurant).
Plus they are entertained by wall to wall sports and activities

We've done a mix of all-inclusive and villa/apartment self catering over the years. On the whole, we found that self-catering worked best when the kids were younger, with breakfast and lunch in, then evening meal out. And days just pottering about on the beach. But our children were alway fairly easy to take out for dinner, even as small children. Then we could sit by the pool/on the balcony with a glass of wine while the kids slept later in the evening.

But once they were teenagers, and ate everything in sight, then all-inclusive was definitely the way to go.

LlynTegid · 28/02/2023 11:23

Would never do one myself, but I can understand the attraction of never having to find somewhere else to eat and knowing your spend with certainty.

Mayonaiseislife · 28/02/2023 12:04

We really love them, family of 5 with 3 young DCs.

We dont drink alot of alcohol but for the food, snacks and general convenience of it we really enjoy them.

I must note we only book 4 or 5 star. I look for ones that have a la carte restaurants also so its mixed up a bit and we probably eat out around 2 - 3 times also.

Have a look at the First Choice holiday Villages, we went to them Pre covid, specifically the cyprus one and absolutely loved it. The 1 bed apartments in the fishing village part are huge.

Nolongera · 28/02/2023 12:34

Love AI in Spain, bingo, chips, kids club and karaoke, but not in Greece, would rather have a "normal" holiday.

Wish I had discovered Greece sooner.

Cornelious2011 · 28/02/2023 12:40

We did several of the holiday villages when dc was younger. Rhodes and menorca were fab. Menorca we had a 1 bed apartment. When dc are small it's such an easy holiday. Kids clubs, several pools, several restaurants, night entertainment (that ends at 11.30 so not noisy).

GettingStuffed · 28/02/2023 13:09

I wouldn't do all inclusive in Greece , they kill local communities as they tend not to use local labour, except for the very low paid staff and take trade away from the bars & restaurants that were set up when most people went B&B or self-catering.

We've done AI in Tunisia and the DR both of these were set up as AI from the start so haven't damaged local infrastructure.

Next year we're looking at a big family holiday AI in either Mexico or the DR and they're cheaper than the Med

Funkyslippers · 28/02/2023 14:27

Aqualand ismn Corfu is great, 1 bed apartments right next to a waterpark. We used to go for the first and last hour of the day when it's quiet. This year though we're going to Barut B Suites in Turkey but as the kids are older we're going for 2 X 1 bedroom apartments. A bit of privacy for everyone! Great reviews too. Ticked every box for us