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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:
PinkCherryBlossoms · 04/08/2023 13:07

I suspect the sweet spot for AI value is probably DC who are old enough to be eating adult sized portions, but still young enough for free kids places.

CloudyMcCloud · 04/08/2023 13:12

We do resorts, sometimes half board as the lunch part isn’t that key

The more important part is that it’s nice, so 5* and with decent kids club

I know it’s not a demanding holiday but that’s why I like it, really relaxing

ChazsBrilliantAttitude · 04/08/2023 13:15

We’ve done a few AI holidays and they are great for what they are. I didn’t want the hassle of self catering after a tough couple of months juggling work and study. The last one worked well with teens as they are like bottomless pits for food at the moment. They could join us at breakfast when they emerged and get drinks and snacks when they wanted (and none of it was my responsibility).

Esmereldapawpatrol · 04/08/2023 13:17

The best AI we have done was to Rhodes in Kiotori bay (I think this was near the area hit by fires but should be okay for next year). Room was almost like a flat on two levels so plenty of space, food etc was amazing, kids club, ice cream parlour. It was amazing. I think with young children AI is great as everything is available when you need it.

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 04/08/2023 13:19

PinkCherryBlossoms · 04/08/2023 13:07

I suspect the sweet spot for AI value is probably DC who are old enough to be eating adult sized portions, but still young enough for free kids places.

This is true money wise.

Theres also an AI sweet spot of kids who are old enough to go up to a buffet themselves without it being unhygienic and inconvenient to others for them to do so, who can carry their own pool stuff about, who can be in the pool with you supervising from the side, can make friends and wander off with them within a safe resort etc.

But aren’t old enough to be bored out of their brains by it, desperately embarrassed to even have parents in the same time zone as them etc

So a sort of 8-13/14 ish age group (8 bottom end because of the swimming pool element)

Ginmonkeyagain · 04/08/2023 13:22

That's the key isn't it - like an all you can wat buffet - will you get best value. For us most definitdly not most of the time.

However Mr Monkey runs marathons abroad a lot and for those he often books an all inclusive or half board for at least the night before the marathon as he does not want to be worring about finding somwhere to eat the evening before and the morning of the marathon. And pre marathon he can lay waste to a breakfast buffet. That said I have never seen anything like the Spanish family at the hotel we were in in Seville. They were literally lying in wait for staff to replenish the breakfast buffet and then descended like a plague of locusts.

TrianglePlayer · 04/08/2023 13:22

We’ve done AI for years with our kids. It’s always been brilliant. We all have big appetites so it means we do get good value for money. We’ve been fortunate to be able to book really good quality hotels so food standard has been exceptional. Kids still loving it now and we’re on about year 13.

saltinesandcoffeecups · 04/08/2023 13:23

I’ve only done adult only AI, but I love them. I think the ones that mentioned the Caribbean and Mexico were right I don’t recognize some of the descriptions here (a siren calling everyone to meals WTF😲, I wouldn’t like that at all). But I do agree that you generally get what you pay for.

They are an easy holiday, a true ‘switch your brain off’ experience which quite frankly I need.

All that said if budgets allow…I can’t recommend Sandals (or Beaches) highly enough. Extremely clean, great food, lots of included activities, top shelf liquor, the absolute best resort staff, and great locations.

Nodramabanana · 04/08/2023 13:27

WE've been on a few and they have thier time and place. It's very easy with small kids. But choice of hotel is everything. If you are going to get bored of average food on day 2 and spend lots of money eating out it's definitely not worth it.

For us we could probably do it cheaper without (as we don't drink a lot), but the convenience factor is sometimes worth it, if that's the type of holiday we are after. If you go for a really big hotel that has pool snack bars, and lots of resturants (and kids club!) it can be amazing as you literally don't have to think about anything practical.

RoyalImpatience · 04/08/2023 13:30

@MrsBennetsPoorNerves.. It's do get that side esp busy job don't want too think much etc.

We have a budget for each day on the holiday and never even on lean times not had enough to buy the drinks and ice cream... I totally get the mindless total relaxing side of ai.

If I could get the really expensive ones I would definitely try it for that aspect.. ... But as a more budget option I don't buy it..

PinkCherryBlossoms · 04/08/2023 13:31

RoyalImpatience · 04/08/2023 13:30

@MrsBennetsPoorNerves.. It's do get that side esp busy job don't want too think much etc.

We have a budget for each day on the holiday and never even on lean times not had enough to buy the drinks and ice cream... I totally get the mindless total relaxing side of ai.

If I could get the really expensive ones I would definitely try it for that aspect.. ... But as a more budget option I don't buy it..

It worked out cheaper than half board for us, and would do also for B and B. YMMV.

RoyalImpatience · 04/08/2023 13:32

Cheaper than what though? What's the comparison?

The prices I've glanced at are always way above whatever we would pay for all septate?

MrsBennetsPoorNerves · 04/08/2023 13:33

RoyalImpatience · 04/08/2023 13:30

@MrsBennetsPoorNerves.. It's do get that side esp busy job don't want too think much etc.

We have a budget for each day on the holiday and never even on lean times not had enough to buy the drinks and ice cream... I totally get the mindless total relaxing side of ai.

If I could get the really expensive ones I would definitely try it for that aspect.. ... But as a more budget option I don't buy it..

No, I wouldn't do it as a budget option either. We are fortunate in that we can afford the slightly nicer ones, and for me, it's worth it. Like you say, it's the mindless, relaxing aspect of not even having to think about a budget because everything is already paid for! I just love being able to switch off completely!

PinkCherryBlossoms · 04/08/2023 13:35

RoyalImpatience · 04/08/2023 13:32

Cheaper than what though? What's the comparison?

The prices I've glanced at are always way above whatever we would pay for all septate?

Cheaper than when we did half board. As I say, ymmv, but this is our experience.

tellmewhentheLangshiplandscoz · 04/08/2023 13:43

In the past we've always found AI not much more than doing it as separate elements. I drink water by the gallon on holiday and that alone where we've just been can easily clock up to €5 per person. Just for bottled water. Then many restaurants add a cover charge of €1.5/2 per person. Per meal. So that's almost €10 a head a day before you've factored in a crumb.

Quality absolutely varies but it can be very cost effective especially compared to a week in a sun standard cottage in the uk. I for one have found it blissful wearing a bikini all day and then just a light dress for dinner. No coat or brolly. > looks out window at yet more uk rain <

RoyalImpatience · 04/08/2023 14:31

It depends on half board though doesn't it.

I've honestly never been able to afford ai at all.

It's just colleagues and others who always complain of low money go on package holidays for eye watering sums

I couldn't understand it.

I don't know what ymmmhgg means.

RoyalImpatience · 04/08/2023 14:32

@tellmewhentheLangshiplandscoz

What's a sun standard cottage?

UK holidays I find extortionate.

tellmewhentheLangshiplandscoz · 04/08/2023 14:37

Sorry meant sub standard.

If I'm going to pay eye watering prices to stay in the uk the threshold starts at "must be equally as nice as my house". Grin

GiddyGladys · 04/08/2023 14:44

People chat such shit on here. As if a siren goes off for food.

We love AI but only go 5* adults only, a la cartes etc and still go out to eat several times during our stay. Most chilled holidays ever.

TrianglePlayer · 04/08/2023 15:48

Nodramabanana · 04/08/2023 13:27

WE've been on a few and they have thier time and place. It's very easy with small kids. But choice of hotel is everything. If you are going to get bored of average food on day 2 and spend lots of money eating out it's definitely not worth it.

For us we could probably do it cheaper without (as we don't drink a lot), but the convenience factor is sometimes worth it, if that's the type of holiday we are after. If you go for a really big hotel that has pool snack bars, and lots of resturants (and kids club!) it can be amazing as you literally don't have to think about anything practical.

Of all the AI holidays we’ve been on the food hasn’t been average. It’s been superb. We’ve been very lucky though. Even the 3 star place I went to earlier in the year had really good quality food and a decent selection.

Mademetoxic · 04/08/2023 15:58

GiddyGladys · 04/08/2023 14:44

People chat such shit on here. As if a siren goes off for food.

We love AI but only go 5* adults only, a la cartes etc and still go out to eat several times during our stay. Most chilled holidays ever.

Why only 5? There's some lovely places I've stayed in which are 2 (not all inclusive tho) the staff have always been great, good entertainment. What difference does the stars make...

In regards to all inclusive, I guess it depends what holiday you're after really. I've never been, I just would feel I would get fed up with the food.
Each to their own though.

KatharinaRosalie · 04/08/2023 16:01

There's some lovely places I've stayed in which are 2(not all inclusive tho) the staff have always been great, good entertainment. What difference does the stars make...

If you pay for all inclusive, you want to have a reasonable chance that the hotel is decent and food is edible. with 5star, that's usually the case - some better, some worse, but I haven't had total unacceptable horrors. with 2 stars, you could find a hidden gem, you could not.

Mademetoxic · 04/08/2023 16:02

KatharinaRosalie · 04/08/2023 16:01

There's some lovely places I've stayed in which are 2(not all inclusive tho) the staff have always been great, good entertainment. What difference does the stars make...

If you pay for all inclusive, you want to have a reasonable chance that the hotel is decent and food is edible. with 5star, that's usually the case - some better, some worse, but I haven't had total unacceptable horrors. with 2 stars, you could find a hidden gem, you could not.

I haven't done all inclusive at all. I wouldn't rule it out but for me personally it's not what I would like from a holiday.

I go off reviews from trip advisor/Google before booking. Not off the star rating.

Ginmonkeyagain · 04/08/2023 16:06

And surely the star rating is about the services they offer, not how nice a hotel is.

Ginmonkeyagain · 04/08/2023 16:07

We stayed at a 2 star hotel recently, it was fine. There was breakfast, we didn't have it but other guests seemed happy.

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