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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

All inclusive resort holiday

115 replies

AmenAmin · 11/06/2023 07:54

Firstly I know this sounds ungrateful. For context my children haven’t been abroad, I haven’t ever been on a package holiday. We don’t have much spare money.

An aunt has come into money and offered to book a holiday as a treat, with set ideas. Sun, abroad, all inclusive. Obviously it’s a wonderful offer and we’ve excitedly expressed gratitude. She’s wanting to book it and gift it, lovely offer:

I’ve not said anything, but now looking at some links…. are they really fun with children? Especially with limited funds to do other things? It seems a lot of extra activities, eg pool tables, will be paid and realistically children aren’t going to just sit and read all day. Is it more of an adult break? Sleeping in one hotel room, even if a family room, sounds not massively restful either (I’ve never been to a hotel, am I wrong?). I’m just a tad worried it could all be stressful. Squeezed together for a week in close proximity, stuck to a site, hot and bored kids! Just me and children of mixed ages.

Can anyone tell me what it’s really like?

OP posts:
NatMoz · 11/06/2023 07:57

It would depend on the resort and ages of the children but usually they have holiday clubs during the day where the children can get involved with various activities and you don't have to worry about food and drinks.

Others will come along with older children but we have done 1 with my 18 month old when she was 10 months and it was great, we're going again at the end of June!

7Worfs · 11/06/2023 07:58

All inclusive resorts usually have entertainment teams, and they organise games etc throughout the day plus some evening events. Some have child minding clubs.
What ages are your children?

Before she books the hotel, read the recent TripAdvisor reviews of it.

DustyLee123 · 11/06/2023 07:59

My kids always made friends and played in the pool. We like the fact that all meals are cooked and the kids can have whatever they want. And we like to chill, so no need to rush around doing things. We do always go somewhere with evening entertainment, the cheesier the better !

Curtains70 · 11/06/2023 08:00

All inclusive resorts are normally geared towards children to be honest. Also they'll just want to play in the pool all day anyway!

Snoopystick · 11/06/2023 08:00

How old are your children? if over 10 mine loved all inclusive - just mucking around with other kids, swimming, being able to explore the resort, joining in with all the free pool games etc and ordering their own drinks and food etc.

Original poster
AmenAmin · 11/06/2023 08:01

Mine are older primary age/ younger secondary age. Possibly too old for clubs?

OP posts:
KiteSirfer · 11/06/2023 08:03

I think lots is included, so evening entertainment, some pool activities.

Obviously the pool and beach are included too, so by the time you've swum/sat on a Sunday lounger/had your meals that's a lot of your day used!

I'd definitely do it if I could. No cooking or washing up! Enjoy.

DanceMumTaxi · 11/06/2023 08:03

Mine are 10 and 7 and all inclusive works well for us. The kids love being able to get a drink, ice cream or snack when they like. There’s always something everyone likes on the buffet too which is great, they just choose what they want. We usually choose a resort with water slides and different pools do the kids are never bored. And they stay up late on holiday so sleeping is fine, you don’t spend much time in the room anyway.

latelydaydreams · 11/06/2023 08:03

My kids love all inc.

Yes room sharing is a compromise.
Ice cream on tap, unlimited drinks for the kids and never having to eat something you don’t want to as the food choice is huge.
It may not be the holiday you would pick but there is plenty going on all day and the pools are generally ok.

Oysterbabe · 11/06/2023 08:03

They'll have a brilliant time playing in the pool and eating ice cream.

Lincslady53 · 11/06/2023 08:04

My favourite is Nana Beach in Crete. 7 pools some full of activities, some quiet, air conditioned rooms, 2 buffet restaurants, 3 a la carte. If you want a beer go to a tap and pour one, ice cream available all day, snacks available all day right into late at night. Entertainment for adults and kids, but also quiet areas if you don't want to indulge. We went as a couple but was very impressed with the facilites for all ages.

millymollymoomoo · 11/06/2023 08:04

They will have clubs usually fir that age group - although getting to age where they might not want t to join in

That said there’s usually lots of other daytime entertainment they can join in and mine have always made friends and had whale of a time

pus they can eat limitless amounts of ice cream etc and get drinks on tap which is worth it alone

Snoopystick · 11/06/2023 08:04

You might not want to go to Turkey, but the last all-inclusive was at Club Turban, Marmaris - that was really good for the kids and they wanted to go back the next year. If you have a look at that to give you an idea and maybe speak to a travel rep and ask for their ideas.

spurs4ever · 11/06/2023 08:05

All Inclusive is great for kids. You're not stuck to the resort if you don't want to be. Accommodation might be a little cramped but you're not likely to be in it all day.
We used to get up, go for breakfast, go for walk looking around the area then come back to the pool for the afternoon.
It's so easy not to have to watch the pennies for drinks/ice creams for the kids and usually there is plenty of choice if you have any fussy eaters.
Make sure you read all recent reviews of where you want to go before you book and if you can manage to take a couple of days out of school you'll save some cash too.
We used to take cash with us also in case we wanted to go out - we budgeted for about €80 per day which was more than enough.
Merinda Gardens in Menorca is amazing and has a great water park attached if you're looking for recommendations. Enjoy your holiday :)

Skyblue92 · 11/06/2023 08:06

AIC are great, they also have older kids clubs so they could be ages 4-8, 7-12 and a 13+ one, you sometimes get an a la carte restaurant visit included. I’d look at SplashWorld ones (tui etc) or experience more (jet2) as they have either water park access/theme park access included in the price you pay

Trainstrike · 11/06/2023 08:07

All inclusive is perfect for families, especially if you choose a resort with decent facilities or a great location. You could stay all inclusive in a resort near a theme park like Portaventura so you get theme park admission included to break up the pool days a bit.

I've found that all inclusive in Greece/Cyprus tends to have higher quality food options than those in Spain.

tanstaafl · 11/06/2023 08:08

Check out Mark Warner holidays if you want activities for kids.

MissTrip82 · 11/06/2023 08:09

Is there a pool?

Never went on holiday as a child, or as an adult with children, where a pool wasn’t the solution to everything.

WaltzingWaters · 11/06/2023 08:09

Usually the kids will just spend all day on the beach and at the pool. There’s usually activities set up for them to do. Evening entertainment. Walking around the town/area. Then if you can afford an excursion or activity to mix it up for a day and see something different that’s great. But just the pool and beach usually keeps them happy!

Theres always a big selection of foods, lots of easy options - chips, pasta, nuggets etc if the kids are fussy.

rookiemere · 11/06/2023 08:10

We did AI for the first time last year with teen DS and his pal and enjoyed it a lot more than I thought we would.

Try to find somewhere with good food - we were at Seaside Los Jameos in Lanzarote and the food was excellent- and possibly within walking distance of beach and village or resort, so you're not 100% tied to the hotel.

I'd also try to find somewhere that had separate living room area if possible for DCs so you do have a bit more room - but then I'm biased as we always got separated accommodation when away with DS.

I don't know how much input you have into choosing the holiday, but I'd try to avoid places with poor reviews.

rookiemere · 11/06/2023 08:13

Also temperature wise if it's the Summer holidays, I'd avoid Turkey and check temperatures carefully as we avoid July/August as simply too hot for us. Canaries or Balearics not so bad if you're coastal as they have a bit of a breeze and Canaries has more constant year round temperatures.

CheshireDing · 11/06/2023 08:14

We never did all inclusive when it was just DH and I but it works for us now with 3 primary aged children.

they can get a drink, snack, ice cream etc when they want

if you are in the UK and don’t want to fly too far for their first time i would highly recommend the Hotel Galeon in Ibiza, we went with Jet2 all inclusive package. Pool in the hotel and you can walk down to the beach, honestly young children are happy with that.

DurhamDurham · 11/06/2023 08:25

We did quite a few AI holidays while our girls were little and into their teens. It's a great holiday if you get the right hotel/resort.
I don't think your kids would need to sit and read all day. There are clubs, pools, games, entertainment and friends to be made.

JenniferBarkley · 11/06/2023 08:39

It was never my thing pre kids but we just did it for the first time with little ones and it was great. I would have loved it as an older child too.

As with anything, it'll depend on the hotel but you're maybe not getting much say if someone else is booking.

lndnbrdge91 · 11/06/2023 09:27

It's the only r type of holiday I do with my children 11 and 9 where I actually feel rested when I get home. The mental load is massively reduced once you arrive; no cooking, cleaning etc. we hang out by the pool and have much slower days.