All inclusive resort holiday

[AmenAmin]

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?

I do all inc holidays every year with my now 14 and 16 year olds. As theyve gotten older, past around age 10, organised clubs and activities were less important to them, than places with an on site water park and arcade and pool tables in the eve. They literally go off in the pool/waterpark 75% of the time whilst i lay on a sun lounger with a cocktail and read. Ill join them in the pool for an hour or so a day, we go to the eve entertainment (though they often abandon me for the arcade), we wil go to local towns and beaches a couple of times over the week. But everyone gets the holiday they want. I get to relax and read books as i rarely get time at home, they get to go down endless water slides, lay on inflatable in the pools and play on the arcades We eat when we want, have drinks and snacks when we want. They make the perfect holiday for me an my kids.

what about a cruise?

All-inclusive is absolutely the best option for us, even now the kids are 14 & 13. Sharing a room is a compromise but there's so much scope for being as lazy or as active as you want during the day that the sleeping arrangements aren't as important as you'd think.

AI means even the fussiest eaters are catered for, with the kids having freedom to wander round and do their own thing. And very little spending money isrequired so no nasty surprises on checkout!

Most places have several pools and the kids tend to spend the majority of their time in the water. Having a waterpark onsite is a big plus if that's on the cards.

Enjoy!

I would absolutely avoid "Club Mac" though, if you search for holiday destination with activities for kids, that hell hole often comes up. Its awful. Dont do it.

We went with a 7, 15, 16 and 18 year old they all loved it. The 7 year old still talks about the friends she made. The older teens just enjoyed chilling

I know, how dare you enjoy the holiday you've worked all year to pay for!

Also the assumption that because it's All Inclusive everyone is eating 5 times more food than they would at home. I just eat and drink a normal amount but appreciate not having to think about it or clean up!

AI are perfect on a budget because you can just say yes. Can I have an icecream/drink/burger etc. Yes help yourself.

Plus always loads of other children and activities, I go on my own and there is always something going on it never seems lonely when the kids are at the kids club. Plus people that go AI tend to be more peopley iyswim. When I go away with DH we rent a villa as he is not peopley.

Blimey if my dc had never had an abroad holiday and someone offered to pay to take my and my dc on one i’d bite their hand off!
I wouldn’t choose an AI for our family holidays but Dh and I have gone on them as just a couple and they’ve been ideal as a base for us. Swim, eat, swim more, sunbathe, activities for anyone who wants to join in, quieter areas for anyone who doesn’t…. And just sun and a more relaxed pace. Just consider the other costs though, passports for anyone who might need them, airport parking, any other extras that you’d need specifically for the holiday but wouldn’t at home!

Also gives freedom to try new things. My kids tried loads of seafood because they could just have a little bit to try. I couldn't afford/justify buying a meal that they may not like.

I did it for the first time in May with 10 and 8 year old. I had reservations but it was excellent, so much for the kids to do and so many choices for food. We didn't eat any more than we usually do but the kids enjoyed free flow drinks and ice cream! We still hired a car and went out for a day. But I did go quite high end and went to a place with 2 bed bungalows on the resort and a lot of space as I don't like crowds.

You can get resorts with clubs for all sorts of things from small children, primary aged, teens and also some with adult activities too. Provided you look at the resort and facilities and make sure it fits for your family you'll have a great time.

Where are you going? We are doing AI for the first time this year but found one close enough to a town we can still get to some sites and museums. Wouldn't do one that was too remote where you are actually stuck there.

Just embrace & enjoy it. Why would you be stressing about it when it’s a free holiday & a great opportunity for your DC. Do you actually think all the children who go to AI hotels sit & read all day?

Very chivvy, but that age kids will love it .Happy kids, happy parent!

We went on our first AI holiday during the Easter holidays. We took a bit of holiday money in case we wanted to eat outside the hotel or go on trips, but we spent very little of it. The kids were more than happy hanging about the pool and getting involved in the organised activities. I was a bit worried they'd want to spend a fortune in the games room, but we gave them ten euros each for the week and that was plenty because there were so many other things to do too.

Exactly, it’s not about eating more. It’s about not having give any headspace to thinking about cooking or clearing away. Enough variety of food for everyone.

also love this idea that on an AI holiday you’re barricaded into the hotel and forbidden from leaving.

Depends on the kids. Mine hated all inclusive when we did it when they were young primary age. They aren’t the type that join games with strangers. Are yours happy to play with people they don’t know? Do they like noise? If they do, all inclusive is easier to control the cost because everything is included.

We self cater and eating out and trips out cost at least the same as the hotel and flights.

We never did AI before DC but it suits with him, get one on or near the beach with plenty of pools (bonus points if there's one with slides , double bonus if there's a spa I can slink off to at some point) , we get a two room suite so he has his own bedroom , we still hire a car and go out but lots don't. It really works with DC. He doesn't really do kids club because we've booked the holiday to spend time with him but he did a few activities on our recent trip, rock painting, a scavenger hunt, the Omni present mini disco.
Just make sure it's a good one, nothing worse than a budget AI where everything has an additional cost, food and drink are limited and poor quality. Trip advisor is your friend.

We always booked adjoining rooms as the kids got older and omg the mess they used to make was incredible, but they felt grown up and independent whilst only being next door. Could you perhaps book an extra room as it is far more relaxing.

It's the cheapest way you're going to holiday and the kids will LOVE it. Swimming, unlimited ice creams, pool and table tennis is usually free.

I would snap the holiday up if I was you.

I went on my first AI earlier this year and found for the first 3-4 days I did totally overeat because of the range of options available! I might have been better if we'd only eaten a la carte, but with so many delicious buffet options I wanted to try them all. And then there was the pizza by the pool...

If someone else is paying for the holiday, please ask them to include when they book the holiday;
Free transfer from the airport to the A1 destination & return journey to the airport
Travel insurance for all of you

I assume you will need to fund
Passports
Transport from your home to the airport & back
You will need to pay for airport parking, unless you go via taxi, train, bus

I prefer AI that are located next to a beach or town, so that you can walk along the promenade & swim in the sea & browse shops, gardens, museums.

No it doesn't have to be. Like most things, there are variations on a theme and there are some very upmarket AI resorts. As with all things it depends how much money you spend and how much research you do to get the right destination.

Does chivvy mean cheap?