Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Is all inclusive food actually good or just cheap and easy?

191 replies

roses2 · 02/08/2025 08:12

I'm currently at a 5* all inclusive for a few days in the Mediterranean. It had amazing reviews. But the food is so bland and not good quality and no comparison at all to local restaurants.

This is the second all inclusive I've stayed in and the first was similar. I've decided all inclusive isn't for me.

Why do people rave so much about the great food? Is it just because the food is there and you're not looking at the price tag?

OP posts:
Pieceofpurplesky · 02/08/2025 12:44

I've had good and bad. Not a fan of AI but when the kids were little it was perfect. Went last year with friends and the food was the best I've ever had abroad! Hadn't done AI for about 10 years but would do again just based on the food there!

MrsCarson · 02/08/2025 13:00

I've only been to one AI hotel that had awful food, it was 5* too.
All the others I've been to had lovely food. They had a man cooking steaks one night, or slicing roasts etc each night was different and you just had to add what sides you wanted at the buffet. Mornings were fresh cooked eggs to order not dried out left in a warmer tray, and salmon and fresh fruit and bagels etc
It's seems to be the luck of the draw unfortunately.

florathedress · 02/08/2025 13:27

We had a exclusive at a Turkish hotel that was out of this world, But then we went to a Spanish one where it was awful and we had to eat out every day anyway
Very much potluck

TheIceBear · 02/08/2025 13:34

In my opinion one of the main enjoyable things about going abroad is choosing local restaurants and trying out new ones every night. I usually book an apartment and make a simple meal for my child before we go out then he can just have chips or an ice cream or whatever in the restaurant. I find hotel food is usually crap but there are exceptions.

diterictur · 02/08/2025 14:05

I think one of the things that happens is that if you get used to one type of holiday, that's what your kids adjust to.

We have rarely done AI so my kids don't expect unlimited ice creams, drinks, hot chocolates etc on holiday so it's not a particularly big deal. I can see that if your kids are used to that, they'll be a pain if you take them on a different type of holiday

FalseSpring · 02/08/2025 16:40

Club Med food in France is definitely the best AI food that I have eaten, but then it's not aimed at the British market.

Twilightstarbright · 02/08/2025 16:55

The AI I went to last month had lovely food- lots of veggie options like bean casserole, quinoa with roasted veg etc. the reviews consistently said how good the food was and it was correct.

We went to a 3star AI in May half term for a wedding and the food was horrible. It’s a hotel that offers everything from SC, HB to AI and its competing with great restaurants outside and was just cheap unhealthy crap.

EfficientWordsmith · 02/08/2025 18:25

The food at the RIU chain is brilliant

FeetLikeFlippers · 02/08/2025 18:53

I genuinely clicked on this to find out WTF “inclusive food” is and whether or not all of it is good! #whypunctuationmatters (That’s not a criticism btw, it’s just that I’m neurodivergent and tend to read things literally.)

Moorethemerrier · 02/08/2025 19:13

It definitely depends on how much you’re willing to spend on your holidays. the first AI I took with my now husband and 2 kids when we were early 20s we booked a holiday village type holiday and the food was awful. After 3 days we were fed up with the same school dinner style trays and reheated food we went out to eat! Now we spend a little more on the AI the quality of the food increases. Freshly prepared, many options, good quality. It’s like anytime you get what you pay for.

AvidJadeShaker · 02/08/2025 19:22

I find Turkey has the best food for short haul all inclusives.

I always enjoy the breakfasts, eating lunch outside and I look for hotels with restaurants on the beach. I then eat out every 2 or 3 evenings.

I am more than happy with some protein, rice and lots of different salad for lunch and dinner and most importantly a nice view so all inclusive works really well for me.

Lincslady53 · 02/08/2025 19:40

The problem with buffet food, is you tend to put a bit of lots of things on the plate. If you can control yourself and choose just stuff that goes together it is often better. At a hotel in Mallorca the food didn't look that appetising, but it was mainly food, that if portions had been served in little pottery bowls it would have been a good tapas meal. It was very tasty. This year we had a couple of weeks BnB in Greece. Lots of restaurants, at all price levels in the town. The problem we found was every restaurant served huge portions. In the second week we had a couple of nights with no meal cos we were stuffed, just an ice cream and pastry from the bakery. At least in a hotel buffet you can choose how much to eat. We usually go to adult only hotels now we are older, and it always makes me laugh that they all seem to have a selection of haribo with the desserts which are v popular.

Charltonstrek · 02/08/2025 19:42

roses2 · 02/08/2025 08:12

I'm currently at a 5* all inclusive for a few days in the Mediterranean. It had amazing reviews. But the food is so bland and not good quality and no comparison at all to local restaurants.

This is the second all inclusive I've stayed in and the first was similar. I've decided all inclusive isn't for me.

Why do people rave so much about the great food? Is it just because the food is there and you're not looking at the price tag?

I agree I went all inclusive in Turkey and food was substandard not of decent quality not enough choice and cheaply made.

TheAfterGlow841 · 02/08/2025 19:42

Over the years

Worst AI
Cuba due to not much choice, however there was always something that we could eat. The local supermarket had very few items in it too. Not like supermarkets in UK with a million choices.
The people were friendly though.
Politics of Cuba

Best AI
Cyprus in December,pre Xmas, huge hotel with only about 10% occupied. The hotel still cooked everything, massive choices of excellent quality food.

Indonesian island
Stayed on a small island & I was a little worried about what food would be served. The food was excellent some Western & some local.

Various
I have seen champagne on offer at more than one hotel for breakfast !
I have not drunk the 🥂 because we normally go exploring

I do have concerns that AI kills off the local, small family restaurants & businesses, so I do travel independently too.

Bellyblueboy · 02/08/2025 19:52

I have never had fabulous food at AI - all five star.

sometimes the local fish is good -but in general the food is usually overcooked, reheated and bland. Deserts have always been good though - basic but tasty and the fruit has always been excellent.

we did AI when there were small children in the fanily. Would never do it now.

Sally20099 · 02/08/2025 20:05

roses2 · 02/08/2025 08:12

I'm currently at a 5* all inclusive for a few days in the Mediterranean. It had amazing reviews. But the food is so bland and not good quality and no comparison at all to local restaurants.

This is the second all inclusive I've stayed in and the first was similar. I've decided all inclusive isn't for me.

Why do people rave so much about the great food? Is it just because the food is there and you're not looking at the price tag?

We stay at an all inclusive called IKOS - 90% of people eat at the a la carte options for breakfast, lunch and dinner and it’s amazing. Try there maybe next time. It’s on the higher side of prices but worth every penny.

MissAvainthesun · 02/08/2025 20:26

We’ve been to two 5 star resorts in Mexico (without kids) and the Bahamas (with kids) and they were out of this world. Not been to AI in Europe/ this side of the world would like to try though.

TheRealMummyPig · 03/08/2025 01:31

We recently went to a resort in the Maldives and the AI buffet twice a day was exceptional. Best food I’ve ever had from a resort.

PeloMom · 03/08/2025 01:34

Not a fan of AI either. I’d rather self cater than AI. We usually do a mix of self catering, uber eats and restaurants.

saltinesandcoffeecups · 03/08/2025 02:37

Hmm.. I think the key is buffets… they re generally not great. Pretty good for breakfast but beyond that you have to suspend any hope of gourmet.

The only AI’s I’ve stayed in are in the Caribbean and mostly Sandals, which really do have great food. I’ve also stayed in a few European AI/HB I didn’t love them. But one was an out of the way less touristy area in Grenada that did mostly local fare and that was good. The larger one on the more touristy area wasn’t great for food.

I also think that anywhere welcoming kids isn’t going to go out of their way for the dining experience. So maybe wait until the kids aren’t kids and head to adults only resorts if food is your thing. (But I can see how buffets would be easy and great for kids so I’m not knocking those resorts!)

KP93 · 03/08/2025 05:22

roses2 · 02/08/2025 08:12

I'm currently at a 5* all inclusive for a few days in the Mediterranean. It had amazing reviews. But the food is so bland and not good quality and no comparison at all to local restaurants.

This is the second all inclusive I've stayed in and the first was similar. I've decided all inclusive isn't for me.

Why do people rave so much about the great food? Is it just because the food is there and you're not looking at the price tag?

Please tell me it’s not Ikos, we’ve booked our first holiday as a family at one of their resorts next year!!

Never been a fan of AI since a poor experience in Egypt years ago but Ikos appear to get very good reviews

Zanatdy · 03/08/2025 05:24

It’s never restaurant quality no. 5 star should be relatively good though.

Rpop · 03/08/2025 08:00

I guess it depends on the cost of the hotel and what you mean by expensive. 5 seems to vary a lot too - some 5 are still not great, Also reviews aren’t terribly reliable as people have such varying likes / values with respect to their food. You might think it’s bland because food is very important to you and you eat very well. Some people are less bothered by food?

WhatMummyMakesSheEats · 03/08/2025 08:14

they are not all created equal. Just because it’s 5* doesn’t mean it will have good food. We choose ours when they have multiple a la cartes included and theme nights and show cooking in the buffet. Food reviews are most important when we’re looking.
Some of the best food I’ve ever tasted was at a 5* AI in Mauritius. Usually enjoy the food in Greek AIs too. Turkey, not so much!

TheNightingalesStarling · 03/08/2025 08:25

Food can be very subjective. Two people can eat the same meal, and one declare it delicious and the other disgusting.

My DDs would definitely describe the food at our Cyprus AI as "brilliant" as there was a wide range of fruits and salad (both mixed salads in dressings, and individual items) available every day for DD1, and a range of meats for DD2 (plus she didn't need to eat one potato!).
DH and I enjoyed most of it, but didn't really like the food one evening (it was different themes each night).

If you wanted a full English in the mornings... then you would have been disappointed. But fruit, meats, yogurt, pastries, breads... brilliant.

DDs like the pancakes and popcorn in the afternoons. And it was 40⁰C, so them getting as many sift drinks as they wanted was useful.

Swipe left for the next trending thread