To think all inclusive holidays are very good value?

[Septembersun101]

Have just returned from a week all inclusive in Greece.

I used to be a bit snobby about all inclusive and assumed it would be a bit crap but honestly having done it a few times now I think it’s such good value.

Admittedly it’s not as authentic as some other types of holiday. But we’ve just paid 3k for a 5 star AI.

The room was lovely with a patio overlooking the pool. There was a huge waterpark with our ds loved and no queues so we all went on as many times as we liked. There were 8 al a carte restaurants in much mixed it up and got us away from the buffet madness. Where we were able to have relaxing 3 course meals with drinks. There were 5 places you could eat for lunch buffet style.

A private beach for hotel guests only.

If you just want some fun in the sun with your children and not to have to cook for a week I think it can be outstanding value for money.

Like anything it varies. I always do AL. Stayed in some lovely hotels.

did you book very late, seems very cheap for school holidays. I do agree they are good value but they vary a lot

I think they are great value and we've used them in the past when we had tighter budgets.

I wouldn't stay in one now as I enjoy staying in smaller b&b type pieces and trying loads of different restaurants. I just enjoy a different type of holiday now. But they were great at the time and of course if you have kids!

They're like any other package holiday, there is an element of risk. Do you go smaller in the hope that the pool is quieter but then that usually has knock on effects on the range of choices. Or do you go huge, probably have a decent range of options but risk there not being enough pool space / sunbeds etc and every day being a bit stressful.

We have just come back from a package holiday and it was fab 😊 but we were warning the kids if you see someone super annoying on the plane then chances are you're about to spend the week with them. It is just the way it works 😂😂😂

I've never been on one, but interested to try. If anyone has any specific recommendations, please let me know. They all look much the same online.

I suppose it depends on what type of holiday you want really. I loathe the idea of staying in such a large resort and only eating within the hotel so it wouldn’t feel like good value to me because I wouldn’t enjoy it. But if you had a great time then yes it sounds like you got value for your money.

We booked 6 weeks before.

Admittedly, we booked quite late because we were unsure of our plans. We held our nerve and waited for the price to come down and luckily it did.

We only had one child with us this time so were able to all bunk in one room. Those things bought the cost down a lot.

I’ve been to 3 AI type places now and each one has surpassed my expectations. Each one has different strengths but all have been very good in their own ways.

Brilliant when you have kids. If an all adult holiday I probably wouldn't.

As someone who's only ever paid 180 - 600 for a holiday 3k for a week still seems so much money to me. I do hope to do an abroad holiday at some point but the thought of spending so much on one week vs what could we do at home for 3k that we could enjoy all year round 🤔 does crop up for me.

Yes I did used to and I completely get why people wouldn’t want to spend a week in an AI.

But just in terms of what we got if we went to a waterpark for a day in the UK we’d probably pay £50-£100 and would be lucky to get one turn on each slide with queuing.

Same with eating out, it can be so expensive.

It is a lot of money and we are very fortunate to have been able to go.

We done lots pf different types of holidays. From camping in a small tent to a couple of nights in a premier inn to the AI ones.

Our first holiday abroad was £500 to The canaries and it was cold and rainy all week.

I agree they can be great and it depends on what kind of holiday you want!

Personally my non negotiable is we (2 adults, 2 DC) are not all in one single room. For me that is just not enjoyable in any way and only reserved for a travel lodge or similar for a night or 2. I don’t mind a one bed apartment or suit where the kids have a sofa bed.

So that would massively increase the price right away!

Also we did fully AI and I just felt a bit of cabin fever after a week eating all meals in a fairly busy environment, but there wasn’t a big choice of different eating places. Perhaps a resort with several restaurants would have a very different feel. I just for me personally find a lot of my enjoyment is going out and about and trying new restaurants.

Sounds great, are you willing to tell us what the hotel was? I always like a recommendation!

YANBU, we've had some amazing AI holidays before. You have to do your research though!

I’ve found the best AIs by looking at reviews. The negative ones that say there’s ’too much foreign food’ or quibble about something stupid normally turn out to be the best!

I used to be snobby about them but the ones I’ve been to will make you a packed lunch (with sufficient notice) so you’re not tied to the hotel for lunch.

The last one I went to was a Greek hotel. No frills, clean, lovely pool, basic choice of alcohol (didn’t bother me), near the beach and bus route.

Cost £1300 for me and DD including transfers for ten days during the summer holidays.

No budgeting needed for snacks/ice creams/drinks/meals.

I think it can be great value with teens who otherwise cost a fortune to feed and entertain! We have gone to a couple in Greece in October half term. Usually there are split family room options so you are not all in the same room. I would also love to know what hotel you stayed at as the waterpark is a key requirement for my kids!!

I’m a recent convert to AI. Just back from one in Croatia and did one last year in Morocco. For us having picky eaters under 14 years old who love being in a pool, it works. I personally find it a bit dull as I’m not a pool person, but the fact that I don’t have to think once about feeding my kids makes it more of a holiday than slepping around desperately looking for a restaurant my kids will like where the bill comes in under €100. Would I rather be in a b and b and spend the day wandering around looking at restaurants/sight-seeing? Yes. Is it worth trying to make my kids do that? No. I’m looking forward to everyone being older and hopefully fitting in with my style of holiday soon.

I've only been on one AI holiday and I was gutted with it. Food was poor quality, buffet style with the same crap churned out all week (as in there was a stray chip in the same tub of beans all week). I presumed my kids would have had a choice of ice cream etc but the AI lollies were cheapo orange or lemon only not a walls selection pf ice creams etc which the bar also sold. And we dont drink very much so didn't make up the value in alcohol consumption.
That being said I would very much like to do an Ai Like yours because it sounds much classier than the one I did nearly 20 years ago and now we get villas and I cook and clean all holidays.

I went to Eden Andalou in Marrakesh. Has a water park attached. Very clean, quiet, food was good. Mostly French and Arabic speaking guests.

Also did Valamar Sunny Dubrovnik. More how I imagine an AI as in busier for sun beds. But fine. And had a very good kids activity place attached with trampolines, soft play and construction stuff. Quite a few British and then Germans, French, Italians and Croatians.

We’ve just had 10 days in Vietnam for the same price as a week A/L in Europe. It was a no brainer. The experiences and food was tremendous and our boys 13 and 18 had the experience of their young lives

So this is what id like to do when my kids are all 3/4 years older!

Never done one and I never will, unless I book an adventure like an Alaska trip. Same way I would never book a cruise. These holidays with limited options and not leaving the base much, are not for me at all. I can see the appeal for people though.

We've always chosen carefully and had good experiences. I find it gives me a proper break, actually get to read my book as the kids just want to swim for hours.

They are brilliant if you just want to stay in pretty much the same place every day otherwise you're pretty tied to the hotel. I like to see something different every day. We did a similar one to you in Turkey that had its own private section of the beach, with an AI beach bar. But I really like ordering from a menu for dinner which I know you can do if there's an a la carte restaurant too but that's not always the case & I find it more relaxing rather than everyone getting up all the time to get things to eat.

We did lots of AI when our dds were little and as they tried so many different foods they are not fussy eaters now. It's also great for cocktails 😊

It’s been honestly amazing. Stopover in KL Malaysia for 3 days too. The hotels and value are just amazing. We spent on average £100 per day for all 4 of us for trips/taxis/food/drinks and buying souvenirs. Even got all the laundry done before flying home cos it was so cheap! Do it! I can highly recommend