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.

I find it laughable when people who don't have real money, who are not millionaires (not you, just an example) feel snobby about AI holidays. Like what the fuck are they going to do in the alternative - cook themselves? Or run around trying to find a restaurant without speaking the language like a native, in which restaurant they would be sneered at by the equally impecunious locals feeling snobby about tourists?
AI holidays are brilliant!!!! Only once did I have an opportunity of an AI holiday in a decent hotel (4*), it was Iberostar in Spain and it was just wonderful, but it was very very expensive. School holidays, 7 days, 4K. I wish I could do it more often.

Which hotel in Greece was it please? Sounds just like what we’re looking for when we take the Grandchildren away

Really I had no idea 🙄 Equally I know a lot of people who don’t leave the resort if on an AI 🤷‍♀️ Just expressing preference what with this being a chat forum and all.

It's great for fly and flop, the Greek island ones we've done have been nice (ikos and grecotel) and good value especially with younger kids who (mine anyway) have 1 bite/sip and then want to try something else. Now we've reached ages 8 and 10 they're more mature and we prefer to adventure so tend to pick multiple small hotels on holiday and drive around, staying in new places and eating new things. It costs less when we book as flights, car hire and local hotels aren't expensive really but we do find food costs come in quite high with 4 big appetites. If we ever wanted to just lie around somewhere chill for a week I'd do it again, but we prefer exploring now and it seems a waste to spend 3 or 4 or sometimes 5k on that when we can fly to Thailand, south africa or Belize and drive around for 2 weeks for not wildly different costs.

I love AI as well as other types of holidays. For us AI is brilliant in big groups of friends or family as there’s no arguing about bills and how to split costs.

mentioned on here already but the Atlantica hotel in Nissi beach in Cyprus is lovely. I also like the TUI sensatori ones.

We mix up cultural and fly and flop holidays. There’s a value to both IMO.

With kids they are brilliant in my experience. When they’re little there’s loads to amuse them and loads to drink and eat. When they’re older they can prowl about on their own safely and help themselves when they’re hungry and there’s always loads of others to pal up with.

I see them as base camp and rarely stay on site every day/evening.

I bloody love cheesy evening entertainment after dinner.

Eh?

It's not snobbishness to want a holiday with food you enjoy, served at a table rather than taken from a buffet that's OK at best and not what you'd actually choose to eat.

It's also possible to eat in restaurants where you’re not fluent. Google translate exists if you're unsure. I have a basic understanding of Spanish that I've mainly picked up from eating in restaurants in parts of Spain where English isn't spoken. Because even if there is a translated menu, it doesn't tell you what Spanish dishes such as old clothes or Russian salad actually are.

And you don't need to 'run around' finding restaurants because they're just there when you walk around. No sneering from restaurant staff either.

There's also nothing wrong with buying easy food from supermarkets and heating that up, that's a nice part of a holiday to me.

Plus doing that is generally cheaper than the type of AI where you're served nice food at a table from a choice of restaurants.

My only issue with all inclusive is that the local businesses suffer, bars and restaurants. A resort can loose it's footfall and even disappear But yes they are good value

We like all inclusive and it was great when our son was little as there was a lot of organised activities. We never felt tied to the hotel and used to eat out as well as use the hotel. But on the days when we didn’t go out exploring, all inclusive was perfect! Now our son doesn’t come with us so we mix it up and depending on where we are going, we use all inclusive, bed and breakfast and half board. Usually for a city break, we just do B&B and find local restaurants.

No, you were being the typical snobbish MN who loathed the idea of staying in such a large resort and only eating within the hotel

Despite the fact you don't have to do either when you are AI.

I understand why people don't like AI I just find it funny that people think you have to stay on resort.

Please can you tell me the name of your Vietnam Hotel? Thank you

Similarly I find it weird that people think you have to cook because you are in a self catering place!

But the fact is that it's not really cost effective to pay twice for food and drink so not many people are going AI and then going out to local restaurants regularly

Blimey so defensive 🤣 My response was in relation to the OP who did choose to stay in the resort for all meals. Get a grip of yourself and stop being a wally!

**which is fine by the way if the OP enjoyed it.

Agreed.

Worth it alone for the cokes/bottles of water and ice creams etc for the children.

Done a fair few in the past. Turkey has some amazing hotels.

Wouldn't do another one again though. I prefer a B&B etc. But if you have kids yes AI is great.
X

OP it isnt stella palace is it? Sounds really similar and we have just booked there, hoping it’s nice!

We have just got back from Stella Palace . Loved it .

It depends how big your family is, what the AI options are like and what your expectations are. I enjoy food and prefer to choose it myself and have the freedom to go out without thinking that I'm wasting money because I've paid for dinner at the hotel. The few AI deals I've looked at have restaurants that I wouldn't choose to go to, so not good value for me.

100% Yes. I think some people also forget you can leave the hotel and expore. We even stayed in one that proved a lunch and snack box if you asked.

We did a 5*AI when the kids were younger. The friends we went with loved it. We hired a car, slipped off our wristbands and explored the island instead. It just wasnt for us (kids included)

We did them a few times when the kids were teenagers but I cant say I ever really enjoyed them and now we holiday without children I would never do one. We recently tried a cruise and for me that was far too much like an AI resort, which I suppose is what it is 😏For me most of the enjoyment on holiday is deciding where to eat, mooching round local bars and restaurants etc. I can see the appeal when you are holidaying with kids though.

Sounds hellish to me plus you're not putting any income into the pockets of local restaurant owners etc.

But each to their own

I’ve got a boy who has been able to eat his body weight in food from being about 4. I would never go abroad and not go AI. It just takes away the stress for me, I’m a single mum in a tight budget so if we go AI it doesn’t matter if I’ve only got £100 in the bank when we arrive, we’re covered for everything we need
We just got back last month from Tunisia and the food was fantastic, definitely got our moneys worth

We did an AI Mitsis in Greece after COVID. We got it cheap. It was alright. The most depressing thing was going for a walk-in the evening and seeing all the empty restaurants and bars than the AI had virtually killed.

But they employ lots of local people, they use local suppliers etc. it isn't black and white