All inclusive - so bad for the host country

[nothingoldcanstay]

Did you not see that series on TV high lighting just how bad for the economy AI is? Aside from that it seems a bit odd to go to a different country and then eat hotel food. Most wine and beer is cheaper abroad so shouldn't we all try at least to help the country you holiday in rather than just one corporation?

I didn't see the programme.

It's a bit like saying that internet shopping is destroying the local high street. I can see it's prob not great for the local economy. However it's giving the people that are doing the spending what they want.

Last 10 holidays have been AI and only had one bad one - a couple of years ago in Morocco, lovely area, lovely hotel, terrible food.

I think it depends where you go, and how much you are willing to pay. I won't go SC - that's no holiday for me and it's too expensive or too hit and miss to eat out. FB and HB, well you might as well pay the extra and go AI.

Euro countries are just too expensive these days (but then so are the AI's - it would have cost us more for 2 weeks in Greece or Spain than Egypt, DomRep, tunisia etc.

When we lived in Cyprus it was cheaper to book into an AI for the weekend (2 adults, 1 child, Fri lunchtime until Sun eve for £72) than it was to go for a decent meal (2 adults, 1 child, easily ?80). Yes we could have done the cheap and cheerful meze like the locals (?15 per head) but that was at places where on of the courses was chips! Not exactly traditional.

Went to Tunisia last year, hotel was lovely, people were lovely, food was fabulous. When we went to Cuba the only think that was a rip off were the organised tours - we learned our lesson and now speak to the locals wherever we go.

As for culture, meh, I don't care. All I want is 2 weeks quality time with my DD. I want to be able to relax in the sun, swim in the pool and have a few drinks in the evening. DD wants the same (oh and a mini-disco!).

Each to their own.

I'm a single parent, and take DD away by myself most years. TBH, if I'm wanting to go any further abroad than the usual Spain/ Greece, etc, I wouldn't feel safe not being AI. I like the security of being in a resort, when I can choose if and when I wish to leave it. Sometimes it's bad enough in the resort. As much as I enjoy chatting to others, I have felt uncomfortable from unwanted attention at times.

My last three holidays have been AI - two very good and one not so good. I'm going camping this year, but I'd rather be doing AI thanks!

I find they are so good with small children when you don't have to put your hand into your pocket every time they want a drink or an icecream and we found that because we didn't have to eat out or buy in, that when we did choose to eat out we could splurge more than otherwise.

I also have never done one, as I don't like the idea of having to eat in the same place everynight and then if the food is rubbish (which I hear it is) then you are stuffed. We like to try different places everynight in the first week on a fortnight's holiday and then in the second week, go back to the places we really liked. Also, although DS is a fussy eater, DD is fairly adventurous and likes things like garlic prawns. I think AI would just be wasted on them as they would end up eating nothing and then I would have to take them somewhere else and pay to fed them anyway. The place we went to last year in Fuerteventura was 90% AI and the people we met didn't have great things to say about it. If you are big drinkers, which we are not (glass of wine with my dinner is about my limit) or you children drink fizzy drinks, then prob worth it. Mine only drink water or milk so not for us...

We did AI this year for the first time. Different restaurants, waiter service, varied menus. Buffet breakfast.
No people rolling round drunk, beautiful hotel. We won't do it every year but I enjoyed myself.

I hate them too, would be my worst nightmare. I like to see the country I am in and taste the food, not sit by a pool all day. However, if it were a case of AI or go without a holiday I would take the AI because I know my children would no doubt have fun!

Went AI this year as exchange rate and 4 hungry, thirsty DDs meant it was that or nothing. We do much prefer SC and in a different economic climate would choose that every time. We went out of the complex for change of scenary leaving 2 (older) DDs reading in the shade and we were charged 35 euro for drinks and crisps in an empty pub (was local beers for 2 and soft drinks for 2M - nothing fancy).

We simply can't afford SC sadly. If European resorts are to survive the downturn they have to realise that the average holidaymaker doesn't pay £100 for a simple but well cooked meal out at home.

AI is still providing jobs in what would be empty hotels and apartment complexes.

We did AI pre-kids in kenya and it was horrible. Horrible food, horrible place.
We went to St Lucia a few years ago and managed to find one of the only hotels on the island that didn't have AI and Im so glad we did. The Sandals resort was only up the beach as well as several other AI hotels but the local "strip" had some amazing restaurants that we would have missed had we been in one of the AI hotels.

Personally Im into disneyworld a the moment in a big way. Having recently priced up several european holidays (both AI and HB) Im shocked at how much they cost and would rather spend only slight more to go to florida. Disney has some great offers on free dining and there is so much more to do and entertain both me and the kids than some crappy beach holiday. Only downside are the long haul flights but tbh they are well worth what you get at the other end.

I have gone AI outside of Europe, because as a single parent travelling with a child I appreciate having the option of staying on resort. I have only had the odd day just on resort, just to have a day with no marriage proposals

We don't do the tour operators excertions though, must better to get to know someone on resort (staff) and get a recommendation from them

We go ai when we go to the Dominican,only because there is nowhere else to eat. Half board I'n Mallorca but it is increasingly expensive,we went to a local pizza place and for a basic meal it was e120. Even out in the sticks at a local restaurant it's e180 for an evening meal.
There is often no other option in places like the Maldives. Sharm iis shocking in the town,the constant hassle,horrible pizza restaurants.
Cyprus is a joke,we have the use of a villa. The local beach bar has nearly doubled prices because of a downturn in business,so,we don't go.food there in general is very expensive and meat and fish isn't good quality.
Years ago we went to Gambia,the ai food was shocking. We tried in the local town and it was worse!
There is a place for ai,some families wouldn't have a holiday if they didn't go ai.its up to the local restaurants to up their game and compete.

We don't go all inclusive, preferring the villa option. However, last year's experiences in the Pollensa area of Mallorca when dining out have left us feeling rather unsympathetic towards local restaurants. Whereas in previous years we were given bread for free, places were charging up to 8 euros for a bowl of bread which most of the time we didn't ask for, we were regularly charged for dishes we hadn't ordered or quite simply refused entry when they saw 2 of our party were children and therefore not going to be ordering vino. 9 times out of 10 we had to challenge the bill. In one place in Palma we were charged 24 euro for 4 Fantas - adding a 3 foot straw seemed to make the owner think this was a reasonable price and he was miffed to not receive a tip.

This year I can kind of see the attraction of AI.

I've only done it once and it was vile. After the first night I gave up even trying to get anywhere near the bar and went out all day until bedtime. Never again.

I can't understand really why people want to travel for hours on a plane to countries rich in history and culture then spend all their time in a hotel resort - though each to their own I suppose.

We went to Pollensa last summer too, and had no troublw with the restaurants - although we only ate out a handful of times at the same two restaurants. Must have been lucky!

It was expensive for pretty average food, though, and we've had the same experience in Greece the last couple of times we've been.

I'm someone who loves to eat out on holiday (why cook and wash up every night, just like you do at home?), but there must be loads of families like ours who can no longer be relied on as customers and who potentially will be going over to AI.

Hoping we can avoid it though - have only done sailing hols in the past which are semi-AI so a bit different, but I'd be very wary of the whole thing being close to the 'Benidorm' experience, no matter how much you spend.

For the past three years I've taken dts on AI holidays (once to Majorca, twice to Portugal). As a single parent on a budget I find it more relaxing not to have to worry about the cost of everything plus not cooking or washing up for a week is the only break I get.

Yes, I admit, some of the people are very much Little Britons, complaining that they dare serve local sausages rather than English (overheard one year) but it doesn't have to be like that.

We've gone to some lovely local places. It's not always about lying by the pool (although what people do on their holidays is entirely up to them). It's ok to be sniffy if you have the money to take ethical holidays. I suppose Kids Clubs are looked down on too. I didn't want to send my dts at first until they found out about the activities (archery, high ropes) and they loved it - yes, I enjoyed some quiet time too.

When the boys are a little older I'll return to holidays that are more off-the-cuff and made up. Their first holiday was to the German Christmas Markets, their second to Sunparks in Belgium. Wherever we go we do enjoy doing things as much as the days where we play in the water! It is wrong to assume people are all the same.

We were always independent travellers but when dc came along, the convenience was too hard to resist. They are great for fussy eaters who can sample things they wouldn't normally try without us worrying about the extra cost.

I've found that in the canaries, resorts of spain, greece etc, the touristy areas serve very similar menus to each other and the hotels we were staying in so it was a no-brainer really with regard to cost. We have always stayed at 4 star plus and never had a bad experience.

We usually have a few meals out to the more select restaurants in the local area - agree the bog-standard ones need to up their game or they unfortunately will lose out.
To those who would rather not go on holiday than use AI, how is that going to benefit the local economies...?

I've never even been on a package holiday before - always book direct and get flights separately - but the last 2 times that we've been away in Europe, it has been soooo expensive to eat out or even to shop and eat in. 2009 we went to Brittany and stayed in a Gite and spent more than £2000 eating (there were 6 of us but 2 were under 5 years old) and we only went out every couple of nights. Last year, 2 weeks on Costa de la luz in Spain and again over £2000 to feed us - this time for 5 of us (1 5 year old and a 6 year old). Absolutely crazy money - 5 Euros for Tomato Alinados (just sliced seasoned tomatoes). As a result we are considering an AI this year, but alot of what is in this thread is what I have always thought and why I haven't been on one before...but a holiday for 5 in the summer with flights, accommodation, car and going out ends up costing around £5000 whereas an AI could probably be pegged at about £3500 and money is much tighter at now than it was a couple of years ago.

I think there are a lot of misconceptions about AI. A lot of people think they are all 'brits abroad' moaning about fry-ups and Heinz baked beans! Some are, of course. If you choose a place that is 'one hotel one pool' then choice is going to be limited from one kitchen. It's also going to be cheaper, and you will see some horrors (remembering the family that filled their table with red wine at 5 to midnight, drunk two and left the rest )

We choose complexes with a choice of restaurants, check where a hotel is in relation to a town or promenade. Choose countries a little out of the norm. Sometimes we look for places that used to be SC, so have kitchenettes still in place in case we want a quiet night in. Or we look for something unusual - swim up rooms or jacuzzi baths! We make sure we have fridges in the room and supplied water (and sometimes optics - now that was a surprise!). For us it's all about DD - if she's happy we can relax and if I'm not worrying about our next meal, where we are going or what I am cooking then she's got more time to play.

There is nothing stopping you looking for culture, or fine restaurants, or local colour. You just don't have to do it every day!

If you stay in an AI costing £25/night, then yes, it will be ghastly and horrible. OTOH, you can stay in a nice one.

If you want a holiday in a little guesthouse then that option is there.

OTOH some people want fifteen swimming pools, a choice of nine restaurants and unlimited booze. And why not? They offer local employment, they use local suppliers, and while people won't get out much, many WILL go out.

We went AI in Grenada a few years ago, because it was almost the same price as s/c. We ate out at least half-a-dozen times in the week in local businesses.

If people want a 'holiday village', that's what they want, no point telling them they should be eating in independent tavernas instead, as they'll go somewhere else instead.

I really don;t like AI, definitely agree that they damage the local ecomomy, and the recent First Choice ad where they say all their resorts are now AI makes me really sad. But........

I've recently been on my first AI, booked under much duress as DH thought it would be the easiest option with the DC's. And it pains me that he was right.

Pre-DC we were independent travellers. We've done lots of backpacking all over the world, done homestays and voluntary work, and our smaller trips away, inlcuding ski trips etc were always done with flight / accom / food bought / booked seperately. Last year we went to the same country that we went to AI and went self-catering and it worked out pretty expensive.

I'm not the kind of person who can sit on a sunbed by a pool or on a beach all day, I find that soooooooo dull. But, my DC's aren;t going to be at the stage where they are willing to visit landmarks etc for a few years yet so it's by the pool that I'm stuck! The food at the place we went to was ok for a week. Sure I'd much rather be a local tapas bar but our DC's are pretty socially unacceptable in restaurants right now and it made things so much easier that DH could go and get food with DS 1 when I was still sorting out DS2. Thankfully because of the time of year the place wasn't full of Brit larger louts and ferel kids, and we have agreed that we wouldn't go to that kind of place in the school hols for just that reason (I hate being embarrased by my nationality on holiday but usually am!).

So much as it pains me to say it I reckon I'll be stuck in AI resorts for the next few years, but as soon as it's practical I'll make sure we're back to doing it independently, I promise.

I've always said that I wouldn't go all inclusive but now everywhere is so expensive I can see the attraction. It is an ethical dilemma.

For the last 10 years we have holidayed in the UK due to finances. We can't afford to eat out so are lining the pockets of Tesco rather than the local restaurants.

I hate AI but we have done it a few times when ds1 and ds2 were small. However, we compromised by eating a lot of meals in the complex but also treated ourselves to the odd meal out. Would never do it for just dh and me.

The bottom line is that if people are choosing it they are choosing it because however mediocre it might be, the local food/drink is either way too expensive, or appalling. If the local economy is suffering then they need to look at what they are offering as an attractive alternative, or what is putting visitors off about venturing into the local towns and bars etc.

We went AI in Sharm and only went into Nama Bay to eat out once. Once was enough.

Even when we go AI (not often, we've done it twice in Turkey, once in Sharm, once at Mark Warner in Greece and they were all reasonably expensive holidays/hotels, but not shockingly so) the quality has been absolutely fine, and sometimes excellent - it's just the sameyness that gets to you after a while.

I don't do AI because frankly it doesn't appeal to me to go to a resort and eat there 2-3 meals a day. But then I also don't like going to the sort of place where AI holidays tend to go to. The only resort type of place I've been to is Las Vegas, and you'd be silly to just eat at your own hotel!

Have to also disagree with the AI that beer and wine are cheaper overseas. It really depends on where you are going. Some places have cheap accomodation. Others cheap alcohol. While others have cheap food.

theterribletwos tell me it's not true! DD is only 10mo, and we definitely were the backpacking type. I have fond memories of not knowing what I was ordering by pointing randomly at the menu. I really hope we don't have to do FC holdiay villas. Everyone says I should go to centre parc too. Maybe it's a sign of growing old