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Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

Original poster

All inclusive - so bad for the host country

167 replies

nothingoldcanstay · 16/01/2012 21:02

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?

OP posts:
DCgirl · 30/01/2012 14:39

Reading threads like this always reminds me how delightfully middle-class Mumsnet is. Am I the only person on here living on an income just over what the Joseph Rowntree Foundation deems the poverty level?

I looked into a 1-week self-catering holiday with Eurocamp in France. Couldn't afford it.

I looked into a 1-week self-catering holiday in Ireland. Couldn't afford it.

We are going on a 1-week self-catering holiday to Norfolk instead. We are going to have to scrimp and save to afford this and won't be able to eat out at all whilst we are there.

I would love to have the luxury of debating whether to go AI or "local" on a holiday to Cuba, Barbados, the Maldives or some other far-flung part of the world.

I have quite enjoyed reading this thread though. Maybe someday it'll apply to me.

HillyWallaby · 30/01/2012 14:43

Bizarrely you could probably do a one week self-catering holiday in Spain cheaper than any other those. Whether you'd want to, is another matter.....

I have never had to wear a wristband anywhere I have been that was AI. I think that would be a deal-breaker for me but I'm sure (at least I hope Confused) it only applies to the more mass-market hotels. I suppose it's the downside of going somewhere that has several tariffs. If everyone is AI then no need for the wristband.

rshipstuff · 30/01/2012 14:46

How much are you paying for your week in Norfolk?

raddishbrush · 30/01/2012 14:57

DCgirl - When you see how much some people spend it makes your eyes water. We are doing a self catering UK holiday this year.

I'm using my Tescos, Nectar points / for vouchers - plus checking offers like 2 for 1 in ASK. Sign up online for all sorts of discounts. Why not make a small stash of food to take with you, start now and put a few things away like you do for Christmas?

I am being very middle class and presuming you have a car to take this pack of goodies with you. We are a one car family ourselves ... does that make me middle class? Wink.

Blu · 30/01/2012 14:58

DCgirl - but the only people replying will be those who go on these hols, won't they? It doesn't make the whole of Mn middle class.

(P.S we went for a week on Broadstairs last year and ate a la carte from the Co-Op and local independent suppliers - good for the local economy Grin)

DCgirl · 30/01/2012 15:06

Budget for everything (accommodation, travel, food, entertainment etc.): £800. And no, we don't have a car. It's not very middle-class, raddishbrush, but it is a bit Grin.

OneLittleBabyGirl · 30/01/2012 15:06

raddishbrush yes, very middle class. You are assuming others have a car, and that it can fit a stash of food on top of things you need for a self catering holiday. Grin We are a one car family with a Honda Jazz. I don't see how we can fit luggages for 3 in the boot! Normally the boot is full with just DDs pram. We put shopping in the spare back seat.

LtEveDallas · 30/01/2012 15:07

People spend what they can afford, in relation to how much they earn. If I couldnt afford it I wouldn't do it - but I go without other things so I can make a production out of our yearly holiday. It makes the reast of the year bearable!

(I'm the opposite of many on this thread - If I couldnt afford AI, I'd not go on holiday. It's AI or nothing for me)

rshipstuff · 30/01/2012 15:11

£800? Shock We did an allocated-on-arrival week in Zakynthos for that, all in a few years ago. £350 for flights and accommodation for three (in June), self-catering, ate out a few times also.

It does get difficult during August school holidays though.

mummymeister · 30/01/2012 15:12

DCGirl why dont you get ASDA to delivery your groceries to the place in Norfolk rather than taking food with you. this is what we do and lots of places now accept these deliveries. if you go on the asda website and put in the postcode of where you are staying they will tell you if they deliver - simples! (other supermarkets are available i just picked the one we use)

raddishbrush · 30/01/2012 15:15

That's a good idea mummymeister

TwoIfBySea · 30/01/2012 15:20

DCgirl, I'm in the same boat wages wise but I don't smoke, I don't drink, going out is mainly walking the dog in local forests and I put as much as I can away so we can escape for one blissful week a year.

I know it might not help and we certainly can only dream of going long haul but there you go :)

DCgirl · 30/01/2012 15:22

DP is a teacher so can't go in term-time. rshipstuff, my gosh, I wouldn't want to do allocated-on-arrival - what if you got put somewhere terrible/damp/cockroach-ridden? I've stayed in some dives as an independent traveller but it's different when you've got kids in tow.

mummymeister, I looked into doing that but ASDA don't deliver there unfortunately. Guess I should look into the other supermarkets.

Bunbaker · 30/01/2012 15:26

We always holiday in the UK and love it. Sometimes we go abroad as well, but a week SC in the UK takes first priority. This year we have booked a B & B (which is a departure for us) in Dorset in the June spring bank holiday week. I think it is good value at £440 for a week for the three of us.

OneLittleBabyGirl · 30/01/2012 15:27

I love going long haul, but we don't go every year. I'm not sure if everyone else is going every year! And for a lot of the trips, we get one of our plane tickets paid by work. DH works for a job that does some far flung trips. I used to be the same. So we tag on our overseas holidays using these work trips. That's how I have been to Las Vegas 2 times, and also been to Korea, Japan, Singapore etc. (And many places in Europe). They do tend to be the more expensive places, than developing country where the pounds go far tho.

DCgirl · 30/01/2012 15:41

bunbaker, I agree £440 a week is not bad. How much do you think you'll spend on luch, dinner and entertainment though?

DCgirl · 30/01/2012 15:42

D'oh! Lunch.

TimothyClaypoleLover · 30/01/2012 15:43

raddish, oh cruise ships are a whole different kettle of fish. Went on a couple of cruises years ago and vowed never to cruise again. Never seen so much gluttony in all my life. People grazing on food 24 hours a day and never seen so many drunks. And like you say, not a penny is spent on shore so no benefit whatsover to local economies of countries they visit.

HillyWallaby · 30/01/2012 15:43

AI in forrin places is not very middle class. It's a bit arriviste and/or downmarket to be honest. EuroCamp in France is frightfully middle class. I have regularly done both. Grin

Seriously, EuroCamp in France is just about the best holiday you can have with children. It's ACE and not expensive compared to other (non-hideous) things. Eating out in France is VV expensive though. But self-catering in a caravan or a tent is fun.

Bunbaker · 30/01/2012 15:52

I don't know DCgirl. We just tend to have a sandwich at lunchtime. We are NT members and intend to make full use of that (petrol cost). We will be on the Jurassic coast so if the weather is good we will be looking for fossils (free). We will probably catch a bus into Lyme Regis for a look round (bus fares, lunch, incidental shopping). The big cost will be evening meals as we will be on holiday and as we won't be SC we will have to eat out every night - probably at one of the local pubs. But this will be factored inot the cost of the holiday.

I hope you have a lovely time in Norfolk, it is on my to visit list.

OneLittleBabyGirl · 30/01/2012 16:01

HillyWallaby Do you fly drive to the EuroCamp? (ie fly then hired car) People keep telling me it's cheaper than Centre Parc, but I just can't see how if you have to fly then hire a car!

rshipstuff · 30/01/2012 16:03

DCGirl, the allocated-on-arrival was just fine. There was a swimming pool, and ok it was a mile to walk to the beach/main resort, but it wasn't a problem. You can work out what you might get with allocated-on-arrival by looking at the brochure. There are really very few places with cockroaches being dealt with by the British travel companies.

rshipstuff · 30/01/2012 16:04

So how does Eurocramp work?

Do you stay in:

(a) your own tent
(b) their tent or
(c) a chavavan (aka 'chalet')

DCgirl · 30/01/2012 16:04

My family went on numerous Eurocamp holidays when I was a child. It's because I have fond memories of it that I hope to do it with DS one day.

bunbaker, your holiday sounds like it's going to be quite fun - can I come? Grin Anyway, thank you, we've been to Norfolk before and it is really nice.

DCgirl · 30/01/2012 16:08

OneLittleBabyGirl, I believe you can fly-drive, or fly and get a transfer depending on the campsite. And you can of course get a ferry and take your own car.

rshipstuff, you stay in their tent. Well, they do chalets and stuff as well but we always stayed in a tent. It's not proper camping though - you have beds with mattresses, and a cooker, and a fridge.

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