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Original poster

What can you tell me about all inclusive holidays?

112 replies

freeforall · 07/04/2012 14:39

I haven't been on a package holiday (or a plane) in more than a decade.

This year I would like to see some sun. I think I like the idea of somewhere where the DC (9 & 11) can meet up with other children and where we know the total cost of the holiday before we start

but,

I don't like the idea of somewhere rowdy or of getting up a dawn to get a spot by the pool.

We usually holiday in the Lake District in a sweet private cottage.....

OP posts:
scurryfunge · 07/04/2012 14:45

They are fine in that you don't need to keep forking out for drinks. Although we usually go all inclusive, we don't eat in the hotel in the evening. The food is not always that good and there can sometimes be a bit of a scrum.

nothingoldcanstay · 07/04/2012 18:22

I think the knowing the total cost" thing is a myth because unless you actually want to be stuck within the confines of a hotel for a whole week (or two) you will leave to explore and end up spending money.Do you really want to be rushing back everyday for lunch or whatever.
There only seems to be two price brackets as well. Cheap as chips (AI appeals to those of us who need value for money) and bloody expensive because you pay to be able to do any activity you can think of as part of the package.
The lure of AI is limitless drinks for adults and children but if you go to the Med one trip the supermarket and you can have wine beer and water for a few euro's. It's no big saving really.
IMO a cheap cruise can be really good value. The food and (soft )drink are pretty much round the clock and there is lots of stuff to do for the children all inclusive. You can wander of the ship and just head for the beach at most ports. Cheap and you get to be somewhere different everyday.

pinkteddy · 07/04/2012 18:35

You need to find somewhere where the food is good. I think you do save a lot of money as coffees, kids drinks, ice creams are usually all included as well as meals and evening drinks and these can really add up. Also if you do want to go out for the day, the hotel will usually make you up packed lunches to take with you as long as you request in advance.

There are lots of reviews on here about AI holiday resorts so I'm sure you can find a good place.

tribpot · 07/04/2012 18:45

A cheap cruise sounds quite good to me, would like some recommendations if it's okay to ask on this thread.

jollymollie · 07/04/2012 18:50

I HATE AI with a passion. I hate being stuck to a timetable while on holiday, I hate the busy dining hall where people push and shove for food. I have often seen children pick things up from the buffet and put them back [yuck]. The drinks and snacks available are usually of poor quality and if you are at a complex that also caters for self catering guests the AI guests are treated as an inconvenience. I like to eat outside in a nice restaurant served by a waiter while on holiday, not in a dining hall every night. each to their own i suppose but unless you can afford a 5* AI i personally wouldn't bother.

Tranquilidade · 07/04/2012 18:54

I wouldn't want to do this too often but we did AI in Turkey last year and it was very good as the hotel was huge so there was a wider range of food than in a smaller hotel. They also had Italian night, Chinese night, etc which I must say were using the terms very loosely Grin but it worked for us as there were 6 of us, we got a good price and eating out would have cost a fortune

Tranquilidade · 07/04/2012 18:56

Actually jollymollie makes a good point. I wouldn't do AI at a cheaper hotel, I would only do a 4+ or 5. We did 4*HB in Ibiza when DCs were little and the food was very basic

nothingoldcanstay · 07/04/2012 21:19

tribpot - Look them up on travelzoo. They tend to start at about £399 but that's per person so works out more expensive than a hotel if there are lots of you (children 'over 12 pay as adults usually) but cheaper if you have a small family or babies.
There were some incredibly cheap deals om MSC (the Italian line that had a ship capsize) because of what happened. They had one with flights, two nights half board in Barcelona ( in a great 5*) hotel and then a week round the canaries for less than £379. NCL also do bargains. Best deals seem to be from agents rather than the cruise lines themselves.
You can look up each cruise on Cruise Critic to get an idea of what the ship and the route is like.

KenDoddsDadsDog · 07/04/2012 21:21

Have only done AI once in Sensatori Egypt. Food was good, drinks good quality.

ENormaSnob · 08/04/2012 22:14

I hate it tbh.

The last 2 had beautiful food but I missed eating out and felt more tied to the hotel iyswim.

Definately prefer self catering.

mummylin2495 · 08/04/2012 22:23

The Two places we have had all inclusive is in Barcelona. and Majorca the best thing about it was that if you were intending to go off somewhere for the day ,you could order a picnic to take with you.It had to be ordered the night before and consisted of rolls ,2 pieces of fruit ,ham and cheese and also a bottle of water, this was the Barca picnic.The one in Majorca was even better and we had a chicken breast with rolls ,1 piece of fruit ,a huge tomato,and once again ham and cheese,but no drink. This saves you quite a bit of cash and also you can stop in one of the parks instead of finding a cafe which are normally very busy.

cwtch4967 · 09/04/2012 14:21

Do your research before you book, we've done a few AI and always avoid places that attract the boozy british crowd looking for home from home with free beer in the sun!
There are some nice ones about, we've been to Tunisia and Turkey and had great holidays, good food, nice hotels etc.

VivaLeBeaver · 09/04/2012 14:26

I wouldn't go to one again.

Went to one in Egypt once, mainly as it was only me and dd and I wanted to be able to feel safe in resort, etc and just wanted to spend a week by the pool in the sun. Food was edible but not great. I got beaten up by some crazy scousers at the pool day. Everyone else was lovely though, just one horrible family.

But I see AI holidays to places like Tenerife and thinknthat there are so many cheap, nice places to eat plus so much to explore in the island it would be a shame to go AI. Unless you're prepared to pay AI (ie you've found a good deal) and don't mind missing out on some meals that you've "paid for" and going off for the day.

ClaireAll · 09/04/2012 14:28

We did AI in Tunisia last year. That was our first ever package holiday and it was pretty effortless.

beeny · 09/04/2012 14:31

We did AI in Egypt at the Royal Grand Azure it was amazing.We have a 3 year old and a 5 year old.

amothersplaceisinthewrong · 09/04/2012 14:35

The only ones I have done are several Club Meds. But they are not cheap and if you are not into all the sports etc/want the kids clubs they may not be what you want. That said, it is a chav-brit free zone. We had very good food at all of them.

HSMM · 09/04/2012 14:43

I did (my first) one in Mexico which had lovely food and drink available 24 hrs a day and another in the Canaries which had moderate food and disgusting drinks available at set times.

DD loved being able to just get up and snack on whatever she fancied.

Greenshadow · 09/04/2012 14:44

The Turkish AI hotels have a good reputation. The only problem as far as we are concerned is that they all tend to be on a strip of beach with nothing else much to do near by.

We've been twice and had lovely food, absolutely no evidence of anyone being in the slightest drunk and overall, a really nice, relaxing holiday.

We wouldn't do it every year and tend to alternate a nice holiday abroad with a cheaper one in the UK, but suits us.

youngermother1 · 09/04/2012 15:31

My thinking is that the only benefit is free booze if you are a drinker. That would put me off as the other guests may well be that type.

cardibach · 09/04/2012 15:48

youngermother1 I found with a child that the advantage was endless soft drinks and ice cream - no need to stress if a drink is spilled or child loses interest. I didn;t drink that much and didn't see anyone else drunk either. I do appreciate I might have been lucky there! It was at the 'family end' of Ibiza.
THey are good if you want a really relaxing (in the sense of not really doing anything at all) holiday and don't mind being a bit tied to the hotel. I've enjoyed them in the past, but mostly want some adventure out of my holidays so haven't been on one for ages.

PestoSansVesto · 09/04/2012 16:07

The thing I liked about them was that you didn't have to pay extra for lunches out that the DD's invariably wouldn't eat. It meant they could be more adventurous by trying out different things at the buffet or grill.

Also, when they were smaller it was far less stressful if the DD's didn't finish their drinks it didn't matter. Often they would invariably spill 'em or want another one that wasn't 'warm'. With the all inclusive option we could indulge them with another drink without feeling the financial pain each time.

We had previously been on Half-Board holidays where we had got stung with a large drinks bill when DD1 just wanted a glass of water with her meals and the hotel wouldn't have small bottles available, no, we had to buy an enormous bottle each time and you would be paying hotel prices.

These things are worth considering if you are likely to get stressed with the additional costs which can mount up if you don't go all-inclusive.

schoolchauffeur · 09/04/2012 16:26

We did AI two years ago in Turkey and our DCs have begged to go back again ever since so we have just booked again this year. Didn't see any drunkenness at all- mostly families enjoying themselves with a nice dinner, sit down by the bar in the evening or go to the entertainment. Didn't see any people drinking themselves silly during the day. Great for freedom for teenage kids as they could just go and get food/drinks/snacks etc whenever they wanted. They had about twenty Euros each which lasted 2 weeks for sweets/souvenirs and games of pool and that was enough. We spent £100 on one day trip out ( which included a lunch with wine) a few souvenirs and that was it. The food was very very good- lots of choiceand different themes and well done- if it had been poor the holiday would have been a disaster as no other restaurants nearby.
Just done a week in Tenerife half board and spent a fortune on soft drinks, ice-cream so for us it is worth it for that.

Bloodymary · 09/04/2012 16:31

We have done AI twice; once in a 5* in Mexico which was fab, different restaurants to choose from etc; including a la carte.

We also did a 3* in Majorca which was awful, thank god it was only for a week.

Threerogues · 09/04/2012 16:35

Club Med is very good if you don't mind the weird theme night thing that the French go in for every night, or at least don't mind being the only family not wearing white or whatever. Food really excellent. Also we had no luck with the children's club because everything was in French and the kids couldn't follow.

I did an AI in Egypt pre kids and it was death by buffet, by day 5 I would have given my eye teeth for a proper sit down served meal.

JugglingWithTangentialOranges · 09/04/2012 17:36

It's not what I'd normally opt for - especially pre-DC when I preferred some adventure - but we went on one with extended family - DGPs and all the cousins etc - and it worked very well because it was at a snorkeling resort in Egypt so there was adventure to be had in the snorkeling on site and there was nowhere to be tempted to go outside the resort as we were in the middle of the desert !

Was quite relaxing to have everything included and just be at the resort for the week with the family. Nice to get a cocktail in the evening from the bar and sit out on the patio, or get drinks for the kids from the beach bar. And the food was great - lots of nice lunches and evening meals outside with all the family Smile