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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:
Mrsdp123 · 09/04/2012 17:36

I find AI with children a pretty easy holiday. True you get what you pay for but it takes the hassle out of having to cook/clean or find a restaurant every night. We have stayed HB but the last hotel we were in was so expensive for lunch (60 Euros for lunch)!! and we can never be bothered to get dressed and head out to a taverna/local restaurant for lunch. We don't do self catering as I want it to be a holiday and not have to cook at all.
We did a cheap AI in Lanzarote one year, full of brits and it was pretty grim, but it was cheap and on a lovely beach. Full of people piling their plates high with chips and shouting "what the foook is it" at any veg dish.
Have done AI in 5 in Mexico/Cuba/Egypt and have all been fine with plenty of variety with freshly squeezed orange juice for breakfast, live cooking shows, fresh fish, pancake bars etc. I do find the puddings crap and the wine can normally strip paint. Plus even 5 AI hotels tend to be casual (Even those which state you need to dress for dinner). 5* ones also tend to attract a lot of Russians.
Still, they work for us and I don't care if ice-creams get dropped or food isn't eaten (mind you, my children eat anything and my husband and I seem to have stomachs of steel).

OrenishI · 09/04/2012 17:43

We did 2 christmases ago to Thailand as we were desperate to go somewhere - and for various reasons couldn't go skiing.

It was a "4 star" hotel (boring) after 2 nights we stored our cases there and went off backpacking and spending a tenth of the price on accommodation but having twenty times as much fun :)

mirry2 · 09/04/2012 17:45

Did one in the Carribbean. Twas excellent value, several restaurants and food and drink on tap all day

SoldeInvierno · 09/04/2012 17:47

We've done it a couple of times. Last time was in Lanzarote, Riu Paradiso (or something like that). The food was fine, varied enough for the 10 days we were there, and the real advantage was that DS could just go to the bar and ask for soft drinks and ice cream in the afternoon, as he pleased. We went out a couple of times for lunch and concluded that given the local prices, AI was really very good value.

FlouncyMcFlouncer · 09/04/2012 18:12

I think it depends where you're going.
I've been s/c to Majorca and Turkey, and also been to both places AI.
If I were to go to Majorca again, I'd happily go AI, because the Euro is so strong against the £ that eating out is expensive.
Turkey however is so cheap, and you get such exemplary customer service and effusive welcomes in the restaurants, that AI is a false economy and can really tie you down.

justaboutisnowakiwi · 09/04/2012 18:28

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

lottielou39 · 09/04/2012 19:08

we did AI last year and it was amazing. Brilliant food and poolside food too, so the kids could get in and out of the pool all day for food/drinks without hassling us! We checked Tripadvisor and the hotel had a fantastic reputation for their food, so check this first. You really don't want to be AI for a fortnight in a hotel with mediocre food!

trixymalixy · 09/04/2012 19:13

Not normally my thing at all, we usually go SC. but for our first skiing holiday with kids we went AI to save hassle. Well technically it was full board with free drinks with meals, but we didn't end up paying for anything else.

It was absolutely fabulous, the kids had an absolute ball in the kids clubs and has made me seriously consider AI for our next sun holiday.

mrsshears · 09/04/2012 19:55

I would recommend a cruise,me,dh and our girls aged 6 and 14 love them.
We go with either carnival or royal carribean and consider them good value for money,the food in the dining rooms would cost you a fortune alone in a restaurant.
Our girls loved the kids club's the eldest made loads of friends and the youngest sobbed when we had to come home.
Definately our first choice for a holiday.

naughtymummy · 09/04/2012 20:00

trixymalixy who did you go AI skiing with ? We have self catered but wouldn't mind a bit more luxery this year

piratecat · 09/04/2012 20:09

schoolchauffer, can you tell us the place you went. thanks.

trixymalixy · 09/04/2012 20:12

Naughty, we went with Crystal. Don't know if luxury is quite the right word to use as the accommodation was very basic, but the food and service from the staff was fab and it was great not having to cook after a day on the slopes.

ifancyashandy · 09/04/2012 20:21

I've only we've done it in 5 places in Grenada & Sri Lanka & 7 (their own rating but it is good!) in Dubai. They all had restaurants with no time restrictions (ie, no set time for meals) and you ordered a la carte. I would avoid buffet places like the plague (apart from the breakfast in Dubai - was awesome!)

wigglesrock · 09/04/2012 20:48

We've stayed for the past few years in Ibiza doing AI. We have 3dds (6,4 and baby) its been great for us. The breakfasts were fab, we had the odd bit of lunch and then dinner. As others have said we organised a picnic lunch a few days. The bit that worked out best for us was the food that was included in the AI from the poolside bar.

We could just get sandwiches/breads/salads/chips etc and sit with the girls in the shade instead of traipsing into inside. Obviously the "free" ice-creams Grin as my dd2 constantly referred to them were a big bonus as well! It was just really handy having coffee/water/juice on tap.

Waswondering · 09/04/2012 20:48

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

FashionEaster · 09/04/2012 20:51

Went to a 5* in the Dominican Republic as it was just a beach hol to get some R&R and most resorts are gated. Food was great, drinks, ice-cream, pizza all on tap and lots of sports activities included.

Didn't bother in Turkey though as eating out there is cheap and a pleasure, and we were travelling around a bit, and wanted to be on our own timetable.

Have never considered a cruise before because, excuse the pun, don't you go cabin crazy? Are they really that good?

Geordieminx · 09/04/2012 20:54

We have done a few now, stemming from a holiday where we ended up spending nearly £100 a day on food and a few drinks for Dh ds(3) and I.

Agree with other posters, you get what you pay for, we tend to have a wander out for lunch some days, and most 4/5*'s have a couple of A la carte restuarants that you can book. Only problem I ever have is getting rid of the stone few pounds I put on, from unlimited wine and food. (((no self control)))

It's ideal for ds who is nearly 5 too, as he is a bit fussy when it's warm, and will pick at bits and pieces, always less stressful when you haven't just paid 20? for his meal and all he has eaten is a piece of bread. Hmm

We went on a cruise last year.. Royal Caribbean. We were both a bit Hmm about it but honestly it was the best holiday we have ever had. Food service facilities, places we visited were all amazing. Couldn't have asked for more. It's kinda spoilt future holidays for us. Wink

Geordieminx · 09/04/2012 20:57

fashion on the cruise I think we were probably in our cabin from 11pm until about 8am. That was it. Infact most mornings I was up at 5am to watch us coming into harbor. Most memorable was coming into Naples and watching the sun rise over the city, with Vesuvius in the distance. Amazing.

ooer · 09/04/2012 21:09

I did AI in Crete - 3 adults 2 kids - we purposely wanted a laze-about holiday by the pool (we are normally a pretty active family and DS2 in particular needed some chill-out time). The food was excellent. Packed lunch was available if you ordered it the night before.

One of the things we loved about it was the constant availability of drinks throughout the day - we mostly went for the soft drinks when we were by the pool, and wine or beer in the evening. I did hear adults complaining to each other they couldn't get drunk on the alcoholic drinks (they said the spirits were watered down) but that suited me fine!

TBH I preferred the buffet meal idea to being waited upon - I hate waiting for food, especially with DCs in tow. We could try small amounts of lots of different types of thing and there was lots of fruit and veg (which I think you sometimes miss if you are eating out in the more traditional restaurant). We always went as early as we could at dinnertime, as it got really crowded later on and people had to queue for a table.

Furthest DS2 and I got from the hotel was the local inlet for a swim (sea was warmer than the pools in October!) and a local bar for crazy golf and a drink. The others went on a couple of expeditions but mostly we stayed by the hotel. I can see it would be a disaster if the food wasn't up to scratch! I had researched it all quite extensively on TripAdvisor and read opinions of the hotel before booking.

MadameChinLegs · 09/04/2012 21:17

I've been AI once, and each time before that done self catering. I wouldn't do an AI hol again, but now I know what I want from a holiday. I want to be in the midst of places (AI tend to be set away from stuff to do), I want to go out to dinner some if not all evenings, and if I do want a snack of a drink 'on site' it tends to be something they don't provide.

Soft drinks are generally less tasty and lunches tend to be a burger or hot dog. Dinners are buffets which, while well cooked and well presented get boring after three nights. The A La Carte restaurant on site tends to be one reservation (on a night you do not choose) and a set menu.

If what you want out of a hol is to stay around the hotel pool (not criticising, I imagine with little kids this is what they want to do), AI may well be right for you. However, if you want to go off site, self catering or half board places tend to be more central.

I found the extra I paid for an AI place was equal to what I would have spent out and about.

I went AI in Tunisia, and SC ion greece. I loved Greece, and would recommend it for a cheap and cheerful SC holiday.

Peppapigsarse · 09/04/2012 21:20

We did AL in Eygpt for our honeymoon was ok but I'd never go to Eygpt with young children personally.... we ate out a few times...

SoldeInvierno ohhh we've booked Club Rui Parisio for this year! With 2 DD's and In-Laws!

The last two holidays we've had we've been to here:- www.barcelo.com/BarceloHotels/en-GB/Hotels/Spain/CanaryIslandsFuerteventura/Fuerteventura/Home.htm

My eldest was just 3yrs4 months old and loved it! the kids club you can go in as long as you stay with them which is great to get some shade/do some painting/colouring/playing with "different toys"/smaller play area.

The staff were brilliant, the shows were fairly cheesy but my eldests fave film was and still is grease and that was one of the shows both times she adored it, and Jesse from kids club played Sandy, and they did a cast photo for her on the last day. They were superb!

We had no drunks at all, the mini-disco was adored by the kids (when we went back eldest was 3yrs11months, youngest was 1yr).

Holidays aren't quite the same with kids!

I agree with other posters about the fact that kids can try something new and your not worried if they don't like it, also drinks/ice-creams etc.. makes life easier and a damn site cheaper!

We went SC to Ibiza with just our eldest before we had kids and food and drinks cost a bomb in comparison!

Until the kids are older I think AL is the way to go! Its a case of picking the right place, I'd go back to the Barcelo again but my Hubby wouldn't said the food was too samey.......

the one we have booked this year has a couple of restuarants so I'm hoping that will help the "samey" food thing....

Bossoftheschool · 09/04/2012 21:24

All these thumbs up for cruises makes me feel significantly more excited about the one we've booked for this summer. I did loads of research and agonised about cruise v AI but as DH and I aren't 'massive' drinkers I think that the idea of visiting lots of places won in the end. It hasn't worked out being that much more than a weeks AI would be... I'm a fussy bugger when it comes to food and cleanliness and have major issues with chn behaving badly yet being ignored by their parents - it makes me Angry and I think those sorts of parents are more likely to use the kids clubs (I will too for a bit of peace on occasion!)

Nobhead · 09/04/2012 21:26

Myself and DH have always done AI before we had DS and we loved it and we have also gone once before with DS and it was perfect. The food is ok on them (rarely amazing unless you pay for a 5 star hotel) but at least the food is right there and the kids don't have to wait ages for their food to come and there is usually something there that they will like. You also know where you are eating every night and you don't have the agony of trailing around the resort arguing about where you are going to eat for most of the night. Unlimited drinks are the big pull for us really you can just go to the bar whenever you like and have soft drinks, alcohol, hot drinks or whatever. There is also usually a full program of entertainment in the day and at night (my DS loved the kiddie disco) which is good too. If you want to go out of the hotel and explore you can- if you want to go out for the day most AI hotels will pack a lunch for you if you let them know the day before. I must admit I'm not a go out and sight see person especially if it's really hot just like to relax by the pool or the beach maybe go on the odd day trip here and there. AI is great for us but I guess it depends what you want out of a holiday.

landrover · 09/04/2012 21:33

Boss, who are you cruising with? We have done a few cruises and they have all been fab! Kids clubs are top notch with trained staff (as opposed to entertainment staff in some AI hotels). Food fantastic, nothing to fault really!