Is it really £megas to eat out on holiday or should i go AI?

[noyouhavehadawee]

Really thats it, looking at menorca and hae found self catering for 4 (dc are 6 and 10) for 1321 and all inclusive 1850 for all 4. I am a bit unsure of AI as i love food and yes i like an odd beer but not in the lets get trollied league. So has anyone been to menroca of late and can give me idea how much eats and icecreams and water is so i can determine if i should just follow the herd and go AI. Thankyou kindly. Really my whole budget is £1800 inc food and drink and where only going 1 week and we are happy to eat pasta and sauce or just a sanger for dinner so its evenings really. Possible?

ok im gettign AI in fuerteventura for 1249 now arghhhhh.

I haven't been to Menorca for a while, but there are ways to cut corners on food anywhere. We just have 2 courses at dinner usually, either starter and main or main and dessert. Look out for specials '2 courses for 12 euro' for example. We share a half litre carafe of house wine. Occasionally at lunch we might share a pizza if they are dinner plate size. Icecreams are usually cheaper if bought from an icecream stand or shop than in a restaurant. Buy in stuff to make breakfasts and lunches, and buy multi packs of bottled water in supermarkets which works out a lot cheaper (bottled water in restaurants always more costly.)

The advantage of s/c is you can choose what and where to eat, but a/i can sometimes work out cheaper especially if alcoholic drinks are included, although if the food standard isn't up to much it won't be as enjoyable.

Another thing we found in Menorca was the sunbed-and-umbrella charges on the beach were expensive, if your a/i place has a private bit of beach with free sunbeds and umbrellas that will be a huge saving.

i have been majorca past 3 years and will never go half board again - never mind self catering! Its so expensive! this year we are going AI and cant wait - £500 extra for week is only £70 ish a day - lunch alone for family of 4 can come to that!

Depends on what facilities you have for cooking yourself. We tend to stay in apartments rather than hotels - so can cook meals rather than depending on always going out. I'd hate AI - would feel as if we HAD to eat hotel to get our money's worth, and we tend to travel about a fair bit, so wouldn't want to have to come back for meals

yeah i dont want to feel as though i have to come back and kids would probably expire if they had to wait till 7.30 for their tea meal ! i am going bog eyed looking.

I always went S/C when kids were small as we like to eat out, doesn't make for a cheap holiday though. Now I have bottomless pits hungry teenage boys AI is better value.
I still think though that even with 4 adult meals and endless drinks there isn't much difference in cost.
AI is good if you have fussy eaters (if they don't like it you can just get an alternative). Also the food is in endless supply so no waiting for meals in a busy restaurant.
Also the exchange rate is now better than for many years.

i would also check on what entertainment is on offer - AI resorts tend to be much better for the kids in terms of shows, discos, pool entertainment etc etc

I would honestly expect you to spend £70 per day on basics for s/c athe odd drink easily - ice creams are about 3-4 euro. Plus do you want to spend your holiday cooking etc 2 Years ago we went Majorca and paid £1800 for 10 nights half board in a 3 star hotel. My mate booked Sensatori (5 star) for 2 weeks AI for £3500 and i thought they were CRAZY! However they spent £50 and we spent £1500 - without excursions etc.