half board vs all inclusive

[LCHammer]

I think I understand what the difference is between HB and AI, which one do you think works best?

We are thinking a Mediterranean holiday. All our holidays so far have been SC villas or B&B hotels. I was toying with the idea of a holiday with absolutely nothing to do. We tend to be the anxious, cultural tourist, checking out the local spots etc. For once, I thought just a lazy holiday for one week. OTOH I don't want to waste it in the equivalent of Centre Parcs by sea (never been to CP but my idea of hell).

I'll keep looking. Some of the places seem too far away from anywhere decent and I don't want the hassle of hiring a car either. Also want straight on the beach, no ferrying four times a day by bus from the hotel. What's the point of AI if you have to go back from the beach to the hotel for a drink? You can see I haven't done this before and maybe I'm over thinking it.

I agree with young children its much easier but once they get to 4-5 or so I don't see why they can't wait for a meal. I also agree self service is good for kids when supervised but supervised kids is often rare, usually the kids help themselves as adults sort their own meals out. Not always the case but I've seen it many times in nearly every hotel I've stayed at and they've all been four star minimum.

Regarding meal, sorry I'm comparing evenings more than the meal itself. I meant that often you eat out with drinks for an hour or two when b&b followed by walk round town, beach activities etc whereas the evenings at many AI encourage and rely on you eating the buffet quickly to get a seat early in the entertainment area, followed by drinking for the rest of the night whilst kids enjoy the kids disco etc! Not saying all parents are like this but that's what the hotels promote.

HB ( at least the ones I've been to) there's more emphasis on the meal ( often menus of 3 or 4 meals, not always buffet) and there's less emphasis on filling up on everything that's free.

When tied to school holidays I don't see how you can enjoy an AI holiday as its so hectic and even the five star are rushed and about racing to get a seat. I think its the whole greed aspect of many on AI that annoys me and how people suddenly need four plates of food each!

Out of school holidays is totally different of course.

That's why AI were originally thought of as being good quality, luxury holidays. Go to a good AI and you don't have to get second rate wine and alcoholic drinks, there will be a choice of restaurants, not just self service canteen like affairs.
Not sure I like the look of the cheaper AI hotels springing up in the likes of the Med. would rather go B+B or SC where you can go out and explore and enjoy the usually good quality local restaurants.

jamtoast I can't really comment on the bigger AI hotels. We have always chosen small family run AI places which usually don't have evening entertainment ( not really our thing) or perhaps something once a week.
In the eveings we would go for a walk around town, have a drink at a local bar then head back to the hotel for dinner. Maybe a walk along the beach to watch the sunset then back to the hotel for a coffee and a chat with other guests, We liked to play cards in the evenings, paint, wash our shells, do craft activities, then OH and I would sit on the terrace with the apartment doors open just nest to and chat quietly with a glass of wine while the kids slept safely inside.
Small AI hotels also tend to have more traditional cuisine, rather than "international" food like burgers and chips.

I've just got back from Atlantis the Palm in Dubai and their half board package worked really well. Breakfast was at a choice of two buffet restaurants, then you could either have lunch in a choice of 10 restaurants or dinner at a choice of six restaurants. Although it was a half board package the evening meals felt like 'proper' meals out and included a choice of beachfront, Arabic, French, Italian or two different buffet restaurants. It was really good knowing we were not going to get an expensive bill at the end of the evening and still receive excellent food and service.

Without children I'd never go AI. With teenage boys who require feeding every half hour it's a no brainer. If only I had discovered AI sooner when DC were younger.

Half board seems to me to be the worst of both worlds, I'd prefer B&B or self catering as I would rather eat out.
This year we are doing a cruise and stay, something new to us. The hotel week is half board, I had no choice, but I expect we will eat out.

Atthestrokeoftwelve I would really be interested to know which hotels you stayed at and any recommendations that you have.

Are all AI holidays self service at mealtimes? That's fine for breakfast, but I wouldn't want self service for all meals.

We stayed in Dubrovnik last year on a HB basis and dinner was also self service. The food was fabulous, but it all got a bit samey by the end of the week, and we all had slightly dodgy tummies as well, so we wouldn't do it again.

"its difficult knowing you can pay €20 for bottle of wine in resort yet its free in your hotel"

Sorry, but OH and I wouldn't want to drink the the "free" wine. We aren't wine snobs, but OH is a wine enthusiast and likes to try different wines, and always likes to try what is produced locally. Anything available in an all you can drink resort is very unlikely to be any good.

The bigger AI hotels have a number of restaurants, some self service and some not. It adds a bit of variety.

Bunbaker - true about the wine on AI if you are fussy unless you pay for better quality stuff.

As previous poster said, many bigger (also possibly higher star) resorts usually have different waiter served restaurants to choose form. Though one we went to you had to reserve 3-4 days in advance to get a non self service restaurant.

It really depends - you have to look into each hotel.