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Original poster

All inclusive resorts vs private villas pros and cons

32 replies

nosleeptilever · 16/09/2014 20:51

Hi everyone,
We usually go on holiday and rent a self catering villa with a pool in Spain or Majorca when we go. DH is pretty introverted and prefers alot of solitude on holidays to recharge the batteries. We now have a 4 yr old DS so had the thought that one of these all inclusive resorts might be worth it for the kids club and possible babysitting of an evening.

What we're wondering is what are the rooms like at these? Would we be all in one hotel room?(nightmare!) Do you have to eat every meal at the buffet? What do you think of the kids clubs if you go? Is there scope for having a bit of solitude? I'm imagining running into the same people all the time and feeling obligated to converse and possibly socialise when it's really not our thing. (It sounds like we're awful people doesn't it? We're really not, just shy and find new people somewhat stressful, even if they're lovely.)
if anyone out there has done both I'd love to hear what you think the pros and cons of them are.
Thanks

OP posts:
noramum · 16/09/2014 21:21

Couldn't you get a resort with self-catering apartments and the advantages of a large resort? Friends went to something like this in Portugal, the same reason, a flexible accommodation but entertainment for the kids.

We also found that from 4 onwards DD needed more playmates than a villa could provide and now do something similar with Farmstay in Germany (we are Germans and it is also to get DD to practise).

We go AI next year in the Caribbean but had to pay extra for a suite to get two separate sleeping areas. We know that even 1-2 days with DD in one bedroom means no sleep for us.

rookiemater · 16/09/2014 21:23

How about a half way house? We have never done an AI but also we have never done an isolated villa.

We have one DS so what we tend to do is have a s/c apartment in a complex with facilities including kids club, babysitting and a restaurant if we want to use it. Dh likes choice and doing his own thing so he isn't keen on AI, plus our DS is a bit suspicious of kids clubs - sometimes he likes them, sometimes he doesn't, so it's not worth basing a whole holiday around the availability of one.

Having said that our friends go to First Choice AI and enjoy it. I believe that there is a bedroom and then a lounge/sleeping area.

kissmyheathenass · 16/09/2014 21:28

We did an AI holiday for the first time this year and it was really good. The hotel had a few different restaurants - all buffet style but different cuisines. The dcs loved being able to help themselves to coke as often as they wanted it - not necessarily a good thing! The wine on tap was watered down but you could get proper bottled wine at the bar.

We are not sociable on holiday. There was no need to speak to anyone else unless you wanted to.

I wouldn't choose a self-catering holiday because IMO it isn't a holiday for me - too much time food shopping, clearing up and cooking. AI is good value and means a proper break for everyone.

Original poster
nosleeptilever · 16/09/2014 22:42

Thanks everyone for the responses. I like the idea of a farmstay! dh would hate it, lol.
We thought the same about DS getting big enough to be a bit bored with just us at a villa. The last time we went was lovely but not terribly restful as we were out and about with DS all the time rather than just sitting poolside with a book. And I agree about always having to cook. It would be nice for someone else to do the washing up. Now that's a holiday!
Anyone got any recommendations for places with self-catering apartments in a complex?

OP posts:
SooticaTheWitchesCat · 17/09/2014 12:24

I would say book a villa or apartment in a resort rather that somewhere isolated. That way you have the privacy and quiet but you can also go out and about and you can eat at local restaurants.

We always go SC but I never cook, I just like the space and having a fridge for drinks and snacks.

MillyMollyMama · 17/09/2014 17:57

I think a lot of AI people never leave the resort and it would definitely not be our choice as we like to see the places we visit. I would second looking for an appartment in a complex which gives you the best of both worlds. Personally I cannot stand buffet meals all the time on holiday. Reheated food is just not my thing and when we did AI with Mark Warner it was truly horrible at lunchtime with children dropping food everywhere in the self service area. Total yuk!

LeBearPolar · 17/09/2014 18:13

We have stayed in places like this before - self-catering studios/apartments with a shared pool and pool bar. We like the low-rise accommodation and low-key entertainment - scope to cook for yourself but also to buy lunches, etc at the pool bar.

I would hate an AI holiday or high-rise hotel with loads going on. We have one DS but he is similar to us - we go out and about exploring or laze by the pool reading, etc. He likes the quiet too (term time v. full on and busy).

LeBearPolar · 17/09/2014 18:17

This is where we stayed when we last went to Kefalonia - I was desperately trying to remember the name! It was a gorgeous place (great reviews on Tripadvisor).

Umbrelladilemma · 17/09/2014 18:22

We've stayed at a few SC villas in France, booked through Baby Friendly Boltholes - I def recommend you take a look at their website. They've generally all had a similar set-up: 4 or 5 separate villas/barn conversions with a shared large garden with trampoline, swings, etc plus a covered "play barn" and a shared pool. That way our DD could make friends but we still had our own space and it was relatively quiet.

Original poster
nosleeptilever · 17/09/2014 21:23

Ooooo those places look nice! We would also prefer to be able to get out and see some of the place rather than stay in the resort the whole time. It's nice to know there's a middle ground between totally AI and totally SC. Thanks everyone! Smile

OP posts:
arna · 17/09/2014 23:01

We like sightseeing so we've never done AI with children. We've done it once when it made sense to on a pre children holiday to the Maldives when there really isn't the option to go anywhere else. We've done hb with interconnecting rooms twice at the Chia Laguna Resort in Sardinia which incidentally also have self catering villas as well. So, we've gone down the self catering route to get more space and privacy. We eat out at lunch wherever we happen to be and we eat well so I only have to prep the evening meal. It works for us. We've tried most forms of self catering from a villa in Tuscany to a mobile home at duinrell & union lido (a bargain £250 for summer half term week). The only essential is a minimum of 2 bedrooms and I certainly do not count a sofa bed in the living area as a separate bedroom. Now the dc are 7 & 10, I admit to renting 3 bedrooms to reduce the squabbling - it's a holiday after all.

Half term short haul holidays really work well for us. It's significantly cheaper than the summer hols and our budget stretches further. I love a good deal but I like my luxuries and comforts too. E.g I have just booked our accommodation for oct half term. Italian island - architect designed villa with a heated swimming pool (v.rare) AND within 100 metres of the beach for a very reasonable sum. I would definitely not pay the aug premium so I don't. Sea temperatures will still be warm and I've hedged my bets with the heated swimming pool!

RonaldMcDonald · 18/09/2014 00:26

I hate AI
Tried it once and found it hell on earth
The people, the endless gorging the boozing the language
THE TERRIBLE FASHION
Ghastly

mumblechum1 · 18/09/2014 00:33

My dh sounds v similar to yours OP; he talks all day every day to dozens of ppl and so when on holiday he prefers just me (and ds when he was a child).

We usually take a large farmhouse with a pool in Tuscany or similar and when ds was little, dh saw that as his opportunity to spend some proper time with him so they'd spend hours making and flying planes for example.

I know that doesn't solve yr babysitting problem, but we always went out as a couple frequently at home so didn't mind going out en famille in holiday.

In other words, if your dh would loathe an AI resort ( def not our thing), maybe he needs to recalllibrate his views iykwim

ChickenFajitaAndNachos · 18/09/2014 11:21

I must be going to completely different all inclusive hotels to everyone else. The ones I have always been to have not involved lots of buffet meals, having to talk to lots of people, never leaving the hotel or bad fashion.

RonaldMcDonald · 18/09/2014 21:50

chicken

tell us about yours..I love the idea but haven't found this mecca

All ears

EveDallasRetd · 18/09/2014 21:58

I must be going to the same places as you Chickens (less the bad fashions, once you've seen an overweight 50 year old Russian in a green thong it's hard to go back :) )

I've been to Holiday Villages in Tunisia, Menorca and Majorca. Other AIs in Dom Rep, Egypt, Morocco, Mexico, Cuba and the Canaries.

Never had a problem in any of them. DH is a sociable bugger, he goes off and chats to people. I am a quiet hermit happy with my books and a sunbed. DD has been in some holiday clubs, but generally just makes friends by the pool and plays with them.

secretsquirrels · 19/09/2014 15:41

We are not sociable. DH and I are quite capable of speaking to nobody else for the entire holiday.
We used to do villa / self catering when DC were small but eventually tried AI and never looked back. To be fair I think you need at least 4 stars to ensure a range of restaurants on site. We have never been locked in and found we were free to travel out of the hotel if we wanted Wink.
The DC (teenagers) like the constant availability of food and activities.
There are lots of places where you can get an apartment and consequently space without sharing a room. I have had two bedroom apartments with AI and we have had 2 x rooms. The apartments generally give more space.
This one was lovely.

foxdongle · 21/09/2014 09:54

Can't quite believe that people let people with "Terrible fashion" spoil their holidays! Confused

We have been on lots of holidays, of many types and have stayed in many lovely AI's all over and had a great time. Like any holiday, you do what you please.

TheBuskersDog · 21/09/2014 10:13

The last time we went was lovely but not terribly restful as we were out and about with DS all the time rather than just sitting poolside with a book.

That's what it's like being a parent on a family holiday though, family holidays are not the same as childless holidays.

Heels99 · 22/09/2014 09:26

I agree with chicken fajitas.

noramum · 22/09/2014 10:34

The last time we went was lovely but not terribly restful as we were out and about with DS all the time rather than just sitting poolside with a book.

That's what it's like being a parent on a family holiday though, family holidays are not the same as childless holidays.

We had the same issue after one year of villa holiday with constant entertainment, fun but exhausting. Since we do holidays in a complex with other children around I am actually able to read a book or have a drink in peace.

I enjoy exploring with DD but I think it is fair to look for a holiday which has both sides covered.

MillyMollyMama · 22/09/2014 21:18

Not sure if this is typical but we had to stay one night in an AI in Antigua due to a flight connection problem and there were loads of guests smoking and cigarette butts everywhere - on the floor in the outside dining area, around the pool, in the sand.... . Definitely not my idea of where to stay. Not sure how you pick out the pleasant ones. I would have hated another night there. Most people we know who go AI never budge from the hotel especially in places like Cuba and the Domenican Republic. It depends what you want from a holiday I suppose.

Heels99 · 23/09/2014 08:10

But surely in any holiday there's will be people who sit by the pool and relax all day and people who go out sightseeing and people who do a mixture. That is surely true whether in a villa or AI.

Heels99 · 23/09/2014 08:10

WiTh all inclusive, choose a four or five star one not a cheap one.

mrssmith79 · 23/09/2014 08:22

Somewhere like the Holiday Village in Rhodes (5 star, through First Choice) might suit you OP. They are AI with an enormous amount of facilities and dining options as well as quieter areas. The room options include villas with private pools or deluxe family rooms with sliding partitions to separate the sleeping areas. There are quiet room areas, swim up rooms and loads of other options - the villas look lovely though.