Anyone found any budget all-inclusive gems?

[eatsleepread]

Hi. Single parent of 3 here, with one child who'll be counted as an adult. Our summer holiday to Greece was cancelled this year, and like many disappointed people, we're keen to rebook something for next year.
My preferred option is AI. I know they're not everyone's cup of tea, but to me they represent a total break, convenience and value for money.
The holiday we had booked for this year, has shot up in price for 2021. It seems that even pretty mediocre AI resorts are very pricey.
So I'm asking if anyone knows of any reasonably priced places that have good food, good pools (with slides), clean rooms, and a bit of 'wow'. Or am I asking for too much?!
It would be from Edinburgh Airport, for next July. We're still keen to try Greece, but anything goes (nothing tacky though).
Thanks!

Can't give any recommendations, but if you put your requirements in the jet2holidays search, you might find what you're looking for.

You can filter by 'family friendly', TripAdvisor rating and have water slides as an option, plus flying from Edinburgh. You might even get a free child place if you're paying for 2 adults. If you can go in early July that might help keep the cost down, even more so if you're able to fly from Newcastle airport as the flights won't have the school holiday price premium attached. Also have a look at Turkey as that always seems to be well priced for AI.

No recommendations either sorry, but following above post, Jet2 really do seem to have come out as trustworthy good guys in Covid-related cancellations/refunds.

Think they’ve always had a good rep, but recently consolidated.

Look at Ikos just fabulous think there's some nice deals eve in the holidays

They look great, but definitely not within the realms of 'budget'.

I'm not sure that cheap, AI and good food exist in the same sentence TBH. I also recommend Jet2 as a tour operator though. And in the current situation I think booking with a tour operator is a safer option than doing it all separately.

Turkey definitely cheaper.

Look at Bulgaria in Balkan Holidays (dame holiday was £2000 cheaper with Balkan than Jet2) or Egypt via Red Sea holidays.

They were the best value AI 2021 holidays we found when looking last month.

We went to Club MAC in Majorca 3 years ago. It had a water park across the road with free entry for hotel guests, 3 swimming pools on site, loads of entertainment for the kids and in the evening. To be honest the food wasn't great, but budget AI will be consistently substandard buffet food wherever you go.
It was an 'easy' holiday for us, the kids were entertained, the water park was much better than just a couple of slides at the hotel and we got it for a really reasonable price (May half term).
It is huge and not a particularly high class place, but it kept the kids entertained, which was our aim. And it was clean with friendly staff. The rooms also had a double and bunk beds, which was great as ours are a boy and a girl, which is difficult when it's a sofa bed.
We went with Jet2, I would highly recommend them. They even checked in our bags at the hotel on the day we left, so we could go through security without queuing to bag drop, which was great.

I heard that Turkey is great value for Wow style AI.

but budget AI will be consistently substandard buffet food wherever you go

I think the only way you will get decent food on an AI holiday is from personal recommendations. They have a captive audience so don't have to try too hard.

Agreed the food is one of the things things that puts me off AI, but the 24/7 availability of it with the kids wins over.
DP and I are booked to go to Cape Verde (minus kids) next year. That's AI, but they have 4 non buffet restaurants too, so I'm hoping that will be better!

OP don't visit Turkey if you boycott countries with poor records of human rights, including women's(see Middle East).

Also please think re current quarantine scenarios and if it's worth taking risks with any travel abroad.

Greece is one of the countries with the lowest risks re Covid if feeling brave to travel.

@Immigrantsong
It's for next year, so hopefully I will be brave enough by then

Have booked up Greece. Thanks everyone.

We went on a brilliant holiday to Louis Creta Princess. The Louis group of hotels are Greek and they have around 6 hotels. Food was amazing, loads for kids to do, water slides, kids clubs etc. We really enjoyed it and it was cheAp. Located right on the beach and you could walk along the beach to a few tavernas, shops, if you wanted a change of scene.