Coming to the end of our first all inclusive and wondering if they’re all a bit like this…? Or if it’s our family that doesn’t fit them?

[Xrays]

We’re staying at a 4/5 star resort in Ibiza. It’s got very good reviews on trip advisor, good reviews online elsewhere etc and I know - before someone pounces on me - that we are incredibly lucky to have a holiday at all, yet alone this one, considering how much people are struggling financially right now. This holiday was booked and paid for with some inheritance money from my Mums passing just before covid and has been rebooked and cancelled many times. It’s our first time abroad as a family, Ds aged 11 who has autism and dd aged 20 (normally at university). We’re a close family, and dd really wanted to come, no issues with all being together etc (I know lots of people here are often horrified at older teens etc going on holiday with them)!

But it’s all been a bit underwhelming. Mainly the food aspect. Most of the food is buffet style with kids running riot, it feels like a school canteen with lots of kids screaming, everything feels sort of cheaply done - pizzas that are freshly cooked only have a small amount of topping in the very middle and edges bare etc, the pasta dishes are basically like pasta bakes you could make yourself from a jar from Tesco, lots and lots of chips and everything at breakfast feels like it’s sat out there for ages - except for omelettes which they cook in front of you. I’m kind of sick of omelettes now…! Feels a bit like if Haven did an all inclusive- and just to be clear, I love Haven and we go there every year but I wouldn’t consider Haven 4/5 star and pay to eat there all inclusive!

I guess what I’m wondering is if we were / are just a bit unlucky and other places are better / have more fresh food cooked to order or if they’re all a bit like this? Or maybe we’re just really fussy? (Perhaps we are). I’m thinking ahead to our next holiday and just not sure whether to look at another all inclusive or whether to go for self catering - and use that as a base and eat out (and that’s basically what we’ve ended up doing this time, we’ve given up trying to eat here, which is a shame as we’ve paid ££££ already for food…)! I don’t feel I’ve had a holiday if I have to cook as I do that all the time at home.

Looking to see what other’s experiences are and if you have any ideas of better AIs or elsewhere throw them at me….! Or just tell me they’re all like this and I’m being too fussy and I’ll look for self catering apartments etc.

@TheCave The place we went a few weeks ago had its own bar / restaurant (with excellent food), it was right next to the pool so not really any effort to get a drink. They would bring dinner and lunch to your villa if you wanted, and the service was generally quicker than what we ever got at Ikos (often had to wait quite a while for drinks by the pool there). The villa was cleaned daily too, it was immaculate. We did have to wash up, but there was a dishwasher so we only washed up a small amount after breakfast (and once we forgot and the housekeeping staff did it for us!). The staff all spoke excellent English. Grounds and general surroundings were beautiful and well kept. So there are self-catering places, although this place wasn't cheap 🙈it was through Simpson Travel which seems to specialise in higher end options
That doesn't sound like self catering. It sounds more like a Villa resort. If there is a pool and restaurants, room service and staff then it's not really SC is it.

Had a little look at Ikos last night and for the 4 of us for a similar time, similar sized accommodation to what we’ve had here, next year it came out as £15k! 😳 That’s well, well above our budget.

I actually think £4k isn’t particularly budget for a weeks break all inclusive in the quieter areas of Ibiza, especially considering I originally booked it over a year ago and now the same holiday prices at £4.7k for the week (all inclusive, 3 adults, 1 child, 2 bed apartment). There are tons and tons of similar type set ups across Spain etc for around £2.5-3k considering we’re going in school time (Ds school is for children with complex needs and they don’t mind him missing school as they understand it’s important to go when it’s quieter for children with autism etc).

I think I’m going to have to adjust my expectations a little perhaps. Maybe we need somewhere with a mixture of everything 😆🤷‍♀️

Its our last morning today and I spent half the time wandering around the busy dining area trying to find someone to let them know the 3 different coffee machines had no milk in so no one could get any milky coffees / teas etc. Everyone was pressing the button and then leaving their dirty cup on the side when they realised there was no milk. I told 3 different members of staff and 2 didn’t understand me, 1 did but just directed me to another machine which was outside of the breakfast area (which I did go to) and when we left they still hadn’t sorted it yet. Having worked in restaurants for many years I know it’s easy to change the milk! Stuff like that just annoys me. It’s really petty but I don’t think a good coffee in the morning is too much to ask for.

We’ve had a wonderful holiday apart from the food but I can’t wait to get home - I miss my fridge full of nice stuff! 🙈

I think you’ve been unlucky OP. I’ve been to over 30 all inclusives and can only think of one that’s as busy as the one you are describing. Like others have said if you choose an all inclusive in a cheaper country such as Turkey you will get a lot more included. I recently returned from one which had a bubble tea van, various restaurants that were open for lunch or dinner, plus a little street which had ice creams, pastries and a speciality coffee mini shop. It was very nice for pottering around and there were many bars with absolutely no queues. I went over the last half term with just my DH.

I often recommend this place OP. In Majorca between Alcudia and Puerto pollensa- bus outside door so easy to get to either. Very German dominated but high standards- adjoins nature reserve, cycle track all round outside- food was very good- not amazing but whole sides of salmon etc -but doesn't have multiple restaurants- but we used it for breakfast, some lunches, snacks round pool etc and went out 4 nights out of 7. It's not a raucous kiddie fest with slides etc but does have entertainment and think your son would love it. And it will be far more in budget!!

https://www.booking.com/hotel/es/pollentia-club-resort.es.html?label=mallorca-miguel%20wct230512142918wne63&sid=35fca65a36786f8794533bab8aa6a708&dist=0;groupadults=2;grouppchildren=1;norooms=1;room1=A%2CA;sbbprice_type=total;type=total&

Well it describes itself as self catering. The food and drinks are optional and cost extra. We had a full blown kitchen. So pretty different from an AI.

To give you an idea on the place I posted- all inclusive in mid August in one of the family suites for a week is £2261 - add on flights and you would probably get a high quality week for about £3300 - and the standard is high. It does by the way have 2 buffet restaurants, plus an a la carte one and nice outside eating areas plus multiple swimming pools- including an adults only one - I'm not affiliated- lol- just think it's a great bet if anyone wants AI at high quality and sensible money but with the option of a nice town for meals out , doesn't want to go to Turkey for whatever reason and isn't obsessed with on site water parks etc- does though have a nice playground.

Forgot to say that's with booking.com - although I believe Jet2 and EasyJet use it as well. (It was noticeable though that there were far more Germans, swedes and Dutch)

@TheCave oh I agree. Completely different from AI but more like a villa resort than typical self catering. Villa resorts or the thing you did (not actually sure what it was with SC plus restaurants and pool etc) are the best option possible. Own space plus all the amenities of a hotel. I've never actually cooked in a Villa resort. Only made myself coffee and cut up fruit etc but having the Space with the family together is so much nicer than just several rooms. It's more like a non AI hotel but in a villa

Which AI in Tenerife please?

@babyroobs we also went AI in Portinax, Ibiza - it was the El Greco, couldn't fault it.

Which AI resort restaurants have Michelin Stars?

Just out if curiosity, which one? We went to Coconut Beach and the food was pretty good (though we used their concierge service so only ate in the a la carte restaurants included in the AI and not the buffet). Windjammer also had great food in their various restaurants (we were AI there too).

Which was your St Lucia hotel? Sounds like we dodged a bullet.

Sorry, I've missed a few messages. Going back about 6/7 years ago it was Rui Negril, Jamaica which had great food and service. I can't recall the name of the hotel in St Lucia which was considerably poorer.

We are currently at an all inclusive in Mallorca. The restaurant is fully buffet style but the food is great - yes there is pizza pasta and chips if you want it but there is also plenty of freshly cooked fish and meat ( last night was veal and sword fish), paella and even the most die hard mumsnetter would struggle to find a complaint about the salad bar. Loads of fresh fruit too.

On the noise - not finding that an issue either. There are lots of families here with kids from all over Europe and there’s no running around and screaming in the restaurant. Two large pools, one with all the music and games (which my teens love) a much quieter one in the shade where dh and I have installed ourselves.

we do enjoy self catering too but AI takes away the chore of even thinking about food and cooking for the duration,

The AIs we have done have been cruises, and you do feel stuffed by the end of the week. We have lately done HB because we don't drink enough to justify the AI, and sometimes HB isn't much more . And you can still get some nice local food to try . We aren't really foodies as such . We like to try the local bars and have a walk around the town at night, though, so AI doesn't suit us . I can understand you tried AI with your older kids . We did cruises when ours were that age and they did enjoy them .They got to see lots of different places that way .We also did a few of the Eurocamp type holidays their caravans are really nice . They were good because you've got your own space .

Are you sure they were Michelin starred? I can’t find anything about Riu Negril ever having a Michelin star and current reviews on trip advisor etc. seem to say quite the opposite (e.g. paraphrased - “Great place, food isn’t Michelin starred but we weren’t expecting it to be.” ).

Michelin don’t currently seem to list any restaurants in the Caribbean, let alone at an AI resort, for any distinction.