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.

Did the rooms, or pool make it 4/5 star if not the food?
That sounds like a bog standard resort, true 4/5 stars are nothing like that, and I say this as as the Queen of cheap who has been lucky a few times when I was treated.

We've done AI a couple of times and it's not really our thing either. I prefer B&B with a good buffet breakfast and then eating out in the evening.

I like hot grilled things or pasta & salad so AI works for me for the first couple of days. Then you realise that it's basically the same day after day. Nuggets & chips, some sort of fish, a pork chop or chicken fillet, some pasta and the same salads, cheap ice-cream and endless watermelon.

And I agree, it feels very canteeny.

You have to pay a lot for a good AI or the food is disappointing. 4k out of school holidays for one week for 4 people should have given you a hotel with good food and a very basic room, in my experience. You may just have been unlucky .

What a ridiculous comment, Ibiza is beautiful, went on family holiday there last year and loved it!! Such a cool vibe too! Lovely beaches, nice food ( expensive though!) and Ibiza old town is great, what’s not to like??

It depends where you stay, the AI places I have been have all had menu’s that you order from, rather than a buffet. The only buffet they had were continental breakfasts, other breakfasts had to be ordered. Below is a link to one of the restaurants in the place we last stayed, you could book self catering and use them, but AI was better value for money, especially as it included some restauranta outside the hotel.

https://ikosresorts.com/menus/IAN/Ouzo-Dinner-Menu-IAN-EN_GE_FR.pdf

The room has been really nice to be fair, it’s more like a very large apartment which is what we needed with 4 of us all wanting our own space. 2 proper double bedrooms (kids sharing, happy to do so) and a large lounge area and big terrace. So that’s been good. And the cleaning / room service has been faultless. Fresh towels on demand, cleaned everyday, really lovely powerful shower etc. I can’t moan about any of that at all.

The main thing people moan about online on the various review sites seems to be the entertainment here - there really isn’t much- and that’s actually one of the main reasons we chose it because we actually like to have a quiet evening, lots of sleep and out doing stuff during the day (we’ve done a lot of beach walks, visiting places etc).

It’s really interesting reading people’s comments and their views on AI. My friend goes on a holiday like this every year and raves about it so thought we’d give it a try!

We went to a 4* star AI in Greece earlier this year. We weren't in holiday time but it was very much as you say. There were a couple of a la carte restaurants which were better (and quieter) but the food was generally underwhelming as an adult. However, it was perfect for my 4 year old DS. I suck it up for him but I don't think I'd go to one of those type of resorts with an older child (or without children).

That sounds lovely.

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,

I wish people would stop apologising for taking a holiday abroad. Its a weird MN thing that no one does in real life.

We've only done all inclusive once and never will again. The overweight people piling their plates high at the breakfast buffet - and going back for seconds ...

We book an aparthotel and eat breakfast and lunch there, then out for dinner.

Spanish AI is underwhelming, although the ones with late snack bars where the food is cooked fresh can be good. I prefer 5 Turkey, which usually includes some a la carte restaurants. My kids are 9 & 11 and the AI is great for unlimited drinks and ice creams. The one we're booked for this year, in Turkey, has great reviews, a la carte, jacket potato and waffle bars, freshly cooked food at the beach...can't wait! I sometimes go 3 AI in Spain last minute, £1200-1600 for 4 of us which means we can also eat out without feeling we're overspending

All Inclusive are always like this, I suspect.
I was advised by a travel agent NOT to book one, as the kids run wild, etc, and the food is poor.

I've been extremely underwhelmed at all
Holidays and eating out since covid.

We regularly did AI around the Med. Always at least two fantastic and often unexpected food choices. And I say this as a keen cook so I like high quality food.

Since covid it's been dire. Especially in the UK. Out of the hundreds of meals we had before covid and the great many we've repeated since only one single tiny takeaway establishment has consistently performed. No smaller portions, no cheaper meats, no serving things that have been out for hours. Yes prices have gone up by about a third. But I'd rather pay a third more and enjoy food.

So I think it's the COL since covid that's affecting quality. It seems to be across the board. AI four star you should be wowed by at least one or two dishes a night and breakfast should be fresh and delicious. Sounds like standards have slipped.

I’m with you OP. I don’t even like a buffet breakfast because of the ‘claim a table’/get up/sit down/eat at a different pace/have the plate snatched off you as soon as you out your fork down’. Table service all the way for me please.

On the odd occasion we had to have half board, we’ve had about two meals in the hotel and eaten out for the rest.

But I see people like to know their spend and young children enjoy the unlimited aspect.

I also think people are ‘captured’ with AI so don’t leave the site and it means everything is busier.

Good that you’ve tried it and can decide if it works going forward.

We did AI once. Never again. We book b+b in a really nice 5* and find different restaurants for dinner. We don’t want to subsidise other people’s endless alcohol consumption.

I think it very much depends how you eat at home.

Lots of freshly prepared food with minimal UPF, fresh salads/veg, and not much alcohol? You may be disappointed with AI.

If you prefer large portions of ready made food and not so much veg/salad, you may enjoy it more.

I will never go AI again after supposedly trying the best in an AI place.

i really disliked the constant food. We’d just finish breakfast when they’d be putting out lunch, then there’s afternoon “snacks” (mini meals) before the evening meal. It was exhausting.

@Abouttimemum oh that pirate place brings back memories 😂

I couldn't wait to get home!

I never thought we'd go AI, however we went to a lovely hotel in Spain (Costa Dourado) in 2019. DD has just turned 3, and was the fussiest eater I'd ever come across. We'd had a truly awful year, and hadn't had a holiday for a couple of years. I needed a rest from constantly worrying about food, and to try and regain my strength following several operations.

The hotel has a buffet restaurant, with fresh cooking stations. Each night had a theme, (Spanish, Catylunian, cheese, fish). Yes, chips and mashed potatoes were present in every meal, but the variety otherwise was amazing. We all tried things we'd never had before, and DD ate more different things than she'd ever tried before. Honestly, since that holiday, her fussiness resolved. And it was such a weight off of my mind, she could try anything.

We did eat away from the hotel for a couple of meals, and also went on day trips to various local sights. There was also a (included in our package) waterpark next door, which was wonderful.

We're going back this summer. DD will be 7, and little DS, also a fussy eater, will be 3, the same age DD was when we went last.

The reviews look to be very similar to when we went last, and I can't wait! Again, we've had some very difficult times recently, and I just want a bit of an escape from the drag of normal life.

However, I can totally see how this sort of holiday won't last us as a family forever. I used to love exploring cultural treasures, trying all the small, local restaurants and going a bit off of the beaten track. When the children are old enough to know what they want, when they wouldn't be interested in the kids entertainment, we will switch back over.

I think it really depends on the resort for the quality of the food you can get in AI.

Remember other people have different standards so someone giving a four or five star review doesn't mean you would!

It sounds like AI isn't right for you. If you're out and about a lot, eating out, and not drinking alcohol, then you're essentially paying twice/paying over the odds for several parts of the holiday.

Next time, book an apartment, or a small B&B, and enjoy eating out and exploring (without having to come back to a buffet meal each night, which sounds grim).

I'm glad you have enjoyed the scenery/surrounds though - Ibiza is very much on my holiday wish list (but most definitely not AI!)

My only experience of AI was in St Lucia and the food was amazing.

All Inclusive are always like this, I suspect.

They're not.

We've only done all inclusive once and never will again. The overweight people piling their plates high at the breakfast buffet - and going back for seconds ...

Not seconds! The greedy bastards probably insisted upon breathing and taking up a share of oxygen too.

I have done AI a couple of times when I was younger, and I wouldn't do them again for all the reasons you speak of.

We did an AI once and it was awful. Since then we have cruised. There are some cruiselines I wouldn't use - but half a dozen that we have loved. Great food choices, different places to eat and pools for the kids. Lots of games and the kids club is great. Our kids are now teenagers and love coming with us. reat to get off and see a different place almost every day too.

My only experience of AI was in Majorca years ago but out of season in a quiet hotel and it was great.