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Holidays

Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

Original poster

All inclusive on a budget with teens

26 replies

DangerousMouse · 07/10/2023 20:53

I'm looking for an all inclusive holiday in August with two teens, so preferably interconnecting rooms. It needs to be fairly budget, hot, with plenty to do in the pools. I did have a look at Turkey but the prices seem to have increased a lot since we went about 6/7 years ago.
Don't really mind where we go if it fits the brief!

OP posts:
cherryassam · 07/10/2023 21:47

Turkey is generally the best budget option for AI - what is your budget for how long and what age of DC?

ChaliceinWonderland · 07/10/2023 21:48

Watching witn interest

Emmasian94 · 07/10/2023 22:03

DangerousMouse · 07/10/2023 20:53

I'm looking for an all inclusive holiday in August with two teens, so preferably interconnecting rooms. It needs to be fairly budget, hot, with plenty to do in the pools. I did have a look at Turkey but the prices seem to have increased a lot since we went about 6/7 years ago.
Don't really mind where we go if it fits the brief!

Have a look at costings for Bulgaria. The prices for Turkey have really increased!

Original poster
DangerousMouse · 07/10/2023 22:33

Thank you, the kids will be 14 and 21... we're hoping the 21 year old will still come! Maybe somewhere they can do some open water diving or something exciting like that.

OP posts:
Original poster
DangerousMouse · 07/10/2023 22:34

Duration would be 10 or 14 days

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cherryassam · 07/10/2023 22:52

Bulgaria is a good shout - Sunny Beach, Bourgas, Golden Sands, Sozopol

Agadir in Morocco can be good value - but I’m not sure how the earthquake will have affected things

The Canaries can be better value than the Med in the summer - Gran Canaria usually the best value followed by Tenerife, Fuerteventura can also be on the cheaper side

Turkey - Alanya, Antalya, Kusadasi, Marmaris, Oludeniz are usually the best value resorts. Turkey often gets you the best quality of food for what you pay - and the facilities can be great.

Egypt might be an option as it’s cheaper in August than many times of the year - but that’s because it’s absolutely roasting hot, unbearably so for many people.

If you have an idea of what you want to pay PP or in total then I can suggest some actual hotels.

BarbaraofSeville · 08/10/2023 07:17

YY to Canary Islands. Playa Blanca or Puerto del Carmen in Lanzarote would be good. Diving is great in both locations (there is an underwater sculpture park in PB) and also a good selection of AI hotels.

Have a look at Jet2holidays, you might even get a free child place.

Uggtrending · 08/10/2023 07:21

Turkey definitely isn't cheap OP. The secret is out I've just paid over 2k for me and DS next year in Side. He will still loose a few days of school too.

Long beach looks great for teens. It's far out but I would just book a private transfer! Maybe pull the kids out of school for a week?

reluctantbrit · 08/10/2023 10:24

Do price 2 rooms instead of a suite/interconnecting rooms. We found that a lot cheaper last year and you have more options as well.

Canaries are actually quite nice in Summer compared to the Med, incl. Turkey, as the Atlantic wind cools the temperature down.
Alternatively, the Spanish Atlantic coast, Costa de la Luz. It's more Spanish holidaymakers than Brits, saying that we found the Germans like it as well.

BarbaraofSeville · 08/10/2023 10:38

2 separate rooms is a good idea, especially as one of your DC is an adult, so you won't be subject to restrictions on children being in a room by themselves (unless you want to keep a close eye on them, eg if there are worries about the 14 YO drinking or them going out alone at night).

But unless you're either not particularly bothered about food variety/quality or going out and about each day, I'd also consider going B&B instead of AI because AI on a budget is often not a particularly nice experience, buffet restaurants, bland food.

For similar money, if you went B&B, you could have a leisurely late breakfast and then go out each day and have a late lunch while out and about and then a light dinner/BBQ on the terrace if you stay in an aparthotel. Or just get a quick lunch then dinner out. Choose an a aparthotel with a mini kitchen or at least a fridge, then you can buy in drinks and snacks to minimise what you pay hotel prices for.

Triptastico · 08/10/2023 18:14

Alas Turkey is no longer cheap as it's one of the very few countries Russians can still visit and they are keeping the prices high. Bargains are few and far between which is a shame as Turkey does AI very well.

If price is the main factor how about Tunisia or Egypt? I've never visited these two countries but I know they're big on AI.

Uggtrending · 08/10/2023 18:20

@Triptastico Egyot is extortionate too. I booked Jaz Blue Marine for 11 nights all inclusive for £1060 in May half term. I stopped it for Turkey because I was worried about illness and the standard of food in the hotel for that price. Its every where since covid and this year beeb the main year people feel confident to travel. The previous year I had some bargains!

gotomomo · 08/10/2023 18:26

Algeria was cheap when I looked recently (term time) as was Morocco. When I say cheap I mean less expensive than the main European destinations

Original poster
DangerousMouse · 08/10/2023 18:39

Thanks for all the replies, happy to have 2 separate rooms instead, but we definitely want to do AI this time, Bulgaria sounds good, as does Egypt, maybe near Sharm then the kids can dive.
Sorry to be a pain but we don't really have a budget we have to stick to, but just need to make this a cheaper holiday than our normal, but our last holiday was 2 weeks at Universal in Florida. Would 5/6k gets us an AI? Only must haves are hot, water park, things to do - even at a cost.

OP posts:
Original poster
DangerousMouse · 08/10/2023 18:41

We can't pull out of school this time, I work in a school also and it's just not possible now

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HermioneWeasley · 08/10/2023 18:43

Tunisia is a shithole and Egypt can be pretty dirty. I’d avoid both

StrawberryPavlova · 08/10/2023 18:47

If you look at Tenerife, the Playa de las Americas or Costa Adeje areas, there's a great water park called Siam Park. It's really close to those resorts and some packages come with free (unlimited) Siam Park tickets so you can go as many times as you want while you're there.

Original poster
DangerousMouse · 08/10/2023 20:07

Thank you, I appreciate your response but unfortunately Siam Park is ruled out for animal welfare reasons, probably should have said that initially... is Egypt really dirty? I've been looking at Aqua Blu resort in Sharm and it looks perfect, 6k for 10 days and has everything we'd like

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Uggtrending · 08/10/2023 20:21

Coral sea Waterworld looks fab in Egypt. Stella Villiage in Crete has a fab waterpark too

StrawberryPavlova · 08/10/2023 20:39

DangerousMouse · 08/10/2023 20:07

Thank you, I appreciate your response but unfortunately Siam Park is ruled out for animal welfare reasons, probably should have said that initially... is Egypt really dirty? I've been looking at Aqua Blu resort in Sharm and it looks perfect, 6k for 10 days and has everything we'd like

Ah fair enough. I've not actually been myself, just know people who have. I didn't realise they had animals there.

SpeedyMackechnie · 08/10/2023 20:42

TUI Magic Life Kalawy, fitting into Hurghada, Egypt.

Fabulous all inclusive. Can't recommend it highly enough. Fantastic snorkelling off the pier at the house reef, and diving available too. SO much to do, from morning to night and the food was amazing. Absolutely spotless.

We had a family 'room', with 2 distinct bedrooms.

SpeedyMackechnie · 08/10/2023 20:43

SpeedyMackechnie · 08/10/2023 20:42

TUI Magic Life Kalawy, fitting into Hurghada, Egypt.

Fabulous all inclusive. Can't recommend it highly enough. Fantastic snorkelling off the pier at the house reef, and diving available too. SO much to do, from morning to night and the food was amazing. Absolutely spotless.

We had a family 'room', with 2 distinct bedrooms.

Flying, not fitting

Original poster
DangerousMouse · 08/10/2023 20:50

Wow that looks stunning, this would be perfect for us. I'll have to persuade DH as it's a bit more expensive than we'd prefer

OP posts:
SpeedyMackechnie · 08/10/2023 21:01

DangerousMouse · 08/10/2023 20:50

Wow that looks stunning, this would be perfect for us. I'll have to persuade DH as it's a bit more expensive than we'd prefer

If you're referring to the one I mentioned, it honestly was amazing. It is in the middle of nowhere, but it didn't do anything half heartedly.

Afternoon picnics in the cabana (complete with chequered cloths and picnic baskets on a Sunday). Full on rave beach party, shows in the amphitheater each night, Ibiza style open air nightclubs. Sun-downer with live music on the beach. Silent disco (SO much fun). Usual daytime games around the pool. Our kids aren't the type to join in with things but they loved the constant buzz around the place. There was also a quiet pool if that's more your thing.

SpeedyMackechnie · 08/10/2023 21:03

Only thing I would mention is that it was very German, which we didn't mind at all, but might not suit everyone.