Do you ever wish you’d just booked an all inclusive?

[raffamooie]

Dh and I love travelling and seeing new places. Like everyone we have limited annual leave.

We take one 2 week break a year and then shorter ones. We’ve just returned from 2 weeks of travelling around South Africa. Amazing trip. Saw and did so much. But it wasn’t hugely relaxing. We’ve come back from the trip feeling tired.

We sorta wish in future to simply book a 5* all inclusive in the med in September for 10 days. Not worry about anything other than relaxing.

I think we’d be a bit bored and feel we’re wasting a chance to see different places and cultures.

Both!
5 days AI and 5 days city stay is my perfect holiday. A good rest, followed by a chance to explore fully refreshed.

I did my parents couple of holidays when I was a child where we spent first week in Rome and second week in beach resort. We did similar to Athens as well. One week nonstop sightseeing and then relaxing.

Don’t be so judgmental!

I’ve just come back from a 4* AI holiday in Tobago and there were all sorts of people there, mostly late middle age, none of whom would, I imagine, fit into your narrow-minded stereotype. It was the best holiday I’ve had in a very long time and I’d have no hesitation in going back there again on the same basis. To not have to think about paying for meals and drinks all the time means you can properly relax, and it doesn’t stop you from going out and exploring if you want to. Those who sneer at AI holidays really need to give their heads a wobble.

What do you think people on AI do? Never go anywhere, never visit the sites, never have a coffee anywhere else, not taste any of the local delicacies?

I'm not really into all inclusive type holidays - I've done it twice (once because it was a treat for my single mother sister and her toddler and I wanted it to be as stress free as possible, for her, and once because it was a ridiculously good deal and in an area where my friend and I could still easily get out and see the sights/sample local cuisine etc), but generally prefer to move about a fair bit.

HOWEVER - I have been on a couple of 'organised tour' things (one a safari and one trekking in Nepal) which were great as they involved minimal stress/planning while still getting to see different bits of the country, try different food etc and were very sociable too which was important to me at the time. With both I built in a few days at the end to do my own thing.

I'd never do the AI thing for an entire holiday again - the one with my sister was lovely (in the Caribbean with a great kiddy pool, private beach and lovely food, and we did a couple of day trips too) but tbh I did find it boring after a few days when the novelty wore off. Plus ended up eating and drinking far more than could be healthy!

Oh yeh? ….what sort of certain people is that then?

We only do all inclusive where the deal price is not much more than self catering, we still have some lunches and drinks out and maybe one or two special evening meals out too.

Quite often there are long available meal times, so you can go out after breakfast and be back for a late lunch. Or early lunch then go out and eat dinner later.
I’d hate to be stuck on site so the price has to allow for out and about spending otherwise we do self catering or b and b so we can spend where we want

The issue is that people often budget their holidays and then the costs of AI + excursion, meals out etc are higher than they thought.

We always „escaped the prison“ as DH called it but decided that it‘s worth the not thinking about buying drinks, snacks and ice cream when DD was smaller and the kids club in some resorts were really good.

@reluctantbrit that's one of the reasons we often hire a car, also I took DH on a holiday coach excursion once and nearly throttled him. If you have a car you know the price in advance, budget a bit extra for fuel and you can go and do what you like, lots of free or very cheap things to do, eat well at breakfast, fill up your water bottles, take some fruit etc, back in time for dinner at least most days. The odd cold drink and ice cream isn't going to break the bank if you can afford a decent AI and on the days you stay put you have all of the hotel facilities and don't have to spend a penny. Organised excursions from AI hotels are often very expensive and take ages on a coach when you could be off exploring, and see two or three different 'sights' in a day, stop by a hidden beach you find on the way back for a swim etc. Best of both worlds

I love the relaxation an AI gives but we always hire a car for the whole time and explore the area. They'll even pack you up a picnic so you can go for the whole day.

We do one AI a year, same destination, same hotel, same time of year. It's our lazy - can't be bothered holiday. I feel no shame cos all,my other trips are self catering- explore the area type of thing

All inclusive is a restful holiday. Just make sure you book the very best you can afford.
Remember you are not a prisoner, don't let the "I've paid for it so I must use it" mentality stop you from going out for the odd meal or day trip.
I found them perfect for when DC were early to mid teens but DH and I don't bother now as we are retired.

We always go all inclusive but we spend day trips out, beaches, exploring. I’m not one for staying in a hotel day in day out. Not even one day tbh.

We do a mixture.
With young child the ideal mix we have found is 2 day on route of bed and breakfast. we drive usually to holiday (live Central Europe already), so this allows us to see places and try new restaurants or eat at accommodation.
Stay somewhere 5 days half board- means easy breakfast and evening meals, daytime we go somewhere either locally or drive. Eat lunch out wherever we are. Visit local attractions or places.
2 day drive home stopping off at hotels, farmstays or bed and breakfast again on route back. Drive different route home so new overnight locations.

We could drive most the time to main location in one go, but that’s not relaxing with a small child and feels rushed

I prefer city breaks or camping but since the kids came along we do a lot of half board holidays. Breakfast and dinner is included and then we go off exploring or get something more local for lunch. Neither DH or I drink much though so the extra cost of AI is kinda wasted for us. We will go back to citybreaks when the kids' legs get a little longer 😂

Oh do explain

We've never done an AI holiday, because it just doesn't appeal (we like to get out, explore the local area, eat in local restaurants, etc), but I have felt tired after a very full-on holiday. I don't think you have to do AI to have a relaxing time though. You can stay in a nice hotel and do B&B or half board, do some exploring and still spend plenty of time by the pool reading on a sun lounger. So to answer your question, no I've never wished I'd just booked AI!

We were completely new to AI last year after usually travelling about.
I was pleasantly surprised but it was a 5* place and had 4 restaurants to chose from. We also did a few trips out.
We have booked another this year so will see if we enjoy it as much.
For me it was coming back from a holiday realising I had prepared 12 meals in a week as we have young children and nothing was open early enough for dinner!

I think with young children it's great as frankly my kids just want to be in a pool!

Never. I feel like I've wasted time off if I'm sitting still.

We usually do a 3-5 day city break somewhere etc explore (Iceland, Rome, Barcelona) and one week all inclusive to relax (Greece, Croatia etc)

Not our thing for a number of reasons.

One is that we don't really want to stay in one place for more than 4 nights.

The other is that we'd probably be paying for things that we wouldn't use like breakfast, 'proper' lunch and amenities like a pool etc. We don't eat breakfast, take a vegan packed lunch on our trips and don't swim really.

We like to have several bases and see the sights. Self driving because we like to get to places when they open. Definitely try to beat the crowds on organised trips.

And finally we don't want to recognise people or be recognised. We were told off back in the day for wasting our dinners by another couple in our hotel because we were half board but ate in restaurants instead.

The first reply was spot on.
I've been on some holidays where we've thought "We'll probably never come to this country again, lets see everything whilst we are here and just pack it all in to the time we've got" and I've been on others where I've thought "I'm not going to look at my watch or arrange ANYTHING for 10 days. I'm just going to lie by the pool or on the beach and read some books, and eat when I'm hungry and sleep when I'm tired and thoroughly relax and refuel".

Both have their place, as do holidays that are a mix up of different things.

Cruises always a win for me. Get to relax but days at shore see new places x

both is the answer. we just got home, spent most of the holiday travelling around and seeing everything, and finished with a few days in luxury AI. Perfect.

We tried one once. It was okish but only for a few days.
If we considered it again I wouldn't go more than 3-4 days and would not go all inclusive. I found the constant 'call' for food and drinks a turn off. By the end, I skipped lunches and only drank water throughout.