All-inclusive family holidays: how do you book yours?

[HalebiHabibti]

I've never booked an AI family holiday before (was horrified by the costs!) but husband and sons are clamouring for one next year. It would be early August, in Europe, for a week-ish. Any top tips on good websites/ways to reduce costs please? It seems like 4k is the bare minimum (!!).

I like the jet2 app/website. It allows you to look at a calendar view to see which days are cheaper to go-you can often reduce the price of your holiday by a significant amount just by going the next day! It’s easy to toggle between airports which can also make a big difference to the price.

Jet2holidays as per pp were easy to navigate and book. They were excellent. Clear easy website.
Good leg room on plane, unlike others (looking at you BA, we're not all 5' 1").

Jet2. Easy to book. Good luggage allowance. Good customer service. We always pay for extra leg room.

Used TUI for the first time last year, all online and then on app. I was apprehensive but it was all great!

On the Beach look cheaper than TUI when I am searching this year but I am a little more suspicious - has anyone used them before?

D

Don't use them, they're not a full service travel agency and don't have the ABTA /ATOL backing

On the beach are ATOL protected. I also use Love Holidays, never had a problem.

We've done it through TUI but we've also done it independently which was cheaper. Booked directly with the hotel and then flights separately. It just means you need to sort out an airport transfer but that's not difficult.

And prices have gone up hugely in the last few years. They're out of our price range now!

i often look on TUI in the first place as I find it the easiest website to navigate - and then search for the same holiday elsewhere to try to get it cheaper. In my experience EasyJet holidays can be cheaper than other sites, particularly if you can be flexible with dates.

TUI sounds like a great starting place then, thank you.

I am also considering getting a property to stay in that's within walking distance of a supermarket and just, you know, doing our own all-inclusive 😂 any ideas re good sites to look for holiday lets in Europe please?

That to me sounds like a good compromise. Unless you pay a lot AI really isn't that nice or relaxing, having to queue up at the buffet 3 times a day.

We almost always stay SC within walking distance of a supermarket and then just stock up on drinks, snacks and easy food and eat out at least once a day, either a sit down lunch while out and about then something like cheese, bread and olives with drinks on the terrace in the evening or a sandwich or snack/ice cream while out in the daytime then a restaurant meal in the evening.

We generally just book using booking.com although if the flights suit, you can sometimes get a package including transfers and luggage with jet2holidays for less than booking the same thing independently.

We've stayed here before. Walking distance to a supermarket, bakery, beach and marina with many bars and restaurants.

https://www.villaspuertorubicon.com/

Have used On the Beach (who were amazing during COVID period and refunded me 3 holidays without any hard work by me.

I have used Love holidays before and had no problema but I think they deliberately moved their operations outside UK so you don't get as much protection.

I also book a lot via the Holiday Pirates app. They find cheap holidays from multiple providers and also show you cheap build your own holidays.

I also sometimes buy flights and then book the hotel separately which has worked well too.

I do love a holiday!!

We used On the Beach once and it was fine, however, they don't book the flights straight away so I don't know if they can ask for more money if your chosen flight goes up between you booking with them and them booking the flight. I also much prefer booking directly with the airline, especially Ryanair as it's just easier.

I don't think OTB really offer much advantage over booking direct with the airline and accommodation via booking.com, sometimes there might be a small saving, but you can probably match the price if you use booking.com via Quidco.

On The Beach and Love Holidays don't sell package holidays so avoid them like the plague.

When ours were younger we always went self catering in an apartment complex so they still had other kids to play with. We'd have breakfast and lunch in the apartment and go out for evening meal.

I like TUI, I find their customer service is better than Jet2.

Menorca is a really good place for families. It's a short flight and the beaches and resorts are beautiful.

What do you mean they don't sell package holidays?

They book the hotel and then source the flight which you could do yourself.

There's always issues with Love Holidays and On The Beach on Watchdog and the like. I'd never use them personally