Best all-inclusive holiday you've had

[PeacheyPeach]

We are looking to book our summer holiday for next summer.
Really want to do an all inclusive because past two years holidays have not been a holiday for me!
Last time we did one was to Liberty Lykia in Turkey and it was amazing. Just looked at booking that again and it's coming up for £11k for 10 nights.
I just don't think I can justify that amount ( making me sad because I want to go!)
I dont want to go somewhere that feels like a jail or only serves bland canteen style food.
I would lo love to go somewhere that is over looking the sea as a bonus!!!

Could you tell me what your best all inclusive holiday has been and if it was good value for money?

Ikos - any of them. Likely more expensive than £11k though which is sad!

riu palace in Cape Verde - loved this place, weather was beautiful and a small water park for the kids.

grecotel Costa botanica - was Newly opened when we went but we again loved the hotel and water park.

Atlantica sensotori dreams - Rhodes. Had our own pool here which we loved. Nice selection of restaurants too.

BodyHoliday in St Lucia. Unbeatable.

Why have the past two years not been holidays for you? Presumably because you were not all inclusive? We always book self catering or bed and breakfast but we find lovely little restaurants for lunch and dinner. I would not be cooking. Neither would DH. We did our first AI this year for years and hated it. Would much rather go for a wander and find a lovely little place. Or look on tripadvisor before I go and save some to find once we arrive. But yeah, self catering, the fridge is for beer and wine.... would not be cooking.

Royal Carribean cruise

Cruises , you'll see plenty of sea !
I actually prefer river cruises, but both are very good value for money.

Club Letoonia in Fethiye, Turkey.

it depends on the ages of DC. We had two AI holidays when DC were younger and loved not thinking what was for meals, shopping, tidying the kitchen and AI was easier in that sense. But however much fun the kids had it got too much for them and after the second year they asked to go somewhere quieter and less busy. We were also sick of the wacky races canteen style food and the noise of the place. So after that we self catered. We did breakfast and the occasional lunch in our much bigger better equipped apartment, had some lunches out and every night we ate out. That was a nice balance that worked for us.

We enjoyed the TUI magic life brand (there's a few branches), was very care free and our bill really was zero. Lots of included activities, right on a lovely beach. Kids club and teen activities looked well organised though we have adult kids so not required. Decent entertainment, fun staff but a second quieter bar if you prefer laid back evenings (just a pianist). It's obviously expensive in school holidays but not as much is the premium ai places.

Did my first small ship cruise this year and was amazing- much nicer than Ikos- and I love IKOS

Cocos in Antigua - adult only, all meals a la carte and surrounded by the ocean. Bliss.

I've only ever had one AI holiday - I wanted somewhere with beach & pool.

We had a wonderful time at kipriotis panorama hotel & suites in Kos. It was just under £4k for 3 of us for 7 days. It ahs mixed reviews on TA but we ahd a ball. The "local spirits" weren't to my taste but everything else includiing local wines and the food was fab. It's half way up a hill the views and the blessed breeze were perfect.

Last October, a week in Turkey at Rixos Belek Premium

Warm weather, might be v v hot in August. So much space, huge pool, on they beach, no wristbands, 4 a la carte themed restaurants plus one 24 hr restaurant

Had the most amazing time, will definitely go back

https://allinclusive-collection.com/en/hotel/rixos-premium-belek/?utmsource=GMB&utmm_medium=metasearch

Barut Lara turkey

Hilton Sarigerme (Turkey) or TUI blue tropical (turkey). Both fab.

Same here. I don't like buffets for lunch and dinner and we like to go out sightseeing etc every day and I don't want to pay a la carte AI, so we usually self cater, make sure we're in walking distance of a supermarket and restaurants, beach etc.

We'll do a biggish shop at the beginning of the week to stock up on drinks, snacks and breakfast stuff then eat a proper meal out at least once a day, usually have eggs or ready made tortilla for breakfast and also have ice creams and snacks out, or easy meals like BBQs, nice pizza etc.

Cheaper than a la carte AI and unless you spend the holiday running around after everyone else and doing a load of unnecessary cleaning and tidying, a really nice relaxing experience.

This looks amazing- was it very loud & rowdy? Overrun by screaming toddlers?

Or a nice chilled vibe?

It was spaced out enough that you could find quiet corners. We didn’t sit by the pool, but in our own little corner at the edge of the water. There’s a busier beach part with water sports. There is a more grown-up restaurant right at the end of the peninsula which is lantern lit and romantic, so less kids than the buffet. There’s a couple of other a la cartes restaurants too. It’s honestly beautiful. A water taxi to take you over the bay to Fethiye itself.

We did Moon Palace in Cancun two years ago (the Queen died while we were there and most of the other holidaymakers were offering condolences to us Brits).
Couldn't fault it. Doubles as most hysterically funny moment ever when Dsis ran through the gardens in the dark trying to escape a downpour and landed in a pond!

Also thoroughly enjoyed a Tui Magic Life in Hurgada Egypt. Ponds were not involved.

We’ve only been on one so it’s hard to know, but Dreams Tulum was lots of different restaurants, not just buffet.

Green nature diamond in Marmaris, Turkey 😍 beautiful hotel, stunning at night! I'd love to go back again next year which is always a good sign! Great location, food and entertainment. Kids club was great too.

Long Beach in Mauritius. Was amazing.

Went when DC1 was a toddler. Think it cost us £8k all in. Would definitely go back

Which small cruise did you do? Would love to try one

Ikos.

Holiday village Rhodes

I am following this thread for inspiration ☺️

Ikos Oceania. £1.2k a week per adult at the end of their season, this included transfers from and to the airport. Club Europe flights pays for with Avios.