What do I need to know…I’ve never booked all inclusive before

[Chaispice]

I’m looking to book an all inclusive holiday next spring, I’ve never booked one before but it’ll be my first holiday with my one year old (which I’m feeling a bit nervous about), I just felt like it might be a bit easier than the city breaks we normally do, plus it’s easier to budget for.

Does any one have any recommendations for finding good places with good food (years ago I did go to one where the food was horrendous and I’m keen to avoid that ).
or anything I might want to consider for the baby?

I’m not sure what I’m asking but I think I’m just overwhelmed with the idea of taking a baby on holiday!

Check trip advisor for anywhere you are thinking of booking.

Baby - most European countries are fine and you can buy milk/nappies/calpol etc there. Non European places can have issues with water (often suggest bottled) and baby immune systems don't always mix well with less developed countries.

Some hotels offer cots etc some don't.

Take calpol. Spanish calpol does not taste the same.

Tripadvisor is your friend. Use the search function for 'baby' 'kids' 'food' and the month you intend to travel.

With a lot of AI there will be a Facebook group you can join which will have been set up by guests. These can be really helpful.

Depends where you want to know but we have been to Jupiter albufiera in Portugal and Louis Sofianna in Cyprus with our 4 and 1 year olds and they were both great for their ages and the food in Cyprus was particularly excellent.

Agree the Louis hotels in Cyprus are great. Not gone with kids but fabulous hotels. We stayed at the Louis Ledra. Best all inclusive food I have had. Not a massive amount and what they had was fresh and replenished.

When you book a holiday on say Jet2 or TUI compare the price of AI with half board. Then think about whether you would spend that difference on lunches, snacks and drinks.
DH and I go abroad a lot and while I love an AI it's a very expensive way of staying unless you are a really big drinker. On a recent holiday for three adults the extra for AI was another £1000 for the week. We actually spent less than £500 on going out for lunches, hotel bar bill and evenings out.
Of course if cost is less a priority than convenience go for it.
I recommend you go no less than 4* if you want decent food.
When you find a resort you like the look of join the Facebook group " We love xxx". You'll get tons of info on there and can ask questions.

A heated kids pool! Unheated pools can be chilly early in the season.

Jet2 are really good
Definitely read Tripadvisor reviews, filtered by time of year and for the last couple of years
I never go anywhere with less than 4/5 Tripadvisor rating especially for all inclusive!
Look for family friendly places that will lend baby equipment, have a kids buffet, baby club etc, even if you don't use the baby club it's a sign that the resort is child friendly.
If you're looking at spring depending where you go look for a heated pool.
Read the small print as to what's included, all drinks or small selection, drinks with dinner etc
With a one year old look for somewhere that's quite close to the airport so you're not having to do a long transfer when you get there after already being on a plane.

Consider booking a hotel that has a variety of restaurants included in the AI if you can, going to the same buffet restaurant for every meal can get a bit boring after a few days.

Definitely agree about the transfer time - my DD was once sick all over me on a long bus transfer. Also consider a private transfer if its not too much extra, I think we paid around £40 with Jet2 to upgrade for our next holiday which feels worth it to me.

Find somewhere you like the look of and then read the reviews on trip advisor.

Holiday Hypermarket is TUI but cheaper. We always book through them.

Remember you’re not imprisoned in the resort. So pick an area/island/country you’d like to visit with potentially some stuff you’d like to do/see in the vicinity. You can hire a car, drive yourself about, go and do stuff. Often cheaper than any official excursions.

Make sure you pack some Rennies 😀

Do you need AI? I found it useful when DD was between 7-14 as it meant I didn't have to think about her getting another drink or ice cream.
With a baby I would go for half-board especially if you want to be out and about as well.

Otherwise - look for one which has restaurants with waiter service and you can get a menu online.

Look for a family room/one bedroom room where you can sit without being in the same room as your baby. DD never slept in a pram in the evening, a hotel meant we had to go to the room to settle her and it was a disaster, never to be repeated for years.

Baby pool - they are shallow and warm normally. But double check and check with the hotel as well.

Does it has to be the typical AI holday? Look up Kinderhotels, lots in Austria where they supply everything you think you may need and don't have to bring from home.

I would never have thought about heated pools, that would’ve been a disaster.
thanks for all the tips on scanning reviews, and confirmation that I need somewhere close to an airport.

it doesn’t need to be a typical AI, I just thought it would be easier than a city break or travelling around like we normally do.
we don’t drink at all, so maybe ai won’t work out to be cost effective and I’d be better to get just a really nice hotel.

Just realised you said spring. In that case I would suggest somewhere in the Canaries. Playa Blanca Lanzarote is a popular family resort. A heated pool is a must though because although you are likely to get warm sunshine in the 20s the sea and pools will be like a UK summer temperature. Princess Yaiza is popular with young families and is seafront. My favourite is the Iberostar Lanzarote park, a beautiful hotel with children's play area, heated children's pool and fabulous food. We stay half board rather than AI as the extra cost not worth it for us.

@Poffy good suggestions. I think AI a total waste of money if you don't drink and have a baby. Also I find AI works better if you are the kind of family that thinks beer is beer and wine is wine ( not being judgemental - just honest- with my H it was a waste of money - he wants to pick wine specifically- same with the odd beer) - also personally I like eating out at different places- we have done half board though quite a few times and still eaten out 2 or 3 nights etc because we simply were paying nowhere near the price for AI. I think Ai works better if you have that 5-12 age range kids and aren't mega piccy food wise , especially in Europe.

@Crikeyalmighty I agree that AI is perfect for a certain age range. In our case DC were early teens when we first went and for teenage boys with bottomless stomachs it was spot on.

we have done half board though quite a few times and still eaten out 2 or 3 nights

Most good AI hotels will let you swap dinner for lunch if you are HB so you can still eat out.

I was actually going to suggest the same two hotels. We stay half board too as we don't really drink, so not worth it for one glass of wine per evening.
Princess Yaiza was our first family holiday and is very child centred, very easy with a baby/ toddler.
I actually prefer the Iberostar location (I thought Flamingo beach was nicer than the other end) and thought the food was amazing.

In spring I would definitely be looking for heated pools.

We've just come back from Grecotel marine palace in Crete and it had two heated outdoor pools and an indoor heated one.

Biggest downside was the transfer time from the airport though.

We've stayed in some really nice hotels where all the reviews rave about the food.

In every single one we've been bored senseless by the 2nd week. Even though the main protein element may be mixed up, by and large the veg and salads are extremely samey.

Make sure you're not in the arse end of nowhere and have easy access to paid for restuarants outside the resort. You'll be desperate for a change by week 2.

confirmation that I need somewhere close to an airport

This isn't necessarily the case. The transfer on a package holiday to a large destination breaks down something like this:

1. They fill up the bus with people coming off a number of flights, because not everyone from your flight will be going to your resort. You might be the first person onto an empty bus, in which case you could be waiting for an hour or more, or you could be the last person, in which case, great, no wait at all.
2. The bus drives to the resort. This might be 15 minutes or 1½ hours, and it does depend on the distance.
3. The bus drops people off at 5 or 10 hotels in the resort. This can take another hour. Your hotel might be the first or the last.

In other words, what makes for a short transfer is luck as much as (or more than) a short driving distance. The main reason to look for a shorter distance is that it makes taking a taxi (when you decide to bail on the bus ride) cheaper.

AI is only worth it if you value quantity over quality and choice or spend a lot of money on a high end resort. Or want a holiday where you want a complete break from any shopping or choosing/thinking and don't mind what food you get.

I don't understand the 'it's easier to budget' argument because in reality you're effectively paying (say) £2k instead of £1k upfront then likely £5-800 tops while you're there.

I'd just self cater or go B&B. Pick somewhere with a decent balcony or terrace so you can sit out in the evening after your baby is in bed. Also look for somewhere that's in walking distance to supermarket, restaurants, bus stops etc as that makes things easier. You can often go to and from the airport on a normal bus or get a taxi.

Splashpads where a non walking baby can sit and safely splash about for hours are great. Many resorts have "baby chairs" (highchairs), bibs and cutlery included. Definitely don't do more than half board. You won't spend the extra £££ on food etc if you don't drink.

I don't understand the 'it's easier to budget' argument because in reality you're effectively paying (say) £2k instead of £1k upfront then likely £5-800 tops while you're there.
because I know in advance how much the holiday costs, and whilst on holiday I don’t need to think about how much were spending

you are all talking me out of it a bit though