All Inclusive- help for a newbie please!

[Allswellthatendswelll]

I'm inheriting a little bit of money soon and wondering whether to shell out for an AI holiday next Spring or Summer. Wanted some information/ tips/ opinions from people who've done lots of all inclusives as we've never done one.

We would have a one and 4/5 year old (depending on when we go). We've only done self catering trips to Northern France since having children (before that we did lots of city breaks). We generally like pootling around doing day trips etc. However it can be exhausting with small children so now wondering if I'm missing a trick.

Questions are:

1. How much would a decent week AI set us back? We probably would have to go in school holidays or partly over them as I'm a part time teacher.

2. Any good locations? We don't need really want/need very hot weather

3. Would it be our thing? Do you get to explore a bit or is it all by the pool? We probably wouldn't put DS1 in a kids club at all/ very much.

4. Other tips!

Like everything cost will depend on location/ time of year and hotel rating. Probably you’d be looking at around the £3.5k mark in school holidays for something in europe. Most places will tell you the difference between b&b and AI price. Very approx you’re looking at around £60 pppn for adults, not sure about kids.

AI is not a locked in facility, when you’re saying ‘do you get to explore’ much. you’re free to do as many excursions, trips, outings around the area as you want as you are in any type of accommodation BUT if you would plan to be out and about most days you need to weigh up if the extra for AI is worth it (possibly not).

It is geared up towards people spending the majority of time at the pool or hotel beach/ lake as with young kids people who choose AI holidays want to relax, and having the pool and some entertainment going on to keep them occupied in a relatively safe environment is what they prefer. It’s still cost effective to go AI and spend a couple of nights eating out and days exploring local area.

Personally for me AI with kids is good. There’s no drama with trying to order something they may not eat in a restaurant as they can try different things and there will almost certainly always be something they will eat. It’s a good way for them to experience little bits of new food. Similar with drinks, no drama if they accidentally spill a drink or ice cream, it can be replaced without stressing about spending money. Snacks are available throughout the day so it doesn’t have to be regimental eating times if the kids (or adults) are hungry between meals.

I’ve been to AI a lot. I find in Turkey they are more likely to be in the middle of nowhere but in Majorca and Cyprus and other Greek islands we’ve been able to walk to other places and go out for meals if we wanted to.

I know you don’t want it to be too hot but you need to think carefully about the pool temp if the weather isn’t warm.

Don’t go for less thaf 4/5 on trip advisor.

France doesn’t do AI really. Coat depends on where you go, facilities, star rating etc. we did two weeks in Ibiza for just over £10k last year but that was for two rooms as my kids are too big for the pull out beds and too old for free child places
now. We tend to eat out every other
night, two weeks of ai menu gets a bit boring but the kids more than make up for it with snacks / ice cream / through the day.

they have never been to kids club, always refused. It’s not a prison you can leave as and when you want!

In terms of exploring we went to a lovely, fairly small resort in May and for €1 they made you a pack up take with you. There were freezers in the accommodation we used our cool blocks in so still explored most days and got our moneys worth. Meant that when we were eating out and about you could be more splurgy

We do AI in Portugal every year as it's so child friendly and we get really well looked after. We explore the local area on foot or using Uber/Bolt apps if travelling further. We also go to the beach daily and go to the local shops and bars as they're really cheap and it's nice to have a break from the hotel.

Thanks this is really helpful! I know they aren't prisons was just wondering which countries were best for exploring?

You can absolutely get out and explore.

we’ve done AI in turkey, Morocco and Egypt.

Egypt is not a get out and explore kind of place but turkey and Morocco definitely are.

Would we get anything decent for 3k and under or is that wishful thinking?

If you like a bit of pootling, I'd do B&B or half board at a nice hotel rather than all inclusive. If you don't just stay in resort eating and drinking all day it might not be good value. With a 3k budget the quality of AI might not be great so I'd opt for B&B and eat out.

AI is ideal if you want to do a 2 full days out and maybe eat out one night. Then exploring the resort beach and pool the rest of the time returning for meals and drinks.

I do like Ibiza - Es Cana is a lovely resort. It has a trundle train with two routes, boat trips to the nearly town and other places, a small resort that’s not too commercialised tacky and a nice beach. Walk to the neighbouring coves and a bus to Ibiza town.

@Allswellthatendswelll Are you sure AI is for you? Go nowhere else for lunch? Most people are wedded to them all week. Like a cruise ship - the other big AI option.

I can assure you - staying in a small boutique hotel is so much nicer! You don’t feel pressurised to get value for money by drinking, they are smaller and just much more pleasant. I’d definitely look at small beach towns in Balearics. Plus Brittany if you like France. Why not Italy? Amalfi coast is great. So much to see and do and lovely in Spring. Sicily is wonderful too. Choose your area and explore.

Turkey outside of school holidays, yes you will find something good. We went mid June and it was way too hot for us then.

In May you would get somewhere under 3k easily.

Can you fly the Wednesday before May half term?

Half board is the forgotten happy middle ground.
Hotel breakfast, bit of pootling around the area, home for dinner and a cocktail.
Or
Hotel breakfast hang out at the pool, crisps and water melon for lunch, Hotel dinner.
Also they usually have more stuff around them as they need restaurants to cater for lunch Etc.

I love a huge Hotel with massive swimming pools. My idea of heaven is a las vegas resort.

Meloneras in Gran Canaria is mostly half board hotels with restaurants around and a bus terminal for decent exploring options.