Best all-inclusive ever?!

[ThatCoralDuck]

I’d love some recommendations for a 5* all-inclusive for next year’s school holidays! We’ll be travelling with two children (5 and 7).

We had such a brilliant holiday this year that I’m tempted to go back (despite always saying I’d never return to the same hotel 😂), but the price has gone up by over £1k, so I’m on the hunt for alternatives.

Our biggest priority is having several à la carte restaurants included in the all-inclusive, ideally with the option to eat at them more than once during the week. A kids’ splash area or small slides would be a huge bonus, as would a short transfer and swim-up room options.

Does anyone have any hotels they absolutely loved that tick most of these boxes? I’d love to hear your recommendations! 😊

Following this! Out of interest where was your holiday?

We likes Arina Beach in Crete for a few years running thanks to an ala carte restaurant and an Asian fusion restaurant alongside the standard buffet

We stayed at Ikos Olivia in July and it was amazing. Has everything you'd like and the food was beautiful.

Club Med is amazing. The food is +++. Kids clubs as well. Accommodation depends between the different clubs but if you choose the ones with more stars (« tridents ») it can be quite luxurious.

Lara Barut in Antalya. Nothing around outside, so not my style of holiday, but loved the hotel.

Following this with interest @ThatCoralDuck. Have also been looking for next year!

If you want to go further afield (cancun) then dreams playa mujeres would tick all your boxes - it has everything you mention and a beach
Seriously lovely

Creta Maris in Crete. On the beach, 5 restaurants plus the usual buffet and a water park on site (plus an open air cinema)

Really liked Creta Maris but don’t think it’s quite Ikos level if that’s your norm! But we thought it was lovely

We also loved Creta Maris , they have a swim-up rooms section and brilliant kids club

Following this for recommendations

Hey, which resort did you stay at this year?

We loved Barut Hemera in Side.

I wonder if there are any resorts that offer detached villas onsite?

What’s your max budget? No point suggesting places you cannot afford. Prices for school holidays tend to be high until May, then any remaining holidays will be discounted, if you are willing to chance it

Gran Melia Palacio de Isora in Tenerife

Hard to beat Ikos with kids of that age. We love an Ikos holiday !

We also loved Creta Maris but it might not be your thing if Ikos is your vibe.

Best à la carte restaurants for me was at the Royalton Splash Riviera in Cancun. Every one was top class, iirc there was 12, the steak place was amazing! There is a splash pool, water park and lazy river on site so the kids were happy as Larry. Hotel is also on the beach. If we ever went back to Cancun I wouldn’t think twice about booking the same hotel.

IKOS Olivia 😍

There definitely are, some are just villas with access to the shared central pool and restaurants. Some have their own small pool but are incredibly pricey. I stumbled across a YouTube video of someone in the one without the pool as they had a child with autism so this was an easier option for them, it had a small garden area outside with loungers. Then I ended up looking at Ikos

Have a google and see what comes up.

Eden in Portugal has this. Either one or 2 bed apartments (with living room kitchen and garden area) or 3 bed villas with small private pool. Plus all inclusive food (only one main restaurant though it's really nice), pools, splash parks. kids clubs, activities etc.

Olympic Lagoon, Cyprus.

Atlantico Mare Cyprus, Liberty Signa Turkey.

Ikos is fabulous if you have kids.