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! 😊

Another vote for Arina Beach. We went in July and meets all your requirements, it was fantastic

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The TUI Blue at Nissi beach in Cyprus would tick all your boxes. The other option but too hot in the summer maybe is Sensatori Coral Sea in Sharm el Sheikh.

Dreams Macao Beach in Dominic Republic.
Amazing staff, fantastic water slides for big kids, smaller water park for little ones, lazy river and lots of options for great food too.
Also agree with Olympic Lagoon in Cyprus but no water park (from what I can remember)

Sounds amazing, thanks so much! I'll have a look at their x

As in Ikos hotels/resorts?

Long beach, Mauritius. Amazinggggg

H10 rubicon palace, Lanzarote

Rixos premium belek

Which Ikos resort would you recommend?

Ikos Odisia 100%

Maxx Royale Belek, best holiday ever!

We’ve been to Ikos Olivia for the past three years with two children. Highly recommend however service dipped last year and the price went up - not really the equation I’m looking for out of a holiday! Try a resort in the Ikos group.

Would recommend Sugar Beach and Long Beach hotels in Mauritius, not always AI, can choose board basis but includes AI. Very good for beach and watersports, snorkelling and think under 8s maybe free at Sugar Beach.

Another vote for Lara Barut. We had a family garden swim up room, was amazing. Only downside is it totally spoiled us and we don't have budget to go back.

Atlantis in Bahamas, Meliá palacio de Isora Tenerife

What does one do at an Ikos site? Is it just lounging and pool action?

Thank you for all the replies, I’ll look into all of these places!

We haven’t been to an ikos resort but play with the idea a lot! While we could technically afford it, I’m just not sure how it can really be worth the price…we could do 2 holidays for the same price as 1 week at an ikos with kids in the summer hols!

Ah but you asked for 5 star all inclusive. Your two holidays for the price of this would definitely be of a lower standard.

personally I’d rather go to long beach Mauritius every 2 years than do a cheapy 3 star holiday more frequently

We've done Ikos twice in the last few years. I had never done an AI before so I don't have anything to compare it to.

It is great, amd I have to say the food is incredible. We didn't go near the main buffets at any point of out stays - not even for breakfast. I hate buffets so that ticked a big box for me. The facilities are great. Our offspring are too old for kids clubs but others raved about them. The alcohol was premium, including branded champagne, which was good and bad. By bad I mean, being AI, it does attract people who booze a lot. There were actually two punch ups while I was there this time, admittedly on the football nights. I was surprised that people spending north of £10k (for a week for a family of 4) were punching each other but that's clearly my own personal bias at play.

They're opening a new one in Portugal in 2029 and it's going to be double the size of the current biggest site - Ikos Kissamos which itself is huge. But it never feels crowded; they're quite spread out and they don't pack people in.

If you'd consider non-AI, we went to a full board place one which included 3 meals plus nice wine with lunch and dinner; I'd highly recommend Hillside Beach Club in Turkey. I much prefer Greece over Turkey but I have to say it was one of the most beautiful settings of any resort I've been to. At the time the offspring were young enough for kids club and their kids club has a water slide (2 lifeguards installed at all times) which was genius. The food was buffet and I was surprised how good it was.

Korumar Ephesus is lovely if you don't mind Turkey. On the beach, swim up rooms, amazing staff - slides and splash pool, a la carte. Scrupulously clean, 24 hour bar!

Spice Hotel Antalya turkey.
food is out of this world.
there is an adult buffet, salads, kids buffet, outdoor barbecue, beach front restaurant and snack bar as well as an à la carte.
kids club, entertainment, waterpark on site all really good quality.

We’ve done Ikos Dassia for the last 3 years and this year did Ikos Odisia with our 4 and 6 year old and we’re going to see if we can make it work for next year too.

the restaurants and food are excellent, the pools at Odisia are great, service is unbeatable, kids club is fabulous (as is the spa!)

we’ve also stayed at Maxx Royal Belek in Turkey twice. It has a small onsite water park, great kids club, includes chocolatier, patisserie & ice cream shop on site, kids club here had more activities to do than Ikos (Ikos is a set 3 hour slot, whereas Maxx Royal they can pick and choose the activities)
I fouls the à la carte restaurants not as great as Ikos, but the buffet restaurant was outstanding.

room service is included at Ikos, not at Maxx Royal

IKOS is fantastic, not cheap but worth it, dining is amazing, we only stopped going as our kids are adults and we prefer adults only trips now.

We were close to booking ikos but after reading the low star tripadvisor reviews and this blog post all my worst fears were confirmed so we decided against

www.amodelrecommends.com/p/ikos-olivia-expectation-vs-reality?fbclid=IwY2xjawTn3ORwZG9mA2V4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkDzQwOTk2MjYyMzA4NTYwOQABHoessgxtT55yzQ58VU-74IkNnAQujpYwkodTBCyqOppA85-gt9m6uG64fzwv_aem_2Cq3UjqBneN3rBiRj20JZA

Our favourite all inclusive was the Lux South Ari Atoll resort in the Maldives. Great food, swim up rooms, lots of water activities and not too crowded.
We also witnessed a fight at Ikos - too much free alcohol and perhaps people who couldn't handle it! It was also overcrowded and food, though good, was not super special.