All Inclusive Holidays, Yay or Nay?

Mr Jones

Mr Jones

Mr Jones

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Dubai
I've always gone on holidays to the Far East, either staying at relatives or budget motels with food and entertainment out from my travel money.

As we've been saving money for a house for the past couple of years, apart from a short trip to Glasgow last year, it's been ages since I've been away (2008 was the last time I left England for pleasure!!).

I've never been on an all inclusive holiday. It sounds tempting going away for a week, not having to care about anything, with everything including food prepared. Possibly only needing some money for gifts, additional activities and local taxes.

Is it as good as it sounds, assuming I find the right package?

Our budget is relatively small, we're looking at £300-£400pp for a week, sandy beach preferred, otherwise, at least include Spa or something relaxing. No kids, just the missus and I. Alcoholic drink isn't a must. Anyone got a good suggestion?
 
I had a week in Tenerife with a mate all in for £469. Nothing special but did have nice clean rooms, good facilities and as much food and drink as we wanted.

I may go one one again but as it was a last minute thing I'll probably stick with my trips to the US for most holidays.
 
It is as good as it sounds, at least in my limited experience. I've done Egypt and Mexico AI and they were both superb.
 
Done a few, personally, if your in a nice area/resort then I'd avoid all in, it's always nicer to wander off into town and choose your restaurant, I found the same venue a bit of a drag night after night.

If all in can be found stupidly cheap then I'd do it again, but knowing that I would eat out half the time
 
I'm not usually one for all in holidays but did one with my mates to Cancun a few years ago and had a great time. I think if you and your missus are people who like exploring and just getting out and seeing what you run into the all in isn't going to be all that. My wife and I are same, tend to stay in the more budget end of hotels etc but I do fancy a nice all in one resort/beech break every now and again. Also beech breaks rather than short city holidays in my mind are better suited to all inclusive.
 
Probably worth noting though, that although probably outside your budget for this particular holiday gourmet all inclusive is the one you want (most big hotels/small resorts have a choice of restaurants that are not included in the package).

It just means that should the large amount of choice in the buffet restaurant not be what you fancy that night, that you can go off and get Mexican/Italian/Chinese/Seafood, etc. and it's included in the price of the holiday.
 
Depends on where for me and also if its just me and the other half.

I've booked an August holiday in Portugal as a family and we have gone all inclusive to take away the grief of teenagers wanting stuff all the time and a fussy eater who wouldn't deal well with a different place every night. Plus the on tap local beer will help me get through it too ;)

If I were booking with just the other half in at a safe destination i'd not bother, we love a wonder and testing out different restaurants but with kids its just added grief.
 
Speaking as a lazy person I absolutely love them. I work hard at work so cherish the opportunity to thoroughly relax and forget about the outside world, typically by drinking and eating copiously and reading.
With all inclusives you don't have to worry about anything. You can wander as you please, eat when you want and drink when you want, and if you go to a large one there is often a great deal of choice in cuisines and plenty of beaches, pools and gardens to explore.
 
We did an all inclusive for the first time this year at a 4* in Cyprus and it was great. It was lovely not to have to think or worry about how much you were spending on food/drink.

The food was of a good/fair quality and fairly varied. The drink is always local beer/spirits but that didn't matter.

If it is a cheap all inclusive I have heard and can imagine the food would be much more basic, so depends on how important that is to you.

I did feel like I had to eat within the Hotel, since it was already paid for, I would have begrudged paying again eating somewhere else. But we did hire a car and travel for a few days and the hotel would make up 2 packed lunches to take which was nice.

I would definitely go all inclusive again as long as the quality was there.
 
Great if you've got kids or need to stick to a particular budget but I personally avoid them where possible. I'd rather explore the local area than eat at the same place (or small group of places) every day. I'd also rather give my money to local people than big hotels.
 
Ai is great in good/decent hotels but can be awful in a cheap hotel.

All depends - Last 3 family holidays have been AI and have been excellent, with 2 kids that can go and get soft drinks/ice cream etc at the poolside without the need to constantly be paying for them is great.

Food at breakfast and evening has been excellent. Very good selection and quality.
 
Would my budget be good enough for a decent all inclusive?

I've had a look and a load of AI holiday seem to be in Benidorm - and my colleagues who've been says to avoid as it's basically little Britain, but in the warm and more drunk.

Morocco and Tunasia is also within budget, in early May. Any other opinions on location for my budget?

I want to at least try once AI, not worry about anything but chill, read, beach, eat, beach, eat, sleep, repeat.
 
I can see the benefit of going on one especially if you take a family or are worried about cost. Not for us as we like to do our own thing and travel independently.
 
As with anything you get what you pay for. You have to be sure the resort/hotel you are at will have everything you require there otherwise you will be paying more on actually doing things throughout the day.

As for food and drinks, It is usually at set times throughout the day and limited on the alcohol side of things. I went to tenerife for a stag do and did all inclusive, cost around £300 for a week and the food was OK and the rooms were pretty good...but then I was in tenerife for the week so there are downsides to things.

I have 5 days all inclusive in the Maldives as part of my honeymoon later this year :) Looking into this it has made me realise there are actually different levels of all inclusive that places offer so take a look at what is included at wherever you book
 
Clov!s said:
Only ever been away all inclusive, wouldn't change now.
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AI for us too.

Tried once going poor in Malia. Never again

I'm on holiday I want food brought to me...

It also makes sense if your at a resort. Although I'm not a big fan of having set times with little choice in between. AI in Mexico was fantastic. Could have had steak every night, Burger bar open pretty much all the time too.
 
Not my bag, I like being independent and a big part of my holidays is trying different places to eat / drink etc. I don't do fly and flop type holidays really.
 
Skidder said:
Not my bag, I like being independent and a big part of my holidays is trying different places to eat / drink etc. I don't do fly and flop type holidays really.
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I work flat out and only get chance to take a break every couple of years.
I need my brain to completely switch off.


Plus their isn't much choice in the Maldives
 
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