All inclusive holidays
Discussion
My mate and his family go to Turkey on an all inclusive basis, my wife and I on the other hand like a driving trip in the Tiv to Italy or France on a self catering or half board set up, Opinions either way please cos we are considering an all inclusive this year? initially it seems very expensive and just sand!
We always go all inclusive so we have the option of eating in if we fancy or we can go out and eat anytime we like. It's also great if you do a lot of trips as they make you a packed lunch if you are going places you can't get food for example safaris. If you stay 5 star the alcohol is usually branded booze if that's your thing but I prefer local alcohols and ask the barman to suggest things.
It's a personal thing, some people like to look down on all inclusive but I guess that's PH.
It's a personal thing, some people like to look down on all inclusive but I guess that's PH.
daveparry said:
My mate and his family go to Turkey on an all inclusive basis, my wife and I on the other hand like a driving trip in the Tiv to Italy or France on a self catering or half board set up, Opinions either way please cos we are considering an all inclusive this year? initially it seems very expensive and just sand!
If all you want to do is roast on a beach and get pissed with other lobsterish British people, all inclusive is the way to go.Went to Turkey (supposedly 5*, but it wasn't) last year. Hotel and grounds were nice and on the beach. It was great for the kids as they could get ice cream/drinks/hot dogs etc when they wanted. Food was ok and drinks were branded.
BUT....the reputation of the Russians is well deserved. I'm no Alf Garnett, but I've never seen such a display of rudeness and gluttony. Many of the hotels are owned and run by Russians for Russians, with a token British prescence. All the entertainment is orientated towards them. It doesn't necessarily spoil the holiday, just be prepared.
BUT....the reputation of the Russians is well deserved. I'm no Alf Garnett, but I've never seen such a display of rudeness and gluttony. Many of the hotels are owned and run by Russians for Russians, with a token British prescence. All the entertainment is orientated towards them. It doesn't necessarily spoil the holiday, just be prepared.
davepoth said:
daveparry said:
My mate and his family go to Turkey on an all inclusive basis, my wife and I on the other hand like a driving trip in the Tiv to Italy or France on a self catering or half board set up, Opinions either way please cos we are considering an all inclusive this year? initially it seems very expensive and just sand!
If all you want to do is roast on a beach and get pissed with other lobsterish British people, all inclusive is the way to go.depending on work and dates, me and the mrs will at last get a decent holiday, maybe june time, if not will have to wait till end of year maybe.
the thing is my mate and his mrs are always trying to convince us to go down the all inclusive route, something along the lines of "5"? star egypt or the like.
i just don't fancy a busy resort kind of atmosphere, i'd rather have a very nice private villa somewhere, with its own pool, and a harbour town near by with restaraunts and bars. it will probably end up being more expensive than the all in route, but i don't mind paying abit more for something i'd much prefer.
chilistrucker said:
which is exactly what i don't want.
depending on work and dates, me and the mrs will at last get a decent holiday, maybe june time, if not will have to wait till end of year maybe.
the thing is my mate and his mrs are always trying to convince us to go down the all inclusive route, something along the lines of "5"? star egypt or the like.
i just don't fancy a busy resort kind of atmosphere, i'd rather have a very nice private villa somewhere, with its own pool, and a harbour town near by with restaraunts and bars. it will probably end up being more expensive than the all in route, but i don't mind paying abit more for something i'd much prefer.
I wouldn't let you mate convince you into something so different from what you enjoy. All inclusive isn't for everyone, many different reasons why. For us it fits, others it doesn't. Sounds to me that you wouldn't enjoy one.depending on work and dates, me and the mrs will at last get a decent holiday, maybe june time, if not will have to wait till end of year maybe.
the thing is my mate and his mrs are always trying to convince us to go down the all inclusive route, something along the lines of "5"? star egypt or the like.
i just don't fancy a busy resort kind of atmosphere, i'd rather have a very nice private villa somewhere, with its own pool, and a harbour town near by with restaraunts and bars. it will probably end up being more expensive than the all in route, but i don't mind paying abit more for something i'd much prefer.
Shinobi said:
davepoth said:
If all you want to do is roast on a beach and get pissed with other lobsterish British people, all inclusive is the way to go.
Doesn't sound like a Kuoni All Inclusive experience to me.Oh, apart from the roast on the beach bit.
All inclusive is great it you don't want any hassle and you are a 'turn brain off and relax' person.
If you're not, you'll hate it.
It's that simple really.
We've done a couple of AI hols, Egypt & Kos. Great if you have kids who are 8 or 9 upwards, where they are independent enough to go off and play. Because they aren't constantly asking for money for drinks/ice cream/food. In Egypt we all had breakfast together and we met up again for dinner. They sorted themselves out for lunch and snacks. Had a great time.
In Kos it was great too, but kids were older (16 & 14) so never got out of bed for breakfast. My wife wasn't fussed about breakfast and I went for early morning swim so missed most days too. Went for 10 days, paid for 40 breakfasts and I think we had 3!
As for British yobs, depends. Both of our AI hols were 5*, which wheedled out the dross. Not a bulldog tattoo or Union Jack knotted hanky to be seen.
In Kos it was great too, but kids were older (16 & 14) so never got out of bed for breakfast. My wife wasn't fussed about breakfast and I went for early morning swim so missed most days too. Went for 10 days, paid for 40 breakfasts and I think we had 3!
As for British yobs, depends. Both of our AI hols were 5*, which wheedled out the dross. Not a bulldog tattoo or Union Jack knotted hanky to be seen.
TwigtheWonderkid said:
As for British yobs, depends. Both of our AI hols were 5*, which wheedled out the dross. Not a bulldog tattoo or Union Jack knotted hanky to be seen.
I think this is the thing really, if you go for a cheapy £700 for 14 nights all inclusive then you will get what PH would call riffraff. It's their holiday aswell and that is how they like to unwind. If you go with a luxury company and genuine 5 star not "Egypt 5 star" then you will enjoy it a lot more. It is more for relaxing around the pool though. We tend to go for the luxury brands as people are genuinely better behaved and less kids. Adult only hotels are great.Always stayed away from AI due to the image some have stated on here, but went for the 1st time last year to a new 5* place in Kos - it was great, no worries on spending cash constantly on drinks and ice cream etc (have 2 kids, 9 & 10) but hotel was nice enough to remove the football shirted, tatoo'd idiots (huge generalisation there, but you know the sort i refer to)
We're doing it again this year at a different resort, but another 5* one that has been recommended by friends with similar tastes, i'm not sure I could stomach a 3* cheapy in benidorm for 2 weeks with bingo every night at 6pm, so we pay a little more to go to the nicer resorts
If you don't want to stay on a resort all the time, then AI is probably not for you, its not a holiday if you can't relax and enjoy yourselves
We're doing it again this year at a different resort, but another 5* one that has been recommended by friends with similar tastes, i'm not sure I could stomach a 3* cheapy in benidorm for 2 weeks with bingo every night at 6pm, so we pay a little more to go to the nicer resorts
If you don't want to stay on a resort all the time, then AI is probably not for you, its not a holiday if you can't relax and enjoy yourselves
Shinobi, I wouldn't totally discount the idea of all in, and the 5 star adult only setup sounds pretty good? As long as I hvnt got to throw my keys in a bowl on the coffee table 
I don't mind saving up abit more for a better experience. I'll look into it abit more and weigh it all up.
Quite lucky, as when I do get time off it can be a month or so at a time, so could walk in to a travel agents 1 day and travel the next
I don't mind saving up abit more for a better experience. I'll look into it abit more and weigh it all up.
Quite lucky, as when I do get time off it can be a month or so at a time, so could walk in to a travel agents 1 day and travel the next
dundarach said:
Cheap drink
Cheap food
Cheap entertainment
Nasty beach
Huge excess on price - sorry not for me
A whole bottle of shi tty rum for nothing is still shi tty rum.....
Never been to one of the 5* resorts in Mexico or Barbados have you?Cheap food
Cheap entertainment
Nasty beach
Huge excess on price - sorry not for me
A whole bottle of shi tty rum for nothing is still shi tty rum.....
If you want to say the above thats fine, but you should caveat it by saying that the above specifically relates to a Skytours 3* in Maggers or Playa de Las Americas rather than just have a blanket sweeping statement.
We did 3 nights at a 4* hotel in Zanzibar last January simply because we wanted somewhere close to the diving school and were off to another part of the island for the last week of our holiday.
It's the first time I've ever done all inclusive and will be the last. The other guest's competition for dining tables, the first bit of food from the hot counter, the fresher pastries, etc, etc.
f
k that, I'm on holiday and can't be arsed.
Beside which I get very bored sat on the same bit of beach for more than a day so want to get about.
Much happier going self catering and trying the local restaurants or markets.
It's the first time I've ever done all inclusive and will be the last. The other guest's competition for dining tables, the first bit of food from the hot counter, the fresher pastries, etc, etc.
f
k that, I'm on holiday and can't be arsed.Beside which I get very bored sat on the same bit of beach for more than a day so want to get about.
Much happier going self catering and trying the local restaurants or markets.
Watch out for the Mark Warner all inclusives. Sure you get the grub and the watersports but booze is not included. We took the kids about 5 years ago and a small can of Greek beer was €4 and the cheapest bottle of crappy French red was €22. Add to that kid's icecreams at €4 and imagine the bill at the end of the holiday.
The cost of the break was around £5000 for the 5 of us but then there was the €1900 drinks and extra food/coffee/treats bill from the hotel at the end of the fortnight.
They were charging 3 Euros for a bottle of still water. I was hiking the 3 miles in 40 degree heat to the nearest town and filling a rucksack with water at 30 cents and beer at around a Euro.
If I ever go again I'll rent a van, buy a load of stock and set up a stall next the the Mark Warner beach
Sailing was good tho'.
The cost of the break was around £5000 for the 5 of us but then there was the €1900 drinks and extra food/coffee/treats bill from the hotel at the end of the fortnight.
They were charging 3 Euros for a bottle of still water. I was hiking the 3 miles in 40 degree heat to the nearest town and filling a rucksack with water at 30 cents and beer at around a Euro.
If I ever go again I'll rent a van, buy a load of stock and set up a stall next the the Mark Warner beach
Sailing was good tho'.
mattman said:
Always stayed away from AI due to the image some have stated on here, but went for the 1st time last year to a new 5* place in Kos - it was great, no worries on spending cash constantly on drinks and ice cream etc (have 2 kids, 9 & 10) but hotel was nice enough to remove the football shirted, tatoo'd idiots (huge generalisation there, but you know the sort i refer to)
We're doing it again this year at a different resort, but another 5* one that has been recommended by friends with similar tastes, i'm not sure I could stomach a 3* cheapy in benidorm for 2 weeks with bingo every night at 6pm, so we pay a little more to go to the nicer resorts
If you don't want to stay on a resort all the time, then AI is probably not for you, its not a holiday if you can't relax and enjoy yourselves
Which one out of interest???We're doing it again this year at a different resort, but another 5* one that has been recommended by friends with similar tastes, i'm not sure I could stomach a 3* cheapy in benidorm for 2 weeks with bingo every night at 6pm, so we pay a little more to go to the nicer resorts
If you don't want to stay on a resort all the time, then AI is probably not for you, its not a holiday if you can't relax and enjoy yourselves
We end up in Kos most years (twice last year infact)
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