Tell me the best 'All-Inclusive' holiday you've been on
Discussion
Some good replies (and ideas for next year!) - thanks 
Our best so far was Turtle Beach (and it's sister hotel we could use - Crystal Cove), Barbados.
Sensatori Crete was quite good - we weren't strictly AI but Full Board - food was very good but drinks so-so.
Just returned from 2wks at The Mirabello Hotel - Agios Nikolaos, Crete. Thomson rated 5T but food was really really poor - same stuff every day/night. Luke-warm - not hot. Meat was very fatty. Only good bits was the salad / cheese / desserts. Drinks were very watered down. It has put me off AI a bit, it's just handy being a family of 5 and not having to keep handing out money to the kids for drinks, ice-creams etc.
Already scanning the Thomson website - Ideas so far for next year are - Sensatori Tenerife (although bit pricey if adding AI). Sunrise Beach - Protaras, Cyprus. Family Resort Rhodes. Or blow the budget and go Sensatori Mexico - looks a great place but just hate long flights!
I want somewhere that does bbq's. Outside cooking etc. The Mirabello's grill was like something off a Burger van!
Oh, and don't get me started on the Russians...
Our best so far was Turtle Beach (and it's sister hotel we could use - Crystal Cove), Barbados.
Sensatori Crete was quite good - we weren't strictly AI but Full Board - food was very good but drinks so-so.
Just returned from 2wks at The Mirabello Hotel - Agios Nikolaos, Crete. Thomson rated 5T but food was really really poor - same stuff every day/night. Luke-warm - not hot. Meat was very fatty. Only good bits was the salad / cheese / desserts. Drinks were very watered down. It has put me off AI a bit, it's just handy being a family of 5 and not having to keep handing out money to the kids for drinks, ice-creams etc.
Already scanning the Thomson website - Ideas so far for next year are - Sensatori Tenerife (although bit pricey if adding AI). Sunrise Beach - Protaras, Cyprus. Family Resort Rhodes. Or blow the budget and go Sensatori Mexico - looks a great place but just hate long flights!
I want somewhere that does bbq's. Outside cooking etc. The Mirabello's grill was like something off a Burger van!
Oh, and don't get me started on the Russians...
Caterbroon said:
Have only done one AI - Excellence Playa Mujeres, Cancun. Totally changed my view of all inclusive. 9 a la carte restaurants (only 1 buffet), pool bars and martini bar with brand label drinks and no short measures. Mini bar in the room refreshed every day. Premium label spirits in the room - replenished when they were done. Yes - if you could drink a bottle of gin, vodka, rum and tequila every day - they would give you the same again the next day!! If you didn't want bottles of coke or sprite in the fridge - just tell them and its replaced with beer.
We had a room with a roof top pool and outdoor hot tub, some come with a swim up pool at your door. The place was immaculately maintained. Thinking about going back next year. Not cheap but when you consider how much food and drink costs on a non- AI holiday, not bad value.
Will second the earlier poster on the room service. Bottle of Champagne to your room at 10am - no problem sir.
Sounds like heaven. Got me excited... until i read it was adults-only We had a room with a roof top pool and outdoor hot tub, some come with a swim up pool at your door. The place was immaculately maintained. Thinking about going back next year. Not cheap but when you consider how much food and drink costs on a non- AI holiday, not bad value.
Will second the earlier poster on the room service. Bottle of Champagne to your room at 10am - no problem sir.
Welshbeef said:
Defcon5 said:
Watching this thread with interest. Looking for somewhere to honeymoon next August/ sept. Unfortunately our 2 year old will be coming too and I daren't go for a long flight, so looking for an excellent AI hotel in Europe
Sensatori resorts should be on your top ten list then pick which ever is most suitable based on location funds and - style some are very/too modern or too cultured depends what's important to you. Do you want really really special ££ or very very nice?
Some great replies to this thread
Welshbeef said:
DJRC said:
£3k to go to Crete on a Thompson holiday? Did I miss the zombie apocalypse or something??!
It's 11 days in a properly decent 5 star all incActually look at it the other way £1.5k each for 11 days is a steal.
How much do you spend and where do you go so we can ensure the benchmark is fair.
We have just returned from Crete (Mirabello Hotel in Aghios Nikolaos) which is also rated as 5 star (5T) and we found it very disappointing. Previous Tripadvisor reviews were very good, but lately it's getting a few not-as-good reviews - I wonder if all this 'Greek-Crisis' situation (uncertainty, increase in VAT etc) has meant some of the big hotels in Greece have cut budgets. Sensatori might be ok, but I would take note of latest reviews.
PF62 said:
I have usually been disappointed with land based AI hotels (but I will admit to not aiming to high up the price range), but have been very satisfied with floating AI hotels, aka cruise ships.
Cruise lines have traditionally offered full board food, but a number now offer all inclusive drinks packages. Personally I have found (at the same price point) the quality of the food and drink offering is much better than the land based AI, and the service is certainly better.
I would like to try a cruise one year. Maybe when we have thrown a few of the kids out of the nest Cruise lines have traditionally offered full board food, but a number now offer all inclusive drinks packages. Personally I have found (at the same price point) the quality of the food and drink offering is much better than the land based AI, and the service is certainly better.
Re the quality of AI hotels - from some of the replies on this thread, it seems like the best are 'adult-only resorts/hotels.
Welshbeef said:
Peak summer season 2 weeks 2 adults and what will be 2 children both 2 years old by the return flight home, all inclusive.
What minimum are we realistically looking at? Clearly do not want to go to a crap place and do like good food drink lots of space nice beach etc.
How cheap can we go?
Just pricing a few deals up and I'm seeing nothing but £6k at the bare minimum excl taxi tfr upgraded rooms
I've worn out the keys on my keypad searching for holiday deals etc What minimum are we realistically looking at? Clearly do not want to go to a crap place and do like good food drink lots of space nice beach etc.
How cheap can we go?
Just pricing a few deals up and I'm seeing nothing but £6k at the bare minimum excl taxi tfr upgraded rooms
The conclusion we've come up with is when spending this ^^^ kind of money - look at the Caribbean. Our holiday to Crete was more than this ^^^ and it was poor. Next year - Barbados. f
k it.I reckon you could do somewhere like Almond Beach for £6k tops. Infact, speak to Karen @ http://www.tropicbreeze.co.uk/ if you want to do something special for sensible money. I can't recommend her enough
Dr Slotter said:
BrabusMog said:
I presume you mean the Village and not the Spa for Almond Beach if it's with kids? The water sports were good there when I went, as was the food but the staff and general standard of the place fell well below par in my opinion. Saying that, it was a few years ago so I'd imagine it's had a refurb (or hope it has) by now.
There's been some changes with what were the three Almond resorts:Almond Village (the one north of Holetown) - now called Almond Beach Resort but only the southern half (i.e. not the rooms the other side of what was the adults pool with the bar) of it is open, albeit apparently refurbed. Run by the same people as Sugar Cane and Savannah Beach. Allegedly going to be developed into something else (perhaps another Sandals?) in a year or so.
Almond Beach Club & Spa (the one near Sandy Lane) - now called 'The Club, Barbados Resort and Spa' and run by the same people as St. James Club in Antigua/St Lucia, Galley Bay in Antigua etc. Not sure about level of recent refurb.
Almond Casurina (the one at the end of The Gap) - now is a Sandals and was a massive building site back in January when I was on the island.
We had a great holiday at Turtle Beach approx 7or8 yrs ago. We were lucky to get free child places at the time - bit more expensive today!
GT03ROB said:
So I'm back from 10 days at Sandals La Source in Grenada.
1st question would we go back? Unreserved yes.
99% was included. All restaurants included; Meal in your room? Included from any restaurant; Lunch on the beach? Included from any restaurant; Wifi? Included.
Despite it being a large resort, 250 rooms, running around 70% occupancy it did not feel impersonal at all. The service everywhere was excellent probably the most consistent good standard I've seen anywhere. Food quality, for the most part, excellent. All fresh. Fantastic steaks & seafood available. Drinks in the room constantly replenished. Non-stop stream of service on the beach, coolers provided and filled with what you wanted if you didn't want the cocktails. High quality finishes throughout the resort. Mobile phone provided for own private service. Excellent attention to detail..eg.. come in from the beach & bath is already run with bath salts in & champagne on ice. Yes you were made to feel special.
Any niggles? Yes, SCUBA diving is fully included with all the gear as much as you want but they then charge $10 if you want a shortie. So minor I don't know why they bother. Aspects of the entertainment they put on is a bit tacky & focused on US customers. Easily avoidable so no big deal.
Was it good value, well we all have our own idea of value. We flew out BA 1st, back in Club, had one of the better rooms & it was still cheaper than Florida last year for the same duration when we flew Club & Premium Economy.
It was totally stress free, totally relaxing. A definite thumbs up for this resort.
Sounds like a great place that's worth considering!1st question would we go back? Unreserved yes.
99% was included. All restaurants included; Meal in your room? Included from any restaurant; Lunch on the beach? Included from any restaurant; Wifi? Included.
Despite it being a large resort, 250 rooms, running around 70% occupancy it did not feel impersonal at all. The service everywhere was excellent probably the most consistent good standard I've seen anywhere. Food quality, for the most part, excellent. All fresh. Fantastic steaks & seafood available. Drinks in the room constantly replenished. Non-stop stream of service on the beach, coolers provided and filled with what you wanted if you didn't want the cocktails. High quality finishes throughout the resort. Mobile phone provided for own private service. Excellent attention to detail..eg.. come in from the beach & bath is already run with bath salts in & champagne on ice. Yes you were made to feel special.
Any niggles? Yes, SCUBA diving is fully included with all the gear as much as you want but they then charge $10 if you want a shortie. So minor I don't know why they bother. Aspects of the entertainment they put on is a bit tacky & focused on US customers. Easily avoidable so no big deal.
Was it good value, well we all have our own idea of value. We flew out BA 1st, back in Club, had one of the better rooms & it was still cheaper than Florida last year for the same duration when we flew Club & Premium Economy.
It was totally stress free, totally relaxing. A definite thumbs up for this resort.
I'd like to try Grenada... was in Barbados (Mango Bay) last year and one of the families there went to Grenada for the 2nd week. We met up again at the airport home and they said it was fantastic but 1 week was ample - can't remember the name of the resort they went to but it was one you could take young children to. It's on the list of places to visit / stay.
Not sure Caribbean is a bit far for only a week but we've used Tropic Breeze for the last 3 years and they have been excellent at finding and organising our holidays. Speak to Karen @ https://www.tropicbreeze.co.uk/special-offers.php
Oscarmac said:
Just back from the Ikos Olivia near Halkidiki. Very very good service, food, hotel and drinks. A bit on the noisy side with kids at dinner but otherwise good. Russian contingent low and not that obvious.
Probably the only gripe was the behaviour of some of the parents (english). Many of them seemed to think that holidays meant giving up all responsibility for their children and administering any discipline from their chair whilst talking over your table at dinner.
BumpProbably the only gripe was the behaviour of some of the parents (english). Many of them seemed to think that holidays meant giving up all responsibility for their children and administering any discipline from their chair whilst talking over your table at dinner.
I keep looking at the Olivia on Tui hoping for the price to come down a bit. Looks a nice hotel and reviews seem solid. In fact all the Ikos resorts look excellent. Really fancy going to Halkidiki this year..
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