All inclusive worth it?

MrsE_2

Ostinato wrote: »

LOLOL nono 2 will be fine I think :P Unless the missus has something planned shes not told me pmsl!:eek::rotfl:

That place looks lovely, who did you book it through??

Thomson

You get a premier upgrade on that hotel

No queuing at airport- special desk
Bigger luggage allowance:D
one free drink on the flight out
Cab if not the first or second drop off from airport
Unlimited access to the a la carts (others are limited to a set number per week 2/3):D

davidlizard

I am not a big fan of AI.

I like to get out and about, and try out different restaurants, rather than sit in the same place each night watching the same people stuffing their faces. Also if the food is rubbish, then you are stuck with it. And we don't stay in the hotel during the day - we get out and see/do things rather than watching overweight brits seeing how much cheap beer they can drink.

Also with AI there is the "moral" side of it. A foreign owned/staffed hotel opens up and goes AI. As most of the guests then stay in the hotel, very little goes into the local economy. Locally owned and staffed cafes and restaurants close down as a consequence.

As others say, whether to go AI or not depends on where it is, and how much it is compared to local alternatives. In the Maldives we went AI as there was nowhere else to eat on the small island, and the costs were huge. Sri Lanka OTOH had loads of places to eat and drink nearby and was very cheap.

MrsE_2

davidlizard wrote: »

I am not a big fan of AI.

I like to get out and about, and try out different restaurants, rather than sit in the same place each night watching the same people stuffing their faces. I go for places that have a few restaurants to choose from, the place I'm looking at this year has 8/9 a la cartes;)

Also if the food is rubbish, then you are stuck with it.
I research carefully & pay for 5*

And we don't stay in the hotel during the day - we get out and see/do things rather than watching overweight brits seeing how much cheap beer they can drink.
I go out too & I always make a point of eating at the best restaurant I can find (within reason) in the area & eat there.
I don't drink beer, DH & I are one glass of wine with dinner max people.

Also with AI there is the "moral" side of it. A foreign owned/staffed hotel opens up and goes AI. As most of the guests then stay in the hotel, very little goes into the local economy. Locally owned and staffed cafes and restaurants close down as a consequence.
Do people not get employed to work in the big AIs then. Whether the profits are going to a big hotel or local places, there are still workers needed for both;)

As others say, whether to go AI or not depends on where it is, and how much it is compared to local alternatives. In the Maldives we went AI as there was nowhere else to eat on the small island, and the costs were huge. Sri Lanka OTOH had loads of places to eat and drink nearby and was very cheap.

I like beach front hotels in quite spots these are often AI.

wallbash

I am not a big fan of AI.

Did get that impression

quote .. watching overweight brits seeing how much cheap beer they can drink.

I was really surprised how little drinking was done :beer:
OK it was a very expensive hotel , but there was never a crush at the bars.

quote ..Also with AI there is the "moral" side of it.
The hotel I stayed at , was in the middle of nowhere. There were certainly no
infrastructure to be overwhelmed.

ref we get out and see/do things

Good luck to you . I did the sight seeing years ago . now when the temp . hits 40
I stay by the pool with a cold drink.:cool:

System

I went to a hotel in Gran Canaria which was half board to UK guests, but AI for German guests and this group of guys turned up and they behaved terribly, always drunk and shouting in the restaurant and bars, etc.. All the other couples and families on AI were fine but this bunch were a nightmare, and we were so glad we were due to leave and they arrived at the end of our break. It lead to lots of complaints from other guests..

When we went to Mexico though the AI was great, and there was no rowdy behaviour - there were some weddings and therefore parties followed but still nothing awful..

I really did enjoy all inclusive and am looking to book it again on this basis..

fluffygrue

Ordinarily we're very much DIY travellers, booking self-catering accommodation separate to flights.. but we've just returned from staying in an all-inclusive hotel in the Dominican Republic, and it was fantastic. There was no excessive drinking - despite there being lots of Brits/Europeans! - and not having to worry about finding good value restaurants or supermarkets was wonderful. It definitely worked out as the cheapest option for us.

I would have felt a bit odd if it were run by foreigners, as mentioned earlier, but this was very much run by locals, and we were fed local booze and ate local food. I'd definitely recommend checking out Tripadvisor reviews - that's how I choose pretty much everything these days.

MrsE_2

fluffygrue wrote: »

Ordinarily we're very much DIY travellers, booking self-catering accommodation separate to flights.. but we've just returned from staying in an all-inclusive hotel in the Dominican Republic, and it was fantastic. There was no excessive drinking - despite there being lots of Brits/Europeans! - and not having to worry about finding good value restaurants or supermarkets was wonderful. It definitely worked out as the cheapest option for us.

I would have felt a bit odd if it were run by foreigners, as mentioned earlier, but this was very much run by locals, and we were fed local booze and ate local food. I'd definitely recommend checking out Tripadvisor reviews - that's how I choose pretty much everything these days.

What was it called & where was it?
Thinking of there this year.
Thinking of Punta Cana

kindofagilr

I personally think AI is the way to go

I went to Cyprus in July for my brothers wedding (expensive when you are there) it cost us £1000 pp for two weeks AI, my brother stayed in another hotel (we were 4 star he was 5 star) and it cost him £1000 for B&B

The hotel was amazing, the food and drinks were amazing, free pop, alcohol and bottled water from 10am till midnight

YOu had breakfast, lunch and dinner, and snacks inbetween

The snacks were amazming, I quote often slept in and missed breakfast but as soon as breakfast finished they served snacks till lunch and you could get burger and chips, toasties and chips, jacket potatoes etc

Well worth it

Then all we ever spent was when me and OH went for a meal together (we were in our hotel will 7 family members) and on nights out in ayia napa and excusrions

And if you have kids I think its a godsend

System

kindofagilr wrote: »

I personally think AI is the way to go

I went to Cyprus in July for my brothers wedding (expensive when you are there) it cost us £1000 pp for two weeks AI, my brother stayed in another hotel (we were 4 star he was 5 star) and it cost him £1000 for B&B

The hotel was amazing, the food and drinks were amazing, free pop, alcohol and bottled water from 10am till midnight

Hi, which hotel did you stay in, was it the Atlantica Sungardens? We would only go back to Cyprus on AI as last year we went it was v expensive and we stayed in a 3* small hotel. Meals and drink costs were high...

dipsy

maggiecon wrote: »

Went AI for the first time last year in Cancun.

will never go self catering again. bought the week for £900 on ebay from a time share owner. It was the number 1 rated hotel in Cancun on tripadvisor and then paid for flights seperately. all in all cost £1800 for the two of us

spent $100 the whole week. spa and excursions were all included. bedroom was overlooking the ocean with four person hot tube beside the balcony.

Best holiday every.

I am thinking of going AI somewhere in May but I dont think the hotels in Europe would compare. anyone any thoughts on this?

Hi any chance you could PM me the details?

cheers