self catering or all inclusive

susieanne

We are 2 adults & 3 youngish children just wondering whether to go self catering or all inclusive to spain ? never been abroad before so no idea on prices etc on food & drink , just looking to book an holiday for as cheap as possible . The all inclusive quotes ive been getting are so expensive but i suppose we wont be watching our pennys as much if at least i know we have all been fed well . Just like to know if paying the extra for AI is worth it or can you eat fairly cheaply self catering going to supermarkets ?

Nobjocki

susieanne wrote: »

We are 2 adults & 3 youngish children just wondering whether to go self catering or all inclusive to spain ? never been abroad before so no idea on prices etc on food & drink , just looking to book an holiday for as cheap as possible . The all inclusive quotes ive been getting are so expensive but i suppose we wont be watching our pennys as much if at least i know we have all been fed well . Just like to know if paying the extra for AI is worth it or can you eat fairly cheaply self catering going to supermarkets ?

This is a six of one,half a dozen of the other situation.

If you're on holiday and can't be bothered to self-cater then go for AI.
However, this will remove one of the great joys of going on holiday and that is eating out.

And if it's hot all day do you really need three meals - a bowl of cereal for the kids for breakfast, a sandwich and crisps by the pool for lunch for lunch and then a meal out in the evening when it's cooler.

And yes, eating out is very cheap.

Personally I would never go all-inclusive because you're stuck with a regime of having to eat at certain times in the same place every day.

DUKE

I can't advise on Spain as I've never been but I've just done my first ever AI & it was a great feeling going up to the bar or restaurant & having whatever I liked, I kept going to pay. I'd definitely do it again, although I can agree that part of your holiday is going out to eat. Also you have to think whether you're going to spend your time out on excursions or stay at the hotel. You can spend a small fortune on soft drinks too, especially with 3 kids. I'm sure you'll reach the right decision after a bit more advice & a bit of thought - enjoy!

Red_dog_Sam

On our last two trips to Spain we have switched from SC to HB , largely due to the rising costs caused by the weakening exchange rate. This isn't too significant if you are using the supermarkets and preparing yourown meals but it is if you eat out a lot.
As other posters suggest, it also depends on what you'll be doing. AI can be cost effective for a family.If you are out and about most of the time then AI is of less value and HB might be better. If you are likely to spend a lot of time at the hotel, for the pool, or for the entertainment, then AI starts to make sense - especially with children - where the costs of ice creams\ soft drinks\milk shakes x 3 every day quickly mount.

feelingblue

Although it is great going out to eat on holiday it does add up! I took two children AI to Spain many years ago - they were young and although they did eat some meals they were 'grazers'. Therefore, it was good that they could snack when they wanted to and drinks really add up - because they were young I was consious of keeping them hydrated so was great they could get drinks as and when! Our AI hotel had fridge full of ice creams too which they could help theselves to. Also it is a break for you - sometimes mums are forgotten!! Self catering is OK but don't you do that all year? :-). Ultimately though it is the pennies but we didn't spend much at all - a couple of trips - the kids were happy in pool/club so that made us happy! The hotel even provided us with a packed lunch for the trips.

Either way enjoy!

mick_vandick

It also depends where you are thinking of exactly in Spain. Some places may not have many places to eat out and so will be more expensive, some will be cheaper as lots of restaurants.

melb

the thing with AI is that you'll be staying in a hotel - which will most likely be in one room. Would you fancy that? if you self cater you can buy drinks from the supermarket and the same with ice-creams but it depends what you want. you'd be in a bigger place with living room and 2 or more bedrooms with room to spread out and come back for a rest and shade from the sun if you want to relax. When our kids were younger sometimes we'd give them something they liked eating in the accommodation like hot-dogs or pasta and then they were not starving when we all went to eat out later so they could have some of whatever we were having if they fancied it or just some nice bread and then maybe an ice-cream of pud. Would you get your money's worth is you were paying AI for 3 kids who won't be eating that much if they're young.

warehouse

I've been SC and AI in Majorca in the last few years.

All Inclusive wins hands down. You save sooooo much money that it becomes a very close thing with the cost of self catering + eating + drinking money.

I'll never go SC again.

ferf1223

I would think you also need to consider the quality and variety of the food...I have never been on an AI holiday but have plenty of friends and colleagues who have and their experiences range from 'AI is awesome!' to 'the food was rubbish, it was the same rubbish every day and we ended up paying to go out to eat somewhere else afer a couple of days - AI sucks'.

I have zero interest in AI because a) we don't drink much and b) I like to decide on the day what I want to eat and don't want to be stuck with only one or two options, potentially the same food every day. If we were to go AI the only way we would do it would be going with something with amazing reviews - which would also probably have an amazing price tag.

I'm sure there are places that do decent AI for a decent price...I'd just be worried that if we didn't book something pretty pricey there would be a significant risk we would be disappointed and end up eating out anyway.

Debbie_A_3

Hi! Do also consider how much you like cooking, and preparing meals: you are on holiday after all. I would always self-cater (especially with three children), but then I enjoy having a nosey look in foreign supermarkets and preparing meals. So for me it fits in with the holiday. However, if cooking and food prep are not your thing then go for AI so that you can enjoy your holiday.

Debbie

sarah400

We were in Tenerife last year and spent a fortune on going for meals every night. I managed to prepare one meal in the apartment but it was difficult as it was so badly equipped and the local supermarkets were dreadful and very expensive. We then went AI this year and it was fabulous!! The children were thrilled to be able to help themselves to drinks and ice cream all day and ate very well in the restaurant because it was buffet style and they could try a bit of everything. It's AI all the way now - I cringe to think how much we spent last year!!