Spill the beans... on how to max all-inclusive holidays

pelirocco

We did AI to Antigua once , it was ok for the kids , but now they dont come with us I could think of nothing worse . One of our best holidays was staying in ST Lucia at a 2 * resort ( only 30 rooms / suites ) self catering for breakfast and lunch and eating out in one of the many high class restaurants in Rodney Bay all with in walking distances

Samantha22

Hi,

From reading most of the posts, so far, I've come to the conclusion that one is better off to go for B&B in a straight-forward room, on the beach, and eat out the rest of the day. Booking an AI seems to be too much of a chance. The last thing one wants on holiday is to pay for your three meals, and then not to be happy with it. I shall browse these boards a little more, and can hopefully find a solution to my holiday plans.

Enjoy your hols in 2012 x

Samantha22

juliamarsh wrote: »

In the Algarve this summer we could buy a big 5 litre container of water from the supermarket for 80 cents which we then kept in the apartment fridge and used as we needed, decanting into smaller bottles to take out with us. We bought provisions from the supermarket to self cater for breakfast and lunch and just ate out in the evening - not every evening but probably 2 out of 3. I don't think it necessarily costs more to go self catering than all inclusive as long as you don't go mad, depends how much you eat and drink I suppose but we managed ok without skimping and that was with 4 teenagers in our party!

Many thanks for this message, Julia.:A I was in favour of going on a self-catering holiday, this year. It would just be the two of us, without the children, as they are all grown-up now, and do their own thing. Do you mind if I ask you where you went? It will be my first holiday abroad, so am a little anxious.:eek:

Regards,
Victoria22:rotfl:

Samantha22

Hi Julia,

I've just noticed that you went to the Algarve. Sorry for not noticing that earlier x

pogofish

An interesting thread!

Now can anyone advise us on how to find the better AIs?

For me, the reason is that I normally go for active and only lightly planned holidays, usually deciding on a place and heading off with only basic accommodation booked and then seeing what I find in the local area. Mostly this is fine enough but yes sometimes it can be cheap, other times dear.

However, I have become disabled over the last year or so and didn't get a holiday at all last year because of the pain/movement problems. However, I'm now waiting for surgery that promises to improve matters but I'm still looking at a long slow recovery and maybe still restricted movement even then.

So I had wondered if this was the time to go AI? At least it would be somewhere all-found with a range of facilities and entertainments for the days I couldn't cast my net wider?

Any ideas?

wallbash

Budget ?

Also on a more personal note , can you put up with a long flight?

new2012

This is what we had for spirits in an AI in Crete.
We also got draught wine and beer and fizzy drinks from a machine

If we wanted vodka, bacardi etc. we had to pay.

wallbash

And how much did you pay for your Ai


Would tell you about the Ai in Lara Beach ( Turkey ) stayed 2010 .
Single Malt whiskey was on the shelf , on a help your self basis . If you wanted Brandy , would a cognac do.?


You get what you pay for .

new2012

And how much did you pay for your Ai

We wuz robbed.

Unlimited locally produced spirits, in the mountains we saw them getting made and sold in recycled water bottles.

Gut rot.

Even the water was from a water fountain.

I complained but as it said in the brochure Unlimited locally produced spirits

The previous year we had been in Lanzarote and were drinking spirits such as brandy, vodka, whisky, Baileys etc and cocktails and paid less than what we paid in Crete.

pogofish

wallbash wrote: »

Budget ?

Also on a more personal note , can you put up with a long flight?

Again - I don't really know where to start. I've seen big ranges in prices in just the places I've begun to look at, sometimes for even the same resorts. What would be reasonable for two weeks in the major holiday zones? Would a vague upper guideline of £1K (with a bit either way) be not unreasonable? I'm just about to finish paying my mortgage, so will have a bit extra cash by then.

Flight - Just now I'd find it hard going but hopefully I'll be in far less pain after surgery, so I think that's a yes.

Date - I've been working on late May/June because the op is estimated for mid-March/early April but it could be later in the year if that is more appropriate for the weather in the further away places.