All inclusive - yes or no?

vixarooni

wallbash wrote: »

Many of the high grade Turkish hotels are built in the middle of no where ( or there are only new Ai in the area)
As for supporting the local business......before the hotel .... no employment , as told to me by the Turkish waiter/ maid/ pool boy / chef who all are now gainfully employed.

As for 'Boring' as an early poster wrote....... check out my choice last year, do you really think I was bored???

Or, wouldn't it be more sustainable for a half board hotel to be built with some restaurants & shops near by? That would create even more jobs for the local people, and a better spread of money to that area.

I'd hate to go to a hotel in the middle of no where, it would be my worst nightmare! If i go on holiday, my main motive is to see the beautiful architecture, meet the local people and go to their shops. I get that some people like to just sit by a pool all week, but its not my bag.

mazza111

We booked at this time last year for last week in july. Fuertaventura AI. Food was fine, beer was cold, resort was a bit... quiet. Wasn't too much for the kiddies. But then it depends what your kids like. There was the usual attractions around, and if they like the pool, ideal. We made the most of it, as we wanted a beach holiday. The beach was very quiet most days tbh. So it was down the beach with a cool bag in the morning. Stayed until lunch time, back for lunch or took a packed lunch that the hotel packed for us. Even on the excursions we took a lunch. Entertainment every night. Afternoon's were lazy by the pool. Really think it depends on what you want from a holiday. For me it's relaxation. So AI suits me down to the ground.

Pollycat - I agree with you on the SC. But we couldn't afford to go out for breakfast, lunch and dinner :rotfl: Another reason I wouldn't go SC.


I really think it depends what you want from a holiday. If you're going to be out to different parts of the island every day, then maybe SC is a better option.

If it's a relaxation thing, I would tend to stay with AI.

The hotel we were at got some bad reviews on trip adviser, but the only thing I didn't like was the guy who did the entertainment. He didn't seem to try to get the teenagers involved, although was brilliant with the younger kiddies.

Pollycat

mazza111 wrote: »

Pollycat - I agree with you on the SC. But we couldn't afford to go out for breakfast, lunch and dinner :rotfl: Another reason I wouldn't go SC.

And I think this is where AI comes in, you're not worrying about cost of food & drink.

I think a holiday should be for everybody and Mum shouldn't be spending time cooking and washing up.

We have a couple of friends and they flatly refuse to consider S/C 'because they don't want to be cooking on holiday'.
No matter how many times we explain, they just don't seem to get it.

mazza111 wrote: »

I really think it depends what you want from a holiday. If you're going to be out to different parts of the island every day, then maybe SC is a better option.

If it's a relaxation thing, I would tend to stay with AI.

This makes good sense.

We're not really pool people, we like to get out on the beach and do like to have days out and about so S/C suits us.

mazza111 wrote: »

The hotel we were at got some bad reviews on trip adviser, but the only thing I didn't like was the guy who did the entertainment. He didn't seem to try to get the teenagers involved, although was brilliant with the younger kiddies.

Reviews can be a nightmare to make sense of.

There are some people who go to 2* S/C accomodation and complain there's no room service or that they had to carry their own bags to the room.

I may give a 2* studio a maximum review of 5 on TA - because it's right at the top of what I'd expect for that standard of accommodation, not because I think it should be reclassified as 5*.

There are people who dislike the resort itself and so mark down their accommodation.

At least we can see what other people have said in reviews and ignore things that are irrelevant.

mazza111

I'm not a pool person either Polly. I like a wee while at the pool then I get bored and stiff from sitting. So I wander. I love the beach though. But because of varying disabilities we can't wander far so AI really suits us down to the ground. I only have a slight disability so can walk. The DD prefers to sit at the pool and jump in and out (although not allowed atm)


Think it really is a matter of personal choice.

My first holiday was HB. Then I went on a few SC when the kids were younger, thoroughly enjoyable, we found it easier doing SC then because ds was lactose intolerant, so we could watch his diet closer. Now he's old enough to realise, he eats something with milk, he's the one that will suffer, so I let someone else take the strain

For me dealing with the DD's disabilities every day, means I really worship the break I get from worrying about where to eat, how close it is, will she manage the stairs etc.

wallbash

Turkey in July , we are limited because of school hols, is HOT , VERY HOT .
So sightseeing would be limited to the very early or the very late.

Wallbash talks sense about AI but he/she obviously doesn't go to any cheap hotel

I'm Blushing ........... but yes its expensive, thats why I have never had any problems normally thought of with Ai. No over eating , or over indulging the alcohol .

Or, wouldn't it be more sustainable for a half board hotel to be built with some restaurants & shops near by? That would create even more jobs for the local people, and a better spread of money to that area.

No infrastructure, no homes . Check out e.g Lara Beach Turkey .
Its one road , with 5* Ai hotels next to each other on the sea shore side. The other side of the Duel carriage way is mile after mile of scrub land and the occasional petrol station .
Have done the sight seeing when younger . Now its time to be pampered by the pool . Earlier a poster remarked about a sour face barman grudgingly serving ( and how often do we hear about the bars close at 11).
5* your drink will be refreshed before you finish it , last year when I was deep inside a book by the pool , a waiter appeared by the lounger with a cold drink .
Looking surprised I said there must be a mistake as I had not ordered one.
'No mistake ...... the barman had looked across and realized I had been reading and not drinking ...... so he sent my fav beer across on his own initiative.
As for drinks , I normally find the local 'light' beers to my taste , but could have got bottles of Millers/ Stella/Carlsberg etc ( named international brands are normally limited to the better hotels. )
Another thing is the water , handed out by the bottle , not just a cold dispenser on the bar.

To sum up ......Ai on the cheap is too be avoided BUT done well is fantastic, anyone who is fortunate to have 'done' Ai correctly is very happy.

Ps have just had to respond to those posters who insist that Ai is not a good choice.

babysteps24

Go to the Palldium Palace in Playa den bossa Ibiza, either thomson or thomas cook, we had a junior suite, lovely massive room, fridge that they filled with cans of juice and water for you, gorgeous pools, right on beach, restaurant on beach two al la carte restaurants, one italian one tex mex, friendly staff, 5 min transfer from airport, lovely beach.... I can go on...and on...and on LOVELY LOVELY LOVELY

geoffky

All inclusive depends on your budget because i would not like to try it in a hotel of less than real 4stars...We have done a lot of the water park hotels and found them very very good for food..

mazza111

I've just looked at the price for AI this year and if we get away it might be SC instead. Can't believe how much the prices have jumped up since last year. It was this time last year we booked at £269 pp. This year, same hotel is up to £469 :eek: Think we might be staying at home this year and saving up for next

Pollycat

mazza111 wrote: »

I've just looked at the price for AI this year and if we get away it might be SC instead. Can't believe how much the prices have jumped up since last year. It was this time last year we booked at £269 pp. This year, same hotel is up to £469 :eek: Think we might be staying at home this year and saving up for next

Mazza
Start teaching the kids what a tea-towel is for. :rotfl:

mazza111

ROFL It's definitely an option!!!! Although at the moment they think it's for flicking at each other. I threw one to my almost 16 YO the other night and got the "What's that for?" question. I told him if he needed to ask, his education had been sadly neglected :rotfl: When the other flicks a dish towel it ends in a dislocated wrist, so no go on that one :rotfl:

I really can't believe how much the prices have shot up this year!!!