All Inclusive or not?

lucylot

I am going on holiday next May with 5 girlfriends ranging in age from 30-50. We have so far narrowed it down to Kos/Cyprus/Lanzarote. We are looking for a beach holiday with guaranteed sunshine with some nightlife but def not 18-30 style and not too far to fly as only going for a week.
I have been AI with OH to caribbean and Mexico and like it from a budgeting point of view. However I've never done ai any closer to home.
Would we be better going b&b (altho there are a couple who would never see breakfast!) or AI? We def don't want self catering as the only shopping we intend doing will not be for food!
Any thoughts much appreciated

Janeyjaz

I think it will be much cheaper AI and if a group of you are going - you don't all have to decide where you are going to eat at night and what time etc.

lucylot

Thank you for that. Trying to please 6 people isn't easy at the best of times - altho we're all pretty easy going - and I'd like us to come back still as friends!

whiskymincher

Been AI a few times in The Med and have to say would not do it again. Unruly kids wandering around whilst their parents drink from 10 am through to midnight. Food is OK but gets a bit repeatitive. More suited to families with kids who would be normally paying a lot for ice-creams and soft drinks all day long. Hope this helps.

mcfisco

I go away with a bunch of mates every year & all we do is run a 'kitty' with every one putting in £50 for each day we'll be there - before we leave - into one of our bank accounts - we share out what's left on the last day.
As the poster above, AI is [IMO] not really the sort of thing for mates wanting a good time & is more suited to familes, besides - with doing your own thing, you get to eat in many different places.

bagby

Been AI in Majorca - suited us at the time - two adults two children but I dont think I would recommend it for you. Think would be a bit boring staying in the same place every day and if you enjoy a drink - I think they water the drinks down - after a night drinking all sorts I did not feel drunk at all?? The entertainment was reasonable but it was aimed towards children.

Joannekerry

If you had kids and were going on holiday then def AI as all the pop and ice cream they can go through. If its adults then a deffo no no on the All Inclusive. Why in Europe would you want to be sat in the same place every night eating the same old buffet food???? Ive travelled a little (a lot in some peoples eyes a little in my own eyes) and if you were going outside of Europe and you knew that the Country you were going to was expensive OR dangerous to go out at night then I would go AI, but lets face it..........you want to go on holiday to stay in the same boundaries all the time you are there as you get this mental block that you dont want to go out as you have paid for AI and you want your pound of flesh on it???????????

x-spendthrift

I have to agree with the other MSE's that I too would not recommend going all-inclusive to the med. I have tried it once and various people I know have also tried it who have travelled to the med and said never again! Almost everyone I know who has done all-inclusive in the Med seemed to have had a problem with the food (being kept at luke-warm tempratures), which is not ideal! If on the other hand you were going to the caribbean then I would say definitely go all-inclusive. Regarding having a "kitty", this can be ideal, but it can also cause rifts, if a couple of the group decide to have more expensive drinks or meals, then it can cause friction. Perhaps pair up in couples for a kitty or in threes. Anyway I hope you have a really great time wherever you decide to go.

Wolfhound

When you have chosen some hotels that you fancy, check them out on
https://www.tripadvisor.com

I stayed AI at a resort in Montego Bay, Jamaica, the food was alright but the drinks were like paint stripper. It has put me off going AI again.
I would make sure it included premier brands of drinks and not just the local stuff.

Friends of ours go AI all the time and they love it. I just imagine it would be like that ITV show, Benidorm, people put up with anything because they have paid for it

Saint_Chris

No Way

At your age you should be out and about. There is so much to see on holiday that you don't want to be tied to a hotel wearing a coloure wrist band.

I'm 41 and went to Ayia Napa last year, staying at the basic but well located Anthia apts.

Day wise we either stated round the pool or went the beach, with way we used our own drinks bought from the supermarket.

Night time we went our round ayia napa, drinks are what you want to pay, in the square which if for the young, i loved it, drinks are more expensive, but just outside the square there are other bars, we went the lagoon bar and was paying 1 cypriot pound a drink all night. More so that every other night we ended up here. But there was 30 of us, so we had a great time.


We also hired a jep and visited the island.

Food and drinks can be bland staying in the same place fro 14 days.

Oh and i think you will love ayia napa, as lanzarote is to quite.

Self catering would be great for u all. Some don't like breakfast.

We used to get a loaf and have tea and toast for brekki, lunch was a snack at either the pool side bar, or beach bar. Evening meal was whatever u wanted to pay. Next door to our hotel ther was a restaurant selling meals for a fiver.

Out of all the destinations you have picked, i would go for cyprus, great weather and a def is ayia napa you will not be disapointed.

crazyhazel

If you don't want to try out the local bars and restaurants and try a range of different interesting foods, then AI. However, I find the best thing to do is always go Self Catering - just because you have a small gas ring in the room dosnt mean you have to use it!! You get a decent sized fridge to keep the beer cold (Very Important) and you've got the best of both worlds - out to new and exciting restaurants each night chosing your fav one for the last night or the facilities to get a takeaway and not have to eat it in bed or if you really dont fancy a nite in you can always go to the local shop and eat in!! better by far IMO. I have seen a few AI in Southern Spain and it dosn't tempt me to go there for a holiday!!!

HTH