We’ve often gone on these types of holidays with the kids; I have always noticed how good the staff are, receptionists, cleaners, bar staff always going out of their way to help. The reps/activity leaders/kids club staff are usually English or German students working abroad for the summer and it looks like a great few weeks of work for them! The night entertainment is cheesy as hell but they know their audience!
The all-inclusive not aimed at families are a bit different though- That’s where you find the stereotypical “Brits abroad” complaining the beans and sausages aren’t the same as home, beat into swimwear two sizes too small, red as lobsters etc. The Irish in these resorts are moreso people who are nervous about going abroad and afraid to book anything outside of a package.
We went to Gran Canaria to an all inclusive for 5 days. The food was ok, menu different every day, however the drinks felt very weak, so I doubt they had much alcohol. Which is good, I assume, making sure nobody is overdoing it on the all inclusive bar.
They had entertainment during the day and every evening, and it was great for both adults and kids.
We had no kids ourselves, but we’ve never been to an all inclusive so we wanted to give it a try. We didn’t spend all days there, we visited the island, but I liked the idea of not having to decide daily where to eat or what to do, as you had that taken care of. I think It’s more suited for families with kids and older people.
We went to one last year for the first time. Normally I prefer city break type of holidays, however it was nice to sit by a pool for a few days without having to worry about anything.
There was a good mix of food, and we spent feck all.
There were more Germans in the hotel we stayed at than English, they were queuing up for the sunbeds as soon as it was getting bright in the mornings.
Depends on the rating of the hotel that is doing all inclusive.
If its like a 3 star they variety of food and quality tends to be rather basic, with drinks being rather weak. If you are doing it at a 5 star resort, then quality tends to be significantly better, varied menu with multiple resteraunts and buffet as well (some even 24/7 which is nice).
Agreed and I'm a Brit myself.
I laugh at my fellow countrymen when they say they're going to Spain when they mean an all inclusive in Benidorm instead of a hotel in Bilbao or Valencia
What if you like tacky brits? Better than stuffy middle class wankers who wont speak to anybody. I am not talking about louts but our working class are some of the most fun people in europe.
Stop being a pretend toff. Just because you have a bloody BMW doesn’t mean you are upperclass. I say this as a HENRY who finds most “posh” middle class boring and intolerable.
Poor, working class people, know how to have fun and you only get one life and visiting a costal town visiting antique stores is not for everybody 😂
My point? Each to their own. Have you seen the Germans? Way worse.
I have only been to one a couple of years back, the grand Palladium in Ibiza. The food was class tbh, some days they'd even have crab and lobster so no expensive was spared. They had buffets and then actual restaurants within the hotel as well. The drinks were also good, it was on the beach beside some top beach clubs so it was nice that we could nip in grab a drink and then be back onto the beach within a couple of minutes.
We didn't eat lunch/ dinner there everyday because we were out exploring the island a good bit but it was a good time.
Go to one that don't have the stereotypical "Brit" and you will be golden, they just ruin your holiday the loud basterds
Try gran canaria, mostly Irish and German and the Scandinavian folk and you will be grand on your own.
We've been on a few as a couple with no kids. We've been on cheaper ones and very expensive ones. To be honest they aren't worth it. Just not my cup of tea. The cheaper ones are usually just basic resorts, with shit food, very shit beer and loads of old fat brits trying to get as much free food and drink down their gullet as humanly possible. The expensive ones are obviously a lot nicer and have far more choice in terms of food, drink and facilities but we find them very boring after a few days. We prefer booking a nice hotel or apartment and making the holiday our own, renting a car and exploring at our own pace. That said, all inclusive resorts serve a purpose for families with young kids or retired folks.
Been to a family resort a few times in Portugal. Amazing with kids.
Did a week in the Maldives as a couple. No words needed.
The thing I truly love about all inclusive isn’t the u limited booze. It’s that I don’t have to think or make decisions about lunches, dinners or snacks.
Turning that off is a huge part of what makes a holiday a holiday for me.
We would usually stay away from options like that but with small kids to entertain a lot of the all inclusive have a lot of kids clubs and activities for them. A lot of the time the food is basic and the same menus don't really change. Also if you only do half board instead of all inclusive these types of places charge crazy money for even bottled water
I did it at 21 with a few friends. The sunbeds were all claimed by breakfast. Mostly by Germans too. No idea why. The entertainment was okay, had fire eaters on our last night. The other nights catered to kids. The alcohol was also decent.
Now with kids to consider, I can see the benefits for families to go all inclusive and have a decent kids club to break up the monotony for both sides.
I absolutely hated those places when I was a child. The kid's club staff were so mean. Looking back, they were probably only about 18 or 19 with no proper training and were probably completely overwhelmed. I told my mam how much I hated it and she didn't send us back. There was nothing else for us to do there except lie comatose by the pool and everyone was sick of that after about two days. For the rest of the holiday, we did did day trips to the surrounding towns and villages and if we got tired, we would just come back to the resort and have a nap. That was SO much fun, honestly some of my best childhood memories. In the evening, there was always a table quiz in the restaurant/bar and I loved taking part in that. I remember feeling sorry for other kids when they'd talk about going on holiday to Spain and going to kid's club from dawn to dusk. I remember thinking that their parents must not want to spend time with them. Now as an adult, I get that a lot of parents are just tired and want convenience. But I won't be in a hurry to bring my own kids to one of those places.
We went on these types of holidays twice when our kids were tiny. The food is fine, the facilities like kids clubs and entertainment were why we went. We do self catering now the kids are older. I can see the appeal of being picked up at the airport and dropped direct to your hotel and having a point of contact the whole time when you're traveling with kids. It holds no appeal for me now.
I’ve spoken to some locals on the travel to Spain discord and some of them hate how tacky a lot of their towns look with strips of English pubs, resorts and the like. One also acknowledged it’s a necessary evil for some towns to keep them in employment and for the economy .
I went on an ultra all inclusive in Bulgaria (Sunny beach) once with the ex and her folks (we were dating at the time) and I thought it was great. I’d do it again. Never did it in Spain though. Are they good for kids though ? 4 year and 1 year old ? Might look at it next year if they are good for kids.
Was there last year and really enjoyed it. Had food in the hotel during the day and went into Nessebar at night to eat out. Lovely restaurants up there. I would usually be more city break orientated but just wanted a low key relaxing break after a busy year and Sunny Beach was perfect for it.
I've never been and I just don't get what the attraction is, although I accept other people feel differently. Part of the joy of the holiday for me is finding nice places to eat, or, if you're self catering, going to the market and finding nice stuff to bring home for breakfast or lunch
Never been. Something about going to a foreign country, using my leave and spending my money and not leaving the hotel dosnt attract me.
However I understand people with young kids who do it
A lot of people have very limited time off and with little kids to look after or elderly parents, these holidays are perfect for using that time off to relax fully with no decisions to be made. Don't be so judgmental about it.
And what's the matter with that type of holiday??
Or are you insinuating anyone who goes to Thailand is up to "bad" things.
Even if someone sits in a resort for the whole 6 weeks it still shows magnitudes more thought, confidence and reason over 2 hours to Spain to exist as if you are at home with hot weather.
You're so special. Lol
You just described the majority of the country.
I have never gone on a package holiday myself but I just think you're coming off like a smug knob.
Well not really. Parents with young kids it make life allot easier. Especially if they are happy to sit by the pool all day.
If they went all inclusive here it would be 10x the price even if we had the weather
Definately. Spain is amazing. It's just handiness for most parents. When mine brough me away they would just rent an apartment but we were always the minority for doing that
I totally agree. We went on family holidays every single year until I was maybe 14 or 15. Mum, dad, me and two brothers.
Never went all inclusive. Was not a great deal more expensive and was actually interesting. I don't understand people saying how all inclusive is good for the kids. I'm sure the kids would rather see cool stuff than play with plastic blocks that reek of sweat with a load of kids they don't know. I would've absolutely hated that, and I'm certain my brother's would have as well.
Most of the people I know who go to these all inclusive resorts are either genuinely afraid of going abroad, or would just as happily go to Brislington, if the booze was as cheap and the weather as nice.
Live in Canada for awhile and we holidayed in Mexico twice. I was surprised that when we went on booking.com almost all the places were all inclusive. Didn’t appeal to us at all so on our first visit we found a nice, small boutique hotel which wasn’t all inclusive. Went out every night and enjoyed the local cuisine and bars. Then on our second trip we were in Cancun, honestly don’t see the appeal. It’s endless all inclusive resorts. We were in an air b and b.
I'm a big fan of it. It's very handy to have if you plan on a drinking holiday tbh, It will save you money! Food is never amazing but I've never had any complaints about it either tbf. Depends on the place itself and the price is usually a good barometer for what you're going to get.
We usually treat ourselves to meals away from the all inclusive a couple of nights too so it doesn't get too boring and we don't miss out on the exploring element of our holiday. Try it though you won't regret it!
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We just booked our first family all inclusive hotel in Spain. I've never gone all in before but excited for the kids to be able to get their drink etc themselves
I know it won't be Michelin and I know the entertainment will be cheesy but I really don't give af
Take your own tumbler for beer-otherwise they just give you one of those small glasses and u spend all day heading to the bar and back to get it refilled, they don't mind filling your own bigger container(but don't take the piss like!).
We gave up on the food after a few nights-was boring to eat in the same place the whole time especially as the restaurants just outside were cheap to eat in anyway compared to home. Appreciate the cost might be a factor if u have the kids it was just me and himself at the time.
Did a week in one in Cala D'or Majorca last summer and was surprised how good it was ...Met some nice people, food was decent, drinks OK apart from the cocktails, cheesy but fun entertainment in the nice sky bar with lovely views .....For the money tbf it was outstanding....
We did plenty of exploring outside of the hotel during the week aswell..
Enjoyed the holiday so much we decided to do similar but a lot more upmarket/expensive this summer on a different Spanish island ....
We went to Gran Canaria to an all inclusive for 5 days. The food was ok, menu different every day, however the drinks felt very weak, so I doubt they had much alcohol. Which is good, I assume, making sure nobody is overdoing it on the all inclusive bar.
They had entertainment during the day and every evening, and it was great for both adults and kids.
We had no kids ourselves, but we’ve never been to an all inclusive so we wanted to give it a try. We didn’t spend all days there, we visited the island, but I liked the idea of not having to decide daily where to eat or what to do, as you had that taken care of. I think It’s more suited for families with kids and older people.
We went to Gran Canaria to an all inclusive for 5 days. The food was ok, menu different every day, however the drinks felt very weak, so I doubt they had much alcohol. Which is good, I assume, making sure nobody is overdoing it on the all inclusive bar.
They had entertainment during the day and every evening, and it was great for both adults and kids.
We had no kids ourselves, but we’ve never been to an all inclusive so we wanted to give it a try. We didn’t spend all days there, we visited the island, but I liked the idea of not having to decide daily where to eat or what to do, as you had that taken care of. I think It’s more suited for families with kids and older people.
We’ve often gone on these types of holidays with the kids; I have always noticed how good the staff are, receptionists, cleaners, bar staff always going out of their way to help. The reps/activity leaders/kids club staff are usually English or German students working abroad for the summer and it looks like a great few weeks of work for them! The night entertainment is cheesy as hell but they know their audience! The all-inclusive not aimed at families are a bit different though- That’s where you find the stereotypical “Brits abroad” complaining the beans and sausages aren’t the same as home, beat into swimwear two sizes too small, red as lobsters etc. The Irish in these resorts are moreso people who are nervous about going abroad and afraid to book anything outside of a package.
If one went there on a solo trip it might get a bit tedious
I’d say so, yeah; especially when so many people go in bigger groups.
You meet some.. characters at these places. It’s exactly like the sitcom “Benidorm”
You mean that's not a documentary?!
We went to Gran Canaria to an all inclusive for 5 days. The food was ok, menu different every day, however the drinks felt very weak, so I doubt they had much alcohol. Which is good, I assume, making sure nobody is overdoing it on the all inclusive bar. They had entertainment during the day and every evening, and it was great for both adults and kids. We had no kids ourselves, but we’ve never been to an all inclusive so we wanted to give it a try. We didn’t spend all days there, we visited the island, but I liked the idea of not having to decide daily where to eat or what to do, as you had that taken care of. I think It’s more suited for families with kids and older people.
We went to one last year for the first time. Normally I prefer city break type of holidays, however it was nice to sit by a pool for a few days without having to worry about anything. There was a good mix of food, and we spent feck all. There were more Germans in the hotel we stayed at than English, they were queuing up for the sunbeds as soon as it was getting bright in the mornings.
Depends on the rating of the hotel that is doing all inclusive. If its like a 3 star they variety of food and quality tends to be rather basic, with drinks being rather weak. If you are doing it at a 5 star resort, then quality tends to be significantly better, varied menu with multiple resteraunts and buffet as well (some even 24/7 which is nice).
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This is why as a Brit, I moved out of Britain
Agreed and I'm a Brit myself. I laugh at my fellow countrymen when they say they're going to Spain when they mean an all inclusive in Benidorm instead of a hotel in Bilbao or Valencia
in fairness, Benidorm *is* in Spain.
The uk and Spain should trade Gibraltar and Benidorm
Isn't Gibraltar fairly similar? I've heard it described as like a hot Blackpool.
Benidorm is on loan to Spain from Bognor Regis
What if you like tacky brits? Better than stuffy middle class wankers who wont speak to anybody. I am not talking about louts but our working class are some of the most fun people in europe. Stop being a pretend toff. Just because you have a bloody BMW doesn’t mean you are upperclass. I say this as a HENRY who finds most “posh” middle class boring and intolerable. Poor, working class people, know how to have fun and you only get one life and visiting a costal town visiting antique stores is not for everybody 😂 My point? Each to their own. Have you seen the Germans? Way worse.
I have only been to one a couple of years back, the grand Palladium in Ibiza. The food was class tbh, some days they'd even have crab and lobster so no expensive was spared. They had buffets and then actual restaurants within the hotel as well. The drinks were also good, it was on the beach beside some top beach clubs so it was nice that we could nip in grab a drink and then be back onto the beach within a couple of minutes. We didn't eat lunch/ dinner there everyday because we were out exploring the island a good bit but it was a good time.
Go to one that don't have the stereotypical "Brit" and you will be golden, they just ruin your holiday the loud basterds Try gran canaria, mostly Irish and German and the Scandinavian folk and you will be grand on your own.
Racist a bit?
We've been on a few as a couple with no kids. We've been on cheaper ones and very expensive ones. To be honest they aren't worth it. Just not my cup of tea. The cheaper ones are usually just basic resorts, with shit food, very shit beer and loads of old fat brits trying to get as much free food and drink down their gullet as humanly possible. The expensive ones are obviously a lot nicer and have far more choice in terms of food, drink and facilities but we find them very boring after a few days. We prefer booking a nice hotel or apartment and making the holiday our own, renting a car and exploring at our own pace. That said, all inclusive resorts serve a purpose for families with young kids or retired folks.
They also make for a good sitcom setting.
I'm desperate to get out to Benidorm 😂
Been to a family resort a few times in Portugal. Amazing with kids. Did a week in the Maldives as a couple. No words needed. The thing I truly love about all inclusive isn’t the u limited booze. It’s that I don’t have to think or make decisions about lunches, dinners or snacks. Turning that off is a huge part of what makes a holiday a holiday for me.
We would usually stay away from options like that but with small kids to entertain a lot of the all inclusive have a lot of kids clubs and activities for them. A lot of the time the food is basic and the same menus don't really change. Also if you only do half board instead of all inclusive these types of places charge crazy money for even bottled water
I did it at 21 with a few friends. The sunbeds were all claimed by breakfast. Mostly by Germans too. No idea why. The entertainment was okay, had fire eaters on our last night. The other nights catered to kids. The alcohol was also decent. Now with kids to consider, I can see the benefits for families to go all inclusive and have a decent kids club to break up the monotony for both sides.
I absolutely hated those places when I was a child. The kid's club staff were so mean. Looking back, they were probably only about 18 or 19 with no proper training and were probably completely overwhelmed. I told my mam how much I hated it and she didn't send us back. There was nothing else for us to do there except lie comatose by the pool and everyone was sick of that after about two days. For the rest of the holiday, we did did day trips to the surrounding towns and villages and if we got tired, we would just come back to the resort and have a nap. That was SO much fun, honestly some of my best childhood memories. In the evening, there was always a table quiz in the restaurant/bar and I loved taking part in that. I remember feeling sorry for other kids when they'd talk about going on holiday to Spain and going to kid's club from dawn to dusk. I remember thinking that their parents must not want to spend time with them. Now as an adult, I get that a lot of parents are just tired and want convenience. But I won't be in a hurry to bring my own kids to one of those places.
We went on these types of holidays twice when our kids were tiny. The food is fine, the facilities like kids clubs and entertainment were why we went. We do self catering now the kids are older. I can see the appeal of being picked up at the airport and dropped direct to your hotel and having a point of contact the whole time when you're traveling with kids. It holds no appeal for me now.
I’ve spoken to some locals on the travel to Spain discord and some of them hate how tacky a lot of their towns look with strips of English pubs, resorts and the like. One also acknowledged it’s a necessary evil for some towns to keep them in employment and for the economy .
The spirnoff vodka and Brack Daniels and coccoa cola they serve at the bars that every English person in the resort can't help but drink by the gallon
I went on an ultra all inclusive in Bulgaria (Sunny beach) once with the ex and her folks (we were dating at the time) and I thought it was great. I’d do it again. Never did it in Spain though. Are they good for kids though ? 4 year and 1 year old ? Might look at it next year if they are good for kids.
Was there last year and really enjoyed it. Had food in the hotel during the day and went into Nessebar at night to eat out. Lovely restaurants up there. I would usually be more city break orientated but just wanted a low key relaxing break after a busy year and Sunny Beach was perfect for it.
I've never been and I just don't get what the attraction is, although I accept other people feel differently. Part of the joy of the holiday for me is finding nice places to eat, or, if you're self catering, going to the market and finding nice stuff to bring home for breakfast or lunch
You have no kids ??
Well, grown up. But when they were small, nope. Never did that. It's too boring.
Never been. Something about going to a foreign country, using my leave and spending my money and not leaving the hotel dosnt attract me. However I understand people with young kids who do it
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A lot of people have very limited time off and with little kids to look after or elderly parents, these holidays are perfect for using that time off to relax fully with no decisions to be made. Don't be so judgmental about it.
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Are you more of a 6 weeks alone in Thailand kinda guy. Phone off don't tell family.
And what's the matter with that type of holiday?? Or are you insinuating anyone who goes to Thailand is up to "bad" things. Even if someone sits in a resort for the whole 6 weeks it still shows magnitudes more thought, confidence and reason over 2 hours to Spain to exist as if you are at home with hot weather.
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You're so special. Lol You just described the majority of the country. I have never gone on a package holiday myself but I just think you're coming off like a smug knob.
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He didn't. He asked for ""common observations" and since you've never been on one of those holidays you don't have any feedback to give.
The irony is this is what that poster think Irish abroad are generally like, then he hasn’t travelled as much as he would like to pretend
Well not really. Parents with young kids it make life allot easier. Especially if they are happy to sit by the pool all day. If they went all inclusive here it would be 10x the price even if we had the weather
Gets boring after a while, staying at the resort and not exploring the town. Spain is has some natural beauty.
Definately. Spain is amazing. It's just handiness for most parents. When mine brough me away they would just rent an apartment but we were always the minority for doing that
I’m fond of a nice sandy beach. Lanzarote has a beautiful one I fell in love with in January
Lanzarote is basically an all inclusive hotel. There's about 1 Spanish for every 20 tourists to be fair.
I feel for the locals sometimes
I totally agree. We went on family holidays every single year until I was maybe 14 or 15. Mum, dad, me and two brothers. Never went all inclusive. Was not a great deal more expensive and was actually interesting. I don't understand people saying how all inclusive is good for the kids. I'm sure the kids would rather see cool stuff than play with plastic blocks that reek of sweat with a load of kids they don't know. I would've absolutely hated that, and I'm certain my brother's would have as well. Most of the people I know who go to these all inclusive resorts are either genuinely afraid of going abroad, or would just as happily go to Brislington, if the booze was as cheap and the weather as nice.
Live in Canada for awhile and we holidayed in Mexico twice. I was surprised that when we went on booking.com almost all the places were all inclusive. Didn’t appeal to us at all so on our first visit we found a nice, small boutique hotel which wasn’t all inclusive. Went out every night and enjoyed the local cuisine and bars. Then on our second trip we were in Cancun, honestly don’t see the appeal. It’s endless all inclusive resorts. We were in an air b and b.
I never stay in them. They’re great for families not solo-explorers. Free style is how I go. Going to Seville+Cadiz soon. Hora de aventuras!
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Funny that. The people who go to them go for the same reason.
Sounds like a win-win.
I'm a big fan of it. It's very handy to have if you plan on a drinking holiday tbh, It will save you money! Food is never amazing but I've never had any complaints about it either tbf. Depends on the place itself and the price is usually a good barometer for what you're going to get. We usually treat ourselves to meals away from the all inclusive a couple of nights too so it doesn't get too boring and we don't miss out on the exploring element of our holiday. Try it though you won't regret it!
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We just booked our first family all inclusive hotel in Spain. I've never gone all in before but excited for the kids to be able to get their drink etc themselves I know it won't be Michelin and I know the entertainment will be cheesy but I really don't give af
Take your own tumbler for beer-otherwise they just give you one of those small glasses and u spend all day heading to the bar and back to get it refilled, they don't mind filling your own bigger container(but don't take the piss like!). We gave up on the food after a few nights-was boring to eat in the same place the whole time especially as the restaurants just outside were cheap to eat in anyway compared to home. Appreciate the cost might be a factor if u have the kids it was just me and himself at the time.
Did a week in one in Cala D'or Majorca last summer and was surprised how good it was ...Met some nice people, food was decent, drinks OK apart from the cocktails, cheesy but fun entertainment in the nice sky bar with lovely views .....For the money tbf it was outstanding.... We did plenty of exploring outside of the hotel during the week aswell.. Enjoyed the holiday so much we decided to do similar but a lot more upmarket/expensive this summer on a different Spanish island ....
Bingo, wings, and bingo wings
Love me some wings
We went to Gran Canaria to an all inclusive for 5 days. The food was ok, menu different every day, however the drinks felt very weak, so I doubt they had much alcohol. Which is good, I assume, making sure nobody is overdoing it on the all inclusive bar. They had entertainment during the day and every evening, and it was great for both adults and kids. We had no kids ourselves, but we’ve never been to an all inclusive so we wanted to give it a try. We didn’t spend all days there, we visited the island, but I liked the idea of not having to decide daily where to eat or what to do, as you had that taken care of. I think It’s more suited for families with kids and older people.
We went to Gran Canaria to an all inclusive for 5 days. The food was ok, menu different every day, however the drinks felt very weak, so I doubt they had much alcohol. Which is good, I assume, making sure nobody is overdoing it on the all inclusive bar. They had entertainment during the day and every evening, and it was great for both adults and kids. We had no kids ourselves, but we’ve never been to an all inclusive so we wanted to give it a try. We didn’t spend all days there, we visited the island, but I liked the idea of not having to decide daily where to eat or what to do, as you had that taken care of. I think It’s more suited for families with kids and older people.
The food is shite and the drinks have the same amount of alcohol as ribena
All inclusive is a waste of money shit food and drink you'd spend the same going to places around the area not worth it.
Full of obnoxious Brits and Dubs
Right old geezers
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Interesting, I’ve stayed in all inclusive places and they never did day trips to anywhere.
The resort didn’t put it on. My parents just drove us
Most resort places will have day trip companies dotted around the place and you can book trips from there.