Are All Inclusive Holidays Really Worth It?

Budgeting winner

If you have a specific budget for your holiday, or you’d like to know most of the costs up front, then an all-inclusive holiday is worth considering. You’ll eliminate stress when it comes to budgeting as nearly all of your costs are included in the price – unless you want to treat yourself to an excursion or meal out, or bring back gifts for your family and friends.

Family holiday fave

Travelling with children can be expensive as drinks, ice creams and entertainment soon add up – which is why all-inclusive breaks are fast becoming the family holiday of choice. Many all-inclusive resorts offer free ice creams for kids throughout the day and many have kids’ clubs to keep them occupied, too. Have a fussy eater? All-inclusive hotels tend to cater for this with special kids’ choices and buffets where they can pick and choose.

Food and drink galore

Your meals will be included in your all-inclusive package and many resorts even include snacks at various points throughout the day. As a minimum, you’ll receive three meals a day and free drinks between set times (generally 10am-11pm). Free drinks do include alcohol, but these are usually local brands and may exclude more expensive brands. However, you can usually upgrade your package to include named brands for an extra cost.

The verdict??

If you’re a traveller who loves to leave your accommodation to explore, an all-inclusive holiday may not be the best option for you, as you can sometimes feel tied to your hotel for meals which limits your sight-seeing. However, you can remedy this by packing a little packed lunch from the breakfast buffet. Just be discreet when squirreling snacks away!

For family travellers or people who like to chill out and indulge on holiday, an all-inclusive break is certainly worth it. You’ll have the luxury of relaxing without having to worry about hunting for restaurants to match your budget. All you need to do is sit back, sip on a cocktail and keep your purse firmly in your bag.

One bugbear of all-inclusive getaways is the wrist bands you need to wear. Remember to remove this while sunbathing or you’ll come home with an all-inclusive tan line - although it’s a small price to pay for as many desserts as you can eat for a week or two.