Member Advice on All Inclusive Holidays

I have been on several ‘all-inclusive’ package holidays now and I thought it would be a good idea to highlight the good and the bad Here goes with the general ‘FAQ’ How does it work? When you check in, you're usually given a wristband (rather like the one you get when admitted to hospital) to wear at all times, both to get into the hotel and to show that you are entitled to the food and drink. I believe some hotels issue you with an identity card instead, but I have always had the wristband. The wristbands can be irritating what with getting wet and getting sun cream and sand around them all ... more

Don’t let the title fool you an All Inclusive (A I) holiday is not exactly all inclusive. When things go wrong, which they are more likely to do on this type of holiday, you will find that the holiday company reps tend to become all exclusive. Let’s start at the beginning. An All Inclusive holiday is so called because everything most people would need to survive on holiday is paid for in advance, in other words when you leave the Travel Agents you’ve paid all your travel, accommodation, food, drink and entertainment costs and you think I might well leave my wallet at home ... more

From a personal point of view, if I am going abroad it is to sample another country's culture and food, meet the local people and explore the sites, so the idea of being in a large hotel complex for two weeks has never appealled to me, but I can see that for families, it may seem an economical option. Having worked in the travel industry for over 10 years, I think I can say that when it comes to all inclusive - "you get what you pay for". If you book with one of the top range companies offering all inclusive, and the price is realistic for 2 weeks with food and drink etc, then you are most ... more

For the first time this year we went on an AI. holiday to Montego Bay, Jamaica. We always thought of A.I holidays as overpriced, even allowing for what's included, but how wrong we were. Staying in the Sandals Inn, which was a small & very friendly, we had the option via free shuttle-bus, to 2 other Sandals hotels, the Montego Bay & the Royal Carribean, both only 10 mins. away. The 'Inn' had no private beach, but no matter as the other 2 had private beaches with all watersports provided free. As we had the option of 11 different restaurants, the only problem with eating was choosing which one ... more