All Inclusives – The Benefits and Drawbacks

All Inclusives have become increasingly popular over recent years, but there are still those who prefer to go on holiday and pay for their meals and activities separately. We thought it would be timely to take a step back and look at what we consider are the advantages and disadvantages of All Inclusives over other types of holidays.

---

Travel Companies Who Offer the Best and Cheapest All Inclusives

Thomson Holidays | First Choice Holidays | Kuoni holidays | Sandals Resorts

---

The Benefits of All Inclusives

1. Predictable Cost – You pretty much know what the total cost of your holiday will be at the time you book it. Of course, there will be other standard and fairly predictable costs to pay as well, like holiday insurance and maybe airport car parking or an airport hotel – or perhaps a combined airport hotel parking package. However, there won’t be very much more to shock you when you receive your credit card statement when you return home
2. Convenience – You don’t have to make a decision over whether to eat in the hotel or outside. In most cases, as you will have already paid for your meal, you’ll decide to eat in one of the resort hotel restaurants. There is no need to go food shopping when you would rather be relaxing on the beach, other than to hunt out some local delicacy to try out (but only if you feel like doing so). There is no catering for the family, and clearing up the mess, and performing other domestic chores which you no doubt have your fill of when at home.
3. Range of activities – All Inclusives invariably include a variety of water and beach sports as part of the package. Depending on the tour operator you may find you will have to pay for motor sports as an extra though.
4. Money Stays in Your Hotel Safe – This is the one I like. With so much included in the price of All Inclusives, your purse of wallet can be left locked in the hotel safe. This has several advantages:

1. You can’t spend it!
2. There is no chance you will lose it.
3. It won’t be stolen.
4. Less Stress and Pressure – Maybe it is just me, but the thought of wandering around with no money needed, saying ‘yes’ to the kids every time they ask for an ice cream or a snack without worrying about the mounting costs which will greet me on my return, all adds up to a stress-free holiday for me.

The Drawbacks of All Inclusives

Although I am a huge fan of All Inclusives, I do acknowledge that they are not right for everyone, and there are a few disadvantages. The key ones are
1. All Inclusives encourage holidaymakers to stay in the resort for most of their holiday, and although they will take day trips out it is harder to justify an excursion which needs an overnight stop, as you therefore end up paying twice for the facilities.
2. Eating outside the resort also presents similar dilemmas. You have paid for your food already, so it can be difficult to justify spending extra money and paying for your meals again. This can mean you return from your holiday without having tried as much of the local cuisine as those who choose not to take the All Inclusive option.
3. Although All Inclusives continue to grow rapidly in popularity, not all resorts offer an All Inclusive Package. By starting your search for a holiday with ‘All Inclusive’ as a ‘must have’ will means some hotels are immediately excluded from the list of those available to you.

---

Travel Companies Who Offer the Best and Cheapest All Inclusives

Thomson Holidays | First Choice Holidays | Kuoni holidays | Sandals Resorts

---

If, like us, you are still sold on the idea of All Inclusives, then it is important to search around for the best deal. Personally we find the following companies offer the leading selection and price when we are hunting for the perfect All Inclusives Offers.

---