Is All Inclusive Your Cup Of Tea

I have recently returned from a 10 night all-inclusive holiday to Turkey with my family and have decided this will most likely be the last all-inclusive holiday I go on. Why? you ask, well the hotel was very modern and spotlessly clean and the food was fine. I have no complaint about the staff, facilities or the holiday overall. It wasn’t until venturing in to the local town that I realised how much I really do enjoy soaking up the local culture, sampling the local food and maybe a few drinks too!

Over the years there have been thousand of hotels all over the Mediterranean that were originally bed & breakfasts or half board hotels that have converted to all-inclusive and as a result this has had a detrimental effect on local businesses such as bars, restaurants and shops to the extent that they have to close down. I have found that a lot of tourists have become prisoners of the hotel in the fear of missing out on food and drink that they have paid for and take little or no spending money.

My experience as a tourist and someone who has booked many holidays over the years I would say the majority of the hotels that offer all-inclusive are mediocre at best. You tend to find that the food is very repetitive and the drinks are limited to locally produced brands. Meal times can feel very regimented with guests waiting for the restaurant to open to secure a table and get fresh food. Don’t get me wrong there is some very good all-inclusive’s out there, but you will pay top dollar.

A few years ago I returned to Corfu and walked into the local village. I was amazed at how many bars and restaurants were closed and derelict, compared to my previous visit when this village was vibrant with bars and restaurants filled with tourists. The influx of hotels converting to all-inclusive had damaged peoples businesses that have been handed down the generations in this once flourishing village.

So my mind is set – All -inclusive holidays have served me well over the past 15 years but I will definitely be booking a self catering apartment or villa holiday next year.

I want the flexibility and freedom of eating and drinking what and when I want to.

I want to be able to relax around a pool without music blaring out from 9 am in the morning till 6 pm in the evening.

I want to venture out and explore the local area and cuisine.

I want to feel relaxed , recharge my batteries whilst spending time with my family,  at my pace – after all isn’t that what holidays are all about?

So what’s your view – is All-inclusive your cup of tea?