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'Bargain' all-inclusive holidays cost an extra £1k
An all-inclusive holiday could be costlier than expected after new research revealed that extra spending at hotels leaves four in five families forking out an average of £139 more for food, drinks and other items on top of their paid-for package.
A study by Post Office Travel Money found that, in addition, nine in 10 families pay £292 extra on food and drink outside their hotel in European resorts.
With two in five British families opting for all-inclusive breaks due to the belief that they are 'good value as everything is included', the travel money service looked at the true cost of these holidays.
It compared the price of all-inclusive escapes at 10 popular European destinations with their bed and breakfast alternatives and found that going full-board was far more expensive than going B&B and eating out in local restaurants in nine out of the 10 locations. For instance, a family of four could save a whopping £1,208 in Marmaris, Turkey, if they choose a bed and breakfast stay (£1,563) over all-inclusive (£2,771).
In Sorrento, on Italy’s Neapolitan Riviera, a week’s B&B costs £2,428 compared with £3,493 for all-inclusive, while on the Algarve, Portugal, a B&B stay is around £2,327 compared to £2,922 for all-inclusive.
The one place it pays to go all-inclusive
Out of the 10 destinations, which also include Paphos, Crete, Costa Brava, Costa del Sol, Sunny Beach and Sliema, the only place where it is cheaper to choose an all-inclusive holiday is Majorca, Spain. Here, families can expect to save around £202, with an all-inclusive getaway costing £2,424 compared with £2,626 for B&B.
How to save money on your family holiday
1. Location, location, location
Emma Grimster, from holiday comparison website TravelSupermarket, told Prima travellers should consider the cost of living in the destination they are visiting and also factor in the location of their accommodation and how easy it is to get to shops, restaurants and local activities.
2. Think about the holiday that's right for you
'Consider what you want from the holiday,' adds Emma. 'If you like to eat out at least a few times while on holiday an all-inclusive package might not be for you as you could end up paying twice.'
3. Don’t overlook self-catering
'Self-catering can work out well if you’re travelling as a large group or family as you can split costs and only pay for the food, drink and activities you want to do,' Grimster added. 'Just check the facilities you have access to – does the kitchen have everything you would expect, for example.'
4. Find out if there are hidden hotel extras
It's worth bearing in mind that some all-inclusive packages have limitations like no branded alcohol or bottled water, so, whatever you go for, make sure you know what is and is not included, she said.
5. Know the rules when it comes to kids’ treats
Andrew Brown, spokesperson for Post Office Travel Money, warns parents that many resorts operate happy hours for ice creams and fizzy drinks. 'One in six parents told us that they got ripped off when they ordered ice creams they expected to be free so check when kids' treats are free of charge and only order these at that time of day,' he says. 'Or you could pop into the local resort and pick up a Magnum at the supermarket for a fraction of the price (£1.60 in the Algarve; £1.78 in the Costa del Sol).'
6. Forget the internet for a week
'By far the biggest gripe holidaymakers have about their all-inclusive experiences is the double whammy of poor WiFi signal and high internet charges,' says Andrew. 'In Europe, this costs £28 on average and further afield the charge rises to £35. One way to solve this is to use free WiFi in local bars and restaurants – or you could do without the internet for a week.'
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