How to book a cheap all inclusive holiday

I didn’t go on any all inclusive holidays as a kid, so when I first encountered them as an adult I didn’t know what to expect.

There’s so much choice when it comes to all inclusive holidays where do you begin?

What does all inclusive mean?

All inclusive typically refers to accommodation that includes meals, drinks and certain activities or amenities for a single upfront cost. Generally, it means that once you’ve paid that amount you won’t need to spend anything else on your holiday.

In most cases all inclusive accommodation will be a hotel complex including on-site restaurants and bars including facilities like a swimming pool and can also include entertainment areas. They also tend to include transport if you book as part of a package including flights and transfers from the hotel.

Many people will choose to stay at their hotel or resort for the duration of their trip, or at least for all major meals to save money.

What to look out for at all inclusive resorts

Check out the dining options

All inclusive resorts and hotels can vary massively when it comes to dining options. Most will include a buffet-style restaurant open for most meals of the day and others will include various a la carte restaurants. Before you book, take a look at the food options available and reviews.

If you’re staying at a resort for two weeks and it only has two options for dinner you may end up getting bored and wanting to go out.

We went to an all inclusive resort in Jamaica for our honeymoon at the start of 2024 and one of the main things we looked for was the choice of places to eat. We were there for two weeks and didn’t want to end up bored. The resort we picked in the end had over 10 different options for dinner alone so we were really happy!

Specialist and a la carte restaurants

At some resorts (or with some packages) there may be limits on the number of times you can visit certain restaurants during your stay.

When we went to a resort in Crete you could visit the a la carte restaurant once per week you were at the resort. And you had to book your night there in advance as it wasn’t very big compared to the size of the resort. Then the rest of the time you were restricted to the buffet restaurant.

Make sure you know what is included and if you need to book, do it as soon as you arrive.

Look at what drinks are included

Every resort will be different when it comes to drinks. Some will offer anything you want within the price, others may have restrictions. I’ve been to all inclusive resorts that only included soft drinks, others that gave you one alcoholic drink included with dinner, and others where everything bar top shelf spirits was included.

If you’re not a big drinker this may not be a deal breaker for you, but if you want a drink try and find a resort or package that will save you money in the long run.

On a recent cruise we paid slightly more for a package which included alcohol because we only needed to get two drinks a day for it to be worthwhile.

Alongside the type of drinks you can have, make sure to check out any time restrictions.

Look out for the star rating of your resort

Star ratings are actually based on facilities of a resort rather than the standards and service, although naturally 5 star resorts tend to have higher service. And different countries have slightly different rating systems.

Most all inclusive hotels will generally be between 3 and 5 stars.

Are all inclusive holidays good value for money?

All inclusive holidays can be great value for money, but it does depend on what you’d usually spend when you go away. Compare what you would normally spend on food and drink across a week away with the price of an all inclusive resort. Most of the time the all inclusive is likely to be cheaper, but this isn’t always the case.

Some resorts may offer half board options so you can have breakfast and then either lunch or dinner. I think this is a good option to allow you to find local restaurants some nights.

If you’re someone who loves to explore the local area and try new restaurants then a full all inclusive may not be beneficial for you. You may be better off looking for half board, or even a bed and breakfast option.

How to book a cheap all inclusive holiday

Compare booking yourself to a package holiday

If you find where you want to go, compare the prices if you booked everything yourself vs how much a package holiday with a provider or travel agent would be. Sometimes it can work out cheaper to buy a package as tour operators can have deals with the resorts directly.

Remember if you decide to book transport and accommodation separately yourself then you normally won’t get ATOL protection.

Be flexible with location

If you’re planning to go to an all inclusive resort to relax and stay on site then it’s less important where you are so be flexible.

When we booked our honeymoon we knew we wanted to go to the Caribbean and we knew the company we wanted to book with but we were flexible as to location. We focused on the amenities, restaurants etc and then that led to us choosing a resort in Jamaica.

But heading to less known holiday spots can work out cheaper, especially in popular spots like the Mediterranean and the Caribbean.

Don’t follow the trends

Popular destinations will book up the quickest and be the most expensive. For example, the beautiful island of Santorini is currently a very expensive spot because it’s really popular on social media.

The lesser-known locations are no less beautiful and relaxing, but they just may get less attention online. Don't be put off if you’ve not heard of a place, just do a little research and you may find a hidden gem.

Book early if you’re going in the school holidays

If you’re travelling in peak times like the school holidays, book as early as you can. Prices tend to change based on demand, and when demand is high then prices go up.

When we were younger I remember my parents booking our summer holidays a full year (or sometimes more) in advance. This way you can lock in the best price possible.

It is possible to get last-minute deals if you are flexible as to where you go and when.