All inclusive
holidays were never really our thing. Way back as a newly married couple, my
husband and I took pride in our dogged persistence to look for great deals for
flights and hotels. However, two kids and a busier lifestyle later, we started
looking at one stop options which saved us the hassle of scouting through
websites. We started taking the all inclusive holiday option seriously after
friends with young families swore that it was a great way to have a good,
stress free time, which is after all, what holidays are about.
All
Inclusive – Meaning?
All
inclusive holidays generally means a package of flights, accommodation and food
that is paid up front. This means that once you book the holiday, you need to
carry just enough money for shopping trips or sight-seeing if you are the
adventurous touristy kind.
As a young
family, we found all inclusive holidays a great idea. Looking for a way to swap the grey English
skies for something more cheerful, we opted for the sun, sand and seafront of
Turkey and started looking at family friendly options.
All
inclusive holidays topped the list and after much debate we booked a holiday
package at a Turkey resort. Despite great reviews and personal recommendations,
the cynic in us questioned the decision. For once, we were delighted to be
proved wrong.
Eat Your Heart
Out
Not only did
the resort offer a variety of restaurants to choose from (it can eat into a
budget for a family of four), but the restaurants were timed in such a way that
culinary options were always available at any given time of the day. This was a
boon considering the children's appetites kept odd holiday hours too. It was
convenient to nip down to the nearest restaurant and grab a bite instead of
getting caught with opening hours. Food outlets were never more than a few
steps away. Near the pool, by the beach, there was always something to munch
on. My personal favourite was the beach bar. There is nothing like a cool drink
or an ice cream to keep you hydrated on hot days.
Children-centred
activities
Besides, the
all inclusive holiday also included activities and entertainment for
children. There is only so much time
that you can lounge around the pool and younger children demand activities to
stimulate and channelise their energy. We found that the children's club
offered myriad activities from painting, craft art, dramatics and accommodated
the interests of all ages. What was reassuring was that all the activities were
held at the clubhouse on site well within the vicinity.
In addition,
there was also a set of kiddie rides scheduled in the evenings, just before
dinner, to work up small appetites.
After dinner
entertainment
The
highlight of their all inclusive offering was the after dinner entertainment.
Every day, the resort put on a new show, circus acts, skits, dance acts that
can be enjoyed by the whole family. It felt good to walk over to their amphitheatre
after a hearty evening meal, basking in the light evening breeze as we sat down
the stone steps, winding down after a great day.
Touristy
sights and sounds
The days are
structured in such a way that you don't need to get out of the resort at all,
there is always something do. However, we did venture outside. The resort had
arranged transport to take us to the nearest town for a see around and it was
quite convenient for us to make frequent trips over the week that we were
there. It also allowed us to book sightseeing tours that picked us up at a
designated time from the hotel, which was an added plus.
In a
nutshell
Overall, we
had a great time and have been recommending all inclusive holidays to
Turkey ever since. Not only is the place tourist friendly but we really enjoyed
the first-hand experience of an all inclusive holiday. Travelling with kids can
be quite unpredictable at times and such holiday options are a great way of
enjoying a break and spending quality time as a family. When it comes to
looking for all inclusive options, I would highly recommend using an online centre for discount holidays
and travel comparisons websites, as they will compare the best deals for you
and put them in one handy place.
(Photo courtesy of Sun Set Pack)
Author Bio: Asha Krishna is an independent
author and writes about her experiences in travel, in an attempt to help others
book a holiday to meet all their requirements
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