All Inclusive
- Thread starter Peninha
- Start date
It depends where you are going and the quality of the food in the resort or hotel. Some may have an excellent reputation and it maybe worth it. I'm guessing you have children so you have to weigh up their eating habits. I think it's more fun not to have all inclusive then you can spend days out and have lunch on the beach or away on a day out. If you are on a budget, it may be better value, but it depends on how long you are going for as well.
One of the great things I love about Italian way of life is take things as they come. Book the essentials (room + breakfast) and eat out where and when you are hungry. There is nothing worse than having to eat in a pre-paid hotel just because you have paid in advance. I think that you are a little restricted with the all on one packages. Going half board is the best option, at least this way, you are only restricted to where you rest. (Sleep)
I totally agree with Chillout!
Getting the all inclusive package will just keep you away from the real Italian experience!
I too suggest you get the breakfast at your hotel, you will wake up there and leave the hotel sometime in the morning anyway, so havnig breakfast right then and there is a good idea. Plus, you will be served the exact same thing anywhere you go! Coffee + brioche
Or, you know, some fruit juice or other pastry items, breakfast is the same everywhere you go in Italy!
For lunch, you can easily wander around the city and just sit at the first restaurant / pizzeria / food joint you find! You don't even need reservations, all you need to do is sit down and order Same goes for dinner.
As far as "schedules" go, lunch is usually served starting at noon (12 o'clock) and dinner, usually after 7 o'clock. These are not specific Italian rules, I'm only mentioning it because many food serving places will be crowded around those times, just so you know
There's a Chinese restaurant close to where I live, it's almost always empty when I pass it by, but at lunch and dinner time - packed! You can't even get in, there's no room to even stand!
Getting the all inclusive package will just keep you away from the real Italian experience!
I too suggest you get the breakfast at your hotel, you will wake up there and leave the hotel sometime in the morning anyway, so havnig breakfast right then and there is a good idea. Plus, you will be served the exact same thing anywhere you go! Coffee + brioche
Or, you know, some fruit juice or other pastry items, breakfast is the same everywhere you go in Italy! For lunch, you can easily wander around the city and just sit at the first restaurant / pizzeria / food joint you find! You don't even need reservations, all you need to do is sit down and order
Same goes for dinner. As far as "schedules" go, lunch is usually served starting at noon (12 o'clock) and dinner, usually after 7 o'clock. These are not specific Italian rules, I'm only mentioning it because many food serving places will be crowded around those times, just so you know
There's a Chinese restaurant close to where I live, it's almost always empty when I pass it by, but at lunch and dinner time - packed! You can't even get in, there's no room to even stand!
I've been to a couple of all inclusive hotels, but not in Italy. When I was in Tunisia the food was great but it was mostly western foods. Tunisia is a northern African country but the food at the hotel was pizza, hamburger, and stuff of that nature. Granted there was a lot of traditional foods there, too! I think if you want the real experience you should eat regular restaurants.
When we go on holiday we always go all inclusive, it's just easier for us and even if you go all inclusive you dont have use it. I know you'll be paying double really but we just normally explore and eat and drink as and when and where we want, but you have the peace of mind of knowing that if ever your stuck you've always got that back up of knowing you'll be fully catered for at the hotel.
When you do things that way though, the only down side like I was saying is that your paying for food and drink that you might not be eating.
Restaurants and eating out in Italy can be expensive at the best of times so maybe that way of thinking won't work as well in Italy as what it does in other countries?
Restaurants and eating out in Italy can be expensive at the best of times so maybe that way of thinking won't work as well in Italy as what it does in other countries?
I think it boils down to the type of person you are. If you like adventure and to explore then all inclusive isn't for you, just breakfast. By the sounds of it, the OP has children and seems happy to stay in one place and not have to think about anything. If one was the type to explore, then self-catering would be a better option as then you can eat out or cook yourself.
That is true yes because if for some reason we decide to go elsewhere at meals time we end up spending more money in those meals. At the same time, we might also tend to be stuck there at AI precisely for that reason.
Thats why I'd probably have to check out the prices of the area I was going to before I booked anything.
What kind of prices by the way can you expect to pay in Italy for an all inclusive holiday? Does the price vary a lot depending on the region?
What kind of prices by the way can you expect to pay in Italy for an all inclusive holiday? Does the price vary a lot depending on the region?
I personally would not want to do all inclusive in Italy because you don't want to be limited to a continental breakfast and your hotel or where ever your tour is able to go to. Italy has the most amazing food and the most amazing restaurants and you want to be able to explore and be free to eat at some of the these fine cafes. I doubt that an all inclusive package would allow you to fully taste Italy the way one should when visiting one of the worlds most famous countries for gastronomy.
I definitely agree on that point. All inclusive holidays will limit the amount of time you spend enjoying the actual country if your going to be tied to the hotel for food, drink and entertainment.
I guess also it depends on what region of Italy your going to aswell, if your out in the middle of nowhere then all inclusive might be an option but if your near to a city or large town then it wouldn't be so much of an issue?
I guess also it depends on what region of Italy your going to aswell, if your out in the middle of nowhere then all inclusive might be an option but if your near to a city or large town then it wouldn't be so much of an issue?
It's "you're", just FYI. Anyhow, I agree with you that all inclusive packages tend to have set itineraries so you may not get as much time to wander and explore. There's also that issue of spending too little time in a spot you love and too much time somewhere you find meh.
It's like that in almost every country except North Korea and a few other war-ridden places, I think
I think they can be a very god value option but they are a little bit limiting, personally they are not for me as I would like to get out and about and explore but if you are happy in one place then I would highly recommend it.