An all-inclusive holiday might seem like an attractive choice, yet it’s tricky to determine if you’d save money opting for a “pay as you go” approach and come out on top financially.
YouTuber Ed Chapman took it upon himself to put this to the test by checking into an all-inclusive resort in Turkey, meticulously tracking his consumption to see if he could “turn a profit” from his stay.
It was only on the fifth day of his five-day getaway that Ed finally managed to “go into profit”. However, he notes that the value derived from an all-inclusive package largely hinges on the traveller’s profile.
Ed shelled out £965 for his TUI vacation. He made immediate adjustments to this figure, clarifying: “We need to knock off about £165 for the return flights to Turkey with checked luggage and then maybe like another £500 for five nights in the hotel. That leaves us with roughly £300 paid for the ‘all inclusiveness’.”
He dived into his endeavour right away, grabbing a sandwich and the first of many strawberry daiquiris. His adventure also led him to a silent disco where, oddly enough, everyone seemed to be dancing to their own beat.
Ed shared his unique experience at the resort, where three DJs were playing different tunes simultaneously, allowing dancers to switch tracks by changing channels on their headphones. He said: “You can change between the different channels …just weird to be trying to dance just dance with yourself. This is the first time I’ve ever done a resort holiday by myself, so this is going to obviously be a bit weird for us all.”
However, Ed didn’t dwell on the oddities for long as he got down to the nitty-gritty of budgeting tucking into a Turkish-inspired breakfast before heading to one of the many pools.
He also revealed a cheeky tip for getting more bang for your buck at the all-inclusive resort, if you’re not too bothered about bending the rules. He added: “One thing I do like about this hotel is that there’s no wristbands or anything like that. Sometimes, in these places, you get really annoying wristbands that are fiddly and scratchy, but there’s nothing like that here. They don’t even ask your name at breakfast or at dinner or anything, so you could in theory just waltz in [and eat what you like].”
Yet, even by sticking strictly to the guidelines, Ed managed to enjoy his stay within budget, indulging in regular drinks and snacks, and even using the resort’s gym and spa facilities, which led him to knock off an additional £15 from his initial £300 for the week.
He was indeed fortunate with the weather, as temperatures remained at a comfortable 27C throughout his trip, except for a single intense thunderstorm. The consistent warm weather allowed him ample enjoyment of the pool and, notably, the water slide.
Ed depleted his theoretical £300 budget early into the fifth day, which meant he could luxuriate in his lunch and indulge in a few celebratory “last day” beverages with a sense of profit. Reflecting on his experience, he affirmed that choosing this all-inclusive holiday had been a savvy move and might even be more cost-effective for those who enjoy their liquor.
He elucidated: “We have managed to make a profit, and let’s face it I’m not a massive drinker. If you’re a bigger drinker than me and you had five, six seven or eight alcoholic drinks a day you could easily add another £150 onto that total.”
“So, the reality is if you’ve got the money to be able to do all-inclusive, and you are somebody that drinks quite a lot it’s absolutely worth it. If you’re somebody that drinks not too much, like me, it’s still probably worth it if you’ve got the money.”
Although all-inclusive vacations sometimes receive scorn, Ed rated his entire holiday as “pretty decent actually.”