All Inclusive vs Self Catering again.

[KWC]

Yes that old chestnut again.

When taking the kids (our 2 grandchildren) its getting too expensive to rent and organise flights etc for the 4 of us for self catering or just as expensive.
An example - Jet2 are wanting £1440 just for flights alone, and that's not ticking their boxes for hold luggage! Their stuff would go into our luggage for all they will need.

What gets me is, Jet2 show the flight cost, then charge you for a basic std seat.  How the hell were they expecting you to get to your destination? stand!! By all means tailor your package to your needs (no meals, priority boarding et al,  but to pay extra to sit down on a seat is taking the p!ss.

Add a hire car, food, somewhere decent to stay and it ramps up the cost above that of the AI hotels that we like.
Certainly from Scotland there is little in the way of cheap flights nowadays.

Wonder how long it would take us in a decent rowing boat

[Ivemovedon]

We think its very possible it could be cheaper for us to get a bog standard package holiday to stay at our place. Just use the flights and blow out the accomodation.

[Can the Man]

We think its very possible it could be cheaper for us to get a bog standard package holiday to stay at our place. Just use the flights and blow out the accomodation.

and if you get the coloured bands you can drink for free as well 

[duncolm]

True enough.
I found it was much cheaper to take a TC selficatering package to Corrie for November than anything else.
Transfers are included too, so I can shave a day or three off the car hire.

I might take an oar....

[Magoo]

We think its very possible it could be cheaper for us to get a bog standard package holiday to stay at our place. Just use the flights and blow out the accomodation.

I have often wondered what would happen if you pulled this one. Might you find yourself persona non grata on the flight home?

[hairybiker]

We think its very possible it could be cheaper for us to get a bog standard package holiday to stay at our place. Just use the flights and blow out the accomodation.

I have often wondered what would happen if you pulled this one. Might you find yourself persona non grata on the flight home?

Nothing, I suspect.  A couple of times I've arrived at the airport and told the rep. that I'm getting a taxi instead of sitting for a couple of hours on a bus. It might be that the hotel tells the rep. that you are haven't checked in, but if you let the rep. know on arrival, you should be OK.

In the bad old days, you got a charter flight and had to have accomodation to qualify for the package flight, but you didn't have to stay there (and it wasn't recommended that you did). same thing really

[Ivemovedon]

Starting to think seriously about this. If i actually checked in to the accomodation on arrival and later during that time myself and mrs stedge fancy a night out or two on the lash in Corrie i can use the room to doss down and save on taxis which woyuld cost me 15 euros or more each way. It has very positive possibilities.

[woe10]

We think its very possible it could be cheaper for us to get a bog standard package holiday to stay at our place. Just use the flights and blow out the accomodation.

and if you get the coloured bands you can drink for free as well 

It's a mis-conception when people think they're drinking for FREE in an AI holiday. Don't they know that they PAID for these drinks in the price of the holiday, and very poor quality drinks at that.

People are telling me that more and more are coming out at night to Bars, to get a PROPER drink, not wine served from a 10 litre container into a plastic cup, or pre-mixed cocktails from a pump under the Bar, etc etc .....   

[Ivemovedon]

Wouldn't be thinking of all inclusive if i was trying this one on woe . Bed and breakfast would be ideal, with a a half decent coffee in the morning for revival purposes. But i know what you mean about low quality drinks and food. Tried it once...never again.It works in Thailand and Mauritius..  for us not Fuertaventura,

[Globetrotter]

We have done this in the past when flights have been expensive, booked a S/C holiday and on arrival just make our way to our accomodation not the one booked.

[woe10]

Don't get me wrong, I'm not against AI.  I've done AI in Cuba, Dom Rep, etc..
Proper AI, a completely different concept than that, which is offered to the mis-led tourists, that do it in Fuerteventura.

[fatherted]

We think its very possible it could be cheaper for us to get a bog standard package holiday to stay at our place. Just use the flights and blow out the accomodation.

and if you get the coloured bands you can drink for free as well 

It's a mis-conception when people think they're drinking for FREE in an AI holiday. Don't they know that they PAID for these drinks in the price of the holiday, and very poor quality drinks at that.

People are telling me that more and more are coming out at night to Bars, to get a PROPER drink, not wine served from a 10 litre container into a plastic cup, or pre-mixed cocktails from a pump under the Bar, etc etc .....

You'll be telling us next that ALL the pubs  only sell genuine proper drinks
The fact of the matter is yes the customer has pre-paid for food and drinks but in some cases the price differential between say S/C & A/I can be as little as £100 pppw = £15 per day.

[woe10]

You'll be telling us next that ALL the pubs  only sell genuine proper drinks
The fact of the matter is yes the customer has pre-paid for food and drinks but in some cases the price differential between say S/C & A/I can be as little as £100 pppw = £15 per day.

NO, not all Bars sell Proper drinks, ie. Cocktails / Sangria / Mojitos etc, made from scratch, palatable wine, and Vodka & Gin from Peru that tastes like Turpentine. I could name some, but will let you find out.
£15 differential.  Consider this: A 10 litre container of cheap wine, bought in bulk by some Hotels, costs as little as 6 euros 

[fatherted]

I do not drink anything but beer and fruit juices/soft drinks. The point I'm trying to make is if its only a few pounds per day to go A/I rather than S/c its a no brainer. A good brekkie round town is €5 and even a sarnie at the bakeries will set you back 2 or 3€ plus a drink. If you just drink water or soft drinks round the pool during the day and have a small lunchtime snack you'll still be quids in. Btw Im S/c for my 8 week winter break.

[adewass]

I'm still not convinced that the AI option is the cheapest. We've booked to come over in July 2014 (12 of us). We have booked a 4 bed villa and a 2 bed Apt (next door to the villa) for a total cost of £2100 for 2 weeks. We have split the cost between 10 people (we have 2 infants travelling and they have not been included in the accomodation costs). So for myself, wife and 2 daughters (11 and 17 years old) the accomodation has cost £840, we have then paid around £1500 for the 4 of us to fly. We will hire a car for 2 weeks (an Astra estate is coming in at 281 Euros with Cicar), giving a total of £2600 for 4 of us for 2 weeks. I have priced up an AI holiday with Firstchoice and 2 weeks at the Costa Caleta (the cheapest I could find in Caleta, where we are staying) for the same dates is £3835.50 for the 4 of us. This means I have around £1200 to spend in 2 weeks to equal the same amount as the AI holiday. I know I will probably spend more, but having our own villa and having the freedom to eat where we want and when we want is far better than being stuck in an AI hotel.

[Can the Man]

I'm still not convinced that the AI option is the cheapest. We've booked to come over in July 2014 (12 of us). We have booked a 4 bed villa and a 2 bed Apt (next door to the villa) for a total cost of £2100 for 2 weeks. We have split the cost between 10 people (we have 2 infants travelling and they have not been included in the accomodation costs). So for myself, wife and 2 daughters (11 and 17 years old) the accomodation has cost £840, we have then paid around £1500 for the 4 of us to fly. We will hire a car for 2 weeks (an Astra estate is coming in at 281 Euros with Cicar), giving a total of £2600 for 4 of us for 2 weeks. I have priced up an AI holiday with Firstchoice and 2 weeks at the Costa Caleta (the cheapest I could find in Caleta, where we are staying) for the same dates is £3835.50 for the 4 of us. This means I have around £1200 to spend in 2 weeks to equal the same amount as the AI holiday. I know I will probably spend more, but having our own villa and having the freedom to eat where we want and when we want is far better than being stuck in an AI hotel.

Well said adewass, support the local trade

Hope you and your family and friends have a great holiday 

[MinRich]

Will never do AI unless we go to somewhere where they do it properly . Self Catering allows you to eat what you want when you want wherever you want . Is that not the point of a holiday ? Self catering also allows you to choose the places that provide good quality and service which is somewhat lacking at the AI places . Look at Fado Rock in Caleta for instance , we have eaten in their alot in the times when we stayed in Caleta , everytime we were in there we sat near to people who had the AI bracelets on !

[adewass]

Cheers Can The Man! Also really didn't mention that the Costa Caleta hotel was the cheapest AI on Firstchoice's website. There were 2 more which were between £4600 and £5500 for a family of 4!