First All Inclusive Holiday - Tips Please?

[bednobs]

hi i am shortly going to tenerife on my first all inclusive holiday. Can u take drinks to your room? what time of day do they start serving drinks (tea and coffee) from. I like decaff tea - if i took my own t bags, would they give me the hot water/milk, or do i need to take a travel kettle?
do they generally serve spanish food, or is there at least a choice of local food, or is it all just rubbish food?
Any other tips?

[mallyh]

have a look on trip adviser for the hotel you are staying at ,

[Old_Geezer]

No been to the Med for years, and when I used to it was apartments. But I'd hope any quality hotel would provide a kettle etc. Never had an issue with food, but as mally suggests, you really need to find info on the particular hotel.

[Cloverjo]

As mally said, best to check on your particular hotel. When I was on an all-inclusive, they were strict about not taking food and drink out of the service area.
In my experience, they've already had your money so won't go out of their way to serve you quickly or make quality food.
Every hotel is different though. I hope you have a decent one.

[bednobs]

lol og it's not in the med.
Anyway, i have looked at trip advisor and the reviews are a bit too general for my questions

[ummmm]

I was in Portugal last year all inclusive. You could take drinks to your room. The food was very good and changed daily. Breakfast started at 8 and the bars/cafe opened at 9. We didn't have a kettle in the room but you could hire them from reception. The free bar closed at 11pm but stayed open until 12 but assuming you'll be taking the little one that shouldn't be a problem :-)

We went for OHs birthday and the hotel sent a bottle of champagne to our room along with vouchers to eat in their steak house (not included in their all inclusive package)

I would definitely go all inclusive again. It didn't restrict us at all and saved us a lot of money compared to previous holidays.

[Prudie]

May I suggest that as well opinions from on here (sorry I've never done AI) that you do look or even post on TA but not the review section but the forums. I use them all the time and you get so much help on even the minute details from people who will have stayed at your hotel.

[youngmafbog]

Dont take all-inclusive these days as we dont spend all day in the hotel or by the pool. But when we did generally the food/drink had to be consumed within the designated area (unless you surreptitiously pocketed an apple).

As for kettles, as we usually stay in 4* hotels at least there is always a kettle, always take our tea as theirs is so weak.. I am always wary of kettles though especially if no en-suites since I had a colleague who used to use them when caught short i the night. Travel kettles are cheap enough.

[ummmm]

Being all inclusive doesn't have to restrict you.

[bednobs]

thanks al - prudie i did try posting a q but it kept asking me to prove i was not a robot, but ot telling me how i coud do that.

[Kathyan]

I read the reviews on TA but generally take them with a pinch of salt! Some folk are only happy when they're complaining. We go to an hotel in Portugal which is absolutely fabulous, but there are reviews on there that make it sound like a run down slum! Every all inclusive hotel is different and has different rules. Generally there is a good choice of English and other foods, but the inclusive drinks are locally produced ie not top range spirits or beers.

[fiction-factory]

WHich hotel is it. I've been to some All inclusive there. Drinks like coffee are available from as early as 6am at our- some have nespresso type machines, some just venders- although breakfast only starts at 7, and the bars seem to be open straight after breakfast. You can usually help yourself to cava, wine, cola, at any time- but hardly anyone abuses it. You can also drink beers and some other drinks from the minibar free of charge

[ummmm]

Well I loved their coffee and the wine was good. We used to go out everyday and the coffee in the hotel was as good as the coffee in cafes.

[bednobs]

its the best tenerife

[fiction-factory]

I found red wine disappointing but the cava was good. Food was good -very wide choice-but it was self service and more like a functional canteen than a candle lit restaurant. Most seem to offer special dining options on a couple of nights where you book a table for no extra charge or just a snall upgrade cost- but well worthwhile

[bednobs]

well ill have a six year old with me so fine dining/romanticness is out!

[fiction-factory]

Playa de las Americas?

[ummmm]

Ours was self service too but I don't mind that. They did serve the drinks though.

[fiction-factory]

I've not been to that one but I'm pretty sure it'll be fine. I have had 7or 8 all inclusives and have never regretted it, although I do sometimes miss wandering out and taking our time in a retaurant.

From the website "At dinner time you can enjoy an informal buffet or watch your dinner prepared in a show-cook restaurant. "

The drinks are not usually top brands - you may have to pay extra for a malt whisky or San Miguel -but the free local equivalents are usually more than adequate

[ummmm]

One thing I learnt from going all inclusive is we're not greedy.

[-SharonA-]

Folks go mad on these all ins, at brekkie piling their plates high and then leaving most of it.
Alcohol was watered down, I had a tumbler full of so called vodka & could have drank it like lemonade! Food does tend to be lukewarm in the buffet.
Hotel I was at had a delicious coffee/pastry shop which was my downfall.