Which is better? Self-Catering or All-Inclusive?

Should I stay Self-Catering or All-Inclusive? It’s a question I get asked daily and one that depends on so many different things. It’s not a simple answer and some people have strong feelings about both. Let’s weigh it up and figure out what’s best for you and your family.

Self-Catering basics

So, Let’s start with the most straightforward questions… what is Self-catering? Often confused with Room Only, there’s a distinct difference. A self-catering property has a studio or apartment-type room with at least a fridge and basic cooking facilities. There’s not very often enough to cook a big meal, but a basic, quick, easy meal can usually be done. Sometimes there will be a microwave, sometimes a freezer but sometimes just one cooking ring and a small fridge.

A Studio is great for a couple or a small family as it’s all open plan with just one room with a small kitchenette. An apartment is defined as having separate bedrooms and living areas. Often an apartment will have a kitchenette and a seating area and that bit more space.

All-Inclusive basics

All-Inclusive is a hotel with everything included. When I say everything, I’m talking about food and drinks. There are usually limits to it and the food is most often on a buffet basis for 3 meals a day. There are often snacks and ice cream available but this can be at limited times. Drinks are usually included for a minimum of 12 hours a day. And the drinks are usually the local drinks of the area.

Some hotels have introduced upgrades to All-Inclusive Plus which varies on each hotel but in general, it usually means there are premium drinks included and the possibility of an a la carte restaurant. The a la carte restaurants are sometimes limited to one trip per stay and will vary by each hotel. You will need to check before booking and never assume everything that was included in your last holiday is included in this one.

Accommodation in All-Inclusive hotels is usually a room without a kitchenette. Sometimes a fridge comes in the form of a minibar and there may be a kettle. But that’s about your lot. In some places, they have apart-hotels which do have the apartments and all the amenities of a self-catering property. These are more common in the Canary Islands and places that were big Self-Catering destinations before the rise of the All-Inclusive in the early 2000s.

Self-catering or All-Inclusive costing

Money is a big factor in deciding what to do on a holiday. It’s 2023 and we all need to be watching every penny all of the time. This is a big factor in deciding which board basis is right for you. The initial outlay of the holiday is cheaper for Self-Catering of course which is super appealing. All-Inclusive will cost more for sure initially but the appeal is that no extra spending money is necessary. The two will probably even out once you get to the end of the holiday.

Freedom

One big factor for people to stay Self-Catering is the freedom that comes with it. Food and drink can be bought and eaten wherever it takes your fancy! That cute little beachfront cafe or even if you just fancy a McDonalds, wherever you want. You can eat when you choose, no strict times and the food is cooked fresh. All-inclusive can feel a little restrictive, as you’ve paid for the food it feels wasteful to go out and eat elsewhere. This can make you feel like you are missing out on everything at the destination. Almost like you could be anywhere in the world and have the exact same experience.

The ethics of the board basis

There is an argument that All-Inclusive stays are detrimental to the local area. The money is being spent before travel and more often than not the big-brand hotels are the ones making the money. The money is then kept within those brands and no one is leaving the hotels and spending in resorts.

Self-catering stays will spend more money in the community. Spending in local family restaurants and keeping them in business. They tend to spend more on excursions and trips too as they don’t feel like they need to stay in the hotel to get their money’s worth.

Self-catering or All-Inclusive with kids?

My kids have mostly stayed in self-catering properties. I can think of maybe a handful of times we have stayed All-Inclusive with them. The most recent time was in Turkey in 2021. The kids loved the freedom of it! They had a great time and for them, a big factor was that I didn’t ever once have to say no to an extra ice cream or a mocktail.

Self-catering for me is my favourite. As much as I worry about money, I just love to go out and sit in a little beachfront cafe and get out exploring. The other benefit to me is that I don’t feel like I need to get up early. There’s nothing worse than having to get up early in the morning on my holiday or getting up late and realising I’ve missed out on the breakfast I’ve already paid for!

Conclusion

Your holiday is your holiday. I know what I prefer and I know what my kids prefer. In an ideal world, I’d like to stay in a nice 5-star hotel but eat out 50% of the time and go on all of the trips and excursions that I want. But reality means I’m not rich and I have to choose one or the other. I think for me, overall I don’t end up spending much more by staying self-catering and I’m happy with that balance. But I get that it’s nice to have everything paid upfront and not have to think about budgeting whilst trying to relax.

What do you usually do when you’re away?

Becky x