Turkey Holidays – All Inclusive Vs Self Catering
So, you’ve decided to venture off to Turkey for your upcoming summer holiday – great choice! You’re going to have a wonderful time no matter where you decide to go, but you do have some decisions to make. Firstly, what hotel are you going to stay in? And secondly, are you going to go all inclusive, or are you going to opt for self catering?
There are pluses and minuses to both options, and whilst there are a few mid-way options you’ll find, such as bed and breakfast, full board, or half board, these are the main two that you will see advertised.
Let’s check out the pros and cons of both, and advise you on which is the best fit for you on your upcoming summer Turkish break.
All Inclusive
There are many large hotels in the big Turkish resorts which offer an all inclusive option for guests. This is by far the best choice for those visiting with children. When the temperatures soar, and believe me, they do in the summer months, your kids are going to be asking for soft drinks every five minutes! If you have to pay for every glass of cola, lemonade, or orange juice they want, you’re going to be bankrupt within a very short time! All inclusive cuts out this worry, as they can drink whatever they want, as much as they want – you’ve already paid for it in the cost of your holiday!
All inclusive might have a few limitations, depending on the hotel and its small print, but generally speaking, you get breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, and soft drinks throughout your stay. Alcoholic drinks are also included, but these are usually local blends, so the local beer, local wine, local vodka etc. If you want the imported brands, you usually have to pay for them, but again, this varies from hotel to hotel. You will also get as much tea and coffee as you want, and you can fill up your water bottle whenever you want.
Sounds good, right? There has to be a downside however. Well, yes. When you are all inclusive you tend to feel like you shouldn’t go anywhere and spend money, because you’ve already paid for it. These hotels tend to be quite large too, and they have so many facilities on site that you’re not going to want to leave the grounds. This is a mistake, because the resort outside the hotel is there to be explored! A good way around this is to book a few excursions, a boat trip maybe, a jeep safari, and to make sure you go out for a walk before or after dinner, to make sure you actually get to see the place you’re visiting.
Pros
- Great for families
- Saves money in the long run
- Lots of facilities on site
Cons
- You might not leave the grounds and actually see the resort
- The cost of the holiday will be more at the actual booking stage
- Unless you go to an upmarket hotel, the food can become a little ‘samey’
Self Catering
A self catering break means that you look after your own food and drink requirements. The price of the holiday is likely to be super low at the booking stage, but you will need to budget for your dining and drinking needs whilst you’re there. This is a plus and minus in some ways, because it gives you longer to save up, but you need to budget your money whilst you’re there, which can be a hassle.
The plus point is that you get to go out and try lots of different restaurants, and perhaps some local cuisine too. You’ll meet lots of people, you’ll see lots more things, and you’ll actually get out and experience the resort, rather than being stuck in the hotel grounds because you’ve already paid for everything.
The downside is that many self catering apartments can be a little on the les quality side, compared to big all inclusive resorts. You can get around this by doing your research and picking wisely. There are some very nice self catering units, if you pay just a little bit more. Many of them have bars on site, and swimming pools. Remember to book somewhere central, so you don’t have to wander home too far at night.
Pros
- Cheaper at the booking stage
- A lot of choice
- You can go out and try new foods, particularly local cuisine
- You can meet new people in restaurants and bars around town
Cons
- You will need to stay centrally, which can cost more
- You need to do your research to ensure the apartment you’re booking is high quality
- You will need to pay for your food and drink/budget
Which is best for you?
