Table of Contents
People want to know exactly how much a trip will cost. Don’t worry about racking up high food and bar bills, or any other unexpected surprises.
Statistics from travel association Abta show a steady growth in all-inclusive holidays (those that include food and drink) and they now account for around one in three package holidays.
But is it really better to book a stay at a B&B and then go out to eat, plus pay for your own drinks at the bar?
Angela Epstein stayed at the 900-room Wyndham Grand hotel in Mirabello Bay, Crete.
There was only one way to find out: on a trip to the 900-room Wyndham Grand Crete Mirabello Bay on the northeast coast of Crete, Greece.
This is what we discovered on a vacation that was half all-inclusive and half B&B.
All inclusive…buffet bonanza and drinks at the sip ‘n’ dip bar
Mrs. Epstein at the Wyndham hotel, Crete
In line for the salad bar, it’s hard to resist glancing at the plate of the diner in front of you: grilled fish, pasta, spring rolls, spaghetti, broccoli with cheese, French fries, and, somewhat randomly, a truffle. of chocolate and a slice of watermelon. on.
What a spread. My dining companion (like us) is wearing a blue bracelet: a sign that he has signed up for an all-inclusive rate. At the Wyndham, this covers all meals plus endless drinks (including the deadly “local” cocktail, a mix of raki and metaxa) and an all-you-can-eat snack cart offering pizza, pastries, fruits and wraps.
In other words: you pay your money and put on that backpack.
For the first three days of our stay, my husband Martin and I decided to go all-inclusive.
The Wyndham is modern and smart with four pools, a water park, two private beaches, and a wonderful staff. There is a lot of space. The only time it’s busy is at the main Amalthea restaurant, with its open kitchen and live cooking stations serving almost every type of food.
We quickly feel the appeal of the buffet, and it’s a test of willpower to get out and explore.
However, we do this one day (after tucking into a quick and filling lunch at the buffet (well, it’s “free”)) and hire a car to visit some lovely nearby villages, including Kritsa, which is split into a rocky hillside. . We love walking through silver olive groves and exploring small villages.
However, around 7pm we get tense, even though the sun is still high. Because? Because dinner at the hotel ends at 9:30 p.m. (on the dot!).
So sadly, although it would have been nice to stay and eat among the locals, we returned.
Angela and her husband Martin rent bikes for a guided tour of the mountains from the hotel.
However, we were delighted to have everything included on the day as we rented bikes for a spectacular guided tour of the mountains from the hotel.
This lasts three glorious but brisk hours, until 6pm. So it’s a relief to return, red-faced and exhausted, knowing we don’t have to go out again.
It’s time for a dip in the pool followed by a complimentary (complimentary) cocktail. . . before returning to the main restaurant and attacking the buffet with impunity (and gusto). After having traveled so many kilometers, we have earned the right to an explosion.
Alcohol is an important part of the all-inclusive package. None of us are big drinkers, although temptations are everywhere. The largest of these is the Sip ‘n’ Dip Pool Bar, where you can enjoy sparkling wine while relaxing in the water.
We soon found ourselves sipping cocktails or glasses of ouzo before dinner (where wine is included for those who want it) and even more so after we’ve eaten. And why not? It’s all included.
Go to B&B…sneaky sarnies and tavern
Switching to a B&B rate after three days of forbearance requires a change in mindset. The temptation to overindulge at lunch and dinner buffets has disappeared (unless we pay £25 for each meal).
We quickly felt the lure of the buffet, Angela writes, and it’s a test of willpower to get out and explore. We do this, however, after devouring a quick and filling lunch at the hotel buffet.
Our new “freedom” is almost disorienting. We notice that B&B-ers seem to be in the minority and there is a slight sense of FOMO.
While the “blue bands” cruise back and forth from the hotel beach bar for endless “free” drinks, we venture to the supermarket across the street to keep costs down. Inevitably, drinks at the venue are sold at a higher price.
I know we shouldn’t, but one day we saved on lunch by making sandwiches from the breakfast buffet and putting our stash in a beach bag. It feels a bit dirty, but having secured a good spot on the beach and not needing to pay £25 a head for lunch, it seems like the smart alternative.
We left the hotel for dinner. Once we go to a tavern where the owner, an octogenarian Greek lady, takes a long time to serve and the food is not exceptional. But the air smells like pine and the atmosphere more than makes up for it.
As for alcohol, it is a relief to reduce what we drink. However, with the night air warm and balmy and the atmosphere decidedly relaxed, we fancy a drop or two.
But rather than pay £10 – even if it means giving up entertainment at the beach bar – we run across the road to the supermarket to stock up on ouzo, crisps and nuts.
Yes, we feel like a couple of drunks as we run back and head to our balcony for our own “lock-in.” But at least we can still hear the music coming from the bar below.
the verdict
All inclusive: £239 per night.
BED AND BREAKFAST: £175 a night, plus £60 a day for food and drink living modestly.
(Prices based on double occupancy in October).
It depends on how much you eat and drink. We’re not big drinkers, so it worked out almost exactly the same price going B&B instead of all-inclusive.
Yes, it’s a pleasure not to sign a paper every time you order a drink but, on the contrary, an all-inclusive is not good for your liver or your weight.
Therefore, you must decide what type of vacation you want. If it’s a blast, then go for all-inclusive; If you are looking for a more measured experience, go to B&B.
