I recapped adventure holidays on a budget in Holidays Unpacked before this, but this time I mainly followed Channel 5’s All Inclusive: Is It Worth It? Let’s find out how paying all-in compares to paying for everything off our own backs. Coronavirus has made us think twice about travel. If you need to spend an age saving, you don’t want your trip ruined when you eventually get away, so it pays to do your research well in advance and get the best value deal.

This was initially a one-off programme where presenter Alexis Conran competed to try and holiday cheaper than a family who had paid for everything upfront. Then they repeated the all-inclusive part of the experiment in a series called The All-Inclusive: How Do They Do It? to explain how resorts actually offer everything at a discount and where to get the best value from a trip like this.

I also watched a Channel 4 show Thrifty Ways To…Summer Holiday. This had a similar premise, but also included an experiment to go away in the UK for less than £400, so I’ve included their tips too to get a full comparison.

Here’s what I’ve covered below:

All-Inclusive: Is It Worth It? Or Is Booking DIY Cheaper?
How Does A Day’s Spending Compare Abroad?
Do Hotels Cut Corners On An All-Inclusive?
Getting The Best Value From An All-Inclusive Holiday
How Does This Compare To Other Trips: Thrifty Ways to Summer Holiday
Holidaying In The UK For Under £400
Katie And Amar’s Final Tips: Going Abroad
My Tips For UK Holidays

If you’re saving for a biggie like a house, it doesn’t mean that the rest of life grinds to a halt. Obviously we won’t save much if we go on holiday, spend what we like on food, entertainment, clothes, our car, and so on.

If we choose a few spending priorities that are most important to us though then we can still live the life we want while putting most of our hard earned money away to earn even more through interest towards the bigger things.

One person’s priority might be that they stop going abroad on holiday, but that they continue to spend on books. Especially if it’s related to what they do for a living, or they simply spend a lot of time reading and listening to audiobooks because they have a lot of travel time to fill, or are interested in writing themselves. Or sometimes books are just really important to a person’s wellbeing so that they can switch off when needed! (If you’re thinking Hm… I would rather a few books and skip the holiday after all, then I’ve included recommendations on books worth their coin to savers in this post).

Another person’s priority though might be that they still want to go away at least once a year, but that they stop buying so many clothes monthly instead and rely on slow fashion if they need a wardrobe item in the meantime.

The majority of the money saved goes away for a house, and a smaller percentage goes on the spending priority you chose. Even if something’s a priority though you still want to get the most bang for your buck. What if an all-inclusive is the best holiday for the money?

I hope you find this useful if travel is still one of your spending priorities while saving for the bigger things in life.

This post contains some items marked affiliate links at no extra cost to you. If you sign up for an account or purchase via those links, I earn a commission from the seller that goes a little way towards covering the cost of blog hosting etc. Since I’m big on analysing value for money rather than big on big spending for its own sake, I obviously only recommend anything I think is genuinely good value. I hope you save on your spending priorities that way.

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All-Inclusive: Is It Worth It? Or Is Booking DIY Cheaper?

First up, stemming from his work on Shop Smart Save Money, Alexis tried to beat a family of four’s all inclusive holiday booking on price by building his own DIY holiday.

They both went to the Hotel Puente Real in Torremolinos.

What does all-inclusive really include?

Here’s what the Hutchinsons’ family holiday included:
4 return flights
4 x hand luggage
Airport transfers
Family room
All-inclusive food
ATOL-protected through a travel operator
Seat reservation £32 (optional)
Checked in luggage (£160)
Cost: £2578.95

Here’s where Alexis saved by skipping all-inclusive:

• Booking the flights through the airline instead of a travel operator was £19 cheaper
• Finding an additional deal for the flight knocked off another £6 or so
• Children under 12 have to be seated in the same or an adjacent row as their parent legally, so there’s no need to pay seat reservation if travelling with younguns anyway
• An airport transfer is sometimes more expensive than organising a taxi yourself
• Taxis also mean no waiting for the same coach as anyone else
• Alexis booked the hotel direct and used cashback sites for his booking
• Total savings: £168

However, it took Alexis so long that he didn’t think the saving was worth it so far, plus his trip wasn’t ATOL-protected because he had booked the elements individually. (So get travel insurance ASAP! As soon as you book in case anything goes wrong before you fly. You know, like world pandemics).

I use TopCashback for the majority of my cashback needs. They usually offer rebates on everything you can think of, from flight comparisons to transfers like the Stansted Express to airport parking to car hire at home and abroad (aff links).

How Does A Day’s Spending Compare Abroad?

Once they were in Spain, Alexis’ next challenge was to feed, water and amuse himself for £92.11 max per day since this was what the Hutchinson’s all- inclusive deal worked out daily.

Breakfast: Alexis went to a local cafe for £8.83, but the family had an all-you-can-eat buffet. He didn’t think they were really comparable experiences, but either way the buffet was cheaper for the amount of food and drink on offer.

Lunch: At the hotel this was £18.50 without drinks if you’re not all inclusive. Eating at a local restaurant was cheaper;even adding wine, a taxi and a tip, it was still possible to eat for £15.92.

Dinner: They swapped and Alexis enjoyed a Spanish-themed buffet at the hotel with a lot more choice. (It also sounded like a heart attack waiting to happen though as he had more than one plate for dinner then desserts plural).

The family spent 36 Euros on a three course meal nearby, but 20 Euros of that was just on getting to the restaurant. (Heart attack not included).

They found their outing stressful and were glad all the decision-making and travel for meals is not an issue when all-inclusive.

Things to do

Activities: The Hutchinsons did aqua gym at no extra cost then played football with the entertainment crew. Alexis paid £34.42 to go to the beach and hire a pedalo, sunbed and parasol, plus he bought himself water, ice cream and alcoholic drinks.

Evening entertainment: The hotel had free entertainment and drinks, but Alexis went to a flamenco show at a posh bar called Valparaiso in Mijas on the recommendation of a local (he doesn’t trust online reviews)… This outing alone racked up 78 Euros.

His daytime amusement and meals had cost Alexis £90.45 so far, leaving £1.55 for his evening, so leaving the hotel put him way over budget.

It turned out that the free entertainment at the hotel was also a flamenco show, so he didn’t really need to spend extra or go anywhere. (Torremelinos has flamenco shows also, so his was an extreme example as he took another taxi to get to Mijas).

Alexis’s total for day one: £159.69
Without the flamenco mission: £81.69, so Alexis could have beaten the all-inclusive depending on his evening choices. It’s also possible to go to the beach and spend far less if you skip the hire items and alcohol.

Do Hotels Cut Corners On An All-Inclusive?

The popular cons that holidaymakers worry about encountering at an all-inclusive include:

• being held hostage with a buffet menu you might not like
• noisy dining halls
• not knowing in advance whether the food will be low quality

Alexis sought to find out therefore how the resort is able to offer everything included and whether this is really good value, or if you’re just bein offered the dregs of everything.

Food

A local chef suggested the kitchen will be able to order large quantities of ingredients from local fresh produce that will be better quality than what we might see in the supermarket (keeping in mind that in places like Spain, certain produce has travelled far shorter distances than we’re used to when we’re buying it at home).

One supplier told them hotels make 80% of their business in the summer and keep the local economy turning through buying fresh groceries.

Spain has stricter laws than we do on allergens, so in addition to health and safety rules, the buffet should be safe.

Alcohol

The bar said they have to have 50 barrels of beer (50 litres), 1000 bottles of wine, and 1500 bottles of spirits in stock weekly. It’s okay to order multiple drinks at once because it makes service quicker.

After 11pm, all-inclusive guests have to pay to keep drinking, but this is still usually discounted.

Local spirit equivalents are cheaper than brands, so the brands are usually priced at a premium. Alexis did a taste test to see how the subs compare to the big brands.

Here were the local spirit brands in Spain:

• DYC (whisky)
• Larios (gin)
• Royal Cup Port (Baileys)

Alexis thought the whisky and the gin tasted on par with Red Label and Bombay Sapphire. The Royal Cup Port though tasted more alcoholic than creamy compared to Baileys.

The hotel also had an all-inclusive upgrade that included international drink brands in the price (as well as other things).

Entertainment

The hotel books a company for the summer season and is therefore able to host entertainment cheaply as they are paying for 120-130 shows in one go and get a better price for the performers. It’s entertainment in bulk basically.

The Hutchinsons’ verdict: are upgrades worth it?

They enjoyed everything, partly because they didn’t need any discussions about budgets, spending, or planning, and everything was at their fingertips.

They trialled the Gold upgrade too which would have made their daily cost £103 instead of £92. The only part of the upgrade they thought was worth it was being able to order a la carte and getting wifi throughout the hotel. They weren’t bowled over by an extra hour of drinking or having access to international drink brands.

Without the upgrade, wifi is only available in reception. (I thought they were in Torremelinos, not Kattegat in the time of Ragnor?)

Getting The Best Value From An All-Inclusive Holiday

After this one off, Channel 5 followed up with a series called The All Inclusive: How Do They Do It? that turned the same format into four episodes. This time the All Inclusive How Do They Do It hotel was the Albir Garden Resort on the Costa Blanca.

Here were their tips to get the most value from all-inclusive.

Before you go

To choose the resort, a hotel on a well-served bus route will make it easy to go sightseeing (and return for meals) and should be cheaper than taking taxis if a resort is more remote.

Try and share luggage so that you pay to put less in the hold. This can be tricky if you’re going away with someone who you don’t live with. Try and meet up beforehand to pack together, or take some of your belongings to the airport in a reusable bag. Then transfer it to your mate’s suitcase and pack away the reusable bags.

Take your own food to the airport. Most food will go through to departures.

Albir Garden has deluxe rooms that will sleep groups if you don’t mind sharing. The group on the show DID mind and ended up paying extra for separate rooms after they’d already arrived which is the most expensive way to book a bed. They paid for a cheaper standard room as a compromise, but preferred it to the deluxe anyway (the deluxe rooms had been refurbished recently, so they are probably priced accordingly).

The cheapest rooms will be closest to any stages and live entertainment because of the noise. It’s worth asking to switch when you arrive because this might be free, but otherwise it’s usually best to make special requests before you go.

At the resort

Find your way around on day one to make the most of the resort. The point of all-inclusive is to take advantage of activities, entertainment, multiple restaurants etc, but you might have to do some legwork of your own to find out where everything is and when so that you don’t miss out on the things you want to do most. You should also find out quickly this way what is and isn’t included.

If you leave the hotel, see if you can’t take a snack pack from the hotel for a picnic.

If you do leave the resort, pay in the local currency on card if given the option to avoid conversion fees. Buses can be a good way to get rid of loose change, as you won’t be able to change coins at the exchange outlets if you have leftover cash.

All of the groups featured on the show ate and drank more than they usually would because it was included, so they thought this was a saving. It depends on whether eating and drinking to excess makes you feel good on holiday or not!

You can usually still use the facilities after checkout, so keep any wristbands etc if your flight is later on the last day and you’ll be able to eat and sunbathe in the meantime. And grab a snack pack for the journey home!

One couple got married at their resort and used the included food and drink as catering.

How Does This Compare To Other Trips: Thrifty Ways To Summer Holiday

To get more of a comparison, I thought I’d stack this up against another holiday show that also pitted an all-inclusive holiday versus a DIY break. However, they compared both types of Spanish trip to holidaying in the UK on a smaller budget.

Thrifty Ways To…Summer Holiday aired on Channel 4 instead, presented by Katie Piper and Amar Latif. I featured Amar before in this recap:

How to Get Fit Fast (For Free)

He founded Traveleyes, group holidays where sighted travellers describe the local destination to the blind travellers in the group. Katie is also blind in one eye, and if you know anything else about her, you’ll know she’s also unstoppable. So Amar and Katie have at least three things in common…

The title implies that this was going to be part of a longer series or franchise of shows, but I think this was the only episode. It showed though that the Hutchinsons’ could have paid far more for their all-inclusive. This show also had a wealth of extra holiday tips.

All-inclusive for less than £900pp

Katie Piper had to achieve an all-inclusive holiday to Tenerife for four for less than £3600.

Amar had to achieve a weekend break for two for less than £400.

These figures were because these were the average spends for these types of holidays. Notice that £3600 is considerably more than what the Hutchinsons’ paid on Channel 5. The location was different though and they might have been going at a different time of year etc.

Still, given the choice between paying £2600 for four people and £3600… That’s a big gap still, and a big gap again compared to Alexis’ £80 a day (minus flamenco treks). If you’re quite happy to lounge on the beach for free except for buying bottled water and a bit of food, then DIY might drop to £60 per day.

So how did Katie’s DIY holiday compare to the £3600 all-inclusive trip, and Alexis’ single jaunt over on another channel?

Here were Katie’s tips to bring costs down.

Before you go

• Midweek flights, especially Tuesdays and flights booked 21 days in advance are cheaper
• Katie paid £18 to prebook the Gatwick My Lounge where there is free food, drink, games and a relaxing atmosphere
• Airport lounges are only a saving if you normally spend a lot in the airport
• If you are booking a package haggle with a travel agent
• January is sale time for high street agents
• Online-only providers advertise sales via email
• Compare travel money rates

TopCashback have cashback options on airport lounges too (aff link).

On the TV show Shop Smart Save Money, Alexis’ co-presenter and blogger/podcaster extraordinaire Andy Webb said a free trial to tastecard+ can give discounts on these lounges if it’s something you will definitely use. It might still be cheaper otherwise to take your own food and drink unless you fill up in the lounge. (Guess what? Tastecard are on TopCashback also! Shocker, eh? That’s an affiliate link, me hearties.)

Regards the online sales, I would still shop around, as these flash sales usually run consecutively. This means if you miss an offer, there will just be a new offer tomorrow. It can be hard to judge therefore whether something is a good deal if you just rely on one website.

Consider an airline credit card to start racking up points on spending that you can put towards flights or other perks in future if there is a bonus introductory offer. I got a bill credit for signing up to my airline Amex.

TopCashback has a range of cashback for the different American Express airmiles cards, but don’t use it as an excuse to spend more than usual as it’s a false economy (aff link). Be mindful of spacing out applications too if you’ve recently applied for a cashback credit card already, or you’re about to apply for a mortgage.

Set up a direct debit at the same time to pay the balance off in full each month so that it’s not counterproductive as you don’t want to pay any interest. Paying it off each month is also great for boosting credit scores.

Local savings in Spain

• An ex-pat said avoid beachfront shops and supermarkets aimed at tourists and find a market that the locals use for food
• The same goes for souvenirs and locally-made products
• Be wary of fakes at the markets as these aren’t really value for money (leather smells like leather!)
• Fake designer sunglasses sold on the street might not have any UV protection
• Instead of an expensive excursion, look for local festivities that are free

Katie went to the Tegueste Romeria in Tenerife. The island has lots of free events on summer days with wine or BBQ…Look for beach parties, fisherman festivals, and the Corpus Christi Flower Festival.

Katie got a pork chop, a bag of popcorn, a boiled egg and something alcoholic in a nearby town (accessible by bus), which is better than nothing I suppose!

Katie reckoned her approach would cost four people closer to £2600.

In another blog post I’ve covered why prescription sunglasses cost what they do and whether it’s worth getting designer sunnies from high street opticians or online.

Holidaying In The UK For Under £400

First, where to stay?

Amar tried to book a room after 5pm to see if was easier to negotiate last minute. The five star corporate-owned hotel wouldn’t budge; one hotel even hung up on him.

An independent B&B in Bath instead were offering a night’s stay with breakfast discounted to £99 since it was last minute.

Amar said his budget was £50 only. They accepted this by knocking off breakfast. Their quietest months were January and August. This method works best therefore if you have your eye on somewhere and know when they are likely to want your business, but are also comfortable booking on the day.

Here were Amar’s other tips to keep a trip under budget:

• Hotel breakfasts on average cost £14. Coffee shop breakfasts are £8 on average…A brunch picnic in your room is even cheaper…
• Having dinner out at lunchtime is usually cheaper as there are set menus available
• Sign up for deals and discount schemes like Tastecard
• Look for local activity cards if you plan to do a lot and know these activities definitely can’t be done for free
• River cruises are pricey, so Amar went punting instead for £14 for an hour

Scroll up if you missed the best way to take advantage of Tastecard.

The Bath Reward Card gets discounted access to the Thermae Spa, glass blowing, the Jane Austen Centre and Bath Abbey.

Amar would have spent £276 if he hadn’t been on his onesy, so he saved 31% overall.

Katie And Amar’s Final Tips: Going Abroad

The show also had some other ideas on going to family friendly travel spots in the US as an alternative to the Costa del Sol, and how to use your phone cheaply while away anywhere.

They spoke to travellers visiting Orlando on a budget since it’s such a popular tourist destination, but all the attractions can chew up a lot of cash. That’s before even touching spending on flights and accommodation.

The locals said fly indirectly via another US airport. This adds about four hours to the journey, but the savings might be worth it to you.

If you can go away with someone who already owns their home, then house swapping is an option instead of hotels outside of pandemic lockdowns. (I’m guessing your landlord would also prefer you didn’t do this if you’re renting).

There were 200 houses available for a swap in Orlando and most of these have a pool by default. Because there are a lot of ex-pats in Florida, you don’t need a fancy pad in the UK. These guests will be more interested in staying somewhere convenient while they visit family etc.

Lovehomeswap and Homebase Holidays are subscriber sites, so you pay annually to get access to properties (aff link). Split the cost if you go with someone else, and see what cashback you can get through TopCashback.

How to use phones abroad cheaply

• Make calls over free wifi using Skype/WhatsApp
• Use local sim cards for longer stays
• Use global sims for trips with multiple stops
• Data roaming in Europe is free by law

My Tips For UK Holidays

Visit friends! I will usually buy some food and drink so that I don’t eat them out of house and home. This is still far cheaper than eating out during a hotel stay, and also wouldn’t you rather hang out with friends anyway?

Friends or family can also supply local knowledge of the best places and any freebies. Be upfront if you’re on a budget, so that they know what to recommend.

Try to make arrangements in advance if going by train as tickets are usually cheapest 12 weeks beforehand. A split ticket might also be cheaper. (I was able to get unused train tickets refunded due to coronavirus, but check before you book).

Amar’s last minute B&B trick is riskier if you have booked your travel in advance and have nowhere to stay.

Fill up on the cheapest petrol for any driving via petrolprices.com

If you don’t have access to a car and train tickets have spiralled, see if a car club would be cheaper. Never fear, TopCashback have cashback for Enterprise Car Club too (aff link).

I don’t usually take UK weather into account, however offputting. When the main point is to see friends anyway, we can usually cosy up with board games, video games, or boxsets if it’s too fracking cold outside. I’ve listed the boxsets I will take to the grave over pay TV any day in this post.

It’s possible to spend as much in the UK as on a foreign holiday if you really push the boat out. Obviously it’s also possible to frugalise a UK trip. What’s the least you’ve ever spent on a UK break? Share your tips in the comments!

As The Lion King Song Goes: Be Prepared

In light of coronavirus, it’s important to do your research upfront and get adequate travel insurance. You can both do a comparison via TopCashback and then potentially earn cashback on the right policy for you (aff link).

The NHS website has up to date information on the free European Health Insurance Card. This is not a substitute for insurance, or vice versa.

Don’t forget to apply for or renew passports long in advance of when you think you might need them, at least six months. Even if you’re undecided about going away this year, remember passports can be a very useful form of identification.

You’ll find Hotel Puente Real and Albir Garden Resort on comparison booking sites like Hotels.com. If you think you’ve found a deal that beats booking directly and want to try for cashback on top of your flights and room, then go via TopCashback for that also first (aff link).

Compare the best exchange rate on your travel money also and think about how you want to spend while abroad for the best rates if your bank charges through the nose to use your usual card. I used to use the FairFx Travel Money Card as a prepaid option in combination with a bit of cash(aff link).

If you already use credit cards for daily spending so that you can pay it off in full month to beef up your credit score, then you might be more interested in fee-free travel credit cards. Again, going via Experian and TopCashback you should be able to get a rebate for comparing credit cards (aff link).

I backpacked on a budget several years in a row, and could do an entire post on travel essentials worth investing in to withstand many trips. Obviously if you’re not going to borrow luggage or travel comforts then you need to budget for those in addition to the trip itself. Let me know if there’s any specific areas of travel belongings you want me to write about as I’ve tested everything from the best hiking boots to lug around to which sleeping bag to snuggle up in on the mountain.

The bag I used the most and which I bought because I wanted something lighter than my first attempt was Osprey’s Ariel 65 litre backpack (aff link). 65 litres means you can fit a lot in it basically! I’ve had this over 10 years and it’s light as a feather compared to the Karrimor I owned before that. I actually own three Osprey backpacks of different sizes, so I was very much converted to them while working in the outdoors industry. The men’s equivalent is called the Osprey Aether backpack and comes in a few different sizes.

Karrimor has changed owners since those days; you can still get a backpack similar to what I had if you want to spend less. Expect the pack to be heavier than an Osprey before you start packing, and I also wouldn’t expect it to be as durable. It’s up to you depending on your budget and how much/often you plan to throw your baggage around.

When I swapped backpacking for more traditional getaways, I relied on an Osprey Sojourn suitcase which I still own after over 10 years (aff link). This doubles as a backpack also as it has straps that zip away at the back.

Osprey comes with a price tag that reflects the lifespan though, so if you’re willing to pay less for luggage that might not last as long then the Amazon Basics hard shell suitcases are designed as budget versions of brands like Samsonite (aff link). The other way to look at the cost of potentially replacing items more often is to make sure you earn interest on the money you saved on this occasion. That way if you do have to shell out again sooner rather than later, you at least earned something on the money you saved in the meantime.

So Is An All-inclusive Holiday Worth It?

• DIY is cheaper before daily spending, but only if you are willing to take the time to find bargains
• If you find a DIY holiday cheaper, make sure you’re fully insured as it won’t be ATOL-protected
• Try local brand drinks instead of paying for familiar brands
• Ask for wristband discounts everywhere you go in the resort
• Look for the Q award; this quality marker should get you a stay at a reputable hotel
• Share luggage, use discounted airport lounges. or take your own eats
• Do your research beforehand to get the best rooms for the price and the best amenities
• Do a day one recce to get the most out of your stay
• If you focus on free sightseeing, and swap buffets and booze for local groceries, DIY could be cheaper than all-inclusive
• Arrange before you go the cheapest way to use your phone abroad
• In the UK, haggle with independents at the last minute during their quiet periods

I haven’t done an all-inclusive personally as I tend to lean towards backpacking, visiting friends, or road tripping, but I think I’m interested to give one a go. Shoot in the comments any recommendations of which resorts to visit, and I’ll start my savings pot off.

I will likely write more about my other budget travels in future. Subscribe if you want to read more posts like these and get other tips in your inbox on how to earn more and save more on everyday spending.

I’m also slowly experimenting with travel journals on Amazon to make use of the photos I’ve taken on my adventures (aff link). Shout if you want to hear the ins and outs of self-publishing.

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