Ed Chapman took a £965 TUI all-inclusive holiday to Turkey to see if the tempting deal is worth the money – and his conclusion has surprised many people
A shrewd British holidaymaker and Youtuber, Ed Chapman, decided to put his all-inclusive holiday in Turkey to the test, aiming to find out if it’s really worth the cash.
Chapman compared the “pay as you go option” with the popular wristband system where all food and drink are included. At his Turkish resort, he meticulously tracked every bite and sip, having forked out £965 for his TUI getaway.
He calculated his costs: “We need to knock off about £165 for the return flights to Turkey with checked luggage and then maybe like another £500 for five nights in the hotel. That leaves us with roughly £300 paid for the ‘all inclusiveness'”.
It wasn’t until the last day of his trip that Chapman discovered the true value of the deal, which apparently pays off for those who favour a particular item. Kicking off his solo journey, he grabbed a sandwich and several strawberry daiquiris.
Later, he experienced a silent disco, describing it as a “weird experience” dancing alone: “You can change between the different channels …just weird to be trying to dance with yourself. This is the first time I’ve ever done a resort holiday by myself, so this is going to obviously be a bit weird for us all,” he shared.
Chapman set himself a challenge and discovered a hotel perk that would make his stay even easier: “One thing I do like about this hotel is that there’s no wristbands or anything like that,” reports the Express.
He noted, “Sometimes, in these places, you get really annoying wristbands that are fiddly and scratchy, but there’s nothing like that here. They don’t even ask your name at breakfast or at dinner or anything, so you could in theory just waltz in [and eat what you like].”
Despite the temptation to overindulge, Chapman kept it honest and utilised his £300 budget wisely by soaking up drinks, snacks and using the gym and spa facilities, which tacked an extra £15 onto his bill. The pool and waterslide also beckoned, with just a brief hiatus due to a thunderstorm disrupting the fun.
As he reached day five and funds ran low, Chapman still relished lunches and celebratory drinks under the all-inclusive banner. Reflecting on the holiday deal, Chapman pointed out how profitable such packages can be, especially for hearty drinkers: “We have managed to make a profit, and let’s face it I’m not a massive drinker,” Chapman elaborated.
“If you’re a bigger drinker than me and you had five, six, seven or eight alcoholic drinks a day you could easily add another £150 onto that total.”
He remarked: “So, the reality is if you’ve got the money to be able to do all-inclusive, and you are somebody that drinks quite a lot it’s absolutely worth it. If you’re somebody that [doesn’t drink] too much, like me, it’s still probably worth it if you’ve got the money.”
The Advantage Travel Partnership has revealed that all-inclusive breaks are the hot ticket for 2024, with a whopping 46 percent of summer holiday sales. Meanwhile, British Airways has let slip that last year, a sizeable 41 percent of millennials opted for an all-in package, putting them ahead in the all-inclusive holiday stakes.
It’s no wonder all-inclusives have kept their allure; they’re a no-fuss option delivering top value and a chilled out vibe. Plus, they dish up a mix of chill-out time and fun adventures, and they’re ace at dodging those unexpected extra spends.
For families planning a getaway during half term, picking an all-inclusive could be smart, especially because of the safety, endless kid-tastic activities, unlimited grub and bevies, and zilch stress over keeping the little ones amused.
