Most agents will have a good stock of tried and tested favourites they recommend to customers looking for all-inclusive breaks. At the same time, operators are reporting that more hotels are adding all-inclusive plans.
Jody Clapham, product and commercial manager at Cosmos, says: “Three seasons ago you didn’t have as much choice. Now pretty much every hotel we sign has included all-inclusive, and we had to increase our brochure to include them.”
So, as well as knowing the best sellers, it’s always worth updating your product knowledge on the best of the rest.
The Canary Islands
Best seller: Clapham says Cosmos’s top seller is the four-star-plus Hotel Bahia Principe in Costa Adeje, Tenerife.
Key selling points include free use of facilities in a neighbouring hotel, including its spa, and the inclusion of three à la carte meals per week. While not centrally located, there’s a free resort shuttle.
Or try: Clapham suggests the five-star Hotel Costa Adeje Gran, also in Tenerife. It’s in a central location, 500m from the beach, with great views, and has a spa, an adult-only terrace and a rooftop pool. The all-inclusive package includes buffet meals and local alcoholic drinks, snacks and ice cream during certain times of the day.
Sample price: Cosmos offers seven nights’ all-inclusive at the Hotel Costa Adeje Gran from £669, departing in December. cosmos-holidays.co.uk, 0871 423 8401
Greece
Best seller: Youhotels.com national sales manager Liz Garfield says the bed bank’s most popular option is the four-star Aquis Sandy Beach Resort in Corfu.
It offers value for money, a beach setting, numerous activities, a high standard of entertainment, and suits couples and families. The all-inclusive package includes afternoon tea, international spirits, ice creams and snacks.
Or try: Garfield recommends the four-star Doreta Beach Resort Hotel in Rhodes. Set on a private beach, with free sunbeds and umbrellas, it suits adults and families as it has plenty of activities for children. It’s also a short transfer from the airport.
The all-inclusive deal includes buffet meals, local drinks and snacks, kids’ club and activities such as aerobics and mini golf.
Sample price: One week’s all-inclusive at the Doreta in early July costs from £247. youhotels.com, 0871 426 1681
Caribbean
Best seller: The four-star Waves in Barbados is consistently popular for Virgin Holidays. According to Caribbean product manager Hayley Brown, this newly refurbished hotel, on the island’s west coast, offers great service.
Overlooking a white sand beach, it has three restaurants, a free-form pool and an adults-only spa area that offers two free treatments per guest for a seven-night stay. Visitors can sail, snorkel and kayak, or kick back and relax on the four-poster daybeds in the grounds.
The package includes some premium brand spirits and all-day cocktails. There is 24-hour room service and a late bar, free Wi-Fi, and guests receive a free daily local paper.
Or try: The three-star Escape at the Gap in Barbados is on a nice stretch of beach and only a short walk from the restaurants and nightlife of St Lawrence Gap.
It has a kids’ club and offers free non-motorised watersports, including snorkelling and a basic introduction to diving. The Seascape restaurant serves à la carte food. The all-inclusive plan includes an adults’ bar and weekly barbecue night, and the buffet restaurant stays open until 1.30am.
Sample price: Seven nights’ all-inclusive at Escape at the Gap with Virgin Holidays this summer starts from £825, including flights and transfers. vhols4agents.com, 0844 557 4011
Turkey
Best-seller: Olympic Holidays’ best seller is the Bahar Hotel in Fethiye, says commercial director Photis Lambrianides. The three-star hotel is set above Calis Beach, a relaxing and quiet resort with lovely sunsets.
The hotel has only 34 rooms but is warm and welcoming, and the all-inclusive deal includes three meals, afternoon tea and local drinks.
Or try: The Club Pink Palace, Ovacik Hisaronu. This small and friendly three-star hotel, set on the hill above the superb beach at Olu Deniz, has a similar appeal for couples.
A few minutes’ walk from Ovacik, the property isn’t directly on the beach but guests can get there on a free shuttle bus, or simply relax around the 66-room hotel’s large pool, set amid pretty gardens dotted with fruit trees.
The all-inclusive plan includes meals, afternoon snacks, local drinks, sauna, fitness centre and a weekly Turkish night.
Sample price: Olympic Holidays offers seven nights’ all-inclusive in August at the Club Pink Palace for £500, including flights and transfers. olympicholidays.com, 0844 499 4449
Indian Ocean
Best seller: One of Gold Medal’s top selling properties in Mauritius is the four-star Tamassa, on the southwest coast of the island.
It is a short transfer from the airport and suits couples and families. The operator’s all-inclusive package, which is the standard board basis, includes all meals as well as pancakes and pastries in the afternoon, drinks, a wide variety of watersports and land activities, and a kids’ club.
Or try: Gold Medal suggests the four-star Le Méridien Ile Maurice. Its all-inclusive rate is a good price for a top quality four-star property and covers a wide choice of bars and restaurants, as well as daily activities.
For couples looking to really get away from it all, there are the Nirvana rooms, set in an exclusive adults-only wing of the hotel and offering use of a private outdoor infinity pool and private restaurant for breakfast.
Sample price: Gold Medal offers seven nights’ all-inclusive at the Le Méridien Ile Maurice for £1,779 in September, including flights with Emirates from Gatwick and transfers. goldmedal.co.uk, 0800 014 7777
Mexico
Best seller: According to Katie Parsons, product manager for the Caribbean and Mexico at Hayes & Jarvis, its best seller is the Moon Palace Golf Resort & Spa in Cancun. Located on the border with the Riviera Maya, this large property has a good beach, great facilities and 15 restaurants.
A major selling point is the amount of resort credit it offers. Guests who book 14 nights get about $2,500 in credit to spend on items like spa treatments, special dinners, upgraded wines and golf.
Or try: The Barceló Maya Beach, Riviera Maya is one of five hotels in the same complex, meaning guests have access to the other hotels’ facilities. It’s a good bet for families and couples, and the all-inclusive plan includes welcome cocktail, some à la carte meals, local drinks, some spa facilities, kids’ club and entertainment.
Sample product: A seven-night package at the Barceló Maya Beach, departing on November 9, costs £1,095 with Hayes & Jarvis, including flights and transfers.
hayesandjarvis.com/agents, 0871 200 2211
