Seven reasons to go all-inclusive in Antigua
It’s not often that I have to thank Belgian water polo players when I travel. But back in 1950, one particular athlete named Gerard Blitz founded Club Med and the concept of all-inclusive resorts was born.
review stay*
Before my daughter came along, I never really appreciated the benefits of staying all-inclusive. I wanted to get out of the resort, eat locally and hated the thought of the same tired boring buffet being trotted out again and again. Since Minnie was born, I’ve discovered that for families (especially with younger children), all-inclusive can be the perfect mix of flexibility and practicality – most recently all-inclusive Antigua.
And after several stays at the luxurious Elite Island Resorts – most recently Verandah Resort & Spa – I’ve realised that not all all-inclusives are created equal. Here’s why I loved going all-inclusive in Antigua.
The budget
If you’re thinking a four-star all-inclusive resort in the Caribbean doesn’t sound like a budget option, that’s a fair assumption.
But there are big benefits to having a single price upfront for the trip, without those unexpected extras for an ice cream here, an extra drink there.
And with a lot of competition between tour operators, you can find some great deals and packages with hardly any extras once you arrive.
The ease of all-inclusive Antigua
I love exploring, I love venturing off the beaten track, I love finding the undiscovered… I also love the chance to relax. And with a three-year-old, all-inclusives can take a lot of the effort out of travel with a pre-schooler.
These days, I won’t be staying up until the small hours when I know a jetlagged small girl will wake me at 5am. So babysitting and a great restaurant on site is a bigger plus for me until she’s older.
The food
It goes without saying that you need to pick your resort carefully when you’re planning to go all-inclusive in Antigua. Some will exclude most alcohol, fail to include activities or restrict you to an unappetising menu.
At Verandah, I had a choice of restaurants every night (only one with a small surcharge, although I suspect my champagne consumption would balance that out) and the food on offer was constantly changing with local specialities, nice wine and endless cocktails.
The watersports
There’s nothing like a three-year-old to keep you on your toes. One day she doesn’t want to try anything new, the next it’s all about excitingly different experiences, the third she’s wildly enthusiastic… for five minutes.
With non-motorised watersports included at Verandah, I could hop into a canoe from one of the resort beaches for 10 minutes if we fancied or go for a sail with an instructor without paying a penny more, just in case very short attention spans meant we needed to abandon it.
All-inclusive facilities
There’s a lot to be said for having everything on your doorstep – a great kids’ club which Minnie asked to go to every day, several pools to choose from, a spa (even if treatments were extra).
The room even had its own mini kitchenette and fridge so we had plenty of flexibility.
The location
This is still key for me – even if I’m spending plenty of time chilling out around the resort pool, I couldn’t imagine spending a week without being able to explore the destination too.
Unlike some all-inclusive holidays to Antigua, it was easy to get from Verandah resort around the island to visit the main attractions as well as a few on the doorstep.
The wonderful Stingray City was around 10 minutes away by car, and within walking distance was Long Bay with its shallow waters for spotting fish and Devil’s Bridge blowhole.
All-inclusive activities
But there’s plenty to do if you don’t want to leave. Quite apart from the watersports, bigger resorts like Verandah have all kinds of activities including mini golf, tennis, scheduled walks, live music at night, even cinema showings.
Disclosure: My stay at Verandah Resort & Spa was courtesy of Elite Island Resorts as part of the #eliteislandfamilies blogathon, my flights were courtesy of Virgin Holidays. All opinions and inability to stay up late painting the town red are my own.
Images copyright MummyTravels
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I always opt for all inclusive when I can afford it – we still end up eating out of the hotel usually to try new places but the fact that you don’t have to worry about spending money is a huge plus! Antigua looks gorgeous x
Definitely – I think once that’s budgeted for too, it’s easy to work out what’s left for a few meals out etc as well.
I’d never actually thought of how much more convenient it would be with kids to go all inclusive – I guess when you add up all the small costs it makes a big difference! It can be so easy to overspend unexpectedly with tiny tots about! Hope you enjoyed your stay!
Absolutely, particularly when they are little I think. And we had a wonderful time, thanks!
I think all inclusive with kids is great – especially when you have a three year old that wants to eat chips, then spaghetti, then chips, then sauasge……
You’re right you have to pick carefully otherwise you get fed up.
The big thing to me is to use it to ENHANCE your stay to a place rather than limit you to the resort only!
I think that’s absolutely right – I still can’t imagine never leaving the resort, but having somewhere so child-friendly (and adult-friendly!) after exploring was wonderful. I have one of those three-year-olds too…
All inclusive definitely helps with budgeting when you have children. It takes the stress out of having to say no to the icecreams and drinks.
Exactly – it seems a small thing but they very quickly start to add up.
For my first ever holiday with MOH we went for an all-inclusive deal to spain and we loved it. The flight, the hotel and the food was all included which was awesome.
I think when it’s a good all-inclusive and deal, it can work really well.
I was converted to all inclusive holidays when I had children, it is so much easier, especially with picky eaters. There is nothing worse than ordering a meal off the menu and seeing them push it around the plate, so will all inclusive they can sample lots of different foods and then choose what they really like.
I agree with you about the standards of different all inclusives, it is definitely better to do your research before you get served up the same food every single day for 2 weeks. I love the sound of Antigua as it is somewhere we have never been, will have to check it out!
That is definitely one of the things I like – my daughter can be frustratingly fussy, so that really helps with her. Although even if she’s happy to eat the same meal every day for a week, I’m definitely not! Antigua was gorgeous, if you need more tempting, I’ve done a post on 14 reasons to visit 🙂
This looks lush and was very interesting to read too as we are planning our honeymoon and would love an all inclusive resort!
A lot of beach honeymoon places (Caribbean/Indian Ocean etc) have some gorgeous all-inclusives – great way to relax afterwards too!
We tried all inclusive with Monkey the year before last (Last year we went to Canada to visit family so slightly different) and it made all the difference. We even managed to get a bit of relaxation in! We haven’t decided what we are doing in 2016 but its likely to be all inclusive, will consider Antigua too as have loved your posts xx
Thanks! It does seem to work so well when they’re fairly little, I think – there’s a few posts on St Lucia (where I stayed at the sister resort to Verandah) as some added Caribbean all-inclusive temptation! xx
Oh what i would give to be there right now! Instead of rainy Wales! We had our first all inclusive holiday last September – it was brilliant. Kaz x
Same here! I have been very drenched over the past two days (a rather different seaside trip).
I would love to be in Antigua right now. I think the reasons you have stated are totally valid. I also think going all inclusive is good for a family as there is less worry about the budget as you mentioned, and also that “nagging” can i have every five minutes. All inclusive can just add to the relaxation, great post and thank you for sharing.
Same here – and absolutely, you don’t want to be trying to relax while you’re wondering how much all the little things are costing.
The resort looks absolutely dreamy! I also think All-inclusive can be a blessing when going on holiday with little ones. Being able to just relax without having to think of where to go for meals, etc. Oh what I wouldn’t give to be in Antigua right now…! We went for our ‘babymoon’ and fell in love with the place 🙂 Thanks for sharing your experience.
It was wonderful – and absolutely, with little ones it just makes the holiday that bit more relaxed. Being in Antigua definitely helps there too 🙂
Oh I agree, all inclusive is a dream with children. We went to St Lucia last year with our 7 year old and 22 month old. And we had ourselves, 3 times, all ready with our life jackets on to go on the catamaran or peddleo boat and each time within about 22 seconds we were taking our jackets back off. Even though wewere all inclusive we also had the option to dine around, so we could visit other local restaurants 6 times out of 14 nights. It was great.
Ha – that is very familiar! I do like it when all-inclusive resorts have a dine around option too.