How to save money on all-inclusive holidays

All-inclusive deals feel particularly reassuring in tough times. You know the exact price of the holiday before you’ve even set off, and by paying up front you’ve even protected your food, drink and activity costs against currency fluctuations. 

There was a time when DIY holidays were cheaper, especially in Europe. But times have changed and our recent research found that UK holidaymakers will usually pay less for an all-inclusive package. 

But there are ways that savvy travellers can save even more money. Our tips will help you relax on your all-inclusive stay without relaxing your budget.

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Go to Costa Barcelona...

When we compared the average cost of more than 2,500 peak-season short-haul package holidays in 2023 we found that the cheapest destination for an all-inclusive holiday was the stretch of coast north of Barcelona.

The resort towns along this coast offer fantastic value – especially Calella, a lively seaside town with a broad two-mile beach. 

When we looked in April 2023, a week-long all-inclusive break on the Costa Barcelona in early August was £263 cheaper, on average, than the next-cheapest destination in Spain: Costa Blanca, home to Benidorm.

…or another great-value location for all-inclusive packages

Our research has found that all-inclusive packages are better value than a DIY holiday in a range of short-haul destinations. And there are some in particular that we found offer great value. 

Spain’s Costa Dorada, Fuerteventura, the Greek island of Zakynthos and Dalaman on Turkey’s Turquoise Coast all offered cheap all-inclusive packages in August.

For long-haul breaks, Cancun in Mexico offers exceptional value. We found that the cheapest all-inclusive seven-night holiday (at a three-star hotel) was £1,500 cheaper for a couple sharing than the cost of booking all of the elements of the holiday separately.

Travel in shoulder season

Everyone knows that prices for all types of holiday rocket during the school holidays. But it’s still staggering just how much you can save by avoiding the peak summer period.

September is your best bet for a cheaper summer holiday – the weather should still be good and you can escape the crowds. 

The table below shows the biggest differences we found in average prices for Tui’s all-inclusive week-long holidays for two in August and September 2023.

Average all-inclusive saving in shoulder season

Book early or very late

If you’re restricted to peak times, book early, as demand always outstrips supply. We also found that the early price is sometimes cheaper, but it depends on the destination. 

When we compared prices on hundreds of Tui’s all-inclusive holidays we found that the average price for two people (for a week) in Turkey in July 2023 was £152 cheaper if you booked eight months in advance than if you booked three weeks ahead. The average price for Greece was £116 cheaper.

Alternatively, if you can hold your nerve until the last minute, prices have historically tended to drop within two to 12 weeks of travel, as agents rush to fill empty spaces.

There weren’t many empty spaces in 2023 when demand for holidays was extremely high. However, some destinations did offer good value. When we looked at prices in late July to travel the following week, we found that Tui’s cheapest last-minute destination for all-inclusive was the Canary Islands – particularly Tenerife, at an average cost of £917pp.

Compare tour operator prices

When you pay for everything upfront, it’s essential you get the best price to begin with. Take a look at our table of recommended package holiday providers for some benchmark pricing, and, crucially, unbiased reviews telling you whether the holiday’s likely to be any good. 

We don’t recommend only using comparison sites like Icelolly or Travel Supermarket, because their searches don’t include enough of the operators that we rate very highly.

The best travel deal websites like Travelzoo and Secret Escapes are worth a look. They’ll let you pounce on bargains – if you’re quick. Just make sure you read the small print, and find out which operator is supplying your package.

Book direct – and online

Travel agents offer excellent customer service, and often better rates, for complex holidays with lots of moving parts. But all-inclusive holidays are very straightforward, usually comprising just a flight, transfer and resort. And our research – Can a travel agent save you money? – found that you’ll get a better price for this type of holiday by booking directly with the operator online.

Our mystery shoppers paid multiple visits to Co-op Travel, Hays, Kuoni and Tui branches and found that a couple could have saved, on average, £162 for two weeks, all-inclusive, in the Dominican Republic by booking the same holiday online instead. In one example, it cost an extra £411 for the exact same trip.

Find out what’s included

Before you travel, check the details of your package to make sure you know what’s included, and budget for what isn’t. This will help you avoid any nasty surprises later on. 

A 2023 Post Office survey found that most all-inclusive holidaymakers overspent by an average of nearly £700 on their last trip. The culprit? Items not included in their all-inclusive package. One in seven said they were surprised that not everything was included. 

Find out if transfers are included or if you’ll have to shell out for airport taxis. And always check if activities cost extra. Two extras that frequently catch travellers out are spa treatments, which have increased in price by 21% of the last year, and water sports, up 39% according to the Post Office.

Don’t forget about drinks. If you’re limited to local beer or wine, but prefer cocktails or expensive international brands, your bar bill is likely to rocket. 

Your kitty will also dwindle if you snub the buffet in favour of the à la carte restaurant, or decide to eat out. Last year well over three quarters of all-inclusive holidaymakers spent significant amounts of money away from their resorts in local restaurants, bars and shops.

Sometimes there’s even an extra charge for bottled water.