The Pros and Cons of an All Inclusive Holiday in the Algarve
There’s No Need to Worry About Cooking or Finding Restaurants – If you want to go on holiday and fully relax, without having to worry about cooking or deciding on a restaurant, you might want to consider an all inclusive resort. As everything is on site, you don’t need to give a second thought as to what you are having for dinner. All you need to do is head to one of the restaurants in your hotel, sit down and enjoy a meal. This is especially helpful if you are travelling with a group or with children, when everyone wants to eat something slightly different.
You Are Less Likely to Explore Local Restaurants and Cuisine – One of the downsides of choosing an all inclusive holiday in the Algarve, is that you are less likely to explore local restaurants and cuisines. With all of your meals catered and paid for, there is no need to venture out for lunch or dinner. This could deter you, especially if you are looking at it from a financial point of view. With dinner included in your hotel booking, why would you go elsewhere and pay?
You Need Less Spending Money – Once you have paid for an all inclusive holiday, a lot of your holiday spending is already taken care of. This means you don’t need to pay for accommodation, food, drinks and entertainment once you are in the Algarve. In fact, some all inclusive resorts will also include snacks and airport transfers into the price. You can head to the Algarve with a lot less spending money, which can make budgeting abroad a lot easier.
There’s Lots to Keep Children Entertained – If you are travelling to the Algarve with children, you will need to think about entertaining them morning, noon and night. At an all inclusive resort, a lot of the entertainment is taken care of. Many all inclusive resorts provide kids clubs, activities and entertainers throughout the day; evening entertainment is also common at an all inclusive resort. This means you can sit back and relax, knowing your children are having a fantastic time.
It’s Easy to Make Holiday Friends – If you are someone who likes to make friends when they are abroad, an all inclusive resort is likely to make that a lot simpler. By spending a lot of time at the resort, you will start to see the same people every day. This makes it a lot easier to start a conversation, form a connection and build a friendship. Instead of meeting someone once and not seeing them again, you can talk to people knowing they will be there tomorrow.
Is Self Catering Accommodation in the Algarve a Better Option?
There are undeniable benefits that come with choosing an all inclusive resort, but many tourists prefer self catering accommodation. When you think about the benefits of self catering, you can see why it’s the ‘go to’ accommodation option for a lot of holidaymakers. It’s all to do with the fact that self catering accommodation offers a lot more freedom and flexibility. For example, you can come and go as you please, knowing that you aren’t missing a meal that has already been paid for or an activity that’s included in the price of your holiday. Here are some of the main benefits of self catering accommodation in the Algarve.
Better Value For Money – If you are someone who doesn’t drink a lot and you like to try a variety of foods, self catering is likely to offer a better value for money holiday experience. This is because all inclusive resorts include food and drink in the price of your stay, which can be wasted if you still want to eat out. With so many fantastic restaurants in the Algarve, self catering allows you to enjoy a greater variety of dishes.
Enjoy More Space – You are likely to have more space if you choose self catering accommodation. Instead of being confined to a single hotel room, you can enjoy a living room and kitchen. This additional space can make a huge difference if you are travelling as a family. Plus, instead of booking multiple hotel rooms, you can keep it simple by booking one apartment or villa. It’s the ideal way to feel as though you have a home away from home.
Feel Relaxed and Rejuvenated – If you are craving a holiday that will have you feeling relaxed and rejuvenated, self catering accommodation is likely to be the better option. Though there are certainly quiet all inclusive resorts in the Algarve, you will always have other guests around you. This is not the case if you rent a villa or apartment, as you will have your own private and secluded space.
The Most Popular Accommodation in the Algarve
There is no denying that all inclusive accommodation is popular in the Algarve and there are benefits to choosing it, especially for families, but it’s safe to say that more tourists opt for self catering options. This is because there is a lot to do in the Algarve, a lot of which involves going out and about. With self catering, you have the freedom to enjoy days out and local restaurants without worrying it’s additional money you shouldn’t be spending. You can head to a water park, venture to a secluded beach or visit a nearby village without worrying you will miss a meal that has already been paid for.
There are two main types of self catering accommodation in the Algarve; villas and apartments. Both of these provide everything you could need for an enjoyable holiday in the south of Portugal. You’ll have a living space and kitchen, and many self catering accommodations also have a swimming pool and outdoor space.