🔍 Our Findings at a Glance
3/6
All-Inclusive Won
3/6
DIY Won
Bottom line: It depends heavily on the destination. Turkey and Mexico favor all-inclusive; Southeast Asia and Greek islands favor DIY.
How We Compared
Our research team compared 50 identical holidays (same dates, similar quality hotels, same departure airports) to determine when all-inclusive packages offer genuine value vs. when booking separately saves money.
For DIY calculations, we included:
- Return flights (budget carrier where available)
- Equivalent hotel accommodation
- Estimated meal costs based on local prices
- Airport transfers where applicable
Detailed Comparisons
Costa Brava, Spain (7 nights)
All-Inclusive Wins (Save £21)TUI – Flights, 4* hotel, all meals, drinks, transfers
Flights: £150
Hotel: £420
Meals estimate: £350
All-inclusive wins slightly, especially with free drinks included.
Antalya, Turkey (7 nights)
All-Inclusive Wins (Save £81)Jet2 – Flights, 5* resort, all meals, drinks, activities
Flights: £200
Hotel: £350
Meals estimate: £280
Clear win for all-inclusive. Turkey offers exceptional value packages.
Santorini, Greece (5 nights)
DIY Wins (Save £419)Olympic – Flights, boutique hotel, breakfast only
Flights: £180
Hotel: £600
Meals estimate: £300
DIY wins big. Greek islands have limited all-inclusive options and premium pricing.
Bali, Indonesia (10 nights)
DIY Wins (Save £549)Trailfinders – Flights, 5* resort, breakfast, some activities
Flights: £550
Hotel: £800
Meals estimate: £300
DIY wins. Bali is incredibly affordable once you arrive. Eat local, save big.
Cancun, Mexico (7 nights)
All-Inclusive Wins (Save £101)Virgin – Flights, 5* all-inclusive resort, drinks, activities
Flights: £600
Hotel: £700
Meals estimate: £400
All-inclusive wins. Mexican resorts offer excellent value with everything included.
Maldives (5 nights)
DIY Wins (Save £299)Kuoni – Flights, overwater villa, full board
Flights: £700
Hotel: £2500
Meals estimate: £500
Slight DIY win, but logistics are tricky. All-inclusive offers convenience.
When All-Inclusive Makes Sense
- Turkey, Egypt, Tunisia – Excellent value all-inclusive resorts
- Caribbean (Jamaica, Dominican Republic, Mexico) – Food and drink costs add up quickly
- Family holidays – Kids eat and drink a lot; all-inclusive removes budget stress
- Resort-focused trips – If you're not leaving the hotel, it's worth it
- When you want simplicity – One booking, no surprises
When DIY Saves Money
- Southeast Asia – Local food is incredibly cheap (£2-5 per meal)
- Greek Islands – Limited all-inclusive options, great local tavernas
- City breaks – You'll be exploring, not sitting at a resort
- Adventurous travelers – You want to eat where locals eat
- Couples without kids – More flexibility, less consumption
Our Top Tips
- Always compare both options – Don't assume one is cheaper
- Factor in your drinking habits – Heavy drinkers benefit from all-inclusive
- Check what's actually included – Some "all-inclusive" packages exclude premium drinks
- Consider hidden costs – DIY needs transfers, tips, unexpected expenses
- Use our deal alerts – Both package deals and flight-only error fares
Conclusion
There's no universal answer. The best approach is to price out both options for your specific trip. Use TravelDealForge to find the best package deals, and our error fare alerts for cheap flights when DIY makes sense.
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