All-Inclusive Vs Self-Catered: 20 Pics Taken By Real Vacationers To Help You Decide

The choice between all-inclusive and self-catering accommodations has a huge impact on the bill that comes at the end of a trip. It’s not just about the money though. Choosing the right place to stay will affect vacation quality too. The first step in making an informed decision is understanding the difference between these two options.

Guests booking an all-inclusive vacation should expect prices to reflect food, drinks, accommodations, and some activities. That expectation is understood internationally. The same can’t be said for self-catered accommodations. For European readers, the term “self-catered” will probably bring to mind holiday homes or apartment hotels. Others will probably think of a hotel room with a kitchen.

With so much variation, only pictures taken by real vacationers can provide a clear view.

20 Self-Catered: Historic Buildings Don't Have Room For Restaurants

Abbeys and castles renovated for guests preserve the old-timey aesthetic outside of guest suites. Offering resort-like amenities would be impossible to do without ruining the charm. The above example is Aikwood Tower in England. Larger venues like the Augustus Abbey offer a similar setting for a lower price.

19 All-Inclusive: You Will Pay For Things You Won't Use

Taking advantage of everything that a resort has to offer is only possible if the resort isn’t offering very much. Resorts may have golf courses, game rooms, spas, gyms, and an abundance of other amenities that collect dust somewhere on the premises. Consider these factors when deciding on a package.

18 Self-Catered: It Doesn't Mean You Have To Cook

Daily restaurant visits are a viable option for anyone who doesn’t want to cook every day. It will most certainly be more expensive than eating at an all-inclusive resort. However, as long as other aspects of the budget are monitored, you can make it out alive without breaking the bank.

17 All-Inclusive: Budget In Advance

Flights, hotels, and meals are typically all wrapped up into the all-inclusive package booking price. That makes it easier to determine how much money needs to be saved for the trip and how much will be left over for souvenir shopping. Self-caters must do the numbers themselves.

16 Self-Catered: Easier To Find Hotels That Accept Pets

The restrictions of self-catering accommodations in Europe are far more lenient than the average hotel based on Booking listings. They have more in common with vacation home rentals. Most will allow small dogs at the least. Pet owners with cats or large dogs may still encounter some difficulties.

15 All-Inclusive: Non-Motorized Water Sports Equipment Is Included

Booking outings yourself or through a resort doesn’t have much of an effect on the price. Though resorts may tack on an invisible service fee, all-inclusive resorts provide equipment for the most common water sports like paddleboarding and snorkeling which can lower cost for active travelers.

14 Self-Catered: Eat Whenever You Want

Prepaying for all meals puts pressure on guests to eat at designated times. Frugal travelers may adjust to the resort schedule, but late-risers will sleep through every breakfast. Self-catering guests can enjoy breakfast at 8 pm if they so choose. They also only pay for what they eat.

13 All-Inclusive: Unlimited Alcohol Is Included

Resorts that don’t include unlimited alcohol are few and far between. At most resorts, waiters continue to serve customers for free as long as they don’t appear to have passed a reasonable limit of intoxication. Premium labels and room service are the standard exceptions to this rule.

12 Self-Catered: Sourcing Products For Home Cooking Is A Lot Of Work

Some menu items may prove impossible to find in certain regions of the world. If they can be located, finding them for a decent price becomes the next challenge. Language barriers multiply that challenge tenfold. Especially in outdoor markets where sellers can pick a price out of thin air.

11 All-Inclusive: Rooms With Kitchens Or Kitchenettes Are An Option

It’s not necessary to commit to resort food. If the decision between all-inclusive and self-catered hotels comes down to food or no food, consider booking a room with a kitchenette as a compromise. Be prepared for it to be a bit more expensive than the average room.

10 Self-Catered: Casual Interior Design Soothes Homesickness

Apartment hotels tend to have a homey feel because in addition to their use as vacation lodging, they’re used by travelers who expect to spend months at a time in town. This helps to make guests coming from faraway countries feel less like foreigners and more like welcome residents.

9 All-Inclusive: Beverages Beyond Alcohol Are Included

Sober guests who are used to drinking a glass of orange juice with breakfast or tea with lunch benefit from all-inclusive packages too. Full board packages don’t even cover water at some resorts. While everyone might not be interested in drinking alcohol, everyone will be drinking something.

8 Self-Catered: Unique Living Spaces

As many self-catering lodges aren’t part of resorts, architects are free to experiment with shapes and designs. An example is the Lokal Hotel A-Frame Cabin in New Jersey shown here. The more adventurous Craighead Howf Lodges are built in a way that resembles fantasy hobbit homes.

7 All-Inclusive: Free Services Add Value

Resort packages may include daily massages or a certain number of spa treatments for the duration of the stay. Both of these examples are more expensive on average than a plate at a buffet or dinner at a restaurant. Similar services should be considered when looking at a package prices.

6 Self-Catered: Easy To Create A Sober Environment

The beloved unlimited alcohol policy at most resorts keeps sober guests from booking. Parents may also be reluctant to take their children into such an environment. Self-catering resorts are an easy solution to this problem. Guests are far less likely to be confronted with alcohol on the premises.

5 All-Inclusive: More Expensive Overall

All-inclusive packages are always pricier than lower-level packages and self-catering. That being said, self-catering vacationers who book the same restaurants and activities that would’ve been included in a package will end up with a higher bill anyway. Self-catering entails the sacrifice of some luxuries.

4 Self-Catered: Resorts With The Relaxation Essentials Are Available

Self-caterers aren’t missing out on as much since apartment hotels often have pools and gyms just like regular apartments. Ski resorts in Europe get public sauna instead. That covers the amenities that most people look forward to using when booking a room at an all-inclusive resort.

3 All-Inclusive: Picky Eaters Don't Get To Pick

Buffets are meant to provide multiple options, but at the end of the day, they’re options all prepared by the same chefs. Guests with allergies are out of luck unless they inquire about cross-contamination in advance. Others will find that eating the same breakfast every day gets old.

2 Self-Catered: No Staff To Depend On

Guests who book without a package at all-inclusive resorts will have access to the same staff. It’s apartment hotels and lodges that aren’t required to provide things like housekeepers, concierges, and chefs. Travelers who are nervous about their trips may consider the lack of available help a downside.

1 All-Inclusive: Free Wi-Fi Access

Every resort is expected to include free Wi-Fi access in the modern era. Low-rated hotels may charge per minute, but they’re sure to get an earful in reviews. On the other hand, self-catered lodges are often built into former homes and apartments. Wi-Fi can be completely separate.

Next: Interested In Booking An All-Inclusive? These Are The Cheapest Times To Book