Best all-inclusive holidays for a child-free weekend
THE price of a big night out in the UK costs on average £74 per person when you factor in food, travel and drinks.
When you’re looking at those kinds of numbers, it makes way more sense to splash the cash on the latest trend for Brit holidaymakers – all inclusive weekenders in a hot country.
I searched every autumn weekend across October and November to find the absolute cheapest two-night all-inclusive packages for two adults – including return flights.
Somehow, you can jump on a plane, sleep in a hotel, eat three meals a day, enjoy unlimited drinks, and soak up some sunshine for little more than the cost of a couple of nights out at home. Grandparents, get the babysitting schedule ready.
Cala Millor, Majorca – £180pp in October
Cala Millor is one of the best places for international date nights, with its immaculate sandy beach and a flat, palm-lined promenade if you fancy stepping outside the hotel gates for an evening wander.
Early October still feels properly summery in Majorca, with temperatures around 25C – warm enough for poolside lounging without the oppressive August heat.
And you can lock in two nights all-inclusive at the BLUESEA Don Jaime for £180pp.
The outbound flight leaves Birmingham at 7.35pm on Friday and lands in Palma at 11.05pm, so there’s no need to sacrifice a full day’s annual leave.
Even better, the return flight doesn’t leave Palma until 11.15pm on Sunday, landing back in Birmingham at 12.50am – giving you almost all of Sunday on the island.
The hotel sits close to Cala Millor’s main strip and around five minutes’ walk from the seafront, with an outdoor pool, sun terrace and buffet restaurant to eliminate virtually all food-related admin for the weekend.
Alanya, Turkey – £195pp in October
If serious heat is your primary objective, Alanya takes the top spot on the shortlist.
The Turkish Riviera regularly stays in the mid-twenties throughout October, while its beaches, bars and resorts remain alive and kicking long after the British summer has packed up.
I found two nights all-inclusive at Sun Star Beach Hotel for £195pp, with the flight leaving London Stansted at 7.55pm on Friday meaning you can complete the working week before heading to the airport.
The return flight then leaves Antalya at 4.30pm on Sunday and lands back at Stansted at 6.55pm, so you’ll still get most of Sunday in Turkey without arriving home in the middle of the night.
The hotel sits in Mahmutlar and has its own beach area, an outdoor pool with waterslides and an on-site Turkish bath and spa.
For knackered parents, that means you can spend the weekend alternating between the hammam, the beach and the all-inclusive bar. A demanding schedule.
Calas de Mallorca, Majorca – £180pp in October
We’re heading back to Majorca for mid-October, but this time to the more peaceful east coast where it sits at 24C mid-October.
Calas de Mallorca is built around a series of sheltered, dramatic coves rather than one enormous resort strip, making it ideal if your perfect child-free weekend involves making as few decisions as humanly possible.
You can grab two nights all-inclusive at HSM Canarios Park for £180pp.
The outbound flight leaves Birmingham at 7.35pm on Friday, so you can work the day before setting off, and the Sunday flight leaves at 11.15pm, unlocking virtually the whole weekend without using a full day of annual leave.
The real trade secret at HSM Canarios Park is its free shuttle bus, which drops guests at Cala Antena Beach.
The hotel also has three outdoor pools, mini golf, tennis courts and a poolside bar – so you can get competitive before a post-workout tipple.
Lloret de Mar, Spain – £225pp in October
Late October on the Costa Brava loses the peak-summer surge of tourists while keeping hold of pleasant daytime temperatures of around 22C.
I hunted down two nights all-inclusive at BLUESEA Copacabana for £225pp.
The flight leaves London Luton at 7.40pm on Friday, allowing you to finish work before disappearing to Spain.
The return departs Barcelona at 4.10pm on Sunday and lands back at Luton at 5.35pm, getting you home at a surprisingly sensible time while still giving you the chance to spend the morning and early afternoon wringing every last drop out of the all-inclusive bar.
The hotel is close to Lloret de Mar town centre, putting you within easy reach of its shops, seafront promenades, tapas bars and beaches.
It may still be difficult to peel yourself away from the hotel’s sun terrace and outdoor pool, though – particularly once you’ve established a steady flow of all-inclusive drinks and snacks.
Agadir, Morocco – £150pp in November
This is the single best deal on the entire list, for me.
While the UK drops into its usual grey drizzle, Agadir serves up temperatures in the mid-twenties and miles of golden sand.
And for anyone who thinks Morocco is too far for a couple of nights, the outbound flight takes less than four hours.
It leaves London Stansted at 3.45pm on Friday and lands in Agadir at 7.35pm, meaning you may only need to take Friday afternoon off work.
And the return flight leaves Morocco at 7.30pm on Sunday and lands back at Stansted at 11.25pm, giving you almost all of Sunday in the sunshine.
You can secure two nights all-inclusive at El Pueblo Tamlelt for a frankly ridiculous £150pp.
It’s a sprawling, traditional Moroccan-style resort surrounded by gardens, with several pools, restaurants and bars.
And Agadir’s enormous beach and seafront promenade are only a short walk away, too.
El Arenal, Majorca – £155pp in November
El Arenal sits on Majorca’s southern coast, delivering a wide, flat seafront promenade, easy beach walks and plenty of open cafes, bars and restaurants.
November is mild here, with temperatures around 20C, making it a brilliant low-cost escape from the weather, household chores and anything requiring a packed lunch.
The flight leaves London Gatwick at 5.05pm on Friday and lands in Palma at 8.25pm.
Even better, the Sunday return doesn’t leave Palma until 10.45pm, landing back at Gatwick at 12.15am, giving you another full day on the island.
I found two nights all-inclusive at BLUESEA Mediodia for just £155pp.
The hotel sits only around 80m from the sand and right in the heart of El Arenal, meaning you can fit in an early-morning beach walk before heading back for an unlimited breakfast.
Albufeira, Portugal – £175pp in November
Albufeira is a really smart late-autumn pick because its Old Town remains open and lively long after summer ends.
You get historic cobbled streets, cliff-backed beaches and seafront restaurants without fighting half of Britain for a table – and temperatures up to 20C in the day.
And yes, there is a greater chance of rain than in summer, but there’s also every chance of blue skies, alfresco drinks and wondering why you ever considered the local cinema.
The outbound flight leaves Newcastle at 5.20pm on Friday, fitting neatly around the working day.
And the return leaves Faro at 5.25pm on Sunday, so you still get most of Sunday in Portugal without rolling through the front door after midnight.
You can book two nights all-inclusive at the four-star Grand Muthu Forte da Oura for £175pp.
The hotel is close to Oura Beach and the lively Areias de Sao Joao area, with a large outdoor pool and spacious terrace surrounded by gardens.
Perfect for an Aperol Spritz-fuelled wander before heading down to the beach.
Torremolinos, Costa del Sol – £180pp in November
Closing out November, Torremolinos delivers mild 20C Andalusian weather, a gorgeous seafront and excellent fresh seafood in the historic La Carihuela district.
I spotted two nights all-inclusive at the four-star BLUESEA Al-Andalus for £180pp.
The flight leaves Dublin at 5.05pm on Friday, so there’s no need to lose your entire Friday.
And the return doesn’t leave Málaga until 10.30pm on Sunday, meaning you can squeeze the maximum possible amount of sunshine out of a two-night stay.
The hotel is set in peaceful subtropical gardens, with an outdoor pool and sun terrace and within walking distance of La Carihuela Beach – famous for its long promenade and plenty of dangerously tempting seafood restaurants.
That is a four-star all-inclusive escape for less than some couples spend on dinner, drinks and a taxi home. No-brainer.