Why it's time to stop being a snob about all-inclusives

My middle daughter Bliss has not had a proper holiday for five years. She is a great traveller but two small children (and lockdown) has meant she has been pretty stuck. It was my dream to take them away before her oldest, four-year-old Elliott, starts school and they become trapped by the school holidays. Ivy, her little girl, is two.

As they live in south London and we live north, my eldest quipped, “They are lost to us now”. Not true, but I don’t spend as much time with my grandkids as I would like.

What I wanted was a holiday that would appeal to me, give my daughter a break and be an adventure for Ivy and Elliott. How could any one place deal with these conflicting demands?

I wanted decent food, a spa and some privacy away from the kids, as well as family time. Elliott’s demands were to see a gecko. Bliss wanted a rest and a chance to wear nice dresses in the evening and sit out and have dinner. You forget how with small children such things become precious.

The Wyndham Grand Crete Mirabello Bay looked too good be true. A villa in a resort and all inclusive. I really don’t know why anyone turns their noses up at all-inclusive deals. Sure, I endured some pretty low rent ones when my kids were little in Majorca and Tunisia, where the food was fairly rank, but a good all-inclusive will free up your time and your headspace. These days there are plenty of elegant all-inclusive options in Europe to choose from.

You don’t have to think about meals, snacks round the pool or the price of tequila. It’s bliss. No one is going to hit you with a massive bill at the end of the holiday because you said ‘yes’ to every request for an ice cream (as you long gave up any idea of getting them to eat a vegetable on holiday).

So, Crete it was. And really, can you go wrong with Greece? I am not sure you can. Having being all over the world, I rediscovered Greece a few years ago and wondered why I was doing long haul flights when the many treasures of Greece are in reach.

To say the kids were over-excited is an understatement. They had their little cases packed a week before we went. They had never flown before and I was only worried that nothing could live up to their expectations, but Jet2 made sure we all sat together even though we booked last minute. We were whisked off from Heraklion in a cool car and checked in less than an hour later.

It was late so the hotel had left out platters of charcuterie, cheese and cakes for us. And a bottle of fizz. My bedroom and big bathroom were downstairs. Bliss and the kids were upstairs with their own bathroom and big TVs in both rooms. The best bit, though, was our terrace with our own pool overlooking the bay.

Magic. The one thing we had to worry about was Ivy, who at two is rather like her reckless mother and is prone to throwing herself into any water despite the fact she can’t swim. Thankfully, Bliss was equipped with all the latest floaty things that little ones wear.

The kids were up for breakfast. Pancakes and sausages with chocolate sauce. Me? I was just happy with the coffee machine in the room. The big question of the day: where to go swimming? So many pools, so little time! We dipped in our own pool, of course, and then down to the kids’ pool with waterslides. There is an adult pool for those who want peace and another with a swim up bar for those who want to frolic and be shouted at by gym bunnies.

Water aerobics? Our most strenuous activity that day was a wine tasting. I thought we would have to put the children into the kids’ club but I had forgotten just how accommodating  Greek people are with youngsters. “They can go wine tasting too, why not?” So into the spooky cave for apple juice they went, while we sampled Greek and specifically Cretan wines.

Every night there was a kids’ disco. If you haven’t heard I’m a Gummy Bear mixed into Dame Shirley Bassey and then hard house Macarena, quite frankly you haven’t lived. There were also shows but our kids were bushed by then and so were we. Those signature cocktails don’t drink themselves you know.

The highlight of the next day was that Elliott learnt to swim. “This is the best day of my life,” he declared. Actually he said that of every day of the holiday, which as far as I am concerned are top Gran points.

We ate in all the different restaurants. Bliss had stunning octopus with fava at the Bay Grill. For those without kids there is a shisha patio and every kind of water sport, from diving to pedalos, as well as a large fully equipped gym and indoor pool.

The whole deal with this resort is that you can shape your holiday around your needs. Everything is there, but if you want to go off and explore Crete then you can. There is a shop at the hotel where you can buy volcanic soap, groceries and spectacular jewellery. Bliss and I each had an anti-stress massage in the spa, but to be honest the whole place is stress-free.

The buffets are not the mad rammed affairs you get in some places, there is loads of shade around the pools and the beach. Nothing is too much for the staff. When we asked for a change of sheets as Ivy had been a little sick, they asked if we needed a doctor. She was completely fine but perhaps four desserts had been over-ambitious

Having learnt to swim, Elliott was also having the time of his life as the guys that drove the golf buggies around would let him drive too.

On the last day we went out on a speed boat to the island of Spinalonga. It was incredible — we went past caves which pirates had stowed their hauls in. While I was a little nervous, Ivy was shouting  “Faster, faster”. Bliss and the kids sat on the edge of the boat trailing their feet in the cobalt blue water. Manos the boatman then, of course, handed over the steering to Elliott who I thought may explode with excitement.

That night when I went off for my sundowner (Bliss and I gave each other little breaks, as you need to), I felt overcome with happiness. It’s not often that something lives up to expectations for everyone. She WhatsApped me back the wisdom of Elliott who announced, “What’s better then walking on a hot day in wet shoes in Greece”?

The formula to a multi-generational holiday is simple: if the kids are happy then the adults will be too. But that’s not enough on its own, and I have been on enough trips to know that adults deserve some luxury too or you can feel infantilised into a world of chicken nuggets and magic shows.

Here the grown-ups get to be grown-ups too — from fine dining to spa treats to adventure sports. It was as great for me to have adult time with my adult daughter as it was to be with the grandkids. Wyndham lets you build the holiday you want. And build it we certainly did. Nothing but the grandest of memories.

Deluxe room with garden view on B&B basis from £207 a night during peak season, and £189 a night during shoulder months in September/October. wyndhamgrandmirabello.com

Five more family-friendly all inclusive hotels

Daios Cove Crete

A five-star resort hugging the Aegean sea. Wellness is a strong focus (hyperbaric chambers! 3D bodyscans! Cryotherapy!) and the kids’ club takes little ones as young as four months old. And breathe…

From £612 per night, daioscovecrete.com

Ikos Porto Petro Mallorca

Ikos specialises in super-luxury all-inclusives, so you’re in exceedingly safe hands. This one has five pools, five restaurants (with Michelin starred chefs, no less) and six bars including a theatre.

From £1,457 for five nights, ikosresorts.com

Elix, Mar-Bella Collection Parga, Greece

All-day unlimited ice cream, champagne and Ofsted-grade kids’ clubs. What more do you need to know?

From £270 per night, marbella.gr

Tivoli Alvor Algarve Resort Portugal

A grand offering with nearly 500 rooms and endless daily activities for kids. The  gorgeous beach is just a 10-minute walk away and there is a circus on Saturdays. Roll up!

From £206 per night, tivolihotels.com

Gran Tacande Wellness & Relax Tenerife

Enormous bedrooms, sea views and the most wonderful staff make this an affordable choice you won’t regret.

From £136 per night, dreamplacehotels.com