I have to admit, I’m not usually one for all-inclusive resorts - especially in Ibiza, where it doesn’t exactly feel like the obvious choice for a girls’ trip. I’ve always associated all-inclusive with big family holidays, the pre-breakfast rush to claim a sun bed with a towel (IYKYK), and kids’ clubs where I used to make all my ‘holiday friends’ when I was younger.
When I think of Ibiza, I think of beach clubs, sunset drinks and late nights - not buffet dinners and wristbands. But after visiting the island around five times and doing my fair share of restaurant hopping, I felt like I knew it well enough to try something different this time.
The brief for this trip was simple: a quick two-night break with my best friend, a bit of partying, a lot of sunshine, and as little planning stress as possible. Instead of my usual routine of trawling Skyscanner for the cheapest flights from London while keeping about 20 hotel tabs open, I decided to search for package holidays to see whether there was a more affordable way to do it - and came across First Choice.
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Part of TUI Group, it’s best known for affordable all-inclusive trips, but there was more variety than I expected, from adults-only hotels and beach breaks to spa stays and family-friendly resorts. What drew me in was how easy it made the whole process feel. You can book the core parts of your trip in one place - flights, hotel and the option to add transfers - and see the price upfront, without worrying about extra costs creeping in once you’re there. Hand luggage is included on TUI Airways flights, and extras like experiences can be added if you want them, so it still feels flexible without the usual back-and-forth of planning everything separately.
The online booking process was straightforward too - although it’s worth checking the options properly. One thing I would say is that there wasn’t a huge amount of choice when it came to flights and airports. For Ibiza, our only option was Gatwick, which wouldn’t usually be my first pick. If you want to keep costs down, it’s also worth sticking with the recommended flights, although these can sometimes mean arriving late or spending part of your trip travelling. There are alternative flights available, but at an added cost.
We stayed at Grand Palladium White Island Resort & Spa in Playa d’en Bossa, which is one of the best areas to stay for a short Ibiza trip IMO. The hotel sits right on the island’s longest beach and is close to places like Ushuaïa Ibiza Beach Hotel, Hard Rock Hotel Ibiza and Hï Ibiza, so you still feel close to the action without being completely in the middle of it.
Once we had our all-inclusive wristbands - which quickly became the most useful accessory of the trip - we headed straight to dinner at Sa Prunera, the buffet restaurant just off the main lobby where breakfast is also served each morning. After travelling, not having to start searching for somewhere to eat was exactly what we needed, especially before heading out again later that evening.
The hotel itself had that classic polished Ibiza look - whitewashed buildings, palm-lined walkways and a huge open pool area that felt sociable, but still spacious enough to properly switch off. And if you’re more of a beach person, there’s direct access to soft white sand and crystal-blue water, so you can be by the sea within minutes - dreamy.
Our Superior Room was simple but stylish, and exactly what we needed for a two-night stay. With bamboo floors, a large wooden headboard, crisp white sheets, a small seating area and a balcony with sun beds overlooking the main pool, I wouldn’t say it was overly luxurious, but considering we weren’t going to be spending loads of time in the room, it was perfect.
The food was one of the things that surprised me most. I’ll admit, I’m not always convinced by all-inclusive dining, but with five restaurants on site, there was much more variety than I expected. Three of the restaurants are set a short walk away in a little courtyard area, which we loved, as it still felt like we were going out for dinner even though we were only a few minutes from our room.
There was a good mix of relaxed and more elevated dining options, so you could keep things casual by the pool during the day and still dress up a little in the evening. Because we were only there for a short time, we didn’t manage to try everything, but dinner at La Doña was a highlight. The vibey Mexican restaurant served everything from spicy fajitas and tacos to quesadillas and burritos, all on an outdoor, cactus-filled terrace that felt very Ibiza (well, except for the food).
We also made good use of the poolside snack bars and the 24-hour buffet, which meant we never had to think too hard about where to eat or grab a drink. In Ibiza, where one cocktail out can cost the same as my lunch back home - having alcoholic beverages included pretty much all day, and into the evening made a huge difference and probably saved us a lot in the long-run.
Would I book with First Choice again? Honestly, yes - but I think it depends on the kind of trip.
For a short break where I wanted everything sorted in one place and didn’t want to spend weeks comparing flights, transfers and hotels, it worked really well. It took away a lot of the usual pre-holiday admin and made the whole thing feel much more straightforward.
I also loved being able to see the cost upfront. There was something really refreshing about knowing everything was already covered, so once I arrived I could just relax into the trip rather than thinking about what I still had to pay for at the other end.
If I were planning a longer trip, or wanted more choice around flights, airports and hotels, I’d probably go for sites with more flexibility, like Skyscanner or Booking.com. But for a quick Ibiza break - somewhere I wasn’t too worried about fully exploring, and where I was happy to make the most of the hotel - it was ideal.
