Rethinking the All-Inclusive Experience
If you’d asked me a few months ago, I would have confidently argued against all‑inclusive resorts. They sounded lazy, generic, and a bit soulless. The idea of flying somewhere just to stay in one place with a “kids club” felt like the opposite of how I like to travel.
Then we tried planning trips with a three‑year‑old and a one‑year‑old, and the equation changed. Every “independent” option came with a long list of hidden costs: groceries, cooking, dishes, cleaning, negotiating nap times around restaurant opening hours. By the time you add that up, the holiday starts to look suspiciously like real life, just with more sand.
A week in Djerba, on a small island off the coast of Tunisia, made the trade‑offs very clear. At this stage of life, an all‑inclusive isn’t a concession; it’s just a necessity. The real luxury wasn’t the room or the beach; it was not having to think about what’s for dinner. With the mental load of meals and tidying outsourced, I could actually pay attention to my kids, my partner, and the place we were in. For the first time in a long time, I felt genuinely relaxed.
The Flavours of Tunisia
The food was one of the clearest arguments in favour of this trip. I ended up pivoting my entire breakfast routine to match the local style, and I still miss it back home.
Some standouts included:
- Homemade bread: Fresh, warm, pita‑style flatbreads coming out every single day. Simple, but dangerously easy to overdo.
- Bsissa: A traditional, nutrient‑dense mix of ground grains (often chickpeas or sorghum) and olive oil. It became my default breakfast: a small bowl, a spoon, spread on the bread and you’re set for the morning.
- The classics: Proper couscous with lamb stew and tomato‑based sauce. Familiar enough, but with a flavour and depth you don’t get from the “couscous salad” version you get at home.
- Fresh catch: Most days at lunch we had fish grilled on the barbecue, often just dressed with lemon and olive oil.
Pairing a glass of Tunisian rosé with grilled fish at the small restaurant by the beach felt like the right way to do lunch. The main buffet was busy and lively, but having that quieter spot by the waves made the whole setup click for me.
Exploring Djerba
While we spent plenty of time between the swimming pool and the seaside, we did venture out to see the soul of the island:
- The Souks by Coach: We took a horse-drawn carriage organized by the hotel to the local markets.
- Djerbahood & Gellalà: We took a taxi to explore the island, including a town famous for its street art. Every wall was a canvas for different artists, making the streets feel incredibly charming and characteristic. It may be a tourist favorite, but it felt authentic and vibrant.
A Heartfelt Welcome
What truly moved me was the Tunisian people. Often, when you travel with very young children, you feel a bit of “parental anxiety” about them making noise or disturbing others.
In Djerba, it was the opposite. The locals were incredibly caring, charming, and genuinely welcoming toward our kids. It didn’t feel like “customer service”; it felt like a genuine cultural warmth.
Final Thoughts
This trip was a reminder that sometimes the best way to travel is to let go of the chores and let yourself be taken care of. Djerba offered us a perfect mix of relaxation, incredible cuisine, and cultural charm. If you’re traveling with little ones, don’t sleep on the all-inclusive life—it might just be the reset you need.
