AlCl3: ionic and covalent?
The distinction between ionic and covalent compounds is arbitrary and many compounds fall somewhere in the middle. This is explained in a previous question.

In the case of $\ce{AlCl3}$ we have a metal 'cation' and a non-metal 'anion' so in a simplistic view we would expect this to be an ionic compound. However, it actually turns out that the $\ce{Al-Cl}$ bonds display a significant degree of covalent character. In the solid state it adopts an 'ionic lattice' structure with octahedral coordination for the $\ce{Al^{3+}}$ ions but in the liquid and gas phases it exists as a covalent compound, either as $\ce{AlCl3}$ or as a dimer $\ce{Al2Cl6}$.

We can rationalize this by considering the polarizing effect of the aluminium cation on the chloride anions. $\ce{Al^{3+}}$ is a small, highly charged cation and therefore has a high charge density. $\ce{Cl-}$ is a relatively large anion, with a low charge density and is easily polarized by the hard cation, giving the bond significant covalent character. The effect is even more pronounced if we move to a larger anion such as $\ce{I-}$ where the molecule, $\ce{AlI3}$ exists as a covalent dimer, $\ce{Al2I6}$, even in the solid phase.