Day 1 of holiday. Hell.

People outside the UK don’t really mind about taking children out of school for holidays.

My friends mom was a teacher and told me they were all delighted to have less kids in the class when parents took them off somewhere for a week.

I’d suggest getting a better paid job.

I hate AI.
Did it once - never again.
My advice - rent a villa. Totally private, I always get one with a pool, eat out every night or BBQ local food at the villa. Get a cleaner mid way through your stay, and bedding change.
Fill the fridge with drinks & snacks - sooooo much better than any AI.
No fighting for loungers, can leave your book/sun tan lotion/speaker etc by the pool when you go out/for a nap.
it’s the best way to holiday. I can reccomend some villas if you want.

If you really want an AI that is eye watering,then I recommend Neilson holiday on Lindos 😉

Sounds positively ghastly!

I assume you have children? It always amuses me when people go on a term time holiday and act like they’re a bit above the rest of us, even though they can’t afford to go in school holidays so what’s there to brag about?

My strategy is to do cheap and close to home for a couple of years in a row so that every few years I can really splash out.

You are probably not in a 5 star all inclusive, they are pretty amazing! I love the Mitsis Laguna Spa hotel in Crete and Mitsis Blue Domes in Kos. Ikos also have some pretty fab hotels. So where exactly are you staying?

What do people do who are like me but equally don’t have the Dorchester budget?

Don't book AI. Book self catering and eat at a different taverna every evening or book bed and breakfast at a hotel and eat at tavernas for lunch and dinner.

AI doesn't appeal to us so we don't do it.

I wizzed to Rhodes a couple of weeks ago and we had a fabulous time. Apartments were fantastic,beautiful views,caught a bus to Limnos ,amazing food at the restaurant at our apartments . We probably spent £200 each for food and drinks .Cost £400 inc flight for a week. Going AI is always a let down so just don’t do it!

Ikos is a good choice if you want all inclusive but overpriced and food isn't that great in my opinion for the price. Best to do a villa holiday in an area which is known for its restaurants/local cuisine and book the best local restaurants for dinner each night. Unless you need a kids club in which case there aren't so many options unless you have a lots of £££.

Its hard when you are looking forward to something, paid good money for it and you can't enjoy it.

We had a lovely (first) AI on one of the Greek Islands a few years ago. My kids still say it was the best holiday they've ever had. Pretty annoying as it was by far the cheapest holiday too.

I didn't like the food but they loved being able to help themselves.

We ate breakfast, went off in a hire car (all day and every day), had lunch and coffees in Greek restaurants and went back in time to shower and have dinner. Then DH had a beer or two while the kids danced with the (very poor) entertainment crew and we went to bed by 11pm every night.

We paid approx 1K for one week for the whole family including flights, accommodation and meals/drinks.

I thought it was very good value tbh. We have gone back to renting apts and doing a mix of self catering and eating out since but the AI was the easiest holiday we've ever had.

There were mostly French and Eastern European staying in our accommodation at the time. The French were fairly loud as they were a big group but they all sat at a big table so it was easy enough to sit away from them. The Eastern Europeans spent all day topping up their tans by the pool as far as I could tell.

Nobody was drunk/messy.

Home Exchange. You can exchange your nice home to stay somewhere also very nice. There are some great (and luxury) places on there. And no money changes hands!

AI hotels can really vary in quality and whether they feel exclusive. When I had small kids who were fussy eaters and a pain in the arse at bedtime I quite liked the buffet style of AI and its lack of formality. My half feral toddler gorging on chips and mini sausages didn't draw any looks of disaprovement. Now my kids are older and a bit more civilised we actually prefer to take our time over dinner so prefer to book a villa or apartment and then eat out at nice restaurants.

That said, we stayed at a terrible one on Lanzarote and there were kids running around mine sweeping sugar loaded cocktails all night...we hated it.

I was in ikos in Crete last year. It was amazing in parts. Best restaurants I’ve ever seen, best beach ever, room was just ok and a glass balcony screen that was filthy. Then housekeeping guy came round just before dinner time each day and walked right into bathroom with the new towels while I was in shower. Never even knocked door. I won’t ever go back.

I hate all inclusive. I hate everything about it.

Like you, I did it twice. I thought that the first was bad luck, wrong place, wrong hotel.
But no, I’m not built for it.

I think that it really is a case of different strokes for different folks. Some people obviously love it.

Yeah. I want descriptions of the plebs too, please. Their dental floss bikinis, tattoos, fake tans....

Ugh. Lots of snobs on this thread, OP included, who think they’re better than the rest of us.

Wishing you a miserable time.

Think of yourself as an anthropologist viewing the habits of a different

It’s not the board type. It’s clearly the type of hotels / quality you’re booking

if you want luxury AI then you need to be looking at Ikos, Sani, Rixos, Regnum

I don't think I could handle an all-inclusive as I like the freedom of choosing a different place to eat every night. I would feel very confined on an all-inclusive holiday. I just don't see the attraction.
Same with buffets. I just don't enjoy or appreciate all you can eat.

I’m a snob when it comes to holidays, but still often go all inclusive. The last one I went to in Cyprus was quite small, all day service to the sun lounger, right on the beach, a la carte included, two pools. Even if you were in the pool they made sure to come and take your drinks order. It wasn’t cheap though, not sure what you’ve spent.

You're maybe picking the wrong destinations.

Try - where haven't you heard lots of people going to?

Or cruises, and really research the cruise lines. When you have dress codes, it does seem to filter the crowd....

Should’ve gone to Ikos 🤷🏼‍♀️

Yes

And avoid looking in the metaphorical mirror 🙄