Day 1 of holiday. Hell.

Thats not a fair assumption!
I think it can often come as shock how different people are on the same holiday.

One of my favourite places is a fairly tacky resort. There are always some really rough British families, some really healthy sports freaks ( it’s a fantastic location for cycling and running) and plenty of Scandinavian groups with their quirks. We are all on the same beach, in the same restaurants and visiting the same attractions.

It is odd. She is probably middle class based on that money which is very very common. It just sounds like she's being a snob for no reason at all. She is holidaying within her budget, and therefore the same as the people she is holidaying with.

No idea. I’m sure we’d all like to have more money for holidays no matter what our budget! However, obviously nobody can expect 5 star service and a pleasant environment for peanuts: you get what you pay for and have to find the best options within your budget. If it’s the case that the OP is not able to afford a good AI hotel that isn’t an indication that all AI hotels are awful, rather that she should look at other options which may provide better value for money on a low budget, or work to improve her earning prospects.

Nothing classy about snobbery.

It's not that odd. Snobbery is usually more to do with class than money. I'm sure there are lots of expensive holidays which would not necessarily find favour with snobs. Equally there are quite a few types of inexpensive holidays that are very popular with upper middle class types.

I agree that you are being a snobs, which is a bit odd because a combined income of 100k isn't much at all. Not a lot you can do now, just book better next time rather than going on a budget holiday.

But the star system us actually given on facilities available

Is Ikos & the like affordable on the OPs income. Isn't that what she is saying.

After another sleepless night we asked to change rooms. We were given a room on the other side of the hotel with a warning that the next door hotel also has a nightclub / disco but it was much better because they only played music until midnight. We are early sleepers having to get up at 5am for my husband to be on the start line of this event we are here for so had to endure the loudest music until 12. So a better night with 5 hours sleep.

Pic of boiled chicken (at breakfast).

When I was with an ex bf we would go all inclusive because when we went self catering he would insist on going from restaurant to restaurant in the vicinity until he could find the cheapest lunch and dinner. The difference could have been €1 and would then moan because he was disappointed with it. I would be on the verge of throttling him so all inclusive was better for me to be able to have a pleasant holiday.

I never went to an AI hotel where I had the experience of "Brits abroad".

Because human children are considered, by most other humans, to be part of society and actually a good thing, rather than considered to be a pest engendering the same level of disgust as a cockroach. HTH.

Eagerly awaiting 😬

Hire a car and get out of the hotel and its resort for now. Stop going to Greece which is massively overpriced. Try Albania or Montenegro - similar climate, nices, cheaper places - and you will be able to book lovely hotels with a great choice of restaurants around.

Sounds wonderful!

This

I hate all inclusive. I also hate hotels. I have a very peopley job and don’t want to mix with them while I’m on holiday. I love a villa. Different restaurant for every evening meal, own pool and no people other than the ones I chose to holiday with. 😁

I will take a picture of the diet chicken and post at dinner.

I’m from South Africa so a trip to Turkey is a long way away. My expectations were not high as it’s not technically a holiday we are on that I’ve put thought into but rather here for a sporting event. I was secretly hoping to at least feel like I was in Turkey but so far it’s pretty unauthentic and I think that is what these all inclusive resorts are about. They call it a package holiday for a reason. The town itself is full of fake designer shops all selling the same thing annd you get harassed to go inside and Turkish delight and tea shops again all selling the same thing. I can see why this would appeal to families with small kids who just stay in the resort. But I honestly will never come here on a holiday of my choosing (my husband is already signing up for next year so I need to prepare myself). We have been into a few resorts here and they are all the same, much like a copy paste of each other.

• swimming pool
• water slides
• bar
• eating hall type dining area
• snack bar
• spa (hygiene questionable)
• beach with millions of loungers lined up (either direct access or access nearby)
• entertainment galore… bingo, dance competitions, discos, foam parties, djs

The food in the hotels is mass produced and they try and cater for all tastes but this leaves little room for things to be amazing. My favorite laugh is the diet food section (boiled beef or chicken, boiled sprouts and boiled corn)… the meat is literally floating around in a pan of water. The food outside the resort is better in restaurants but there are plenty of the usual Irish pubs and restaurants mimicking American food (bad burgers etc). We have found a couple restaurants serving Turkish cuisine but it’s certainly directed at tourists.

I would imagine this is not typical of Turkey but rather of the town. This place must be a ghost town out of season. My husband says it feels like we are dairy cows being milked all day 😂

I would have to look at what we paid for our stay here but it won’t mean much to anyone as anywhere in the world is expensive if you are paying in Rands.

@Iwantmyoldnameback I have a friend who goes to these 5 star ones in Turkey every year - she is honest though and dies say they are big soulless places with little around them of interest to actually go out the complex - but the accommodation is quite swish and she gets to sit round the pool all week , kids have a good club and a couple of mini water parks on site so don’t bother her and it’s an easy week and all paid for - but she fully admits she’s not fussy about food, doesn’t care if the wine is cheap crap etc and the weathers good- so I can see that for plenty of people on tight( ish) budgets they do serve a need -Thing is if you like variety and want an interesting place on your doorstep and value high end food and good wine on holiday plus ‘space’ I personally wouldn’t go on this type of holiday ( been twice by the way- both times exactly as people described , and that was technically 5 star -

unless i can fork out for Ikos, or even Robinson’s , mark warner, club med - and even then i dont want it in middle of nowhere, I personally know it’s not for me .

I am very surprised this is 5 star, Turkey is not on our wish list but people who love it (and we know a few) do seem to stay at some gorgeous places.
Yours sounds horrendous and you don't seem to be being snobby about it.

That would make more sense and would make stars unreliable.

I have just spent a sleepless night in my Turkish 5 star. Aircons turned off in the hotel because it’s 24 degrees and that is not warm enough apparently to warrant having them on. Can’t open the doors to let the breeze in because the night club across the road banged tunes until 6am. Finally thought we had some reprieve but our neighbours have decided to have their morning fags so the smoke is wafting in. So now we have closed the doors again.

Never ever again.

Bear in mind that often the star rating is determined by the facilities on offer, not how “naice” a place is. Ie - x no of restaurants, a gym, spa.

some of the best boutique hotels I have stayed at, have been 3 star! And I would class them as genuine luxury.

The only time I've drunk alcohol during the day (apart from on the plane 😊) is this amazing drink I discovered in Tenerife AI last year. It's called a barraquito and it's layers of coffee, coffee liqueur, condensed milk & foam, served warm. I had 1 every day at lunchtime & felt like such a rebel 🤣 (bit of a bugger for the staff to make but hey ho). I seriously don't know how people, especially ones with little kids, manage to drink all day. Maybe it doesn't affect you so much on holiday? I never noticed anyone drunk. Maybe it's a bit like Christmas where you can eat & drink all day without much effect?

Just as an example. This is an all inclusive in South Africa. I would consider this 5 star.

https://www.umngazi.co.za

This is the all inclusive in Turkey

https://kemer.sealifehotels.com/en

Having spent a lot of time in the first option and now in the second I can safely say they are worlds (literally 😂) apart. Even the website for the Turkish resort is completely misleading in relation to reality.

Smaller more intimate. Better quality local food. Location. No organized entertainment. Not catered to the masses. Service. Cleanliness. Building and infrastructure maintenance. Even the smell.

All those things.