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AIBU?

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Original poster

British behaviour in holiday hotel

441 replies

Scarfitwere · 26/05/2026 10:52

We are staying at a good all inclusive resort (yes, I know all inclusive is not high end, but this is about as good a one as you can get). I am just shocked and ashamed at fellow british people at breakfast time. Letting their kids make a huge mess by allowing them to get their own food. Huge amounts of wasted food. Multiple untouched plates left on tables. Total disregard for others barging round, blocking walkways etc. When did this become ok?? AIBU with expectations? Bear in mind this is not a cheap rubbish tui-blue type place. I dread to think what they are like!

OP posts:
Imthefunfriend · 26/05/2026 11:14

takealettermsjones · 26/05/2026 11:09

It isn't lazy parenting to let them get their own food in itself; it's lazy parenting to not care whether they do it properly/politely.

Show quote history

Do you really think letting a small child go up to a food counter unaccompanied isn’t lazy? Not to mention the risk of burns. We aren’t talking about teenagers here.

Ponoka7 · 26/05/2026 11:13

There'll be a restaurant manager, if it's such a decent place, I'm surprised the behaviour went unchecked. I've done Tui AI (manly across Africa) and I've never seen this behaviour let go. I've also stayed AI in Fuengirola via Jet2 and again, there's been a manager present. While people shouldn't behave like that, it's a fault of the hotel. Hopefully it's just first day excitement.

McSpoot · 26/05/2026 11:12

You lost me at the repeated suggestions that those who spend more for their hotel are going to be better parents.

takealettermsjones · 26/05/2026 11:09

Woahtherehoney · 26/05/2026 11:08

Please don’t call TUI blue type places cheap and rubbish. They are still over £3k for a holiday and is the best that people can afford - don’t shit on others!

Well said.

takealettermsjones · 26/05/2026 11:09

Imthefunfriend · 26/05/2026 11:04

Didn’t let my kids self serve at an AI because I wanted to make sure they had a healthy plate, they didn’t take too much and they didn’t make a mess.

I also hated it when others did. Lazy parenting IMO. Unsupervised toddlers picking up food with their hands and putting it back or dropping it. Greedy people piling their plates up. Not queuing. It just isn’t a nice experience.

We don’t go AI anymore for all the reasons you mentioned, it just feels totally unhygienic and wasteful.

It isn't lazy parenting to let them get their own food in itself; it's lazy parenting to not care whether they do it properly/politely.

balabusta · 26/05/2026 11:09

In my experience, Brits are really not too bad at all. But as a pp said, there are badly behaved people of all nationalities.

Woahtherehoney · 26/05/2026 11:08

Please don’t call TUI blue type places cheap and rubbish. They are still over £3k for a holiday and is the best that people can afford - don’t shit on others!

Original poster
Scarfitwere · 26/05/2026 11:07

TheCurious0range · 26/05/2026 10:57

I allow my son to get his own food, but he only takes what he will eat and will go up multiple times if needed, eg he might take some fruit and yoghurt eat that then ask if he can have a pastry which to me is fine. Equally he isn't fussy but I'm sure some children don't like things that look like the items they have at home, but taste different which could amount for some waste albeit not platefuls. I'm not sure why they are making a huge mess, are they very young? I've not witnessed the barging you describe. It sounds awful.

Edited

Yes I let my 11 year old who is old enough to be trusted. But I'm talking about 5 and 6 year olds who are touching things, putting them back, spilling juice and milk everywhere when pouring, etc

OP posts:
x2boys · 26/05/2026 11:07

Scarfitwere · 26/05/2026 10:52

We are staying at a good all inclusive resort (yes, I know all inclusive is not high end, but this is about as good a one as you can get). I am just shocked and ashamed at fellow british people at breakfast time. Letting their kids make a huge mess by allowing them to get their own food. Huge amounts of wasted food. Multiple untouched plates left on tables. Total disregard for others barging round, blocking walkways etc. When did this become ok?? AIBU with expectations? Bear in mind this is not a cheap rubbish tui-blue type place. I dread to think what they are like!

Of course its only british children who dont know how to behave
No doubt every other child from other countries sat there quietly.

BIossomtoes · 26/05/2026 11:07

It happens in 5* hotels and in my experience British people are quite high in the politeness stakes, at least they understand the concept of queuing.

Jackiepumpkinhead · 26/05/2026 11:05

British behaviour? There’s horrible behaved people of all nationalities and they get everywhere, sadly.

Urgentbiscuitrequired · 26/05/2026 11:05

Ditto with living next door to other people then complaining that aren't SILENTLY using their own garden.

Imthefunfriend · 26/05/2026 11:04

Didn’t let my kids self serve at an AI because I wanted to make sure they had a healthy plate, they didn’t take too much and they didn’t make a mess.

I also hated it when others did. Lazy parenting IMO. Unsupervised toddlers picking up food with their hands and putting it back or dropping it. Greedy people piling their plates up. Not queuing. It just isn’t a nice experience.

We don’t go AI anymore for all the reasons you mentioned, it just feels totally unhygienic and wasteful.

Urgentbiscuitrequired · 26/05/2026 11:03

If you are going to go on holiday somewhere where there are lots of people, you will always encounter undesirable behaviour to some extent. It sounds like you need to go somewhere more isolated, where this sort of thing can't get to you and ruin your holiday.

I usually do UK breaks (disabled son) in a cottage for this reason. I need people to tolerate my son (who can't help his disabilities) as much I need to tolerate other people being people.

You have to work out what you value more - a convenient package holiday in the sun, or somewhere more isolated away from behaviour you don't like. Sadly you can't have it all.

NotTheOrdinary · 26/05/2026 11:02

What's wrong with letting kids get their own food?

TheCurious0range · 26/05/2026 10:57

I allow my son to get his own food, but he only takes what he will eat and will go up multiple times if needed, eg he might take some fruit and yoghurt eat that then ask if he can have a pastry which to me is fine. Equally he isn't fussy but I'm sure some children don't like things that look like the items they have at home, but taste different which could amount for some waste albeit not platefuls. I'm not sure why they are making a huge mess, are they very young? I've not witnessed the barging you describe. It sounds awful.