Anyone disappointed by their holiday?

[Panic71]

Here now and really trying to throw myself into despite being really gutted by the hotel which is absolutely not worth the money we paid. Trying to just enjoy it but all the extras have come as a shock for what we expected and read to be all inclusive.
Turns out all inclusive doesn’t get you a sun bed either!

@Crikeyalmighty

That sounds awful.

It makes total sense though, anyone would want to get their monies worth and stay at hotel.

Again if I was going out of my comfort zone to Thailand etc I would appreciate all that but still leave the hotel and eat locally.

But on Europe at least I can't imagine anything worse than what you are describing.

It's funny how what a holiday means is imprinted on us from a young age and that doesn't say holiday to me at all.

My dc would never demand on site water activities because we don't regularly have that. We have taken them to water parks etc but not as part of accommodation.

So they wouldn't demand it.

I agree with “imprinting” holidays. I’ve realised that totally by accident I do the same type of holidays as my parents used to do when I was young and that’s the only holiday I can imagine enjoying.

@Summerwashout yes same with us- we did it twice - Egypt we got food poisoning (as did around half the guests) and Turkey which was a bit better but as I said far too many aggressive feral families fighting over the buffet and getting drunk. Our son didn't expect water parks either on tap- if we did it we went out to one for the day.

Its not that I'm a snob- I actually enjoyed Benidorm with our son when in his middle teens-stayed away from the English end in nice aparthotel- went out for tapas and pastas , went to water park twice, went on coastal train, did boat trips , took him to karaoke and bars and magic shows etc- great beach and nice shopping - day in Alicante too -- very enjoyable - went in May a few yearsago- cost me £1600 for 6 days including all spending money.

We’ve not had the pissed type resort. The opposite really

It’s not based on childhood though, just ease and relaxation

We might change it up as dc get older

Now the dc are teens DIY works best - flight, accommodation (we are very picky about this and it's location), car - and we've discovered the Carribean is nice and quiet in the summer and works out about the same as a Europe AI.

I don't get this.

I reason it's to have a "base" by the pool and one member of the group "guards" the base. Just not the sort of atmosphere we want around a holiday pool.

I assumed, you go to pool with towels, swim, play in pool, go back to room shower and change, do something else. I presume you still can do that, just leave towels on the side? Maybe, so the dawn alarm call for a sunbed not needed? Or perhaps if everyone was a bit more mobile there would always be sun loungers free?

Sounds like utter insanity to me.

We found AI great when our DS’were little. Once they became teens, villa with private pool was better, we mostly ate out, and it was lovely to have more space and be private. Our DS’ are very close in age so they were happy with each others company, not interested in making friends etc. DH & I have booked AI holiday for the two of us, we researched throughly and decided on IKOS resort.

@Cornishtoddy.. I'd love to try the carabean but it's somewhere I don't know so would probably like a package!

I wish IKOS was adults only, I'm not paying that much to have kids around.

@Ozgirl75 we allow do it all the Rome, shows how much easily we can all be brainwashed really 🤣.

Same as Xmas... I had a whittling tool and a good slap and that's enough for me or I had the present mountain and that's what mine get...

If you are spending £7000+ for a week on a holiday it might be better to find a independent travel agent than book TUI etc online, but I think you are being ripped off for AI.

We've just booked flights and accommodation - SC, whole house with pool - separately this year. Of course there is the risk that one or the other is cancelled but I don't think what "protection" you get from package holiday companies is worth the mark up.

10/11 days has cost us about £4k flights, accommodation and car hire. We will of course spend a fair bit on food when we are there but we would have to eat really luxuriously to spend another £3.5k even being there for ten days and eating out every evening!

Also DD had a lovely holiday with her mates this year and went half board- they were all just turned 18, researched, booked and paid for it all themselves with part time jobs while studying. They managed to choose a very nice and not too busy hotel, and it was cheaper than all inclusive.

AI have got so popular in the last 5 years, I find them too busy now. Will go SC next time.

One place we did AI as a family and it was done pretty well was Albufeira Sol in Portugal. Went last minute in 2021 after the French Covid rules changed and our trip to France was cancelled - I'd recommend it. Recent reviews good too.

We are currently in Slovenia and are having a brilliant time.

I’ve travelled all over the world and cannot cannot see the appeal in an all inclusive resort. Surely the appeal of a holiday is choosing somewhere that appeals and getting out and exploring, not sitting with other Brits? I love planning our holidays, reading up on the culture, food and making an itinerary.

We are currently having a wonderful 2 weeks in Slovenia exploring the lakes and mountains. 4* hotels, BA flights, great food in local restaurants, adventurous activities for teens and car hire. It will set us back about £7000 and we’ve not budgeted at all.

Next year, we are planning to go further afield, to Serbia and Bosnia. Pretty sure Tui doesn’t do AI packages!

@floribunda18 Yep will probably cost you about 6k all in- but you have a car, a whole house/space , a pool and can eat somewhere different every night. It's a big difference value wise I feel.

It's not as if the folks paying £5 to £8k aren't spending a penny either- even being really careful and if they aren't then they effectively are pretty much stuck at the hotel the whole time.

@Labbingtons If you hired a car do they let you drive between Bosnia, Serbia etc? We're going to Croatia and wanted to also drive into Slovenia but not sure if the car hire will allow it.

Yes, quite. Plus where we are staying has a lovely white cat in the photos, I've looking forward to meeting the cat! 🙂

It is basically the holiday we booked in 2020 and never got to do, so I hope all goes well this time.

https://ikosresorts.com/

Fabulous AI. A la carte restaurants , multiple pools , water sports included etc .

Ah I’m really sorry OP, that sounds rubbish. It’s gutting to have paid that amount and not have it meet expectations.

This is why we self cater, tbh. It always works out cheaper and also more convenient to just book a nice place with a pool and then pay for meals out when we feel like it. With kids it is also a lot less hassle as we can keep our own schedule and just eat when we feel hungry. Bonus that I can pick out lots of different local wines and foods at the shop to enjoy after a day out exploring!

@floribunda18 sounds fab!! I actually enjoy foreign supermarkets too and throwing together the odd lunch and breakfast- feels different doing it in the sun and a different kitchen !

@Hmmmbetterchangethis that sounds lovely! Would you mind saying where that is?

From Slovenia we can drive the hire car anywhere else in the EU and Balkans for 36 euro extra. We plan to drive down the Croatian coast and to nip to Trieste for a day next week. But next year we’d fly to Belgrade and drive/ train from there. DBIL was with the UK Embassy in Belgrade to we’ve tapped him for travel tips!

@Howdoyouknowwhitney Yep- there are lots of tricks. I book places on booking.com with free cancellation, nothing up front and keep checking prices right up till a few days before we go - I've often cancelled and just rebooked the same place for hundreds less.