All inclusive holiday irritations....

[CupoTeap]

On holiday and in the restaurant......there is a huge block of butter put out each session with a knife to help yourself with.

I am getting more and more irritated by the people who insist on scraping a bit of butter off with this knife and then back to the butter to repeat before putting the knife down.

JUST PUT SOME ON YOUR PLATE.

Anything else I should be looking out for to annoy me

(I'm actually having a fab time and am very relaxed 😎)

Sensatori hotels - don't get any of the usual All inc crap!

YANBU, people are animals

Just back from a 4/5 star AI in Egypt. It was ace!

I'm an early riser, so would usually be on a sunbed by 0630 but on this holiday I sat, book in hand, on our spacious balcony until 8. DH and I then casually wandered to the Lobby Bar for a decent coffee, then into breakfast and finally out to the pool by about 9 where there were always lots of beds and shades available.

DD would get up at about 10 and get a cold breakfast from the pool bar (pastries/sandwiches etc) before joining in with the activities.

Around midday/1pm we would either get a snack from the pool bar open from 12pm to 4pm (burgers, chips, panini's, pizza, chicken kebabs) or go to one of the 3 buffet restaurants open 12pm to 2pm where you could have hot/cold/soups/salads/pasta etc.

In the evening we had the choice of one of 2 buffet restaurants open from 6pm to 9pm or one of 3 a la carte restaurants open from 7pm to 10pm. There was also the option (not that we ever did it) of 'midnight soup' from the Lobby Bar.

Oh, there was also a beach bar that served snack food from 10am to 4pm

Never saw any of the issues listed, never had any sickness and were very impressed with the hygiene shown in all areas.

Didn't cost the earth either - less than 4K for 3 adults, 2 weeks (DD is only 14 but unfortunately still has to pay an adult charge).

If anyone is thinking of going to Egypt I heartily recommend the Jaz chain and the Sunrise chain. Last year we went Sunrise and had pretty much the same experience except there were 7 a la carte's, so we didn't use the buffet restaurants at all. Slightly more expensive, but still some good deals to be had.

Those who are saying that eating local is much more pleasant, you obviously don’t have a fussy eater or someone with a food allergy. I’m blessed with both. . We avoided AI for years thinking that a help yourself buffet would be a nightmare but actually trying it for the first time this year, it was very easy as nearly everything was allergy labelled. The only thing that wasn’t was the cakes section which were just labelled as “various pastries” so no help. However there was plenty of ice cream for DS to choose from as dessert, and fruit too so he was quite happy.

And ironically re the fussiness he tried more things than he would have in a “proper” restaurant because he was able to just help himself to a little bit from the buffet to try. In a restaurant you are paying for one large dish of something and he woukd worry if he hadn’t tried it before then he wouldn’t like it and it would be a waste of money. So hence on a self catering holiday he would tend to order just simple stuff like chicken or a burger.

Both DSs tried new stuff this first AI holiday this year that’s they woukdnt have otherwis. DS1 was eating all kinds of seafoods and fiddly fish with some bones in.

I have to say, we have loved self catering in the Dordogne up to now but in very local country restaurants you tended to get sick of the sight of duck on every menu. For starters, for mains. And similar desserts everywhere. Regional specialities are all very well, but to be honest it does get a bit samey by the end of 2 weeks.

The same in Italy really. Loved the pasta and pizza at the start but by the time you come home you just don’t want another bite of pasta!

I didn’t ever think I would write this post. I was a staunch snob when it came to AI.

The one (major I know) downside is in places where the local economy is set up for the tourist restaurant business. The more hotels that then go AI the harder it is for the family run local restaurants to survive. A good mix in an area is what is needed, I think, to cater for everyone, but don’t knock an AI at a good standard till you’ve tried it. They have many plus points and at certain stages in your life, they will outweigh any downsides like “having to wear a wristband”!

CurlyHaired - we tried Neilson that do something called club board, its breakfast and lunch included, but dinner only 4 of the 7 nights, there is usually provision in the hotel if you want to stay on resort, but they encouraged guests to go into local towns for those not inclusive nights to try to keep local economy boosted . Seemed a good comprise.

Argh, shouldn't have read this thread. Leave for our first AI today, I'm telling myself it's fine, it's only 7 days and I'm sure the DC will love it!

blibblibs, if you’ve done your research and know you’ve picked a good hotel with good reviews even one or two little tiny niggles won’t overshadow your overall enjoyment, I’m sure you’ll have a fantastic time.

My only problem since coming home is getting the money together to go and do another one!

We're expecting butlins in the sun, as that was as far as our budget would go! But we do a parkdean caravan every year so we're well prepared.
There will be sunshine and no work so it can't be that bad, hopefully

I've never had any issues with AI, the staff are all friendly and helpful and I never notice what other holidygoers are doing unless it affects me or someone else directly. Don't be a dick, ignore everyone else unless they're really being problematic and you need to complain and you'll have a great time.