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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Or is behaviour at all inclusive hotels hilarious?

418 replies

inaminute23 · 27/08/2022 07:34

So in the last 2 months, I've been to Dubai, Cyprus and Jamaica, and now I'm in Greece, and 3/4 of those have been all inclusive hotels.

I've got to admit, and I'm as guilty as any, but it's so weird just observing behaviour at all inclusive hotels!

Getting up and starting to drink cheap and sugary cocktails straight away!

Piling 3 plates full at the buffets.

Getting up for 6.30am to nab a subbed before they all run out.

There are probably so many more but I'm just sat at breakfast, after going to get a second full breakfast (though I've had a gastric bypass so it is all relative) and it's made me chuckle.

I'd love to read any other weird behaviours typical of all inclusive holidays!

This is LIGHT HEARTED for those who soon enough will tell me I'm judgemental haha.

OP posts:
AnnieSnap · 29/08/2022 23:52

LakieLady · 27/08/2022 08:50

😂

Snob: word used by those without standards to demean those who have them.

Ooh yes. Of course it is. I just have standards 😂🤣

AnnieSnap · 30/08/2022 00:21

@FunsizedandFabulous There were a couple of solid Psych-social experiments done showing that young adults in a party like environment (they were the subjects, no reason to assume it wouldn’t be the same for older adults), felt and behaved like they were drunk, having been provided with non-alcoholic drinks they had been given to believe were alcoholic! Interesting the placebo effect.

Lookingforbargains · 30/08/2022 07:49

I know the original thread was about observing human behaviour in holiday, but I’ve found it equally interesting observing some behaviour on this thread! What I can’t get my head round is people announcing that they are snobs ! A snob is a terrible thing to be. I loathe it when people ‘admit’ to it, in a faux guilty sort of way - they are actually proud of looking down on people.

Sometimes we all have a snobbish moment when we judge people- but it’s something to be ashamed of, not celebrated! You have to believe you are intrinsically better because of money and/or status to be a snob. I’m hoping the people who gleefully revel in telling us they’re snobs simply don’t know the definition.

Ohnonevermind · 30/08/2022 08:33

I remember seeing an incredibly handsome German man at a lovely AI in the canaries- think Dr McSteamy but far better looking !

And because it was AI - I got to see him at breakfast dinner and the entertainment 🤣

Rmw12 · 30/08/2022 11:02

Lookingforbargains · 30/08/2022 07:49

I know the original thread was about observing human behaviour in holiday, but I’ve found it equally interesting observing some behaviour on this thread! What I can’t get my head round is people announcing that they are snobs ! A snob is a terrible thing to be. I loathe it when people ‘admit’ to it, in a faux guilty sort of way - they are actually proud of looking down on people.

Sometimes we all have a snobbish moment when we judge people- but it’s something to be ashamed of, not celebrated! You have to believe you are intrinsically better because of money and/or status to be a snob. I’m hoping the people who gleefully revel in telling us they’re snobs simply don’t know the definition.

Totally agree, people who believe they are better than other people are generally anything but!

lightisnotwhite · 30/08/2022 19:20

@Rmw12 But reserving sun beds when you aren’t going to even use them until after breakfast at 11am or piling your plate with 10 scones just because you can, is entitled and greedy.
I am I sure they aren’t bad people in the sense of crushing kitten skulls but you can still consider that behaviour pretty poor and be snobby about it.

Rmw12 · 30/08/2022 19:35

lightisnotwhite · 30/08/2022 19:20

@Rmw12 But reserving sun beds when you aren’t going to even use them until after breakfast at 11am or piling your plate with 10 scones just because you can, is entitled and greedy.
I am I sure they aren’t bad people in the sense of crushing kitten skulls but you can still consider that behaviour pretty poor and be snobby about it.

Fair enough, I knew someone would pick that up as soon as I posted it! I suppose I am judging that behaviour but I wouldn’t say it’s in a snobby way and not because I think they’re kitten skull crushers! Just because it makes me angry that that kind of thing can really upset a person’s holiday and even make them dread it beforehand and it’s so avoidable.

Rmw12 · 30/08/2022 19:37

lightisnotwhite · 30/08/2022 19:20

@Rmw12 But reserving sun beds when you aren’t going to even use them until after breakfast at 11am or piling your plate with 10 scones just because you can, is entitled and greedy.
I am I sure they aren’t bad people in the sense of crushing kitten skulls but you can still consider that behaviour pretty poor and be snobby about it.

Also I never mentioned the piling of plates, I have no judgement on that, it’s only the sun beds for me!

YeOldeNameChange · 30/08/2022 20:22

The quadruple carbs (chips with rice pasta and bread as a meal) just kills me!

shiningstar2 · 30/08/2022 20:27

It's only the sunbeds for me as well and because I am non confrontational, you are right, this thread has mad me nervous in advance about a much longed for final family holiday. Dh and I are both 70 and we have paid a considerable amount for this time together. Perhaps the thread has been helpful because maybe I can be just a little bit assertive if some people are being selfish. I do hope it doesn't seem selfish to others or somehow course and uncivilised that we have paid upfront fee or all our meals and entertainment and want to spend time on it site with our dgc'. In I can assure others we would never take anything, beds or food, that we would not use appropriately.

shiningstar2 · 30/08/2022 20:28

Sorry for typos 😃

saltinesandcoffeecups · 30/08/2022 21:37

Lookingforbargains · 30/08/2022 07:49

I know the original thread was about observing human behaviour in holiday, but I’ve found it equally interesting observing some behaviour on this thread! What I can’t get my head round is people announcing that they are snobs ! A snob is a terrible thing to be. I loathe it when people ‘admit’ to it, in a faux guilty sort of way - they are actually proud of looking down on people.

Sometimes we all have a snobbish moment when we judge people- but it’s something to be ashamed of, not celebrated! You have to believe you are intrinsically better because of money and/or status to be a snob. I’m hoping the people who gleefully revel in telling us they’re snobs simply don’t know the definition.

Or we’ve just resigned ourselves to the fact we’ll be called it regardless, so just beat people to the punch.

in truth I can assure you that I am much less judgmental than a fair number of people who have commented on this topic (or most holiday topics for that matter). I think it’s great that there’s are many holiday options and price points for people to find what they like.

Now you’ll excuse me while I start to get ready for my holiday which features such unimaginable luxuries like a a sink in my room with cold running water and a button tap and shared toilets with other guests. Wednesday’s are hair washing day, because the only available shower is in one of those shared toilets (no separate cubicle or anything, it’s efficient you can shower while sitting on the toilet). They are nice enough to provide soap and a bucket to do some spot cleaning on the stinky bits.

it’s ok, you can be jealous of me :)

See if we were talking about different kinds of holidays this may have come up. But as we were discussing AI holidays you just saw that side of me, because that’s me at an AI… on a boat with little to no electricity, primitive facilities, and working as much as I can with the crew, That’s a different story.

I’m hoping the people who gleefully revel in telling us they’re snobs simply don’t know the definition.

I sincerely hope the people who revel in passing judgment on others remember that they are only catching a glimpse and should probably check themselves before making fools of themselves.

VestaTilley · 30/08/2022 21:55

They’re not my idea of a good holiday!

Rmw12 · 30/08/2022 22:05

shiningstar2 · 30/08/2022 20:27

It's only the sunbeds for me as well and because I am non confrontational, you are right, this thread has mad me nervous in advance about a much longed for final family holiday. Dh and I are both 70 and we have paid a considerable amount for this time together. Perhaps the thread has been helpful because maybe I can be just a little bit assertive if some people are being selfish. I do hope it doesn't seem selfish to others or somehow course and uncivilised that we have paid upfront fee or all our meals and entertainment and want to spend time on it site with our dgc'. In I can assure others we would never take anything, beds or food, that we would not use appropriately.

I hope you can take the comments on this thread with a pinch of salt and enjoy your holiday. I think the fact you are worried that your behaviour might impact on other people means it’s unlikely it will! And anyone who judges you on something that doesn’t affect them, doesn’t really matter.

saltinesandcoffeecups · 30/08/2022 22:23

shiningstar2 · 30/08/2022 20:27

It's only the sunbeds for me as well and because I am non confrontational, you are right, this thread has mad me nervous in advance about a much longed for final family holiday. Dh and I are both 70 and we have paid a considerable amount for this time together. Perhaps the thread has been helpful because maybe I can be just a little bit assertive if some people are being selfish. I do hope it doesn't seem selfish to others or somehow course and uncivilised that we have paid upfront fee or all our meals and entertainment and want to spend time on it site with our dgc'. In I can assure others we would never take anything, beds or food, that we would not use appropriately.

I missed your comment earlier… don’t worry, go and enjoy the sun and your family. You’ll run into no more rudeness than you do in everyday life. And if you do, just shrug and move on.

Assuming you haven’t stolen from orphans or widows, or funded your trip through a puppy kicking contest, it’s your money to do with as you see fit and nobody should judge you for it.

Some people seem to think that others are going on holiday AT them.

Lookingforbargains · 31/08/2022 07:12

saltinesandcoffeecups · 30/08/2022 21:37

Or we’ve just resigned ourselves to the fact we’ll be called it regardless, so just beat people to the punch.

in truth I can assure you that I am much less judgmental than a fair number of people who have commented on this topic (or most holiday topics for that matter). I think it’s great that there’s are many holiday options and price points for people to find what they like.

Now you’ll excuse me while I start to get ready for my holiday which features such unimaginable luxuries like a a sink in my room with cold running water and a button tap and shared toilets with other guests. Wednesday’s are hair washing day, because the only available shower is in one of those shared toilets (no separate cubicle or anything, it’s efficient you can shower while sitting on the toilet). They are nice enough to provide soap and a bucket to do some spot cleaning on the stinky bits.

it’s ok, you can be jealous of me :)

See if we were talking about different kinds of holidays this may have come up. But as we were discussing AI holidays you just saw that side of me, because that’s me at an AI… on a boat with little to no electricity, primitive facilities, and working as much as I can with the crew, That’s a different story.

I’m hoping the people who gleefully revel in telling us they’re snobs simply don’t know the definition.

I sincerely hope the people who revel in passing judgment on others remember that they are only catching a glimpse and should probably check themselves before making fools of themselves.

@saltinesandcoffeecups

Sorry, I’m not really sure what you’re talking about, especially at the end there?! I’m just saying people shouldn’t be proud of being a snob. Not sure what that’s got to do with your shower arrangements?!

miserablecat · 31/08/2022 07:21

I've been to AI once. There was one family who literally covered every inch of their table with food and had plates piled high....and then left 3/4 of it. Which seemed extremely wasteful, and created more work for the waiters. But other than that I didn't really notice other people's behaviour.

miserablecat · 31/08/2022 07:25

...to add I only noticed it because it literally was like a mountain of food!! You couldn't see the table. They were the only family that did that.

Crikeyme · 31/08/2022 10:50

MrsMoastyToasty · 27/08/2022 08:52

It's the people who only go on organised outings from the AI hotel.
I once stayed in a hotel where I got chatting with another guest. She was surprised that we were going down to the local bus station to see where we could get a bus to. I didn't see a problem- it was cheaper, we could please ourselves and I spoke Spanish. She had visions of me on a rusty overheated bus with farmers wives carrying baskets of livestock. It was actually a lovely air conditoned coach and we spent the day in Gibraltar.

I’ve got nothing against people choosing to go on organised trips - it’s a bit harsh judging people for wanting to experience new things on a level their comfortable with. Good for you that you’re confident enough in your Spanish to go it alone - most British people don’t speak it, and wouldn’t feel happy chancing public transport where there could be schedule/route changes only explained in Spanish. On our recent Spanish holiday we went down to the nearest bus stop to go to the next town - two buses an hour, one cancelled and the other running very late due to roadworks. A Spanish lady waiting with us kindly told us after she’d checked her phone - we’d already waited in blistering heat for over an hour and a half. On the same day, we could have done an organised trip to a different town and not have felt we missed out. I expect if people didn’t do the organised trips, you’d still complain that they weren’t bothering to see ‘the real Spain’ - at least people doing trips are curious enough to want to see something else while they’re there.🙄

Going back to AI, the only AI I’ve ever done was at a hotel chain run by a famous ice cream chain - the only thing you had to pay for was, inevitably, ice cream 🤣

BorgQueen · 31/08/2022 10:56

We were surrounded by Russians one year in Turkey, I’ve honestly never seen anything like it, they would empty the buffets to have massive piles of food on the tables. One enormous man with Putin and Spetznaz tatoos would take every single cooked egg from the trays. The staff hated them, there was SO much food waste along with food all over the floors, they were animals.

susan12345678 · 31/08/2022 11:03

Going back to AI, the only AI I’ve ever done was at a hotel chain run by a famous ice cream chain - the only thing you had to pay for was, inevitably, ice cream 🤣

was that Moevenpick? I love their Motorway services in Switzerland, the salad buffet is excellent 😁

Ohnonevermind · 31/08/2022 11:15

We did AI in a kinder hotel in Austria in the summer, the food was amazing, the facilities were great. It was a ski resort but lovely in the summer for us (me pregnant and Dd who was 20 months at the time). They did kids food but Dd ate ours (I still remember her stealing my blackcurrant fool/mousse) they had a play area in the restaurant but it was quiet and relaxed and the kids largely stayed in their seats at the adult meals. It was 5 courses every evening, they did breakfast but also did food you could take with you if you were hiking in the mountains etc.
.

Grasshopper30 · 31/08/2022 12:33

This kind of behaviour is exactly the reason that I avoid all-inclusive holidays like the plague! My idea of hell🤣

AlexNye · 31/08/2022 13:30

I've been around a bit and met lots of nationalities, but it depends on the type of place you visit..

Benidorm - Scummy Brits
San Marino - Nice Brits

I've stayed in beautiful 5 star resorts in Thailand and Bali and met lovely Russians but i've also been to Alanya beach in Turkey and met the 'chav' Russians.

Chinese are the worst overall when it comes to greed and bad manners.

marmiteadict · 31/08/2022 17:47

I'm not sure this is limited to AI as much as the individual resort.

I've been to AI where it was a la carte with plenty of sun beds and people were calm and respectful.

I've been to 5 star hotels non AI where there was a buffet for breakfast and dinner and the behaviour and waste was awful.

I blame buffets and lack of sun-beds rather than blanket shaming AI.