Or is behaviour at all inclusive hotels hilarious?

[inaminute23]

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.

Recently booked our first AI for next year and I cannot wait - a week of not having to decide where to eat, what to eat, and no washing up. I’m more excited about that than the holiday itself.

I don't have an issue with shorts in the restaurant at any time of day. The last place we were in had a clear "no swimwear in the restaurant" policy and staff did ask people to go and change at lunch especially if they had just got out of the pool. Most places also have a beach/pool bar serving snacks or fast food during the day if you want to eat with a towel wrapped round you - my teens took that option a couple of days.

There is a lot of snobbery about AI hotels for some reason, the critics seem to think you're locked into the hotel with no option to leave until your transfer home, with thousands of other British people. Agree with other posters that if you do your research there are some brilliant AI places out there. Personally, after 2 years of pandemic shit it was bliss to have a fortnight chilling out without having to think about what we were eating, shopping, where to go to eat that evening.

Always had lovely experiences going AI.

Usually Greece/Turkey, we chose hotels outside of centres of clubbing- in the countryside, mountains or quiet coast. Rowdy drinking tourists don't want to stay too far from the action so almost exclusively families and couples.
Always chose a modest small hotel- often family run and food likely to be more authentic rather than "cheap international".
Hotels ofen get stars for facilities that are unimportant to me- snooker tables, indoor pool, beauty salon, entertainment.
Choose carefully there are some lovely small, affordable quiet AI hotels.

You don't know my situation or circumstances so please withhold your judgement.

And no, we won't be expecting any help at all. How is that relevant?

I love AI! I take the kids to AI and chill and then do some weekends air B and B just me and dp where we do some more locally/cultural type things...
My greatest joy at AI is observing the antics of others (and making sure I get my £ worth in the buffet )

I’m not sure that AI in Dubai, Cyprus and Jamaica would meet my definition of “well travelled” 🤣
Part of being well travelled for me is experiencing local food amongst local people (being themselves, not being staff) in local restaurants.
Which isn’t generally the aim of the AI types in those locations.
Which doesn’t necessarily include OP of course - but in general, if you book AI and rush to get your sunbed bagged at 06:30 and hit it after breakfast with your cocktail, I’m going to say you’re not someone interested in the country itself.

😂

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

@WhereAreMyAirpods I agree - yeah you're all inclusive but that doesn't mean you can't experience culture, history etc... they aren't mutually exclusive are they but somehow everyone thinks they are!

@crochetmonkey74 where is this please? Sounds like heaven.

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.

@Testina I agree - I will admit that I am well travelled but even if I stay in AI hotels, I go out, explore, immerse myself in culture etc. The trips I have mentioned these last couple
Months have been because we wanted some sun and they're easy, cheap ish and convenient.

I can assure you, it is. It's one of 'those places' where people who stay here pay through the nose for the 'name'...

I know you say that, but truly luxury places really don’t attract people such as apricot man. Such ill mannered people simply don’t go.

Sometimes have a drink in the day on ai , sometimes don't drink at all but I am on holiday so do what i like as thats the point
Sunbed thing is like that in many hotels ai or not , much prefer it when the management do remove them as some will hold it all day whilst on a day trip
Generally if no one reserved there is enough as people come and go
I will admit its rarely the british who take plates of food and leave it.
If i owned an AI i would charge for full plates left as its very wasteful and then puts prices up for everyone else

What an odd way to brag about your life when so many threads today are about the cost of living crisis.

People want their moneys worth. They feel if they haven't had a good crack at whatever's on offer from food to drink to sunbeds, they've wasted their money. I know people who've spent days, by their own admission 'bored' but wouldn't leave the complex for a change of scenery as it was wasting what they'd paid for. I suppose with budgets getting tighter people might feel that way even more.

People who stay in all-inclusive resorts are not well-travelled.
Generally, they are actively discouraged from leaving the compound, with staff promising dragons, cut-throats and all manner of heinous crimes outside the walls.
Money spent does not benefit the local economy, it goes into the pocket of some conglomerate who are laughing their socks off that they can get away with crap, cheap alcohol and food.
Might as well go to Butlins - if you don't see the countryside or get to know the locals, going to an all-inclusive abroad is pointless

We did this in Mexico - wanted to "do" the ruins at Tulum so got a Colectivo minibus to the ruins instead of taking the organised trip, piled into a minibus with loads of locals and had a nice chat with a woman going to work in the local coffee shop. I do speak Spanish fluently which helps.

But you know, if someone wants to stay at the hotel all week and never leave that's up to them, isn't it?

You’re staying in an AI for work?

Genuine question or are you trying to catch the OP out?

I travel a lot for work. When in Frankfurt it’s always a “business” hotel, but I’ve stayed in more “resort” hotels in other places - including AI.

In Lanzarote at the beginning of the year a young couple brought a rucksack to dinner and removed full sized Heinz Ketchup, Mayo & Brown Sauce, first time I'd seen anything like it and I go AI a lot!

Cheaper AIs, yes, absolutely, massive queues for the hot casserole type food, no queueing for the tapas/salad bar so I live on that for the week! And sunbeds, best resorts are the ones where they remove them, or where you can actually access the pool until it's open, but this isn't limited to AI, just went SC and sunbeds all gone by 7am, and most not used til after lunch - I just move the towels myself!

I spent years working abroad in the travel industry.

Our worst was a family who literally thought AI meant EVERYTHING!

As with all hotels there were extras on offer - such as trips out for the kids with club, hair braids and photographers would come in etc.

Each child was allowed X number of club sessions as advertised but during height of season they ran more and you signed up. They constantly put their kids in all 3 sessions a day and would scream and shout when they were told to choose.

This family were something like we'd never seen before and what was worse was they came from my home town - and I NEVER lived that down 🤣🤣

I didn't know them but often jokes when I was in the U.K. I'd see them out and about 🫣

@whenwillthemadnessend

Well that’s irrational. No one needs to holiday abroad at all, but why not if you can afford to. And no, I don’t imagine the OP expects to have a problem with her bills.

Horrible. This is why I don’t do AI. I’d prefer to stay home TBH - seriously.