Is all inclusive food actually good or just cheap and easy?

[roses2]

I'm currently at a 5* all inclusive for a few days in the Mediterranean. It had amazing reviews. But the food is so bland and not good quality and no comparison at all to local restaurants.

This is the second all inclusive I've stayed in and the first was similar. I've decided all inclusive isn't for me.

Why do people rave so much about the great food? Is it just because the food is there and you're not looking at the price tag?

@FrenchandSaunders it’s one reason I’m not that keen on AI- these type of bits and bobs meals end up making me feel sick - I realise it’s not compulsory to eat like that but sometimes I don’t fancy the veg on offer or the protein - so end up eating ‘bits’

frankly no 😂

but just do what you would in any restaurant: have a starter, then a main, then salad. I have seen people ordering prawns for starters and having a steak for main, it's not considered that weird when it's from the menu

I stick to creating a simple meal, just one protein, lots of salad and rice/potatoes/pasta. Pudding is a whole other level of about 4 or 5 mini cakes etc!

We go to a 5* AI resort and I think the food is pretty good. It's safe. Always something for all the family and a different main theme each night. I like that it's quick and easy with the buffet style as I have two children. The resort we to to also has a la carte restaurants too which are included in our hotel cost. They're really nice but there's a bit more waiting around involved as they're not buffet style.

The desserts are always weird and disappointing though don’t you find? They look appealing and then they always taste really odd. Stuff that looks like buttercream icing but tastes really bland and lots of mousses with too much gelatin. I have learnt to stick to ice cream.

@ThePure they all taste same to me -the only place I’ve had really good deserts was a New Year’s Eve whole dessert buffet in a separate room on half board in Switzerland -( grindelwald). Big 4 star hotel -Proper gateaux, lovely profiteroles with jugs of dark chocolate sauce, amazing fresh fruit salad, proper chocolate mousse ( not in tiny glasses) some kind of rice pudding thing ( nicer than it sounds) proper fresh fruit tarts - it was absolutely stunning!!

The baklavas are normally good.

It depends where you are. And 5* can simply mean there is a TV, coffee machine and other amenities available rather than actual quality.

There are also rules about when you can become a 5*.

We accidentally booked a genuine 5 for £350/week AI, because local rules meant it had to open as a 3 for a period before being approved at 5*.

Best week we had!

Yes! We stayed at a great hotel...food was fab. On the surface the desserts looked amazing...loads of stunning looking cakes but they all tasted the same...like unsweetened whipped cream. Very underwhelming when you actually eat them.

Yes I agree too. Looks pretty but it's either gloopy mousse or various types of gateau (which i don't like anyway as I can't see why wet cake is appealing) which actually taste identical. The fresh fruit is much nicer.

The one exception was Hotel Louis in Zante where the puddings were sensationally good and included mini cheesecakes and banoffee pies. That was in 2011 and alas never had a good AI pudding experience since!

included mini cheesecakes and banoffee pies.

that's why it's so subjective, I absolutely include those in a gloopy mousse/ wet gateau category 😂and would be very disappointed!

On the deserts front though if I can just add that some country’s just don’t go a bundle on deserts - even in actual outside good restaurants - can’t remember having a great dessert anywhere warm if I’m honest - best ones I’ve had were my aforementioned experience in Switzerland, a few fairly decent ones in Germany and Scandinavia and some very good fresh fruit pancakes in France .

I forgot to add with the exception of ice cream

Baklavas are little bites of heaven.

@AvidJadeShaker sadly I hate them - far too sweet for me, my teeth aren’t up to it!!