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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Day 1 of holiday. Hell.

517 replies

gilesday · 02/10/2025 21:17

This will come off really bad I appreciate that but sod it I have to speak my truth.

Day 1 of our family holiday we came to Greece. Have been excited for it. It’s all inclusive which is our second time, last year we did all inclusive and same thing I hated it. Don’t know why I thought it would be different but anyway.

I hate it. The hotel is just crap. The clientele are typical of what you would expect at an all inclusive and I just seriously regret it.

The thing is, I get I’m being a snob. Let’s be honest clearly we have the same budget as these people I’m slagging off (100k combined income) so should probably be a bit more humble, but I can’t. Every fibre of my being feels like I’m not built for this. I want better. I want luxury. I’m sooooo much more at home at high end places, where as the people here would probably feel uncomfortable there and like this better.

is anyone else like this?

What do I do, just avoid all inclusive from now on and stick to nicer hotels but just breakfast, eat out and explore more?

What do people do who are like me but equally don’t have the Dorchester budget?

OP posts:
Prisonbreak · 03/10/2025 07:36

Speak my truth 🤮🤮

SpaceRaccoon · 03/10/2025 07:40

Find an area you like the look of that is geared for the sort of tourist you'd feel at home with, somewhere with a bit of history and culture. Book at an apartment/villa, and flights. Sorted. Go. Enjoy.

Chiaseedling · 03/10/2025 07:40

£100k combined is not small fry, but depends in your outgoings, obviously. It’s about our level of income but we usually stay in 5 star hotels abroad We usually go for a week, not two which is enough for us. The hotel we last stayed in had one group which were rowdy by the pool for one day - v unlike the rest of the clientele who were young families or couples in the main.

Or could could stay in a lovely villa or apartment - when we’ve done this we’ve had breakfast in, but one meal a day out. It gives a lot of flexibility.

we did AI in our honeymoon 25 years ago and I wasn’t a fan. I don’t even like half board although we did this when the kids were young a couple of times

theressomanytinafeysicouldbe · 03/10/2025 07:42

Went to an AI in Corfu and it was fabulous.

You get what you pay for, but you come across that you feel you are better than everyone else there - I hope you are not sat looking them up and down.

You are on holiday, immerse yourself in your surroundings, put down your phone and enjoy yourself.

At least the wine is included

Tiswa · 03/10/2025 07:45

Look everyone would feel more comfortable on a flight in first class but the majority of us end up in economy and we make the most of it.

can you hire a car and go exploring
go out and eat and other restaurants
and then just go with the flow

I have stayed at places varying from v posh to hostel and had fun at all of them work out how much you are the issue here

plus it’s term time it can hardly be that busy so you can get a seat by the pool

BeavisMcTavish · 03/10/2025 07:47

j do several Greece all inclusive and they’re amazing. (Spain, not so much!).

without knowing which I you’ve gone to, or how much the ball park is it’s impossible to say if you brought this on yourself.

what was the cost?

coravantexel · 03/10/2025 07:49

We can only afford self catering staycays so I’m struggling a bit to be sympathetic! It sounds like you’d be better off in private accommodation like a villa. Next time I’d also have a look at Italy and France rather than Greece/Spain.

MyDeftDuck · 03/10/2025 07:52

ConflictofInterest · 02/10/2025 21:48

I have to say I am so pleased to hear this, I can't afford a holiday abroad and we had a lovely week in the UK in a caravan for £800 this summer. You could try doing that but pay for the poshest caravan and have lobster and champagne alone in it every day with the money you've saved. I love reading threads by people with more money than sense. Please provide more details, how much did you pay for it? Exactly how awful is it, what are these dreadful people doing, specific examples needed, photos...?

Well said!

And why didn’t the OP look on TripAdvisor to see what the hotel was like before booking it??

It has to be said too, although you’re on AI you’re NOT tied to the hotel, you are free to explore the area. OK, so you will have to pay for meals and drinks but if money is no object……………🤷‍♀️

OneNewLeader · 03/10/2025 07:53

IKOS do nice all inclusive resorts in Europe. Unless you’re there of course.

I’ve stayed in a few all inclusive resorts when the children were younger, used it as a base, explored a bit with the guarantee of food when we got back. You’re not in a prison, you can leave, hire a car, explore.

NewWin · 03/10/2025 07:54

Our last holiday (Greece) cost under £2K for a very basic but lovely apartment, the hire car, and the flights. We ate out a lot but also cooked.

Why would you book AI if you're not in to it?? It's clearly going to be shit!

I am somewhat tempted by the idea of AI as I like the idea of going on holiday just to flop, and DS would love it, but I think the reality is we'd get bored after 2 days. DH would absolutely hate it, so I will never get to experience the joys of sun bed wars 😁

Honestly though, it's just as easy to find an apartment or a a
Villa, why wouldn't you??

Fluffypotatoe123987 · 03/10/2025 07:59

You dont do all inc in greece its not the place for that. Its breakfast in then taverna at night.

Why dint you go to sardinia? Or a 5 star all inc in turkey on lara beach.

BlueSeagull · 03/10/2025 08:02

AI can be hit and miss, we have stayed in some lovely ones we have found the adults only ones or ones with adult only areas tend to be the best. With some research they can be fab for especially if want a do F all type of break

NotQuiteUsual · 03/10/2025 08:05

All inclusive is fab. No thinking about spending money. Kids can fill up on all the pop they want so they stay hydrated. Pool bar always has kid friendly food, so you don't have to worry about if they'll eat lunch or tea. Loads of families so plenty of kids for yours to make friends with. Naff entertainment that again the kids adore. I'm happy with a sunbed and a pool. So everything else is about making the family happy. We don't really drink when we're with the kids so I don't know about the alcohol side of things. But I love knowing every meal and drink is covered and spends are just for fun stuff.

Onearmedscissor · 03/10/2025 08:06

I stayed at a horrible AI this summer in Spain. I have the same household income as you so I knew with my budget that I was at the lower end of the AI scale but in the past 'brits abroad' hotels we have visited have generally been fine. Food was meh but the atmosphere was fun and the dcs enjoyed themselves. I felt like I was able to have some r&r.

However, for an improvement we made the mistake of assuming that because the tripadvisor reviews were wider than UK guests that this summers hotel would be classier. Ooh big mistake! Turns out hotels aimed at low income spanish families are even worse than brit abroad hotels. I cried it was so bad and we spent a lot of money outside of the hotel (a little bitter here as dp refused to book the hotel i wanted which was £700 more than this place and we spent that eating out, on activities and escaping the resort).

I think this is probably the last AI we will do, at least for a while. We've preferred them in the past as buffets are easy with small kids and my eldest loves a cheesy disco, i also like not worrying about money but the dcs seemed to enjoy going out to eat each night, youngest doesn't give a flying f about the disco, neither really cared about the slides so a basic pool is all we need (i just need some peace - the hotel was so busy, cramped and noisy!)

NutButterOnToast · 03/10/2025 08:07

Do people go AI for luxury?

They must I suppose but the reason we do it is convenience. Couple of nights on the TUI website thinking about where looks best, click and pay. Done. When you've got tiring jobs sometimes you just want a fly and flop with minimal hassle.

Every few years we'll do a more adventurous holiday but that involves loads of research and frankly far more effort. I really cba with it a lot of the time.

Incognitoburrito88 · 03/10/2025 08:14

I hate how snobby these threads get. I assure you I have sterling middle class credentials but I have been on and enjoyed all inclusive holidays. I have young kids and sitting in a different taverna every night would be an absolute nightmare with my little ones. The joy of AI is that when your toddler doesn’t eat their lunch but declares they are hungry 30 mins later you can get them something to eat without being pissed off that you’ve wasted 20 euro on a meal they didn’t eat. It is predictable and samey which is exactly what little kids like and the entertainment may be rubbish for us but my kids love nothing more than hanging out in an upcycled garden shed colouring in with a bunch of German kids! I assume you have kids as why would you go AI if you don’t?? If so then try to appreciate the fact that you don’t have to shop, think about what’s for dinner, make a packed lunch or cook for a week. Put some armbands on the kids, shove them in the pool and read your book - that’s what AI holidays are for. Once your kids are older you can do nice stuff.

I love the Dorchester but would I want to stay there with a 3 year old… nope.

JetFlight · 03/10/2025 08:15

So now you know not to book all inclusive next time.
Go with your own suggestion next time or a nice villa. You’ll have to eat out or get your own food in but it’s much nicer.
But for this holiday, relax and enjoy it for what it is.

Liondoesntsleepatnight · 03/10/2025 08:15

I stayed in a fab all inclusive in Greece, private pool penthouse. Could you get an upgrade to a swim up room?

pick better, look for ones you can order off the menu? Also try club med. You really do get what you pay for.

boulevardofbrokendreamss · 03/10/2025 08:15

Throw kids in the mix and ai works for us. My idea of hell previously. We eat out most nights and just factor the cost in, helps negate the can I have a snack / drink / ice cream requests during the day.

MikeRafone · 03/10/2025 08:17

I have been on a few, Morocco, Lanzarote, Menorca, Kos, Cape Verde

They fit a purpose for me and I've found the people watching wonderful.

Kos was defiantly the best, it was May which meant the hotel was quieter and it was really good food and location

I find the food usually good - Menorca was ok food but not as good as the others. We take books and read the holiday away, sprinkled with a bit of people watching. Rarely go off site and have found 5 days is the optimum time frame rather than 7 days for this type of holiday.

Menorca we had one alcoholic drink per day, we rarely go overboard - but what I like is everything was paid and it was approximately £100 per day

I went on a cruise this year with Cunard - I found that was a decent alternative relaxing holiday and similar to all inclusive. I enjoyed sitting with lots of different people for dinner and chatting. The ports we stopped at were great and we just did our own thing rather than excursions. Similar price to all inclusive but different customers

Stompythedinosaur · 03/10/2025 08:17

Preferring to holiday less often but in more expensive hotels is perfectly reasonable.

The deluded belief that everyone else wouldn't also feel more comfortable in a luxury location is not. It sounds like to think you're better than them!

Cantbleedingcope · 03/10/2025 08:18

Just eat out!

We’ve done all inclusive a few times and it’s generally a mix. Once it was utterly rubbish - so we just ate out every night on that holiday. Cost extra obviously but no point eating miserable food

You’re there now - you’re in the situation you’re in - and you are in the financial position that you can at least do something about it.

MikeRafone · 03/10/2025 08:19

NutButterOnToast · 03/10/2025 08:07

Do people go AI for luxury?

They must I suppose but the reason we do it is convenience. Couple of nights on the TUI website thinking about where looks best, click and pay. Done. When you've got tiring jobs sometimes you just want a fly and flop with minimal hassle.

Every few years we'll do a more adventurous holiday but that involves loads of research and frankly far more effort. I really cba with it a lot of the time.

If I want adventure I have booked with Exodus, its all done by them and I turn up with my list of things they tell me to bring. Plus repeat booking get 5% off - which I didn't realise until I booked again with them 6 years later and they gave me the discount

youmustbeshittingme · 03/10/2025 08:23

NeelyOHara · 03/10/2025 06:44

Go somewhere more expensive? Club Med or Ikos don’t have any ‘riff raff.

Or you could just be one of those people who goes abroad but comment about how they don’t like seeing British tourists abroad.

I don’t know about that, I’m looking at Ikos for next year. If OP is there, happy to help bring the tone down. 😄

JetFlight · 03/10/2025 08:24

You can still explore more. I’ve only stayed in AI once and they did packed lunches for us if we requested the day before for going out and about. Is that an option for you?