Day 1 of holiday. Hell.

[gilesday]

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?

Yeah I get you.
It’s just a general decline of public behaviour versus expectations in general.
I go full DIY and buy in ( supermarkets are amazing abroad) and eat out.

We stayed one night in a top all inclusive hotel to “treat” ourselves. Absolute zoo. Never been so happy to get back to a more basic apartment hotel where people came and went (no subbed wars), chatted about what was out there and made the holiday their own. Best of having an hotel ( cleaning , staff, amenities) with the perks of own apartment ( swim up pool, kitchen and living space)

You sound awful , sorry..truly snobby.
You're on holiday - a luxury out of reach to many people..get a grip and enjoy it
.

I would hate all inclusive and have never done it but not sure I have the same issue as you. Would happily camp rather than spend a ridiculous amount on a luxury hotel. Some friends with similar income to you booked a villa with staff (chef, tour guide..) and had a great holiday so maybe that is something you could consider

I’ve had wonderful all inclusive holidays in Spain when the dc were young but never a good one in Greece. We’ve been a few times to different islands, book a villa and a car next time and use the money you’ve saved to eat to get a decent supermarket shop in and eat out in the evenings instead.

I dislike typical AI holidays too. I get fidgety and like to mooch around local areas, with variety at dining times. But you are there now, so you may as well embrace it for what it is and learn not to book again! 😄

We did AI when the kids were little for ease. Now I love that we can rent a lovely villa with our own pool and eat out in the evenings. Greece has gorgeous tavernas with the best food, why don’t you leave the hotel and do a bit of exploring? I don’t think you’re being a snob, I think we all just holiday differently.

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

Erm… get over yourself?

What rating does the hotel have?!

I have been to wonderful all inclusive holidays, but they were quite expensive.

You get what you paid for!

There's all inclusive and then there is luxury all inclusive and everything in between. I don't understand how you can generalise AI holidays. It is very much one of those things where the more you pay the better it gets IMO. Pre-kids I ashamedly looked down on AI holidays but now with 2 primary school aged children they work so well and I go home feeling like I have had a break. A proper rest. Anyway to address your query I echo the above replies. Research your AI hotel or resort much better. Look for quieter and smaller boutique hotels maybe. British Airways AI holidays have always been a dream, they seem to only offer amazing places. Booking in the sales also helps to find great deals on AI packages that would otherwise be out of reach.

Where you are now, could you maybe have lunch slightly earlier or later than the majority to feel a bit more distant from the other guests. Have a sun lounger in a more quieter place. Maybe share how you're feeling with one of the hotel managers and see if they can do anything for you but not in a complaining sort of way, just asking for help if anything can be done. It might be a no but worth asking. Hope you can enjoy some of your time there OP.

Where'd you go? Asking for a friend 😂

All inclusive sucks dude. Why rob yourself of variety and spontaneity and trap yourself in an environment that is all too often really generic wherever in the world you go? You can get nice but cheapish accommodation and then splash out more on lovely meals out whilst exploring the area. I say splash out but in a lot of places lovely cafes etc are pretty cheap. I guess now that you've committed to all inclusive you can decide whether you have the budget and inclination to branch out elsewhere or need to stay in the bed you've made for yourself. Sad times.

We found ourselves in an all inclusive hotel in Spain recently, and were members of a very exclusive group of guests just on half board. The food was excellent. The bars not so much, but we could escape to a couple of bars close by for a more relaxed atmosphere. If there had been the remotest possibility I might have entertained the idea of a cruise, that definitely won’t happen now - the ultimate all-inclusive holiday, with no option of escaping the all-inclusive folk by going to the bar next door.

5 star all inclusives are pretty incredible!

What do you like on holiday? Accept what you enjoy about it and do it.

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...?

Try AI in the Maldives. That should be a bit more acceptable to you.

I’m sorry to say that you get ‘all sorts of people’ in hotels of every price bracket.

Next year book a beautiful villa in a walkable distance from a ‘naice’ fishing village. Hire a car and drive to a nice beach during the day and have some days by your own pool. Get a supermarket delivery for help-yourself breakfast things, and easy snacky lunches. Walk to supper at a different little restaurant every evening.

Yes

And avoid looking in the metaphorical mirror 🙄

Should’ve gone to Ikos 🤷🏼‍♀️

You're maybe picking the wrong destinations.

Try - where haven't you heard lots of people going to?

Or cruises, and really research the cruise lines. When you have dress codes, it does seem to filter the crowd....

I’m a snob when it comes to holidays, but still often go all inclusive. The last one I went to in Cyprus was quite small, all day service to the sun lounger, right on the beach, a la carte included, two pools. Even if you were in the pool they made sure to come and take your drinks order. It wasn’t cheap though, not sure what you’ve spent.

I don't think I could handle an all-inclusive as I like the freedom of choosing a different place to eat every night. I would feel very confined on an all-inclusive holiday. I just don't see the attraction.
Same with buffets. I just don't enjoy or appreciate all you can eat.

It’s not the board type. It’s clearly the type of hotels / quality you’re booking

if you want luxury AI then you need to be looking at Ikos, Sani, Rixos, Regnum

Think of yourself as an anthropologist viewing the habits of a different

Ugh. Lots of snobs on this thread, OP included, who think they’re better than the rest of us.

Wishing you a miserable time.