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 want descriptions of the plebs too, please. Their dental floss bikinis, tattoos, fake tans....

I hate all inclusive. I hate everything about it.

Like you, I did it twice. I thought that the first was bad luck, wrong place, wrong hotel.
But no, I’m not built for it.

I think that it really is a case of different strokes for different folks. Some people obviously love it.

I was in ikos in Crete last year. It was amazing in parts. Best restaurants I’ve ever seen, best beach ever, room was just ok and a glass balcony screen that was filthy. Then housekeeping guy came round just before dinner time each day and walked right into bathroom with the new towels while I was in shower. Never even knocked door. I won’t ever go back.

AI hotels can really vary in quality and whether they feel exclusive. When I had small kids who were fussy eaters and a pain in the arse at bedtime I quite liked the buffet style of AI and its lack of formality. My half feral toddler gorging on chips and mini sausages didn't draw any looks of disaprovement. Now my kids are older and a bit more civilised we actually prefer to take our time over dinner so prefer to book a villa or apartment and then eat out at nice restaurants.

That said, we stayed at a terrible one on Lanzarote and there were kids running around mine sweeping sugar loaded cocktails all night...we hated it.

Home Exchange. You can exchange your nice home to stay somewhere also very nice. There are some great (and luxury) places on there. And no money changes hands!

Its hard when you are looking forward to something, paid good money for it and you can't enjoy it.

We had a lovely (first) AI on one of the Greek Islands a few years ago. My kids still say it was the best holiday they've ever had. Pretty annoying as it was by far the cheapest holiday too.

I didn't like the food but they loved being able to help themselves.

We ate breakfast, went off in a hire car (all day and every day), had lunch and coffees in Greek restaurants and went back in time to shower and have dinner. Then DH had a beer or two while the kids danced with the (very poor) entertainment crew and we went to bed by 11pm every night.

We paid approx 1K for one week for the whole family including flights, accommodation and meals/drinks.

I thought it was very good value tbh. We have gone back to renting apts and doing a mix of self catering and eating out since but the AI was the easiest holiday we've ever had.

There were mostly French and Eastern European staying in our accommodation at the time. The French were fairly loud as they were a big group but they all sat at a big table so it was easy enough to sit away from them. The Eastern Europeans spent all day topping up their tans by the pool as far as I could tell.

Nobody was drunk/messy.

Ikos is a good choice if you want all inclusive but overpriced and food isn't that great in my opinion for the price. Best to do a villa holiday in an area which is known for its restaurants/local cuisine and book the best local restaurants for dinner each night. Unless you need a kids club in which case there aren't so many options unless you have a lots of £££.

I wizzed to Rhodes a couple of weeks ago and we had a fabulous time. Apartments were fantastic,beautiful views,caught a bus to Limnos ,amazing food at the restaurant at our apartments . We probably spent £200 each for food and drinks .Cost £400 inc flight for a week. Going AI is always a let down so just don’t do it!

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

Don't book AI. Book self catering and eat at a different taverna every evening or book bed and breakfast at a hotel and eat at tavernas for lunch and dinner.

AI doesn't appeal to us so we don't do it.

You are probably not in a 5 star all inclusive, they are pretty amazing! I love the Mitsis Laguna Spa hotel in Crete and Mitsis Blue Domes in Kos. Ikos also have some pretty fab hotels. So where exactly are you staying?

My strategy is to do cheap and close to home for a couple of years in a row so that every few years I can really splash out.

I assume you have children? It always amuses me when people go on a term time holiday and act like they’re a bit above the rest of us, even though they can’t afford to go in school holidays so what’s there to brag about?

Sounds positively ghastly!

If you really want an AI that is eye watering,then I recommend Neilson holiday on Lindos 😉

I hate AI.
Did it once - never again.
My advice - rent a villa. Totally private, I always get one with a pool, eat out every night or BBQ local food at the villa. Get a cleaner mid way through your stay, and bedding change.
Fill the fridge with drinks & snacks - sooooo much better than any AI.
No fighting for loungers, can leave your book/sun tan lotion/speaker etc by the pool when you go out/for a nap.
it’s the best way to holiday. I can reccomend some villas if you want.

I’d suggest getting a better paid job.

People outside the UK don’t really mind about taking children out of school for holidays.

My friends mom was a teacher and told me they were all delighted to have less kids in the class when parents took them off somewhere for a week.

I only book Airbnb or small hotels.

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.

What makes you think that? Given that you have the same budget etc, so are clearly in the same bracket?

There are so many beautiful and exclusive places to stay in Greece. Look for the smaller hotels. They probably won’t offer AI though but you will get DBB plus a bar or two and maybe a private pool room.

I've never gone All Inclusive. I know there are destinations, where hotels are a long way from facilities and you don't have much choice but to book AI. Some people love AI, and that's fine, I have nothing against it. For me, part of the experience of visiting another country is the local food. Therefore I want to eat in restaurants in the town, sampling local food. AI doesn't encourage tourists to use the local restaurants or bars (only once the AI drinks stop at 10 pm!), which brings money into the area. AI wouldn't be for me. I tend to book self-catering but will also consider just breakfast. You can stay in luxurious 5* hotels and have breakfast, rather than AI. Or book a private apartment or villa, and eat out!

Not sure what to say about this
..il just get my tiny violin out 😂.
Your not unreasonable for not enjoying what you dont like. However you are unreasonable for not being grateful for your privilege and next time just book better.

I've never done AI, and we can't afford high end places. There are other options you know. But what do you want from a holiday? We like culture and seeing different places. The accommodation and food are less important. Usually we get a holiday flat, eat in sometimes and out sometimes, and spend our time exploring. That's what gives me a buzz, not posh hotels or free drinks.

All inclusive has its place but I wouldn't go all inclusive in Greece as I'd want to explore different restaurants and tavernas and you can easily get gyros etc to take out to reduce the cost.

I think going in term time/peak time must be truly awful though......?