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?

I’ve done AI Ikos in Greece and it was superb.

op what star rating is it ??

This happened to me at the Datai Langkawi, poor chap was so apologetic - he thought we were out. Hasn’t put us off going back though, mistakes happen. Still my favourite hotel in the world!

I'm confused - book a 5* luxury all inclusive hotel.

Ikos looks gorgeous.
Sani Resort (same group) is also fab if you prefer Half Board / Full Board.

Not trying to be "that poster", but if you wanted luxury, why on earth didn't you just book luxury? Moaning that you've booked cheap and cheerful Skegopolous when you apparently wanted Atlanticos or Ikos doesn't really seem very smart.

Anyway, you're there now, so just have another cocktail or three and make the best of it. Go for a few nice dinners in town. Just because its AI, doesn't mean you can't leave or eat elsewhere.

I’d hate it too OP. Can you just use the hotel for sleeping and go out in the day?

We have a £100k combined income or thereabouts and I’m absolutely a snob. I’d never do an all inclusive. 😂

We have lovely family and solo holidays both self catering (very nice) holiday cottages in the UK or Airbnbs in Europe. Very doable on our income and so much nicer. In Europe, we go to markets and local restaurants and playgrounds and beaches and hardly see other British people. We seem to spend the same or less than people do AI. It’s not at all difficult if you don’t eat at restaurants 3 meals a day and drink like a fish. So yes, if you’re a snob, I absolutely am too!

From your post, I’m not sure what’s actually wrong with it? You’ve just said you don’t like the other people there but not what the problem with the place is.

I went on AI in Greece a couple of times with kids - it was lovely! We went for a room with a swim up and it was fab.

We are retired and like nice, peaceful Saga cruises. However every summer we take DSs and their families to an all inclusive in the Dominican republic. Many noses turn up at the very mention of the Dom Rep, but we have never failed to have a brilliant time at our much loved hotel.

Several restaurants with different cuisines, a couple of buffets but I hate buffets so never go there, a waterpark on site, watersports including little sailing boats, everything for all of us.

Totally different from our first all inclusive hotel in Majorca, just with DH. Very crowded, plenty of tattoos and large people scoffing very large plates of food.

It boils down to you get what you pay for. If it is cheap it will be full of people you probably would not socialise with at home.

Snobbish, me? You bet!

I just don't get the snobbery about AI.

You're not held prisoner in the resort. The people who go AI are all sorts. I dunno where you are OP but I've never been put off by my fellow holidaymakers.

We do adults only though which i think sometimes is a bit more luxury feeling only because there's no noisy children.

I really fancy Ikos but I could never afford it in the school holidays

As you can afford it, you can surely forego some of the 'all inclusive', go out, explore and eat in restaurants? A lot of people do that some of the time anyway, not everyone has their meals on site just because they've paid for them.

Use the hotel as somewhere to sleep, I'm sure it is reasonable if not the height of luxury, and enjoy the area. You will have a good time and when there's a day that you feel tired, the facilities are there for you to fall back on.

Next year book something different but don't spoil this year's holiday when there is much to be enjoyed - make the most of your time in Greece, it's fabulous.

ikos or sani … you’re out of season this week so should be reasonable

What hotel are you at? What did it cost you?

Re: star ratings, they are often based on the range of facilities (for example one of the general requirements of a 3 star hotel is a 24-hour reception). They don't guarantee the quality of the service/food. It has been known for a 3 star hotel to add a small spa to gain a 4th without improving anything else.

As for AI - I have only done it when staying at an on-site hotel at Port Aventura and then it was an absolute godsend because dragging a 5 year old offsite into Salou to eat was not happening.

Only been once to Dom Republic on a AI.. Lovely hotel, lovely staff and 4 flipping families who idea was to get sloshed, drinking all day at the pool bar, kids screaming and being incredibly loud and annoying for two weeks. They were all British too, other nationalities were far more chilled. Why do so many British people think that holidays are just for getting stupidly drunk? I would see one or two of them passed out by the pool in the morning, covered in mozzy bites which the unkind side of me smiled at.

By far the best days were getting out of the complex and exploring, plus getting up early to watch the sun rise before the piss heads woke up.

Get out, get exploring and make the best of it and never book one again! The best kind of holidays for me anyway are ones where you get to actually see another country, try the food, rather than stay in a hotel complex, could do that in Butlins.

😂😂 have you ever heard of IKos? AI in Greece and the most stunning place I’ve ever been to. Off again on Sunday, can’t wait.

We did a couple of mid range AI holidays twice many years ago when the DCs were young, it wasn't really our cup of tea. Felt like you were queuing at a school canteen, hard to find a sun lounger, bit claustrophobic etc and there was a couple of rowdy groups. But it was easy, so I can see why they appeal.

I would be tempted to try a five star AI, potentially would have a better experience.

Avoid AI then - even the 5 star ones. We went to an Ikos and you still get the same kind of “clientele” you mentioned, just the ones with a bit more money. Food was rubbish esp given the price. Maybe people don’t notice because of how much they’re drinking all day. It’s like emperors new clothes. Everyone going on about it being amazing even when it isn’t. I wouldn’t do AI again.

Do a villa and pick nice local places.

Can someone explain how you find these NON aI hotels? Do you book independently or do you still use operators like jet2 and tui? The regional airport near me has very limited flight operators, so when I look at booking a small hotel b and b I’m often disappointed to find it also does AI. I wish you could filter that OUT as an option, along with family friendly!

Neck a cocktail and get on the karaoke. If you can't beat them...

Look at Ikos or Sani for next year. Sani doesn't include drinks but has all the other luxury AI activities included plus loads of gorgeous restaurants and a marina, so it feels more like a resort and is very luxurious if you stay at Porto/Dunes/Asterias.

There's a difference between AI 5* with TUI and Ikos / Sani. Not just the £6k v £16k price difference either.

I booked AI 5 once or twice pre and post kids (the £8k kind) and hated it. Moaned to a friend who suggested Ikos and Sani. They said there's 5 AI and then theres actual luxury.

Neither are for me though so we do our own holidays and Air B n B / villa it. Whether it's SANI or Ikos or TUI I just don't like other people.

I found more very very wealthy (£1m+ bonus types) on a campsite in the Cotswolds trying to give Sebastian (in his pink chinos) and Jemima a wholesome weekend in the pissing rain than I have at a 5* resort on the Med.

Family income of £60k per year. We go to an AI in Egypt for 2 weeks every year and love it. Our hotel costs us £7000 for a family of 4. It's right on a private beach, a lot of opportunities for excursions, the food is actually really good and they have multiple restaurants, an onsite spa, and a large waterpark for the kids. It may be other people's idea of hell but it's a lot more luxurious than a lot of AI places and quieter because there's only around 300 rooms. We are introverted quiet people and have never had an issue with the guests that stay at the same time as us - never witnessed any rowdiness.
What's the point in going on holiday to somewhere you're not going to enjoy? Pay more and go to somewhere a bit quieter with more opportunities for luxury.