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 get it op, I'm the same. The good news is you have the budget for it, you just need to choose what other expenses to cut off. I was shocked how much I can save from not getting take away, for example

It isn't all inclusive that's the problem, but the particular hotel. Hotels and food vary greatly, and that's the case whether you're half board or all inclusive. Also, you don't necessarily get better food or even a nicer dining experience by choosing 5 star over 4. You never really know what a hotel is going to be like until you try it. The only thing you can be sure of is that drinks, lunches etc will be more expensive at 5 star places. That doesn't mean you'll win by taking the all inclusive option at 5 star. We've always had half board at such places because the difference between hb and ai is usually enormous and very hard to break even on it, far less get value. We've had some lovely 4 star ai experiences, some of them terrific value, as well as some lovely times half board in both 4 and 5 star. Our most recent hol was 5 star, and the food was really quite disappointing. Sorry your holiday's got off to a bad start. Hope it gets better.

AI is always going to be bad. You wouldn’t go to an all you can eat buffet in the UK and expect it to be high quality, and it isn’t overseas either.

Go half board or B&B, and that usually eliminates the people drunk by 11am, and encourages people to leave the premises to find decent food.

OP you might want to look into using a Travel Concierge type service - an agent who doesn't just book your flights and hotel but can arrange other things for you as well such as restaurant bookings, transfers, activities etc. You can tell them what kind of vibe you're after and they'll match with you the right kind of place.

Book 4 or 5 star next time and shorten yr stay.

We went to an AI on Crete some years ago. Felt deflated on the first day. The beach was too pebbly to escape there. It was too hot and too far to travel out. However, we got into the spirit of things and participated in the activities and loved it. The kids were younger so that helped, as it was easier to go to the talent competitions and join in the Macarena (or whatever its equivalent was that season). Let your guard down a bit.

Agree with this.
You seem to be implying that your income isn't particularly high, so you have to put up with holidaying at the same places as people you think are below you (albeit probably with a similar income), whereas you actually have a higher than average household income.

I dont know about being a snob but I dont like a) other people generally and b) being ripped off.

A self catering holiday done right can come in at about the same all told as a decent AI, and you get what you want not what you are offered.

I think what sells AI is people who absolutely refused to do any self catering at all (so not doing their own breakfast etc) plus the appeal of a free bar. They look at half board and then see that AI is barely anymore so go for that. I can see the logic.

But with SC I can buy wine I like, food I like, go to a different restaurant every night and usually with at least a smaller number of people to share the pool with if it isnt exclusive use. Plus, with young kids, its better as you have living space to spend your evenings in when they are in bed.

Was it a Jet2holiday?? My thoughts are with you

Please share the name of the hotel so we can cross it off our own lists.

Yeah you need a better quality hotel. It’s not the AI bit that’s making it bad. I’ve been to some fantastic AI hotels very luxurious but tbh most of the best ones are outside of Europe. Jamaica was one of the best!

Halve your number of holidays and double your budget OP.

Are these people putting flip flops on beds?

This is good advice.

You are there now, so embrace the difference and go with it.

Because whats the alternative? Spending the time with a face like a smacked arse, feeling hard done to because it isnt what you wanted and resenting the money spent.

Its done now. So you need to just come to peace with it and, as @LasVegass says, dance the maracena and join in.

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

You are totally unreasonable for this comment alone, you sanctimonious, insecure snob.

Do the other guests a favour please, book the next flight home.

Holidays are something we don't do that often but spend a lot on - so there is a lot of opportunity to be disappointed but not a lot of opportunity to learn from our mistakes and do it better.

After every holiday it's worth sitting down and agreeing with your partner what went well and we'd like to do again? What can we suck up because the kids like it/ the budget doesn't stretch as far as we would like? And what was a big mistake and we should never do again?

It sounds like you knew AI was a mistake but got sucked in and did it again. However there must have been something that you liked about Greece to go back - the weather? the beach? things to do outside of the resort? watching the kids have fun? (my parents did Butlins on the basis I loved it)

I'd try and focus on the good bits, chalk up the bad bits to experience. And ask Mumsnet for advice before booking again.

If you book a crappy AI , what do you expect ? AI has to be top end to be nice . You need Ikos . It's really lovely and a total break .
I can only do it for 5 days but as a rest it is perfect !

I cannot understand why people on here seem to think all AI are the same . Or that IF you go to one that you are not allowed to leave and 'explore the area' .

UGH!!! We stayed in a hotel earlier this year that had AI people. I hated it and them. Self catering all the way.

We go for pretty high end hotels in nice locations but B&B only - I like varying it up every night - however the one we stayed in this year had such lovely restaurant terrace and great food we actually ate there 3 nights and if they had done AI. ( pretty sure they don’t) I would be tempted - it was about £280 a night in early July but calm, fragrant and very few kids at all even though it isn’t adults only, probably because it doesn’t have a pool - although is straight onto beach and sea - recommended - the village has about 20 restaurants and bars too - lovely upmarket vibe. Here’s the link for anyone looking for that vibe Universal aquamarine sant Elm Majorca

https://www.booking.com/Share-lBrb8I

MNs snobbery over AI holidays will never ever not be funny to me

I wonder if Tattle have got hold of this yet. They'll have a field day.

Meliá 5 star chain. Gorgeous. All inclusive. Luxury.

Oh OP, you are WILD! There are things you say, and things you think but I guess this is an anonymous forum so fill your boots!

To be honest, I hate AI holidays too, I hate everything about them. The food, the pools (the towels), the entertainment, the drinks, the people. I would never go by choice. You can stay in a fancier resort but it’s still an AI resort.

You should go to an over the water villa in the Maldives with a butler. But if you can’t afford that, well you have to hang with the rabble or stay home. Sad, huh?

@

Book something more expensive then

So.. you booked a holiday, in your budget. You are now holidaying with other people in a hotel who presumably have the same budget as you.. and you hate it??
What do you hate?
I love all inclusive, but I spend a lot of time finding really nice all inclusive hotels.
My DH would prefer boutique hotels and not spend time in the hotel.
However, he has conceded that all inclusive with kids is far easier and less waste and they can get drinks and eat when they want. Its just easier.
We have tried boutique with kids and its actually crap as you trapse around looking for nice eateries and the kids wont eat the menu, they get bored etc.
A nice all inclusive, is so easy with kids.
Maybe you jist booked a crappy one. How did you research it. I will trapse through trip advisor reviews and pictures and research the actual hotel website like I am an international spy to make sure I am not booking one that I will hate and we have had good luck with our hotels so far. Fingers crossed.
What specifically do you hate about the hotel?

YABU as you have no idea what those people want. Maybe, like you, they're laying about rueing their awful choices.
Or they're more sensible and know that at this point they need to make the best of a bad situation.