All-inclusive buffets and stomach bugs

[changeforthebetter]

So this is the second time we've been on one of these and the second time I have come home and developed a really nasty bug. I'm not normally prone to tummy bugs - have done a lot of travelling in the past pre-kids.

I've never done all- inclusives before but it seemed ideal with two young kids (so far they are fine)

Anyone else find this with AIs?

Buffets, particularly in hot countries, are notorious for spreading bugs. Food is kept at just the right temperature for bacteria to grow nicely and the food is open to flies, sneezes, grubby fingers etc.

I thought it was the ideal as I am on my own with quite young kids and SC was hard work.

DP has a sensitive tummy, so if we end up somewhere with a buffet we loiter until something new is put out and then get it straight away. It's not ideal because the spoons might have got grubby, but it's been fairly reliable at keeping bugs at bay because the food is hotter and hasn't had as many people poking around in it.

I think you have to be more selective about what you eat - if you're asking yourself of x is cooked enough, don't risk it.

Might you have got it from someone/something on the plane?

I am also very wary of buffets, as my stomach is sensitive, but as you say OP, they are ideal with young children as there is a lot of choice and there is bound to be something they can eat. If they don't like it, they can leave it and choose something else. Eating in restaurants abroad can be very expensive. We did several AI holidays in Greece when DD was young and most of the time it worked out well.

As OldRoan says you have to be careful with your selection - then you should be fine. I agree with taking the stuff that is new - make sure you take the new pieces of meat or whatever as the 'old' stuff is just mixed in and potentially some could have been there for hours.

I would avoid all the pasta/coleslaw/mayonnaise type salads as often they are used to use up things that have been served hot the previous day - I have seen pieces of sausage from the previous day mixed in with cold pasta and mayonnaise to make a salad for example. The same rule applies to 'curries' and 'stews' - often the meat from the previous night's buffet is recycled. So stick with plain lettuce and tomato type salads, and stick with meat, potato and vegetables. Some people will say that if you do this method you are not fully sampling the full experience of the country you are visiting. Maybe not, but I would rather not be ill. It could be that your DC are fine as they stuck with plainer food - my DD would eat chips, meat and veg most nights.

At breakfast I would avoid the cold meat and cheese as I am nervous as to how many days old it is.

Hope that helps and hope you feel better soon.