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Original poster

What is AI food really like?

23 replies

Molichite · 30/03/2015 13:14

this year I am desperate to find a holiday where I don't have to think about planning the food. I don't want to make lunches or roam the town for a nice restaurant, I just want to stay somewhere that serves nice food. This is new territory for us, we've always self catered but I need a break.

The idea of AI appeals right now but I am a bit put off by tripadvisor comments like "food was ok, especially chinese and curry nights". Is all AI food like pub food - chicken & chips, curries etc, maybe one night of local food in a week? Or is it just that I'm looking in the wrong place (First Choice balearics & mainland spain so far)?

Would half board be better, or would that just be same food without the extras?

Where should I look for a hotel with delicious local food but also kids' activities and a fab pool or beach? Thanks for any help.

OP posts:
MyVisionsComeFromSoup · 30/03/2015 13:25

we did AI in Tenerife, and I deliberately picked a hotel which catered mainly for Spanish guests, to avoid the "pub grub" scenario. We had loads of Spanish and German meals .Look for moaning British Trip Advisor reviews Wink.

GreenShadow · 30/03/2015 16:51

Food is one of our most important criteria and we have been more than happy with the 3 AIs we have been to over the last 5 or so years.

I'm sure there is however, a big difference between the top and bottom of the market AIs.

The new Turkish ones seem to be the best (OK limited personal experience, but from what I have seen and read) but having not tried Spanish/Balearic ones I can't comment on those. Like MyVision, we have tended to use fairly cosmopolitan hotels which may help.

EveDallas · 30/03/2015 16:58

I wouldn't go to an AI less than 4 star now. Having done so previously the biggest difference for me was the food - 4 star and above definately was better quality and more choice.

First Choice is very kid friendly so you may find the meals more 'simple' than other providers, but we've gone with them a few times and it's generally been very good.

(The best food we've had AI was at the Louis Phaethon Hotel in Paphos, Cyprus. It was plentiful and frankly outstanding Smile)

BackforGood · 30/03/2015 17:02

We had SUPERB food for the whole fortnight when we went to Tunisia.
There were some English dishes, some Tunisian food, and some 'find anywhere' food every meal. Could also have salads, paninis, thinks like burgers or pancakes. Fruit always available. Every meal you could choose whatever you liked.

HermioneWeasley · 30/03/2015 17:06

Depends massively on the resort, but cheaper 3 options will have less choice than 5

Artandco · 30/03/2015 17:11

We just go to hotels with restaurants but not all inclusive. Then can just put anything onto room tab and pay at the end. Works out about the Same as all inclusive in the end as there's days we would eat breakfast then be out all day and days when we eat most meals there so it all evens out and you aren't paying for food you aren't eating. The restaurants are all with full menus like usual not buffet type. Usually local cuisine, but often many have speciality ones as well. We have had Nobu Japanese restaurants on site for example

ihatethecold · 30/03/2015 17:29

(The best food we've had AI was at the Louis Phaethon Hotel in Paphos, Cyprus. It was plentiful and frankly outstanding )

I agree. We stayed last year and the food was consistently fab.
So much choice and very tasty.

Great pool too.

BabyGanoush · 30/03/2015 17:31

heard good things about the food at the turkish ones from friends.Lots of good fresh stuff.

Sidge · 30/03/2015 18:04

I have found it varies - AI in Cuba was wonderful, AI in Rhodes was very good and AI in Tenerife was awful. All were supposedly 4* hotels.

Perfectlypurple · 30/03/2015 18:12

It varies, but most places I have been have your standard English type stuff, cereal for breakfast, chips for lunch etc but also do local dishes so ,out places will cater for the people that want pub grub and the ones that want to be more adventurous. The salad is normally varied too. I am fussy but find if I stick to salad and vegetarian pasta I am normally ok, if the other stuff does not suit me. The snack bar during the day is normally awful though. Chips, burger, pizza etc.

I also find that AI is not much more than half board or breakfast only and worth doing even if you just have breakfast and drinks at the hotel. We always eat out somewhere local quite a few times when we go away. Although I do notice people who loudly state they didn't bring any money as AI and they shouldn't have to spend a penny. For me a holiday is about relaxing by the pool for some of the time, but also about experiencing local life. I find with AI you get the best of both worlds.

Original poster
Molichite · 30/03/2015 23:24

Thank you all, really helpful. It looks like I need to spread the net a bit wider.

OP posts:
PurpleShoes69 · 30/03/2015 23:33

Is all AI food like pub food? Yes Grin but hey, that's not necessarily a bad thing.
Read reviews online of where you're considering, don't take them too seriously but check there aren't reams of reviews saying they got food poisoning Grin
Also Google restaurants near your hotel so you know you can get out if you fancy - even if your hotel is the nicest in the world, you may just want to go out for a change.

Dancingwitch · 30/03/2015 23:38

I have done a variety of AI over the years. AI at a 5* adult only resort in Mexico with a choice of 7 different restaurants was very different to AI at a First Choice resort in the Balearics. The good thing about the latter was that, as the nicest food was the grilled fish/chicken and salad, I actually came home weighing the same as before I went. With the First Choice one, I found the meal options really repetitive. Having said that, 2yo DS was going through a particularly fussy stage and it was bliss knowing that there would be plain pasta (sauces available separately), bread, cheese bananas and, usually, kiwi fruit available at every meal as he would usually eat something and was covering the major food groups. Of course, other foods which are a staple of his diet at home were rejected as the "local" cheerios, milk etc obviously all tasted different & were spat out.
After our First Choice experience, do pay attention to what alcohol is offered. I more or less had a dry holiday as the spirits and wine on offer were so vile (I don't think beer). Whilst there were bars, none of them sold "premium" brands but just offered the free brands which were dreadful. Another time, I would definitely make sure I could buy a decent drink if I wanted to.
On an AI holiday, we always factor in a couple of meals out a week.

Heels99 · 31/03/2015 13:01

Have done yeo, both in luxury 5 star hotels long haul, both fantastic. I wouldn't bother in Europe unless I was five star.

Heels99 · 31/03/2015 13:01

Neither did chips except on the kids table

Original poster
Molichite · 01/04/2015 19:57

Not sure we can stretch to long haul 5* but thank you all for the tips.

OP posts:
stargirl1701 · 01/04/2015 20:22

We've only done it once in The Maldives. It was lovely but I have nothing to compare it to. It was a 5 star resort, if that helps.

Heels99 · 01/04/2015 21:07

But in the Maldives thee are no other restaurants to go to are thee? It's just the hotel available so whether you are all inclusive or not, it amounts to the same thing. I like being not all inclusive as we like eating out and about in different restaurants but since we have had children it is. Inch much easier to be all inclusive.

Heels99 · 01/04/2015 21:08

If you read the tripadvisor reviews of any hotels that interest you, you will soon find out if the food is dire

Artandco · 01/04/2015 21:24

Heels - that depends on what island you are on. Some tiny ones have just restaurants associated with the hotel, others have regular families obviously living with restaurants, schools, museums excetra. None are that far from each other so you can usually travel off easily and that would mean eating elsewhere

Hersetta427 · 09/04/2015 11:50

Some are good, some are bad. We had awful English slop in Turkey, but beautiful greek food, salads and dolmades in Kos. In Tunisia we had grilled steak, garlic prawns, fresh grilled tuna , grilled lamb chops (and they cater for kids simpler palettes too).

BeaLola · 12/04/2015 11:21

We have had excellent AI food in Crete - but downside was no outside seating. We had excellent AI food in Tunisia (5 star) and last year with our 6 year old went to Lanzarote last minute - literally booked on Sunday went on Monday - the food was pretty good and he loved being able to chose from the wide selection including the pastries at breakfast ! We loved the excellent lunch options and being able to eat outside in the sun. It was a 4 star and pretty good overall. One thing though is we only go for a week - not sure if I would feel differently if going for 2 weeks ?

HelenF350 · 12/04/2015 11:40

We've done AI 3 times. 3 star in Tenerife, food perfectly edible but repetitive. 4 star in Turkey, food very good but quite repetitive and 4/5 star in Tunisia where the food was amazing. The Tunisian hotel had a different theme night every day for a fortnight so little repetition. Also had 3 a la carte restaurants that you could eat in once each included in the price. We ate in the Tunisian one on the last day of our holiday and it was fantastic, there was so much food we couldn't even finish. Laugh is the Tunisian holiday was over £150 per person cheaper than the one to Tenerife! x

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