Have you had GOOD FOOD at an all inclusive resort ?

[felttippens]

Does such a place exist ?

Paradisus Rio De Oro in Cuba. Amazing food!

Moon Palace, Mexico

A hotel in Maldives I can't remember the name of

Barbados hotel we got cheap last minute, also can't remember the name but the food was amazing

Riu Vistamar, Gran Canaria

Yes, specifically in Cyprus - The Atlantica hotels there are superb.

Atlantica hotels are generally good. Not amazing but much better than most AI. For really good AI food I'd look at the Karisma chain in Mexico - El Dorado and Azul Hotels. They have a couple in Croatia as well and all have very, very good food.

Club Med anywhere, fabulous food.

Rui are usually great

Yes, but as PP's have also said, not in any Shorthaul destinations we have been!

Long haul we tend to go only to the large hotel resorts that have several a la carte restaurants on site included in the AI so there's much more selection!

Yes but the same exact food didn't taste all that great by day 8.

Classic mistake of trying a bit of everything for a week instead of picking one main dish as your meal each dinner.

Marriott at Taba Heights. Dreams, Tulum. All my clothes were tight when I came back.

The AIs I've been to that were good, but only one main restaurant, all had different themed nights every night

Wow thanks so much for all of the replies - so helpful!

Louis patheon has come up a few times can anyone tell me more about the place ?

Are all these restaurants buffets? Is there a good selection of local food - if I am in Spain/Greece/Turkey I want predominantly local food with plenty of fresh meat/fish/salads and preferably nothing beige.

I am cautious when people say on Tripadvisor that the food was crap because they usually mean that there was too much meat and fish with visible shells and bones and not enough beige or British food.

Do any have a la carte where you can eat outside at a choice of restaurants? Do you have to go really high end to get this? Does it even exist?

I don't want to have to book in advance either - I like the relaxed wander out when you are ready and choose as you go along and most people seem to be more organised than me so I would always lose out to those who think to book Thursday night's dinner when they go for breakfast on Tuesday for example.

For the above reasons I've always avoided AI - we usually self cater or hotel B&B - I like a good hotel buffet breakfast but hate buffets for evening meals and don't like eating lunch and dinner inside in hot countries - eating outside is part of the holiday for me. But I sometimes wonder if I am missing out, or not.

Exactly what worktolive said about TA recommendations
I've only tried AI once, the Grand Pacha in Marmaris. Vast selection, plenty of fresh food, lots of Turkish cuisine and salads etc though seemed to have enough for fussier eaters too.
Really enjoyed it, though probably wouldn't go to Marmaris in high season as it would be really hit, crowded and a bit 'Brits abroad! In parts, but lovelyat quieter times

We've had good food at Riu resorts. The food in Cape Verde was much better than in Fuerteventura though.

Ive booked the louis phatheon- trip advisor reviews are great x

Yes, in Ibiza. But I can't remember the hotel name. Don something. It was right in the middle of a really clubby bit & unbelievably noisy. The food was amazing though.

Worktolive, don't think you're missing out .

Yes, but we have only done AI longhaul (i.e. caribbean) and strictly no places where meals are served buffet style.

Louis create princess in chania, Crete

Sandals and Beaches resorts, but they're Caribbean.

Ha ha - I once priced up Sandals because there was an advert on TV and DP was tempted by the unlimited scuba diving.

Admittedly I picked a resort and date at random so I have no idea whether it was cheap, typical or expensive for Sandals and I can't remember if it was one week or 2, for the two of us, the price quoted was over £8K!

I think I'll stop worrying about not doing AI because it would appear that it would be very expensive to get it how we want it, it's just that several people have commented 'that we are mad' to not go AI.

But we are moderate eaters and drinkers and like to tour around in the daytime and go for a walk/drink/outside dinner or tapas style meals in the evening, which doesn't seem to fit in with AI unless you take picnics of hotel food, which probably doesn't work well in a mediteranean summer or pay out on top of what you have already paid when you are out and about.

Rui are always good. Also Olympic Lagoon Cyprus.

I think there are two things to mention. One is to look for a choice of restaurants at the hotel. Secondly, many people complain about repetition. They are the people who have fish, pork, casserole, pasta and curry all on their plate at once.

AI great for small children as they can try new things without wasting an entire meal if they don't like it. As they get older AI removes the constant demand (from teenage boys anyway) for drinks and snacks.

What I don't like is the rushed feel at buffet restaurants. I miss going out to eat and spending a long time over a meal.
This year we are doing half board at a hotel which lets us eat lunch instead of dinner.

Ikos Oceania in Halkidiki . Amazing buffet and 5 a la carte options too. Could not fault the food in any way . Would go back in a heart beat

Never been as good as when I've been out and about and bought food in restaurants.

And after a few days the same old buffet starts to get boring anyway.

And the wine is never that great either, even when it claims to not just be the local plonk.

Think we've given up on AI now - normally only ever do it for a week for a winter sun holiday. But think we will do SC or B&B only in future.