Holiday disappointment - trying to enjoy it but honestly so upset

[OnTheRoll]

Now I know that this is not really a big problem - but it certainly feels like it when I have spent over 4k on 8 days for all-inclusive hotel and it's just meh...
it wasn't the cheapest option by far, a 4-star hotel and excellent reviews on Booking.com and Triparvisor - but I just don't see how they were rated so good.
The beach is abysmal, very little parasols so we had to do without. Same with lounges around the pool. The AL bar serves 5 cocktails that consist 90% of lemonade. The AC is the room is not cool enough.
I have been to all-inclusives before, same price range or even cheaper and they were miles better.
This is our only family holiday in the year and I was so looking forward to it. I want to enjoy it but it's lacking in the very basics.
How to get over the disappointment and try to have a good time? I am at the beach right now and it's just depressing

Maybe it's just me but I'd love that beach!

I hate a packed beach so I wouldn't mind this in the slightest. To cope with the lack of shade & heat I'd take a swim about every 30 mins or so in the sea, or go for a long snorkel. After a few days of sand, sea and salt my skin is AMAZING!

I've never liked AI because I don't like being tied to one place for food and you don't know until you get there really how good or bad it is. So we do SC/B&B and sort our own lunches and dinners finding little ocean front taverns that serve great seafood.

Depending on where you were going in Rhodes, there's beaches like that there too. Ilyasos has a stone beach and is a very windy side to the island for example. Falraki beach is coarse sand with some small gravel type stones. The beaches at Rhodes that are lovely golden sand are usually packed this time of year.

I am panicking now - do you
mind saying what hotel you’re in? No probs if not of course x

I was in Crete at 35 degrees heat too. It’s doable to drive around just be careful and schedule rest stops.

Don’t you mean ouzo?!

Yes you have my sympathy OP it’s crap and especially when it wasn’t a cheap holiday. I am in the same boat @blackclouds should be looking forward to my holiday but feeling a sense of dread. I hope your holiday turns out to be lovely and everything you wish it to be. My DH and I haven’t been abroad for five years.I would have gone back to a hotel/resort I enjoyed previously but DH wanted to go somewhere different. No guarantee that it would be as nice now I guess. It seems that a lot of holiday destinations have sort of ‘given up’ after COVID. There seems to be a lot of disappointment regarding holidays at the moment. It used to be that booking 4* or above and paying a bit extra got you a nice holiday doesn’t seem to be the case now. Anyway at least I am not running away from a wild fire in my swimsuit thank god!

I feel for you OP, but given that you'd originally booked Rhodes and then had to change to this place last-minute I think there's nothing much you can do other than make the best of it. We go to the same place every holiday! I know people think that's boring but we can only afford one holiday a year and having been disappointed before we prefer to stick with what we know for sure we'll love. We don't go off exploring etc. just stay by the beach and enjoy meals out at night. Next year, go back to where you loved is my advice!

Holiday prices have increased a lot from last year so if you’re budget is the same then you will get less for your money, especially if you booked it last minute.
I think you need to put it down to an unfortunate situation and try and make the best of it. In fairness the beach looks fine other than the lack of parasol.

£4k for all inclusive for 8 days for four of you? So £1k each, flights will cost at least half that. It sounds like you're getting what you paid for, sorry.......

Her OP says 4k for the hotel.

This happened the last time we had a beach holiday. We'd gone to a different resort from our favourite, on the recommendation of many people and articles in the press. Hated it from the minute we set foot. It's a special type of process when a few days of longed-for bliss turns out to be A Bit Shit. Anger, disbelief, feeling swindled - then a period of sulk and finding fault with everything - then grudging acceptance.

It's kind of funny looking back on it now. Though we can't really moan cos EVERYBODY in the world seems to love this place!

Can you hire a car ? There are some amazing beaches and coves on Crete, also beautiful little villages with places to eat cheaply.

sadly, it's down to lack of research. Even a quick google would show you the beach (as long as there is street view for the location.)

I guess there is a mismatch between what you expected and got.
If it's a 'lie by the pool or on the beach and drink cocktails' you want, then you will have to make do with that one.

But surely you can tour the island and find nice beaches? Cafes? Historical sites?Surely there is LOADs you can show teens- all educational and historical sites etc?

It's a waste to complain about no parasols when you are on an island with so much history.

Sorry OP, it's hard to be disappointed when you've been looking forward to something but glad to see you've rented a car and you're making the most of it. I bet you can still have a lovely holiday. I wouldn't be a fan of dark gritty sand beaches either, had them recently on the Amalfi Coast, worst thing is that they get so hot in direct sun so you can't walk in bare feet.

I hear you! Went to a Greek island all inc and compared to turkey it's just not that good!

Drinks were appalling, no mini bar, ended up hiring a car and going on day trips to otter places which pissed me off as I had a spend extra £££ on top of what was supposed to be 5 star.

Turkey is much better value for money.

Yes that beach looks gorgeous to me!!!

I'm sorry you're not enjoying your holiday OP. It must be so disappointing to look forward to a holiday and it be not up to scratch.

I have to say your beach picture is giving me envy - I've never been on holiday anywhere so it looks pretty idyllic to me! But I don't have anything to compare it to so that may be why 😂

I agree with PPs who suggest buying a parasol and getting out and about exploring.

I hope you enjoy the rest of your trip!

Op - you really do need to speak to the hotel management. Some of those issues are fixable.

We don't do AI due to dietary restrictions and wanting to support local businesses but honestly if it's crap then go and find some local restaurants/ask hotel staff to recommend somewhere locally.

That sand is fine, cooler on the feet. Ask someone from the hotel staff to sort your parasol or buy a cheap one.

As someone suggested, buy some booze to top up those cocktails (or get pally with the bar staff and ask them to put in extra )

Honestly life is too short to think these things are holiday ruining, they're just mild annoyances.

Get in your car and have an explore, I bet you'll love Crete outside of a crappy AI!

Where we've just been there were parasols for sale for 4 Euro and people were just binning them at the end of the week.
Yes terrible for the environment, I know.
Is that an option OP?

Sod off to those people judging the OP for 'not doing her research' or teaching her lessons about gratitude. She's clearly just created the thread to offload as I'm sure she's doing her best to mask her disappointment for her children!

OP, it sounds utterly shit. And the money spent just makes it worse!! Lots of alcohol (if you drink) or lots pretend smiling with a mocktail in hand.

I know you're doing your best, and you've managed to take your family away for a break, they appreciate it.
Make what you can of it and then when you're back, revel in sleeping in your own bed surrounded by your creature comforts and have a private mini holiday at home!

You've got this 😁🔥

Also, I'm in Crete in 3 weeks. Thank you for managing my expectations! Whatever it is when we get there, I'll think of you 😆

We just came back from Turkey and the beach wasn't great and it was 40+ degrees so couldn't do excursions. We just stayed by the pool.
We don't drink and found the limited selection of soft drinks pretty crap but still managed to enjoy ourselves.

Greek island - that's a volcanic rubble beach. I bet there are pristine white ones nearish, you might need to go out for a nose around on the local bus.

AI/ resorts in general are such a lottery unless you go 5 or "6 star" which seems to be a new fangled thing.

4 star is now what we used to call 3 star in the 1990s I think. The last 4 star I stayed in had a cockroach issue in the bedroom and awful tasting food.

Are your teens happy?

I would definitely try the complaint. They don't want a piss poor trip advisor review with your "realistic" pictures.

It’s a shame the hotel isn’t up to par when you’re spending so much money on a week all inc. To be honest it is much better to not have all Inc in the Greek islands as one of the main highlights is local food/restaurants. Maybe next time don’t go for a pricey all in, especially as you have teens so it’s easier to eat out. Shame your first holiday was cancelled, better luck for next year!

This and not forgetting she was supposed to be going to Rhodes so had 2 days to decide with much less choice due to all the best places being booked already