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

We went to Rhodes last year and I got really lucky with a small spotless B&B apartment block with our own private pool that was off the beaten track but just 10 mins walk to Faliraki. A small beach about 2 mins away from our apartment that was coarse sand and stone and not packed at all. It had amazing snorkelling. Local little tavernas with amazing food and peace and quiet at night. The owner of the B&B gave us watermelon and figs from his garden. No kids club or club music blasting, or noisy pool. And it cost over 1k less than OP's current hotel. (that 1k will have gone towards full strength drinks tho, so not much of a saving.

I think it's the kind of spot your typical British AI sun holiday person would swerve, and yes, more room for us!

We couldn't go this year but I'm already planning to book up next summer.

I have to say that as someone who has travelled extensively around Greece and holidayed there 30+ times, I would never stay AI.

Its not something they do particularly well and there’s such an abundance of reasonably priced tavernas even in the smallest villages and that’s what a holiday in Greece is all about.

Ive been to Crete before and can echo whet others have said. Spinalonga is an absolute must and Plaka where the boats go from is a lovely little place for lunch and a browse. Knossos is a great day out as well. And there’s other beaches and villages to try if you’ve got a car.

We were in Georgoupolis a couple of weeks ago. Lovely, place if you are anywhere near. Good beaches and brilliant restaurants etc although I know you're AI so probably don't want that! Lake Kournas is amazing if you're that way.

Are you close to Chania? It’s lovely there.

I would get the complaints off your chest - go to hotel management with genuine list of what you think should be better for the price.

You will be more likely to be able to get somemoney refunded if you complain at the time.

Be polite and have clear demands.

re. the beach - either go to another beach or just pay for your own beach umbrella etc - I couldn't be doing with getting up early to grab sun umbrellas after spending all that money.

We didnt like Crete as much as Rhodes, I feel your pain. Have you tried a small tip to the staff? In a Caribbean hotel we had to order a separate glass of coke as rum and coke had too much rum in it. Try ordering a straight vodka, or whatever you like in your cocktails, as well as the cocktail. Drink a little then add the straight alcohol.

Complain to the hotel about the parasols, they may find some more or buy yourself a parasol or large umbrella.

A/c probably goes off when you are out of the room, if you need a card to keep it on try any supermarket loyalty card you may have. Keep curtains closed if your room gets the sun.

I feel your pain OP, we went to a 4* all inclusive in Lanzarote a few years ago. The reviews made it sound like The Ritz, in reality it was worse than Butlins. I vowed I’d never go back to Lanzarote.

If you can, spending another couple of hundred quid can help you make the most of it. Buy yourself a parasol and a lilo to lay on whilst you’re on the beach. If the drinks are crap, buy yourself a nice bottle of wine, you can usually get something perfectly acceptable in the supermarkets for about €4. If the food is crap, go out for a nice meal at a taverna tonight. Get reception to send maintenance up to your room to check your air con is working properly.
I hope you can find a way to enjoy the rest of your break.

This is why I don't do AI. If you don't like it you feel you're stuck with it because it's all already paid for.

At least if you go B&B/SC you need to go out for lunch and/or dinner every day so can go touring around and eat while out and about.

Im sorry you aren't enjoying it.

£4k for 3 people is pretty cheap nowadays for school holidays.

At that price you can afford to get out and do some excursions or eat lunch / dinner in a nice town. Sitting in the shade (shame you can't drink, are there restaurants in walking distance?)

I've chosen a holiday deliberately looking for not hot weather but I'm a bit chilly by a fake lake in the Netherlands! Lots of activities (think centerparcs) and nice food but no change from £5k for 4 off us for 8 days. So bask in the heat, cool off in the pool and revel in peace as your teens sit on devices. I've got a screaming 9yo exhausted from all the fun and a mopy 12yo... there's always some schmuck worse off ey? 😄

The air con might be poor, because I think it's now quite limited due to environmental legislation meaning you can't cool the room down to below about 27 C, which is still quite warm. It is also very expensive to run.

Ah that's so difficult. Next time I recommend seeing if there is a Facebook group for the hotel you're going to, it's a great place to ask about food, drinks, lounger availability etc. This is why we have ended up at the same AI hotel more than once because once you've found the holy grail for space, food etc you feel confident shelling out (we do our "travelling" on other types of holidays!)

I can understand the disappointment but at this stage, the payment for the holiday is long gone so forget that bit - if you can afford it, throw a bit more money at it, to make the holiday better. Go out for nice drinks, travel to different beaches and maybe buy a parasol for that beach. It’s bloody miserable here 😂, enjoy the heat and relax. I’m off to Spain next week and I’ll enjoy it, even if it kills me!

Yeah I get the disappointment too. But unless you want to waste £4k you've already spent being disappointed, it's worth spending £100 more to make it better. Buy your own cheapo parasols from a shop, and buy in some bottles of spirits to add to your overly lemonadey cocktails. And complain about the air con, or insist they give you some fans

That beach looks fine to me, I have been on beaches like that before. I never go AI so can't comment on that, but have bought parasols before and even carried it home to UK afterwards. Crete is a wonderful island, plenty to see and do. Which side are you? We had an amazing little train tour into the White Mountains (not too hot) and Chania was lovely and shady. I haven't been the other side but I know there is lots to see.

This - go and see the place you've travelled to instead of just sitting about.

Can you afford to sack off the AI element and eat out? Greece has fantastic restaurants with lovely food.

Unfortunately, Crete isn't the prettiest of the islands. Not sure where you are, but Chania is nice. Elafonisi beach is full of pink shell fragments. There'll be other nice beaches if you go exploring.

Knossos ruins if you're into that sort of thing.

Possibly too hot for Samaria gorge, but maybe there's other mountains or forest you can visit? (Fire precautions permitting)

There's a few caves around and about the place too.

I can but it is really very hot for outdoor activities and to be frank I resent spending even more money

What kind of temperature were you expecting? And we're you planning to just sit around on the beach/pool all day, every day?

Buy a parasol they are cheap as chips and it's your own so you can pick a good spot on the beach

There are never enough sunbeds. Ever! Buy a beach blanket.

Second going to elafosini, so beautiful

Which part of Crete..might be time to look outside..there are some gorgeous places on Crete

Ah OP , you poor thing ! It's hard when you spend a lot and are disappointed . And you had no time to research !!
We just got back from Crete . The heat was unreal . We could do little during the day .
However , PLEASE do this https://www.getyourguide.co.uk/crete-l404/chania-traditional-boat-cruise-to-lazaretta-island-t256667/ !!

I have 5 teens and they LOVED it . Leave from Chania- it's the most beautiful Venetian port. Go about 15 minutes in a boat and them you swim in the sea with snorkels/ visors for 90 minutes surrounded by fish ! The guys throw bread to attract them . They also showed us a starfish , just for a second .

Run by two young guys , they did a Raki toast and told us a little bit of history .

Highlight of our trip and cheap too !

Buy a parasol.

Apologies, this is our one https://www.getyourguide.com/chania-l1807/from-chania-boat-trip-to-lazaretta-island-with-swim-stop-t425293/.

Looks like the one above is longer .

Ooh I forgot Samaria gorge! I went in July and august and both times around 35 degrees did Samaria gorge which isn’t that hard!

We also did horse riding somewhere too there which was nice/fun. In the mountains/hills so seemed cooler.

Can you go and ask the hotel for some assistance rigging something up on one of the empty poles? They usually have spare parasols for this purpose. If not, a beach parasol is only gonna cost you about ten euros. It’s in their interests for you to be happy!

Whereabouts are you on Crete? Happy to send you some day trip suggestions and help eg: public transport timetables if I can, if you’re not feeling comfortable to speak to the hotel staff.