Page 5 | Too snobby for AI?

Aintnobodygottime · 31/07/2025 20:05

Clearly not thinking of the DHNS.

NeedthatFridayfeeling · 31/07/2025 20:36

I love AI and all the ones i have stayed in have been really nice. I’m not a pisshead drinking all day nor do i have a fussy eater child. We’ll hire a car and go out most days to explore, leave early, back for a late lunch. My daughter loves AI as knows she can try anything without the fear of being stuck with it if she doesn’t like it, she can get a tiny portion and if enjoying it can go back for more.

Sortin · 31/07/2025 21:38

Magnalux · 30/07/2025 22:47

Ah.. wish I hadnt opened this thread! I’ve been online looking at AI holidays for next year. We always go self catering and enjoy it but with three teenagers and dh the food costs are huge, ( I don’t cook on holiday so we always have dinner out) we do get cereal, croissants etc for breakfast / baguettes, cheeses for lunch which isn’t to bad but it’s the endless drinks, ice cream snacks etc that all add up. I’m having second thoughts now.

Actually the only time I would recommend AI is when you have teenagers. We went on a few when we had two teenage boys who could eat 5 meals a day and still be hungry all the time.
We did a cruise with them when they were late teens which also worked well.
For DH and I it's adults only now, decent hotel but only HB or B&B.

TheaBrandt1 · 31/07/2025 22:18

Teenagers aren’t a hive mind. I have two girls who don’t eat loads and have extremely busy social lives at home so for them a family holiday is time to chill, read and sunbathe in peace. The sunbed wars and shrieking 8 year olds dive bombing in the pool didn’t go down well. Our own private cottage with a little pool only we can use - heaven.

Mayve · 31/07/2025 22:24

CurlyhairedAssassin · 31/07/2025 17:21

Not just drinking all day either. Eating all day. Some families seemed to just eat all the time, had a big breakfast then you'd see them getting cake or something mid morning. Then main meals, dessert and ice creams at lunchtime. Then chips or a hotdog at the pool bar late afternoon. Then another main meal at night, with more desserts and ice creams. When you're just lying by the pool all day and not working off the calories off in anyway you just end up putting weight on.

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Dearie me. Let’s just hope they’ve got their explanation ready for DCoroner.

IFeelLikeChickenTonite · 01/08/2025 12:49

Twilightstarbright · 31/07/2025 08:17

@Magnalux I’ve just got back from
a lovely AI. Was a proper break for all the family which is what we wanted.

We had a swim up family suite so no fights for sunbeds, DS in a separate room to us. Resort was very civilised and yes people were drinking but no one was drunk or acting in an antisocial manner. DS loved the kids club for an hour or so each day. He doesn’t like mini discos so we either played with the giant chess set, went to the bar with live music, the film screenings or just sat in a bar playing card games.

I think I’d horrify the OP though as DS is allowed a ‘footballer’ haircut as I deem it in the school holidays and I have eyelash extensions. Thankfully they don’t prevent me doing a senior leadership job in Financial Services which pays for the holiday!

AI is also not our only holiday- Easter tends to be the adventure one and AI is a week to relax in the sun.

@Twilightstarbrightwould you mind sharing which hotel you stayed at? It sounds fab!

ohsososo · 01/08/2025 13:32

TheaBrandt1 · 31/07/2025 18:11

Yes I am definitely too snobby for it. Also don’t like constantly being round other people as you are in a hotel. And having other people and worse their kids in the pool. Teens feel the same. We are SC villa people

It’s the whole being waited on that makes it feel like a holiday to me though. We used to do villas when the dc were small but having to run a home which is effectively what villas are like, means I’m still responsible for things I don’t want to be responsible for.

my top choice is a resort which offers villas along with other types of accommodation. So I have all the space and privacy of a villa with it’s own pool but all the service of a hotel with maid service and places where I can eat that don’t involve me cooking or clearing anything.

ohsososo · 01/08/2025 13:41

Simonjt · 31/07/2025 17:59

It really isn’t! I stayed at Amanyara a few years ago, it was lovely, Aman Tokyo is also equally nice.

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Amanyara offers sone packages that are full board but that’s not the same as all inclusive. All inclusive means all food and beverages in almost limitless amounts can be consumed.
Amanyara has packages great include a breakfast lunch and dinner from a menu but it doesn’t include limitless food nor beverages. So a totally different type of clientele. And price point

ohsososo · 01/08/2025 13:45

Nichebitch · 30/07/2025 23:38

We paid that for 2 adults and a small child 6 nights in IKOS - that’s Europe too, and it’s nice, but doesn’t feel like radical luxury either. I think you were too optimistic!

It’s not fabulous luxury. Ikos is just …. Convenient I guess I’d put it.

if you are used to really lovely holidays but now have kids and want something not hideous where the kids can eat what they want when they want the. It’s a decent compromise. But it doesn’t leave you with that feeling of being completely pampered and recharged that a true luxury resort does.

MissAmbrosia · 01/08/2025 13:59

I have actually booked AI for September. I never do this - we normally go self catering, occasionally hotel. But I've had a busy year and just want to flop and not have to think about anything at all. I don't mind a bit of cheesy evening entertainment once in a while. We are going adults only and reviews are good - nice food and no sunbed wars - so I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

Parky04 · 01/08/2025 14:02

I have never done an AI holiday as I know I wouldn't enjoy them. I'm more of a city break type of person.

ClassicalQueen · 01/08/2025 14:43

The only AI I enjoy are cruises, particularly Royal Caribbean. We went to a Spanish AI previously and it was similar to how you described, full of chavs with money, unruly kids and drunks. I much prefer a villa or bed and breakfast where we can explore the local cuisine.

AvidJadeShaker · 01/08/2025 14:51

ClassicalQueen · 01/08/2025 14:43

The only AI I enjoy are cruises, particularly Royal Caribbean. We went to a Spanish AI previously and it was similar to how you described, full of chavs with money, unruly kids and drunks. I much prefer a villa or bed and breakfast where we can explore the local cuisine.

You can eat out if you go all inclusive and do sightseeing, they do let you leave.

KermitTheToad · 01/08/2025 14:57

We did AI this year and last year in 2 of The Canary islands. I was a little concerned it may have been full of drunken Brits but neither were like that. We only saw 1 obviously drunk woman. The apartments were fab, the staff were super friendly and the food was enjoyable and plentiful. We stayed around the quieter pools for just 2 mornings( as we like to sightsee around the area) and people were certainly not spending all day getting sloshed. We ate out a couple of times due to being on excursions and the food in other restaurants was a similar quality, so the AI could not be classed as inferior.

Twilightstarbright · 01/08/2025 15:05

@IFeelLikeChickenTonite it was one of the Tui blue ones in Cyprus

Sortin · 01/08/2025 15:10

Olympic Lagoon in Cyprus was pretty good. You can get villa type accommodation with or without pool. Two or three restaurants, several pools, adults only areas and a lazy river.
Iberostar selection hotels are good, excellent food and do HB or AI. We choose AI as we don't drink a lot and like to go out in the evening and for lunches. Some adults only and some partly adults only.

exLtEveDallas · 01/08/2025 15:22

Bloody love AI.
Took DD every year for 18 years and only had one bad one. Every other one was excellent, DD had a whale of a time and made friends from all around the country (and world in some places). I relaxed, swam, read. DH made far too many friends (overly outgoing!) and yes, probably drank too many beers. Food was always acceptable and in some places absolutely amazing.

But then we didn't go for a cheap £6-7k for the 5 of us because that's just asking for trouble. 10 years ago we would pay £1k each for 2 weeks, now it's at least double that. You get what you pay for.

pineisland · 01/08/2025 15:36

It depends what type of AI you go for. We have done a few Club Med holidays and had a fantastic time. The whole family are addicted!

AvidJadeShaker · 01/08/2025 17:45

exLtEveDallas · 01/08/2025 15:22

Bloody love AI.
Took DD every year for 18 years and only had one bad one. Every other one was excellent, DD had a whale of a time and made friends from all around the country (and world in some places). I relaxed, swam, read. DH made far too many friends (overly outgoing!) and yes, probably drank too many beers. Food was always acceptable and in some places absolutely amazing.

But then we didn't go for a cheap £6-7k for the 5 of us because that's just asking for trouble. 10 years ago we would pay £1k each for 2 weeks, now it's at least double that. You get what you pay for.

The OP’s and your prices sound similar as hers was for 9 days.

Clearinguptheclutter · 01/08/2025 18:27

Yeah you are snobby but just like me! I’d hate all that

this year we went to a really nice hotel (Spain) which was 4 star not 5, but half board rather than AI. Crucially the booze was not included so everyone was very well behaved. The food was a really nice quality. It def cost more than most posh AI places but I much preferred the vibe. Lots of people were b&b so not eating on site at all.

TheaBrandt1 · 01/08/2025 18:30

The word “entertainment” would have me running for the hills. Our entertainment is playing cards or watching a decent box set together.

weareallqueens · 01/08/2025 22:19

I like AI because not only do I not want to cook dinner, I don’t even want to think about dinner. I’m generally a foodie, love cooking, love eating out, but need a break from my kids crazy inconsistent fussiness.

user1492538376 · 01/08/2025 22:31

Lookingforadvice678 · 30/07/2025 19:52

Just got back from 9 nights at an all inclusive. Supposedly 5 Star resort and whilst it was mainly good, certain aspects were not 5 star in terms of hygiene!

First did AI two years ago with DC, loved the convenience, the ease of meal times, no meal planning, no washing up!

This year, I begrudged a lot of the other holiday makers. There were men who would sit at the pool bars clearly getting sloshed in the afternoon whilst on family holidays with their DC. I will have a drink or two when around mine but don’t get really drunk! Lots of chavs who have money - think TOWIE types. Lots of kids on phones all the time, boys with fades, girls wearing make up.

The AI just felt like a feeding frenzy. I didn’t feel hungry the whole holiday.

Two of the 3 DC never been a fan of the cheesy evening entertainment, this year my youngest turned his nose up too so evenings were a bit dull. None did kids clubs or activities on offer and only one made a friend, on the last day!

I think it might be our last package holiday and next year we’ll go for a villa with pool, or Eurocamp (did this when youngest was 2 and it was fun but hard work!).

Anyone else found this?

Well yes this is why I don’t do AI. It attracts a certain demographic like you describe -
nothing wrong with that - I’m also not really a beach person either - and I like to go to places where people actually LIVE not just resorts which are ultimately there for only tourists and to make money.

BadActingParsley · 02/08/2025 07:06

One in kitts and Nevis we only did because the hotel was practically free with the flights. Lovely staff but the people who sat at the bar from 10am and were still there 2 weeks later on the same stools not having left the resort once when we came back from the other 2 hotels we’d gone and stayed in….that weren’t AI and were cute and lovely.

turkey AI with the kids that was genuinely great, cheesy entertainment but fun, great food and not that much daytime drinking…

egypt AI, food canteen style, lots of Russians drinking vodka at 9am…not great but the kids enjoyed the pools.

im a snob…

jeaux90 · 02/08/2025 08:05

AI is amazing if you up your budget. We went to a wonderful one in Cyprus two years ago, it had swim you rooms and the teens loved it. But I did have that experience you dread with it at a TUI one a few years before. So my rule is it definitely has to be luxury AI with a very low key entertaining programme.