Advice on All Inclusive Holidays

wallbash

Many of the better hotels have separate dining areas, where there is table service. BUT they are often themed :eek:

For example, one hotel had an Italian, a Chinese , a BBQ area ( sorry that was DIY) Turkish, French ( more western Europe ) and a Fish restaurant......all on site. But you had to prebook .....couldn't have a couple of hundred all wanting Fish on the same night.

fighting through loads of people

Eating early may be a problem, families want to get their kids fed and to bed, also many restaurants don't open fully until 7.

But I did work out that between 7am until after midnight ( midnight buffet was always popular) there was only 30 minutes that ALL eating places were closed ( for info pool side snack bar closed at 5pm and early kiddy meals started at 5.30 ....... but of course there was 24 hour room service. )

We found out that going just before 8 was perfect, guessing a lot of friends said......lets dine at 8 .....so we beat them to the tables !

becominganobsessivesaver

With 2 small kids I find that the holidays most suited to us are either a very good quality all inclusive or a private rental with a shared pool, nearby restaurants and a freezer to fill with ice creams from the supermarket. It's the cost of all the half drunk juices and melted ice creams which add up.
Doshwater, the Beloved Hotel in Mexico is table service only for lunch and dinner, there's a choice in the morning.

InsideInsurance

wallbash wrote: »

So a Sushi show cooking theme night overseen by genuine Japanese team on a Friday has no appeal? Or a great Pizza Oven every lunch time making to order ............. as I have said try high ended 5*

My issue is that most of these places it isnt just a one off event but that every day is themed and at most you get 1 day a week that is themed to local cuisine.

Yes, if Ren! Redzepi came and did a one off popup at the hotel then of cause it would be fantastic to try it but every Friday being Sushi Friday which as followed every Thursday being Pizza Thursday then you arent talking about a special one off event with exclusive guest chefs coming in but the general operation of the hotel with their regular staff and regular suppliers.

wallbash

InsideInsurance wrote: »

My issue is that most of these places it isnt just a one off event but that every day is themed and at most you get 1 day a week that is themed to local cuisine.

Yes, if Ren! Redzepi came and did a one off popup at the hotel then of cause it would be fantastic to try it but every Friday being Sushi Friday which as followed every Thursday being Pizza Thursday then you arent talking about a special one off event with exclusive guest chefs coming in but the general operation of the hotel with their regular staff and regular suppliers.

I go to very expensive 5* Ai resorts .
But each trip is only 14 days , so only two Sushi Fridays and two Pizza Thursdays .

Have made it clear on the themed nights ( sushi ) the show cooking was done by a Japanese team . The were probably at our hotel one night and moved every night to another5/6 hotels.

Yes a lot of nights were themed BUT you also had a large selection of different non themed dishes. As for eating local cuisine., always possible.

One of my favs

http://uk.hotels.com/ho276823/susesi-luxury-resort-serik-turkey/

InsideInsurance

wallbash wrote: »

I go to very expensive 5* Ai resorts .
But each trip is only 14 days , so only two Sushi Fridays and two Pizza Thursdays .

Have made it clear on the themed nights ( sushi ) the show cooking was done by a Japanese team . The were probably at our hotel one night and moved every night to another5/6 hotels.

But here we are talking about all AI places and not just the very expensive ones. As you'd expect, perhaps the very top tier is not as bad as the ultra budget ones but still my personal preference is for the main restaurant in a hotel/ resort etc to remain focused on local cuisine and leave the themes etc for special occasions or minor/ satellite restaurants.

As to the Japanese team, I cannot comment about where you were obviously but a friend is chinese and a chef and used to work out in Dubai at a mid level place. Certainly at that one they had their weekly Chinese night created by a top Chinese Chef which in reality was exactly the same staff as made everything else just on Chinese night they sent him out onto the floor when someone wanted to speak to the chef -v- the french night when they pushed out the french guy that worked in the kitchen.

wallbash

But here we are talking about all AI places and not just the very expensive ones.

And if you had read the vast majority of my posts on Ai , you cannot do Ai on a budget .
Ai is NOT a cheap alternative.
I have made this clear on all my postings.

But here we are talking about all AI places and not just the very expensive ones.

Which in my book includes the expensive ones!

bella165

Oh i love Alcudia Pins we went AI and it was fantastic and the food was amazing the beach even more so there is also a macdonalds of the kids don't like some of the food and the prices aint to bad and take a trip to the harbor and the market,Also traveling by bus is very cheap