All inclusive holidays

ralph_wilson

We have been reading Tripadvisor reviews of all inclusive holidays to Cuba and Cape Verde Islands. While there have been more good reviews than bad, both good and bad reviews have a theme running through them which is bad food and poor quality drinks. We have been on one previous all inclusive holiday to Cancun, which although eye-wateringly expensive was of a really good culinary standard.
What do forum members think of these two locations (Cuba & Cape Verde), and can Tripadvisor be relied on?

blindman

ralph_wilson wrote: »

What do forum members think of these two locations (Cuba & Cape Verde), and can Tripadvisor be relied on?

Go local in Cuba, Casa Particulars and you will have better food and drink and enjoy Cuba as a local, not some tourist in a 4* hotel on a beach that could be anywhere.

Oh and go NOW before the Yanks mess up the place.

Moto2

As above, Cuba is a stunning place, get out of the complex as much as possible.
My new favourite place to stroll around is Havana

Pinkpegasus

Hi, I've been to both Cuba and Cape Verde.
Cuba was about 5 years ago and stayed at a large all inclusive called Playa Pesquero, which I really liked.
Cape Verde I stayed at Riu Garopa on Sal Island then went back and stayed at Riu Tuareg, on Boa Vista Island. Although Garopa was a 4 star and Tuareg was a 5, I preferred Garopa. There is not much to do other than usual all inclusive stuff, as there is not much to see on Cape Verde, but I was happy with that. It has just been hit by hurricane Fred though so I dont know if Tuareg is fully up an running again.
I would definitely recommend Cape Verde.

silvercar

Most all-inclusives seem to do buffet style meals. I guess it makes life easier than taking orders with menus and means less staff as you serve yourself. The trick is to choose one or two main dishes only for each meal. The temptation is to try a bit of everything, but the buffet food is often repeated or at least cycled through the week. If you choose a main dish as you would from a menu, you will have varied food each night.

Voyager2002

I think Cuba is fantastic, but not a place I would visit for the food.

Pollycat

ralph_wilson wrote: »

We have been reading Tripadvisor reviews of all inclusive holidays to Cuba and Cape Verde Islands. While there have been more good reviews than bad, both good and bad reviews have a theme running through them which is bad food and poor quality drinks. We have been on one previous all inclusive holiday to Cancun, which although eye-wateringly expensive was of a really good culinary standard.
What do forum members think of these two locations (Cuba & Cape Verde), and can Tripadvisor be relied on?

I think the bit in bold is key.

Are the places you are looking at in Cuba & Cape Verde also 'eye-wateringly expensive'?

If not, you're not comparing like-for-like and can't (reasonably) expect to get what you got in Cancun.

Do the reviews say what the issue is with the food?
If a food-negative review said 'no chips, no pizza just foreign rubbish', I'd think "Wow! That might just suit me!"

blindman

Voyager2002 wrote: »

I think Cuba is fantastic, but not a place I would visit for the food.

it's not 5* cuisine for sure but at least it's better than being stuick in the AI eating what you could get back in UK.

Some people have no sense of adventure.:cool:

Pollycat

blindman wrote: »

it's not 5* cuisine for sure but at least it's better than being stuick in the AI eating what you could get back in UK.

It's a long time since we went to Cuba but we found the local food bland.

ralph_wilson

You might well have a very good point Pollycat

Pollycat

ralph_wilson wrote: »

You might well have a very good point Pollycat

Re reviews - I always take them with a large dose of salt (that is very, very bad for me).

I've seen reviews for small self-catering apartments in Greece where people have complained that there was nobody to carry their bags to their rooms, no 24 hour room service and not enough kitchen implements to cook a 3 course Sunday lunch for 10 people.

I think generally with AI you get what you pay for.
If you pay eye-watering prices then the hotel facilities and food are likely to be excellent quality (not always though).

If you pay £375 for 2 weeks AI in Spain, don't expect to get a jacuzzi in your room and lobster on the buffet.