How do I enjoy holidays more?

leafyshin

I'm beginning to suspect that I'm a little too fussy. When I look at things objectively I definitely have had some middling experiences but maybe I focus on them too much rather than the good stuff. I never go anywhere that doesn't have at least four stars on Tripadvisor but I'd give them 2 or 3 stars at best.

My last holiday was quite cheap and had mixed reviews but mainly four stars and above. It was the 10th best hotel in the city on Tripadvisor. There were so many things that could've been done better that it was a week long irritation. The air conditioning wasn't working and they refused to fix it unless I was in the room with the engineer. It took an hour and a half and three phonecalls to reception for the engineer to come to the room. There repeated problems with raw chicken, poor service, long queues for bars etc etc etc. There were some positives but the negatives drowned them out.

The holiday before was expensive, had amazing reviews and was the number one hotel in the area on Tripadvisor. To me it was a bit meh. The room was like a 3 star business hotel in Anytown, drab and basic. The food was OK but not that hot and not that varied. The whole place was soulless and it just wasn't the luxury experience I was expecting. Some bits were great but the room and food are such important parts of the holiday and they didn't live up to the hype.

What are other people seeing that I'm not? Or what am I seeing that others are not?

My next holiday is booked. Amazing reviews, looks great etc etc. I want a five star experience, not a two star one.

Any advice?

PasturesNew

I don't holiday and have never stayed in a hotel ... but when I think about holidays I'd see the hotel as just somewhere to store clothes, have showers and sleep. I thought the holiday was about "being at the place you've chosen", so going out and seeing what's there and scoffing local foods.

I'd be disappointed if I'd travelled a long way to sit inside a room/building. I'd be there to see what's what, take some photos, see a curiosity, eat a pie ... and stare at things that books tell us are there to be stared at and seen.

elsien

Yep, I'd agree with PN. For me, a holiday is about all the other stuff outside of the hotel - places to visit, things to do, meals out, etc. I never book a holiday with meals included, other than breakfast.
With regards to hotels, I book basic, expect basic and am pleasantly surprised when they turn out better than expected.
If you're looking at all inclusive, I suspect that's your answer. Proper five star facilities and full on mass catering don't generally go together.
What you have to bear in mind with Tripadvisor reviews are the demographics. It's a reflection of what the majority of customers think is a good deal, it's not an objective rating against set standards. So with regards to restaurants you have can local cheap and cheerful (hence good value) chippies getting equivalent ratings with the local gourmet restaurant that most people don't set foot in because it's not in their price range. You may want to consider factors other than Tripadvisor when making your choice.

richardw

Anybody can post on tripadvisor, they don't check if you actually stayed at the hotel.
With booking.com the reviews are by people who booked through booking.com and actually stayed there.
Start deciding what are real priorities for you and sticking to them.

[Deleted User]

This is probably why I go on cruise ship holidays quite a lot. Their standards are usually really high. Sure, we've had to complain about the rooms before, but it's mostly really good.

I'd never go to an 'all inclusive' resort where booze was included. I don't drink much or want to be around people that do. I'd prefer good food.

I don't trust online reviews, I read them but learn to 'read around them' (e.g. if someone gives a terrible review, look at their post history).

I often use reviews from facebook groups, or talk to friends, to help pick a holiday destination.

Katiehound

I too go on cruises and have had the odd grumble with something wrong with the cabin which has either resulted in a remedy or change to a different cabin. However I book the cheapest outside cabin available not the very expensive suites!

Even in the past when I stayed in hotels it was a means to an end- somewhere to stay whilst exploring the area and if it turned out to be really nice then that was a bonus.

I go to experience the destinations not to rate hotels.
That's not to say that if something was wrong I did complain and get it sorted but I'm used to doing budget rather than 5*.
I use Tripadvisor to look at excursions etc.

sheramber

Maybe Tripadviser is the best place to source the type of hotel you want.

PompeyPete

ringo_24601 wrote: »

This is probably why I go on cruise ship holidays quite a lot. Their standards are usually really high. Sure, we've had to complain about the rooms before, but it's mostly really good.

I'd never go to an 'all inclusive' resort where booze was included. I don't drink much or want to be around people that do. I'd prefer good food.

I don't trust online reviews, I read them but learn to 'read around them' (e.g. if someone gives a terrible review, look at their post history).

I often use reviews from facebook groups, or talk to friends, to help pick a holiday destination.

That's if they have a history on TA. I'll only 100% trust reviews if the reviewer also a good history on the TA destination forums.

PompeyPete

Katiehound wrote: »

I too go on cruises and have had the odd grumble with something wrong with the cabin which has either resulted in a remedy or change to a different cabin. However I book the cheapest outside cabin available not the very expensive suites!

Even in the past when I stayed in hotels it was a means to an end- somewhere to stay whilst exploring the area and if it turned out to be really nice then that was a bonus.

I go to experience the destinations not to rate hotels.
That's not to say that if something was wrong I did complain and get it sorted but I'm used to doing budget rather than 5*.
I use Tripadvisor to look at excursions etc.

You're posh, we go for the cheapest Inside cabin, the ones that have a little curtain on the bulkhead just to fool you into thinking there's a porthole or skuttle behind it.;)

PompeyPete

leafyshin wrote: »

My next holiday is booked. Amazing reviews, looks great etc etc. I want a five star experience, not a two star one.

Which hotel is it? The 5***** reflect the amenities as much as anything else. If you don't intend using those amenities then a comfortable 2** can be as good, it just doesn't have the amenities.

[Deleted User]

I don't understand your idea of what a holiday is. For me it's about what you see and do, not Goblin Teasmades, trouser presses and room service. This shepherds bothy is a magic place to stay, but the washing facility was an enamel bowl and a jug of water on the table, when my father stayed it was the river 200 yards away. With the door open in hot weather, the sheep walk in and out of the dormitory during the night.

I'd much rather have an idyllic location and an interesting building with history and character like that, than any number of mod cons.