Ai Or Self Catering?

[Bobbisox1]

What do you prefer?

We hate,hate,hate Those entertainment mornings when they ask everyone to get in the pool and do Zorbas dance to music, also when the people employed to doing the entertaining ( normally students working for their board ) ask people in the audience to get up and make fools of themselves , that’s normally the Dads, the drink is watered down too, we’ve done it once in Rhodes in a 5 star but wouldn’t do it again.
For us it’s the choice of staying in with a bottle of wine and a takeaway on the balcony or terrace or dressing up and going out for a nice meal, I understand people with young children opting for the AI though for ice creams etc

What would be your preference and why?

[Prudie]

We always do self catering villa holidays, book all travel separately too rather than a package. Don't like buffet meals and like to do the local restaurants or occasionally BBQ at home. The only exception was when we went to the Maldives because AI is all you can do.

[calmck]

Never done AI and never would. Did do an Alaskan Cruise as a single traveller and was very impressed with the organisation. First night dinner was assigned a table with couples and singles all with similar interests. After that one could chose where to sit with other singles. Also met two people who new my ex and two people who had known my mother!! Would recommend this cruise line for anyone who wants smaller, luxury cruise

[ubasses]

Completely agree with both of you, never book more than room and breakfast. If we had AI we would be walking round the area looking at all the lovely restaurants we could be in.

[Bobbisox1]

Yes Villa holidays are good, we were supposed to be going to Mijas in July with my daughter ,son in law and grandson in a luxury villa but that’s off, my daughter booked through an agent separate to the flights, I booked the flights with Ryan Air , cost around £14,000 for the 5 of us,the holiday was July 15th and now the little Scrote O’Leary is going to buck the system and start flying beginning of July, I think we’ll have a fight on our hands getting anything back

[rockyracoon]

I’m not keen on AI. The most favourite part of my holiday is finding local restaurants and bars.
I detest wearing wrist bands and I detest buffets.

[theshedman]

We usually do half board as it suits us. If we see somewhere when we are out for the day that we think would be nice for the evening we just go there instead of staying at the hotel for the meal. Stayed in some hotels where the entertainment is good but others where we just go out. We check out hotels on TripAdvisor before we book and see what is around the local area. We do like a nice pool and some days spend an hour or two around it. Wouldn't do AI as we like to get out and see things but can see it is good for families with young children.

[woofgang]

I wouldn't go anywhere where that was the entertainment!

[237SJ]

You don`t have a lot of choice in some places - Mauritius, Antigua and a lot of other islands because there is just nothing around. Don`t know about Europe as I don`t usually holiday there. I probably wouldn`t do AI in Europe

[douglas9401]

Our last holiday was all inclusive, it was great.

Possibly because all the grumpy *** were self catering elsewhere. :-)

[douglas9401]

Rhymes with bods

[CrapAtCryptics]

usually B&b and sample the local restaurants for other meals and snacks. Its a bit daft to go away and then limit your choice of meals.

[Vagus]

We’ve had good and bad experiences of both.
Generally we like to be independent in self catering accommodation but sometimes it’s nice to have every need catered for in terms of entertainment and food.
Most all inclusive hotels we’ve stayed in didn’t just have the buffet restaurant, they also had numerous other restaurants to eat in.
And of course just because it’s all inclusive doesn’t mean you have to eat there.

[Canary42]

Why wear a strAItjacket on holiday ;-)

[iluvmargie]

Far prefer doing my own thing on holiday, so AI wouldn't do for me.

[Prudie]

Have to disagree with 237 about Antigua. Been 5 times and always rented a private villa (of which there are many) and eaten in local restaurants - again there are many everywhere.

[andy-hughes]

Our last holiday with family was AI, simply because it suited the age range, from me at 65, down to our great-grandson at two.

We liked the flexibility, and if we holiday alone, we usually book a hotel with DB and B.

I have never stayed at any hotel where people dragoon you into doing things you don't want to do - and if I was in one, I would politely decline their invite, and carry on doing as I wish.

[Bobbisox1]

AH no one can make you do anything you don’t want to , what kind of entertainment did you have at your AI? As I said I was in a 5 star and the compère there still asked for audience participation bat times, made worse for us because it was on the southern most tip of the island with not much else around although we did take taxis to places like Lindos etc

[Apc2604]

Quiet area, self catering, no entertainment. But now I am not so able River cruises have been good on the small river boats. No beach holidays. In our younger days we would walk a lot and find the local haunts. All inclusive would never have been our choice. Id rather stay at home!

[andy-hughes]

Bobbi - // AH no one can make you do anything you don’t want to , what kind of entertainment did you have at your AI? As I said I was in a 5 star and the compère there still asked for audience participation bat times, made worse for us because it was on the southern most tip of the island with not much else around although we did take taxis to places like Lindos etc //

I have stayed in hotels where a compere of DJ has tried to get people 'involved'.

I am a DJ, and I have done the same thing at parties.

These people are professional, as am I, and I assure you that body language indicates if a guest wishes to be involved or not. If they do not, then I, and any professional, would simply move on to someone else - there is no fun in embarrassing someone who doesn't wish to take part.

When I am in an audience, I simply avoid eye contact with the host, that's all it takes.

[Bobbisox1]

Well that’s the very reason I don’t like them, I’d much rather listen to a good singer or band if I had to remain in one place than any kind of DJ, but better than that, sit outside in the warmth with a glass of wine.....and people watch, that’s my ideal