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Holidays 2026
Comments
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I flew from Hong Kong to Shanghai with China Airlines. The flight was fine, but I will never forget the unidentifiable bright pink 'meat' that I was served for lunch. It looked like it was either from an animal that you wouldn't normally eat, or it had been grown in a radioactive lab.
So I recommend bringing your own snacks.0 -
I'm obviously more risk adverse than people flying out to Cyprus, Turkey and Egypt.0
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Turkey and Cyprus are my 2 main holidays 😬1
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I’m getting old, got to live life on the edge 🥴Covered End said:I'm obviously more risk adverse than people flying out to Cyprus, Turkey and Egypt.0 -
And they will both be great.O-Randy-Hunt said:Turkey and Cyprus are my 2 main holidays 😬0 -
That's odd. Because at regular restaurants and bars, the general attitude from Americans (and some Canadians, to be fair) when they find out tipping in Portugal isn't necessarily expected, is to take it as an excuse to give the staff sweet FA. Maybe the resort is advertised differently in the USA (the website they see might be different to the European one)? Just a thought...PrincessFiona said:What are people's opinions about tipping at AI resorts?
We had a superb holiday at Secrets Maroma in Mexico last month (I highly recommend it - we have already booked to go back next year). We don't normally tip as we go at AI hotels but do tip at then end where there has been someone who has gone particularly above and beyond and leave a joint tip, to include frontline staff who miss out otherwise. The service at Maroma was exceptional across the board and pretty mich mentioned in every reviews.
I appreciate tipping is different in different countries and so nationals of different countries then have a different view on tipping, even when in other countries. The issue was Americans (in more ways than one (!) - but it is a low key, chilled resort, so that minimised the most extreme loud (and mostly annoying) behaviour. The hotel website says tips and charges are included - so factored into the price you pay, certainly from the UK, with exceptional service one of the hotel's selling points.
But the Americans still tip (every drink and every meal), and it did seem that those that tipped could get prioritised and those that tipped the most, prioritised the most - thus creating an inequality and Brits (and others) potentially looking mean/tight in comparison, although I'm sure the staff will be aware of the Americans tipping more (in frequency and amount)1 -
We have a picture taken by Karen's grandfather from the top of Winterton church in 1937, the view has hardly changed...Rob7Lee said:
Yes been to the boathouse a number of times for Sunday lunch. Stayed in Winterton a lot over the years (unbeknown to me originally it’s where my family all come from).Algarveaddick said:
Absolutely brilliant thanks, some great bands and met up with a few old pals I hadn't seen for decades. Had a rather marvellous Sunday lunch at a place called The Boathouse in Ormsby too, if you are ever in that area highly recommend it.Rob7Lee said:
How was hemsby?Algarveaddick said:
Now got two days in Ronda next month. It's a place we have always wanted to go, so when we found out there's a Rockabilly band playing there we tied the two in together.Algarveaddick said:January - London for the Sheff Utd and Derby games, plus want to take in the Gilbert & George and Joseph Wright of Derby exhibitions.
February - Torremolinos for the Rockabilly weekender.
March - Hemsby for the Rockabilly weekender.
June - Algeciras for the Teddy Boy weekender.
July - road trip for the wife's 60th, Oxford, Clovelly, Burgh Island and somewhere TBC.
Got a flight back from the UK booked for the end of August, but not sure when or where are going before, we normally look after Karen's mum in August but if she's still with us then, it will be a miracle (we are hoping she hangs on until this weekend when we are coming over for two nights)...
September - Coimbra for the Rockabilly weekender.
December - Valencia for the Rockabilly weekender.
August we are now going to Northumberland for ten days, with a few days in London either side, and also looking at yet another Rockabilly weekend in Gijon, northern Spain in October.0 -
I know, and I why I lol'ed itR0TW said:My comment was purely in jest.1 -
I flew Air China to North Korea - I don't recall if there was any alternative and I didn't eat the meal!Chunes said:I flew from Hong Kong to Shanghai with China Airlines. The flight was fine, but I will never forget the unidentifiable bright pink 'meat' that I was served for lunch. It looked like it was either from an animal that you wouldn't normally eat, or it had been grown in a radioactive lab.
So I recommend bringing your own snacks.0 -
InterestingAlgarveaddick said:
That's odd. Because at regular restaurants and bars, the general attitude from Americans (and some Canadians, to be fair) when they find out tipping in Portugal isn't necessarily expected, is to take it as an excuse to give the staff sweet FA. Maybe the resort is advertised differently in the USA (the website they see might be different to the European one)? Just a thought...PrincessFiona said:What are people's opinions about tipping at AI resorts?
We had a superb holiday at Secrets Maroma in Mexico last month (I highly recommend it - we have already booked to go back next year). We don't normally tip as we go at AI hotels but do tip at then end where there has been someone who has gone particularly above and beyond and leave a joint tip, to include frontline staff who miss out otherwise. The service at Maroma was exceptional across the board and pretty mich mentioned in every reviews.
I appreciate tipping is different in different countries and so nationals of different countries then have a different view on tipping, even when in other countries. The issue was Americans (in more ways than one (!) - but it is a low key, chilled resort, so that minimised the most extreme loud (and mostly annoying) behaviour. The hotel website says tips and charges are included - so factored into the price you pay, certainly from the UK, with exceptional service one of the hotel's selling points.
But the Americans still tip (every drink and every meal), and it did seem that those that tipped could get prioritised and those that tipped the most, prioritised the most - thus creating an inequality and Brits (and others) potentially looking mean/tight in comparison, although I'm sure the staff will be aware of the Americans tipping more (in frequency and amount)0 -
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fantastic hotel, we got married in Zante (Tsilivi) 12 years ago and had about 40 of us staying there for the week. Couldn't fault the place and by all accounts it's got bigger as friends of ours went last year and loved it.MrOneLung said:
yeah that's the oneElthamaddick said:
Caretta Beach ??MrOneLung said:Finally booked, going Zante first week of school hols in July
me, the missus and our 13&15 year old old and sisters mob, 2A and a 16&19 year old
all inclusive with waterpark job.1 -
there’s more beach and less land!!Algarveaddick said:
We have a picture taken by Karen's grandfather from the top of Winterton church in 1937, the view has hardly changed...Rob7Lee said:
Yes been to the boathouse a number of times for Sunday lunch. Stayed in Winterton a lot over the years (unbeknown to me originally it’s where my family all come from).Algarveaddick said:
Absolutely brilliant thanks, some great bands and met up with a few old pals I hadn't seen for decades. Had a rather marvellous Sunday lunch at a place called The Boathouse in Ormsby too, if you are ever in that area highly recommend it.Rob7Lee said:
How was hemsby?Algarveaddick said:
Now got two days in Ronda next month. It's a place we have always wanted to go, so when we found out there's a Rockabilly band playing there we tied the two in together.Algarveaddick said:January - London for the Sheff Utd and Derby games, plus want to take in the Gilbert & George and Joseph Wright of Derby exhibitions.
February - Torremolinos for the Rockabilly weekender.
March - Hemsby for the Rockabilly weekender.
June - Algeciras for the Teddy Boy weekender.
July - road trip for the wife's 60th, Oxford, Clovelly, Burgh Island and somewhere TBC.
Got a flight back from the UK booked for the end of August, but not sure when or where are going before, we normally look after Karen's mum in August but if she's still with us then, it will be a miracle (we are hoping she hangs on until this weekend when we are coming over for two nights)...
September - Coimbra for the Rockabilly weekender.
December - Valencia for the Rockabilly weekender.
August we are now going to Northumberland for ten days, with a few days in London either side, and also looking at yet another Rockabilly weekend in Gijon, northern Spain in October.
Half the people in the graveyard are my family, they were all lifeboat men.1 -
PrincessFiona said:What are people's opinions about tipping at AI resorts?
Simple rule: Look up if the country you’re visiting has a minimum wage. If so, don’t tip. If, not, tip.
Edit: Also, why give a shit about what Americans are doing anyway? Their culture is not our culture.0 -
The country's minimium wage policy may not be relevant to what the staff are paid at a top end hotel with excellent servicejimmymelrose said:PrincessFiona said:What are people's opinions about tipping at AI resorts?
Simple rule: Look up if the country you’re visiting has a minimum wage. If so, don’t tip. If, not, tip.
Edit: Also, why give a shit about what Americans are doing anyway? Their culture is not our culture.
It is relevant that it is AI - as I explained, it says on hte hotel website that all tips are included (which they probably wouldn't be at non-AI)
As I explained, the Americans tip, so staff could prioritise those who tip and those who tip the most even more so1 -
Definitely different on an AI resort vs not. I generally only use all inclusive resorts for part of a trip rather than a whole trip for a bit of relaxation after a more adventurous/exploring trip so see the difference quite clearly. When off resort we follow local culture/expectations and make sure to have a good grip of the exchange rate. The AI resorts I've been to have generally said tips are included as you say. We kinda like to not be bothered when we are there and find tipping encourages the staff to come up to you and push for you to have more drinks etc. so tend to not tip for drinks in that situation. But for something like a massage (which you usually pay for anyway) we tip, usually tip the person who has cleaned the room at the end of the stay - especially if there have been towel animals! Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania it was a bit more common to tip in a safari lodge even if it was all inclusive - so would tip for service and carrying bags to safari tent, sometimes a long way and my wife doesn't pack light! And will tip if one member of staff goes over and above across a stay. I still remember Eric who was our waiter at Sopa Lodge Lake Naivasha in 2023 who looked after our group amazingly well - even going as far as to stay late one night and keep a bar open an extra couple hours for just us - we gave him a large tip both that night and at the end of our stay.0
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Has anyone done a whisky distillery trip to Scotland? I'm trying to figure one out for September/October. Ideally we don't want to be driving to the distilleries, so either a tour or stay somewhere where they're walking distance. Campbelltown seems to have a few close together, but is there enough there for a weekend? Any recommendations much appreciated.0
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Similar to you. I have travelled a fair bit and lived and worked overseas in a number of countries. But we do like an AI once a year. When we lived in Africa, we were very aware of how little waiting staff staff, for example were paid so we would tip well. In South Africa, many of the restaurant staff are from Malawi and Zim, for a number of reasonscantersaddick said:Definitely different on an AI resort vs not. I generally only use all inclusive resorts for part of a trip rather than a whole trip for a bit of relaxation after a more adventurous/exploring trip so see the difference quite clearly. When off resort we follow local culture/expectations and make sure to have a good grip of the exchange rate. The AI resorts I've been to have generally said tips are included as you say. We kinda like to not be bothered when we are there and find tipping encourages the staff to come up to you and push for you to have more drinks etc. so tend to not tip for drinks in that situation. But for something like a massage (which you usually pay for anyway) we tip, usually tip the person who has cleaned the room at the end of the stay - especially if there have been towel animals! Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania it was a bit more common to tip in a safari lodge even if it was all inclusive - so would tip for service and carrying bags to safari tent, sometimes a long way and my wife doesn't pack light! And will tip if one member of staff goes over and above across a stay. I still remember Eric who was our waiter at Sopa Lodge Lake Naivasha in 2023 who looked after our group amazingly well - even going as far as to stay late one night and keep a bar open an extra couple hours for just us - we gave him a large tip both that night and at the end of our stay.1
