Abroad Buffets, what do you tend to end up eating?
Posted by Responsible_Rip1058@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 37 comments
[removed]
Posted by Responsible_Rip1058@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 37 comments
[removed]
Princes_Slayer@reddit
I was away in canaries earlier in the year. I typically choose a soup/broth with a bread roll. Then I’ll commonly make a big salad with either meat or fish and a slather it in dressing. I’ll have a couple of small cake pieces but tend to be disappointed by them and resort to fruit
LittleSadRufus@reddit
I booked half board for the first time this summer but only because it's very cheap, the opportunity cost of not going is trivial but if we are feeling lazy it's nice to know it's there. Otherwise I hope to be visiting small independent places in town. To be honest, we might just want to pop in for the puddings.
It takes me four days to get sick of very generous breakfast buffets.
I wouldn't book a lunch buffet as well. Full board is more than I need to eat, and far too samey.
damned-n-doomed@reddit
I’ll generally eat anything, I love trying new things so I usually try and get a bit of everything, especially if there’s any unfamiliar foods.
For some reason this sub has a real vendetta against all inclusive resorts so I imagine some of the replies will reflect that…
No-Photograph3463@reddit
I think the vendetta is because why go abroad if your not actually going to experience the foreign culture and food, and instead just eat meat and chips for 2 weeks...
damned-n-doomed@reddit
You can do both of those things on an all inclusive holiday though. You’re not physically chained to the hotel, you are allowed to leave the resort and explore.
No-Photograph3463@reddit
Of course, but most people don't leave the resort for 14 days and then say 'ooh such a lovely time in Spain/Tenerife/Turkey/Egypt/Greece/Morocco' when actually they would of had the same experience in a all inclusive holiday in Skegness.
fickle_tartan@reddit
Because it's not 27°C and sunny all day in April in England, nor do I have a pool or a beach near my house.
Sometimes you just want to relax for a while and it's literally cheaper to go to some all inclusive resorts abroad than it would be to go to a beach side town in England and probably just get rained out anyway.
Trick-Station8742@reddit
I went to an all inclusive Riu in Morocco before I had kids.
Absolutely amazing food. There were 4/5 different tagines on offer every day, loads of amazing meat, amazing salads.
I get the hate for the generic all inclusive shite buffet but not all all inclusive a are the same.
fickle_tartan@reddit
Sometimes UK subs get weirdly elitest about certain things, like they wouldn't enjoy it so therefore anyone who does is beneath them and wrong.
It's perfectly reasonable to just not understand why other people like something, but there's no need to be a snobby bellend about it.
JTemperance-esque@reddit
We don’t “do” all inclusive resorts, mixture of not being tied to the resort and expense, but we did a Mark Warner holiday once which was all expenses included when the kids were small (we actually won the holiday in a competition which was great timing as we were pretty cash poor at the time) and it was incredible. Just so relaxing - I came back feeling so well rested. It was exactly what we needed at that point in time. I completely understand why people do them.
fickle_tartan@reddit
Exactly! Experiencing local culture is great if that's what you want to do, but I usually come back from that kind of holiday more exhausted than when I left because I'm doing so much stuff.
Sometimes people just want to properly relax and not worry about cooking/cleaning/finding activities to do, switch their brain off for a while and lay on a sunny beach with a cocktail. I have no idea why people are so quick to turn their nose up at it, if it's not for you that's fine, just don't be a prick.
Responsible_Rip1058@reddit (OP)
yeah likely been at 3 star ones too often, I find there pretty much the same across spain, there normally getting it from same big warehouse so its pretty standard
destria@reddit
I've only been to three all inclusive resorts but I chose them specifically for the food (well, reviews about the food anyway). Two of the ones I went to had a la carte restaurants on site to break up the monotony of a buffet which is nice.
Anyway I usually start by eating all the meats, deep fried stuff, you know proper indulgent heavy stuff. Then I'll start to feel bleh so I'll switch to nice salads, lighter meals, choose the fruit for dessert etc.
Iammildlyoffended@reddit
I go straight for the “local” dishes great chance to try something new.
lovemycat02@reddit
What is an ‘abroad buffet’?
peppermint_aero@reddit
A buffet in another country. Usually in a hotel.
lovemycat02@reddit
Never seen one outside of a breakfast bar type thing
Responsible_Rip1058@reddit (OP)
classic beach holiday hotel full board, all inclusive type dinner, included in hotel fee
lovemycat02@reddit
Oh I’ve never done an all inclusive holiday
roddz@reddit
Too much
griffaliff@reddit
Went to an all inclusive hotel in Tunisia a couple of years ago, a holiday style I've not done since the 90s, and honestly it was brilliant. I ate basically everything, huge portions for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
fickle_tartan@reddit
I've only ever done one all-inclusive which was to Türkiye earlier this year, not normally my thing but I really just needed a proper relaxed break where I didn't have to think about anything. Actually quite enjoyed it and it was obscenely cheap so will probably do it again next year.
First day I got very excited to try a little bit of all the Turkish dishes, unfortunately something didn't agree with me but I had no idea what, so second day I basically just ate bread and chicken nuggets from the kids section until my stomach settled.
The rest of the time I just picked one thing every time I ate, usually whichever Turkish meat + sauce special was available that night, with lots of salad and some bread. I don't really eat chips at home so no reason for me to do it on holiday. My resort also had a "sandwich bar" which were just a small sub roll with some unidentified sliced meat, cheese and salad. I ate a fair few of those because they were pretty nice and just the right size for a little snack after some cocktails.
The desserts were mostly the same thing in different flavours and I didn't like most of them, so I just ate a shit load of the varying flavours of "cake with cream filling" they had on offer.
I can totally understand why people don't bother eating the local food options every day, if your aim is just to be relaxing somewhere hot with a pool then it's not like you're there for the culture, so who cares if you don't try the food?
JamJarre@reddit
I don't think the buffet experience is as universal as you think. Can honestly say I've never been to anywhere all inclusive
lovemycat02@reddit
Me either I have no idea what an abroad buffet is lol
Big-Teach-769@reddit
I normally do one day out for lunch, with buffet dinner in evening. Then the next day, the other way round, buffet for lunch, and then out for dinner. Just enough to not let the buffet get too boring.
Leeeeeroy-Jenkins@reddit
Never do them, food is usually crap or low quality and I don’t go on holiday to gain weight.
ilovewineandcats@reddit
We tend to get a "sharing plate" to start with, antipasti, veg, fruit, cheese etc (assembled from around all the buffet stations). Then for mains I do several tours round and decide on one cohesive meal, rather than a bit of everything.
I'm veggie so it can be a challenge but it's easier than it used to be and I enjoy a salad. Oddly the veggie main dishes eg veggie chilli, often seem to be made in-house and therefore nicer than the meat mains (according to my husband)
marriednorfolk@reddit
It depends on the resort but the last time I went to an all inclusive I tried to 'theme' the meals so each day felt different. Like one day was pasta, cooked meats, bread and olives, then the next day was meat and potatoes. I really like chilli hot food so take a couple of hot sauces with me that adds variety as well
Scorpiodancer123@reddit
I don't mind buffets, there's always things to try. I think the mindset is to get over the thought that you have to eat loads every time you go there. For the first couple of days we always want to have loads and go back for seconds, desserts and everything. But after a few days, you realise you're eyes are bigger than your stomach and you eat smaller amounts. There's always a lot of feeling that you "have to get your money's worth" and for me at least, that generally doesn't work.
But I generally have no issue with going out to local restaurants to eat even if I'm all inclusive if I want a change. The perks of being all inclusive are generally the drinks, which can get really expensive, ice creams for hot afternoons and the knowledge that you don't have to go anywhere else to eat of you don't fancy going out anywhere. The decision of what to eat every day , like when you're at home is gone. There's always something there.
WideGassySea@reddit
I don’t think I could cope with 2 weeks of buffets either. I tend to do same with becoming very carnivorous by the end as the carbs are so repetitious. Last place in Egypt was cool as they had a station that was always a carvery of some sort and a place that changed it up like pizza some days, fresh donuts another. Can’t recall what else but it felt like a rolling 3-4 cycle
As you say with kids it’s ideal as you don’t have to stress about constant drinks.
Responsible_Rip1058@reddit (OP)
Yeah hotel I went to few years ago was a theme night every night, this one had it maybe 3 out of 7, rest was always spanish,
WalterZenga@reddit
Even if we're All inclusive we still go out for meals every couple of nights, really experience the local cuisine that way and it breaks up the monotony of the buffet. Works really well for us.
Anniemac7@reddit
Never do buffets on holiday apart from breakfast when there is no other option. Hate lukewarm or stale buffet foods.
Responsible_Rip1058@reddit (OP)
think you haven't gone to good buffets, normally pretty fresh lol
flangeflangeflanges@reddit
I eat loads more fish at holiday buffets than I do at home because I love it. I also love the puddings which I don’t normally eat at home. I have lots more salad than I do at home too. But even if we are AI or half board we tend to eat out in the local restaurants every other night so I rarely get fed up with the buffets.
dusted-pink@reddit
We went to a sandals resort for our wedding/honeymoon and is the only time we’ve done all inclusive. They had buffets but then actual restaurants. We enjoyed the variety and definitely got our moneys worth with sushi. The food was really good, nice variety and always seemed fresh. We tried something different most days.
AutoModerator@reddit
Please help keep AskUK welcoming!
When replying to submission/post please make genuine efforts to answer the question given. Please no jokes, judgements, etc. If a post is marked 'Serious Answers Only' you may receive a ban for violating this rule.
Don't be a dick to each other. If getting heated, just block and move on.
This is a strictly no-politics subreddit!
Please help us by reporting comments that break these rules.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.