Overhearing a conversation as we waited for our airport transfer made me ponder on how people experience the same thing so differently. Perspective.
A couple were discussing that they were staying at the "hotel from hell" and wanted to go home. We've just had the most amazing fortnight and desperate to stay longer.
They felt the hotel was too remote from a resort, but we go there because it's quiet, no through traffic and no loud bars going on all night.
The lady had fallen down the stairs. Her husband said she wasn't so good on her feet but was finding fault with the stairs themselves. There is a lift available, which of course, I had to use every time I moved floors.
They disliked the fact it was "extra" to have breakfast in the hotel but it's clearly advertised as self catering apartments with the option to add on meals in the restaurant if desired. There are two supermarkets (good sized ones) within a 15 min walk or €4 taxi and it's cheap too. Easy breakfast. We didn't want to have to get dressed and eat breakfast with other people, preferring sitting on the enormous private terrace. In the buff 
They disliked the fact the hotel was not designed around the UK tastes (menus, activities, timings) but again, it's obvious from the reviews that it attracts a cosmopolitan crowd. Currently the majority seem to be Scandavian but there were Spanish, French, German, Russian, Latvian and various other nationalities. We like it being cosmopolitan. There were activities throughout the day and evening, every day, from a team of two, with English the "Lingua franca" plus Spanish.
Isn't it interesting how the same place, same provisions are perceived so differently? As we sadly depart, we hope the other couple manage to enjoy themselves  |
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Very much so.
I do wonder why some people bother going abroad on holiday if one of their main gripes isn't how "British" a place/hotel/activities etc are like you described they were whining about. It'd be interesting their reaction if they were staying at a hotel in the UK and had foreign guests complaining how it wasn't very *nationality* orientated! |
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"Very much so.
I do wonder why some people bother going abroad on holiday if one of their main gripes isn't how "British" a place/hotel/activities etc are like you described they were whining about. It'd be interesting their reaction if they were staying at a hotel in the UK and had foreign guests complaining how it wasn't very *nationality* orientated!"
Thing is, there's plenty of that kind of holiday to be had in Playa de las Américas or similar, a simple bit of research would show that. They didn't seem aware of the daily activities despite these being on posters in every lobby, in the lift and around the pool and reception.
For us, it's noteworthy that despite the fact we've been going to that hotel on and off since 2013, many of the same staff remain. Feels to us like the mark of a well run place, it's not just random seasonal staff dragged in and who don't care.
It felt like such a shame they weren't enjoying themselves when we'd had an absolute ball and desperately wanted to stay! |
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"Very much so.
I do wonder why some people bother going abroad on holiday if one of their main gripes isn't how "British" a place/hotel/activities etc are like you described they were whining about. It'd be interesting their reaction if they were staying at a hotel in the UK and had foreign guests complaining how it wasn't very *nationality* orientated!
Thing is, there's plenty of that kind of holiday to be had in Playa de las Américas or similar, a simple bit of research would show that. They didn't seem aware of the daily activities despite these being on posters in every lobby, in the lift and around the pool and reception.
For us, it's noteworthy that despite the fact we've been going to that hotel on and off since 2013, many of the same staff remain. Feels to us like the mark of a well run place, it's not just random seasonal staff dragged in and who don't care.
It felt like such a shame they weren't enjoying themselves when we'd had an absolute ball and desperately wanted to stay!"
That's true. I had a similar experience in Sunny Beach, Bulgaria during the summer. Was a decent enough hotel - all inclusive, it is what it is. I didn't go expecting the Ritz and was pleasantly suprised. Sure, the food was typical of "cook it quickly and in bulk". Everything was up to a standard, maybe not British 4* hotel standards but it wasn't dirty, rooms were decent size, pool was huge, drinks were fairly large all things considered. Was a 10 minute walk into Sunny Beach town proper. There were activities on the notice board if you wanted to do them. All in all, absolutely fine.
The couple on the balcony next to our room slagged everything off to high heaven every night. Crap food, crap room, crap location, couldn't understand the Bulgarian currency, X Y Z.
Made me wonder why they'd even bothered. And yes, they were on our flight as well. Even whinged the coach transfer arrived five minutes later than advertised - for a 30 min transfer at max and we still had best part of 3 hours at a tiny airport! |
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Someone I know went to Florida 25 years ago and their trip overlapped with mine. It was their first visit and my third.
On returning home they said it was a horrible experience and they would never return.
They said everything was so expensive and they maxed out both credit cards, used all their travellers cheques and had to survive on bottled water and crisps for the last 2 days of the trip.
Meanwhile I was taking advantage of the cheap fuel, the 2 dollars to the pound exchange rate and had zero issues.
I told them that was the difference between shopping in Walmart and Target compared to cleaning out the designer stores and buying multi day park tickets before leaving home rather than paying at the gate each day they went.
They were much more travelled than I was so it was hilarious how little research they had done and how they had no idea how to live within their means. |
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You don’t need to go abroad to get this kind of attitude and behaviour.
I know someone who has a small air b n b. Everything that is and isn’t available and the size of it and facilities are very clearly explained in the bumph.
The number of comments about lack of phone signal and broadband are common moaning points in the comments book, despite it being clearly stated there is neither. ( there is the use of phone in emergency at a property only yards away, again stated).
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