To want to do something other on holiday than lie on a sunlounger?

I personally can’t think of anything worse: I hate the thought of being idle and I would find it excruciating being in a new place without exploring it. For me it seems insane to pay hundreds or thousands of pounds to fly to a different country to do nothing.

But you must know loads of people enjoy this and each to their own.

We are off to Crete soon and we have no plans at all. A bit of lounging a bit of sightseeing and I expect I'll be doing the latter on my own - if I can be bothered. We have had a truly hard hard few months and I have no expectations of what we do. Whatever we feel like at any given point in the day I think.

Yanbu to want to explore but yabu to expect everyone to like the same things.
My mum is a pool and book person, we had a big family holiday recently and each of us siblings were there with our own families, during the day we all went out and about and did our own thing (invited each other to join us, sometimes we all went together but sometimes we went separate ways) - mum and stepdad came for lunch with us all a few times but generally were happy to just chill out by the pool.
All fine, we are all adults and are capable of pleasing ourselves!

Give them a few days to relax then ask them to join you on a day out. You are choosing not to sight see by yourself though, so you can't put all the blame on them.

I normally hate it, but after a hectic few years all I want to do is lie on a sun lounger (in the shade), take a dip in the pool, read lots and drink cocktails. I make no apology; I have a crazy day to day life.

Sometimes I love a day lying in the warmth, swimming, drinking lemon fanta (it always tastes better by a pool in Corfu) and reading etc. But, DH hates it so we compromise, day at the pool, day out exploring. Some people say that if you’re going to do nothing other than lie and read you may as well stay in the UK. It’s grey and 14 degrees here in Kent and I’m on annual leave. What I wouldn’t give to have just had a slap up hotel buffet breakfast and be heading to the pool for the day.

Are you willing to disclose the area/place? People here may have suggestions for things for you to do and may give you comfort to get out and explore. I like sunbathing and like exploring too, depending on mood but also am not bothered to go on my own. Some of the best trips I took were ones I went alone on.

I believe we may have been separated at birth

Just go an explore yourself OP, and go away with different friends next time.

Neither of you are unreasonable, as evidenced by the replies on this thread, everyone has a different idea of how to enjoy their holiday.

I don’t get this either. Hot weather is hot weather whether it’s Egypt or Spain, or further afield. Why would you bother to travel for hours on a plane just to get somewhere else when you can lay on a sun lounger in Spain or Turkey in the summer and experience the same weather as travelling for 8-10 hours…!

Well of course it is ultimately a matter of preference, but personally I think YANBU. Getting out and about is the best part of a holiday, IMO! I get very bored sitting around a pool for more than a few hours, even with a good book. I think the pool and sun loungers are best enjoyed after a day out—perfect to relax and cool off for an hour or two before dinner.

I think it ultimately depends on how you personally like/need to recharge your batteries. Some people feel exhausted by the pace of their lives, so they crave the simplicity of doing absolutely nothing. Other people feel exhausted by the repetitive and/or uninspiring aspects of their lives, so they crave variety and new experiences to feel refreshed. My DH is one of the former and I am one of the latter, so we have to plan in a bit of both when we go away. Horses for courses!

Neither unreasonable- do whatever you want on holiday. If you want to go sightseeing etc, just get on with it. But don’t make others go if they don’t want to

Probably didn’t see the areas between airport and hotel on transfer as it was either dark or asleep

I'm in Spain and there was a holiday complex with a pool and artificial grass and loads lying out, and across the street was a most beautiful beach, with deep blue sea and sandy beaches and a lifeguard. A convenient beach bar and outdoor showers - but no they preferred plastic loungers and a chlorinated pool. Also people who like to go for curry or fish 'n chips instead of the amazing local foods.
Just go out and explore - you know where they'll be.

It really depends on the temperature and how nice the hotel surroundings are.
We were in Tenerife in October and never made it to the beach once - there was a lovely adults only pool on the roof where we were staying and it was just so relaxing.
I used to hate beach holidays and I would be the one rushing off to buy things or walk places, but now I am older I enjoy relaxing.

Yabu. I love lying there reading a book. Don't think people should be joined at the hip on hols tho, and if I was part of a group who wanted to just lie there when I didn't, I wouldn't hesitate taking myself off.

You'd really think that grown adults would be able to talk about their preferred type of holiday without having to be patronising or shitty about other people's preferred holiday types.

You're an adult so if you want to do something go and do it.

What I struggle with is understanding why people fly for 10 hours plus to just lie on a sunbed when they could do the same in 2 hours.

I know someone who tells everyone all the places he has been. He hasn’t seen anything of any of them though other than the inside of a hotel, his room and the pool.

""is this common?”oh come off it op you know full bloody well it’s common. Why do people come here and ask questions like they’re an alien visiting earth for the first time?! Pack it in with the faux confusion bull.Also, unless you’re in a dangerous country, grow a pair and get out for a walk on your own. It’s not your travel companions job to babysit you

You sound delightful!

Tbh @Chocolatelover223 I think @Stripeysocks1981's comment is fair enough ..... clearly even if you were from another planet you would know just from looking around you it's common! If what you want is a lot of comments about how uncouth and embarrassing your companions are compared to how wonderfully cultured you are, then you are probably on the right forum 🤣🤣 But at least own it!

Really? How old are you? What country are you in?

I would rather not going on holiday than feel I had to be busy and productive on holiday.

People are pretty boring and exhausting who can't relax, quietly read, or who need to be constantly stimulated by activity. Or who want to be painfully right on and distinguish themselves as travellers, not tourists. Pass me a pina colada on your way out.

I really don’t care what other people do but I find it very boring. My husband is very happy to do it but I get fidgety after an hour!

Can’t stand lying around in the sun.
That would be my worst nightmare holiday.
However equally it's other peoples ideal holiday.

Its a shame you are stuck with people who want to do different from you OP.
Id just get out and about yourself, do what you want to do just like they are.

Of course this is loads of people's idea of a good holiday and it doesn't mean they only want to mix with other Brits abroad either. Me, I like a mix of both relaxing and getting out and about a bit.

I'm intrigued as well to know where you are that you aren't comfortable going out alone.