Why are people so sanctimonious about people watching TV on holiday

I’m not in the habit of watching TV at home as I’m an avid reader, and probably wouldn’t on a beach holiday, but on a more active holiday - bring it on!

After a long and tiring day of hiking, skiing or sightseeing, it’s nice to have a shower, dinner and then hole up with a box set or movie.

Because I'm old & tired!
I had a few days away (UK) & was exhausted by 9pm!

If the accommodation is advertised as having a to then it should be fixed, doesn’t matter how much stuff there is to do

(also I love watching the to on holiday as at home have to think about all the boring stuff in the evening- stuff to get ready for work or kids the next day) can enjoy it properly on holiday especially after a busy day doing stuff!

I like watching Abroad Telly. It's cultural immersion. Most recently in Greece I watched breakfast news (ten people shouting at each other about farming), a soap opera that mostly concentrated on filming inanimate objects and a quiz show where you had to guess letters to find words - I got pretty good at that old alphabet let me tell you.

I don’t watch TV much on holiday - maybe a bit in the late evenings if I’m in the UK, but I don’t watch Netflix or anything. But people shouldn’t be looking down on it if that’s what you enjoy doing to relax. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with it.

I find it weird when people say ‘But you could watch TV at home’. I mean, yes, of course you could. But you never hear someone say “But you could read a book at home” or “You could go for a swim at home” or “You could have a pizza and a glass of wine at home” when people do those things on holiday, which suggests there’s a strong element of snobbery when people sneer at TV but not at other ways people choose to relax.

Also, I’m pretty sure people who watch television on holiday are also doing other things. I don’t think many people spend a lot of money on a holiday and just sit there in a darkened room 24/7 watching TV. Maybe some people like to relax with TV in the evenings, or maybe they sit and watch on their phone / tablet while they’re sitting out by a pool or on a balcony for an afternoon, or as a PP said, while their family are off doing other things for a day or two. But I really don’t think many people just sit there indoors for a week / fortnight doing nothing else.

I'd think it a little odd if people just spent the entire day, every single day watching TV; but to us, part of a holiday is relaxing and downtime. Once you've enjoyed your day doing whatever enjoyable leisure pursuits, what on earth is wrong with wanting to wind down with some TV?

Where would these people draw the line? Do they consider it a waste of valuable holiday time sleeping at night - as you can do that at home anytime?!

It's by the by, but we were at a holiday cottage a couple of weeks ago watching the TV in the evening when we learned of Dolly Parton's death. I also recall being at a holiday cottage in Derbyshire in 2004, watching with horror all the footage of the devastating flood in Boscastle as it unfolded.

Where did I say that?
I was just explaining how it’s not something I do.
You asked in your title why people were sanctimonious about it.
I was explaining it doesn’t happen for various reasons on our holidays. No sanctimony at all!
Maybe you should stop judging yourself for doing it and just enjoy doing what you enjoy doing!

We never watch tv on holiday. We are usually on the go all day, then in the evening maybe wandering round the town, having a drink, playing cards, chatting, reading. Not all those things, but one of them……. We tend to either stay in places with no tv at all, or get back too late to consider watching it. But I only tend to watch tv at home as a way to avoid doing chores………

@mondaytosunday- At home I don't have anyone to make me club sandwiches or mai tais or mojitos and bring them to me or a massive spa bath where I can also sit and watch trashy TV. If I was at home I'd always be thinking about what I 'should' be doing instead. I'm not into golf or watersports so my family get to go off and do things they love and I get to spend a day indulging myself and everyone's happy.

3 kids (one disabled, needing a lot of care), a job that I often have to do in the evenings because there’s no wrap around care for my disabled child, chores, studying, reading, walking the dog, Pilates… I’ve never really watched TV.

Jacelancs , you sound like the right one to go on holiday with , very organised, I’m afraid i’m quite the opposite 🙈.
Bet we’d get on great , especially after a few glasses of vino 😂

When my DS was young we always ended up going on holiday as soon as the Scottish schools finished because it was much cheaper. Unfortunately this also coincided with the Tour de France being on TV. And my son was a massive fan of the cycling. We always had to arrange our holiday activities in such a way so that he got to watch that. My H and I would sit by the pool or whatever or do whatever else we wanted. Then when the cycling was finished we got to do stuff and go places together as a family..
It was a compromise .

I go away with friends and like my own room, so after all day swimming, lounging, cycling , sightseeing, eating, drinking and partying I love a bit of telly/music when I come back to a quiet room at the end of the night.
Judge away .

Of course you can watch TV. You are out and about during the day, come back to cook a dinner then relax. And if you have young kids they need to go to bed at some point and you can then… watch tv and relax! @Limeandfigs it’s not doing the same thing as at home except for a couple hours in the evening mostly. What else? Eat out? Go to the clubs/theatre? Doesn’t work with kids. But I don’t get how you can go to Mexico and spend the DAY in a room with room service - you can do that without the flights and expense at a hotel near where you live if you want a break @Ohhhthedrama.
I don’t understand how people can go abroad and then spend all day every day on a plastic sun lounger by the hotel pool either.

I always download loads of tv onto iPad or phone for holidays, also take my kindle and some jigsaws and Lego
Currently in Turkey and have read 14 books so far, built all my Lego, done a few jigsaws and snoozed round the pool to iPlayer history programmes
I’ve also had lots of time to sight see, go on boat trips, eat and drink far too much etc etc

I watched Spongebob Squarepants in French (bob l'eponge) on my recent holiday 😁

Out and about all day, glass of wine in bed with the telly at night! But its just me and the (teenage) kids and they are mainly on their phones once back at the accommodation so it was just me myself and Bob L'eponge 😆

Jeepers what keeps you busy at home if no tv ?

I love reading but I also find it bizarre why someone coming home from a holiday and saying they read three or four books is treated with respect when someone who says they binge watched a TV series gets a raised eyebrow. There is never a question asked as to whether the person reading was reading complete trash or some academic tome, it is automatically seen as superior even though both can be done in exactly the same situation.

I totally get it op.
Our holidays are always a bit full on generally. A lot of culture and we get up early. So, we read, or listen to podcasts in the evening.
We're actually going abroad soon though with the sole intention of doing bugger all for a change!! Lying by the pool or beach... totally relaxing. I can already see myself excusing why we're not doing much. Crazy, it's a holiday! We do what we like.
I think if people want to watch TV on holiday, that's up to them! I can take it or leave it on holiday.
Most places have a TV though, so there must be a lot of people who want a TV, or they wouldn't put them in.

I don’t watch it either, but one night on holiday, DH had gone out to watch the football, and I didn’t fancy it. So I switched the TV on & opened a bag of holiday crisps (the best kind!). The novelty was quite nice! Don’t understand a word of Spanish, but I got the gist.

Well like yeah I know , just saying 😂 😂

I am currently on a UK break and the TV doesn't work- the host has said there is loads to do elsewhere.

This is a really rude response. If the cooker wasn't working, would they tell you there's loads of restaurants?

It tends to be when you’re in Spain 😂

Came back from Tenerife last week , I wanted to watch tv at night, we were always back in room for 11.00 the latest .
I was on holiday with my 2 youngest, 19 & 15 , so annoying everything in Spanish !!