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Original poster

Not leaving the hotel when on holiday

168 replies

LaDamaDeElche · 09/10/2023 11:16

Do you go and see things when travel to a different country, or just stay in the hotel? I get it if you're doing a week all inclusive in Spain or something, that people want to just unwind and everything is paid for, but how about if you travel further. My dad has just been to the Caribbean and didn't leave the hotel in two weeks. He always does this - Mexico, Dubai, Greece etc - never even venturing out to a local restaurant. They usually go to the same hotel chain too, so it's like the same holiday over and over, but just travelling for more hours 😂 They just drink, eat, sunbathe and repeat. They've been to some beautiful countries and just seen the airport and the hotel. It seems so weird to me, but maybe it's normal and something a lot of people do.

OP posts:
NotSuchASmugMarried · 09/10/2023 11:20

I have different types of holiday but when I go all inclusive I rarely leave the resort. It's kind of the point.

TheBirdintheCave · 09/10/2023 11:23

It seems like a waste of money to me and isn't something I'll ever understand. I would go insane stuck in one place for a week. We go abroad to explore the country we're in, not sit around.

It seems to work for other people though 😅

Letsnotargue · 09/10/2023 11:23

I’ve tried this when I’ve gone somewhere when I’m in need of a proper break, and I just can’t do it. I get FOMO. Even on my honeymoon in Mauritius I was watching all the boats go past our beach wondering where they were going and what they were up to. So the second half of the trip was booked up with something every day!

I better understand now that travel is a luxury and although it is up to the individual how they choose to spend their holiday, I try to squeeze everything I can out of any trip.

ReadyForPumpkins · 09/10/2023 11:25

But that's what he enjoys, is it wrong really? I would say the same thing for AI. I tried twice after DC1 was born because everyone says it's great with children. I hated it. I left the hotel every day and didn't want to eat the AI food. However, some people clearly love that and AI is very popular.

Thewizardbinbag · 09/10/2023 11:27

We went to Marrakesh and then travelled all over Morocco from there, we saw everything we could.
Then we went to Gran Canaria and only left the resort to go to the beach!

I enjoy a bit of both; adventure and exploring but also a week of absolutely nothing just to recharge.

SofiYol · 09/10/2023 11:27

We do a mix - we always book AI and some days are spent just round the pool relaxing, but we always do a couple of trips and eat out a few times too.

We use the AI on the basis that it’s all there if we need it, but like to go out and about too.

ReadyForPumpkins · 09/10/2023 11:28

Oh and I love Center Parcs type places and I hear lots of people don't like how it has no evening entertainment. I never go to them even if they are on offer. Can't think of anything worse. Poor DC1 who tried those AI with us wouldn't go near the AI discos either. We are just all different.

Llloydwells · 09/10/2023 11:29

If it was the canaries or Balearics, unlikely I'd leave the hotel. In more culturally interesting places I'd not book AI.

Original poster
LaDamaDeElche · 09/10/2023 11:31

NotSuchASmugMarried · 09/10/2023 11:20

I have different types of holiday but when I go all inclusive I rarely leave the resort. It's kind of the point.

I often go all inclusive and still go and visit places, or go to a water park or the beach or something.

OP posts:
alloalloallo · 09/10/2023 11:36

I don’t understand it either. I’ve gone all that way, I at least want to see a bit of the country I’ve travelled to.

I do like a couple of days just chilling by the pool/on the beach, but we also book a few trips or hire a car/use the bus service to explore.

We recently went to Turkey and the hotel (not all inclusive) was full of people who didn’t leave for the whole week - and spent it round the pool, and then spent the whole time complaining about how boring the hotel was, that there was no entertainment (none advertised) and the food wasn’t great (just bar-type food which was nice enough)

There was a very lovely street 5 minutes walk away with dozens and dozens of lovely restaurants and cafes, little shops, etc. There was a bus stop at the end of the driveway which went all over for about 50p. We went on day trips where we were picked up at our hotel for about £10 each. Walked down to the beach.

I could understand it if we were all inclusive, but even then I like to spend some time exploring.

wineandmaltesershappyme · 09/10/2023 11:39

That kind of holiday we always go AI for ease, but we do do multiple excursions/hire a car for a few days and go and explore.

Lastqueenofscotland2 · 09/10/2023 11:41

I’d be bored and restless, but it’s a holiday. Do whatever works for you and you find relaxing.

FrenchandSaunders · 09/10/2023 11:43

If it's just sun/beach/hotel he's after I don't see the point in going long haul. May as well go nearer.

TrashedSofa · 09/10/2023 11:48

FrenchandSaunders · 09/10/2023 11:43

If it's just sun/beach/hotel he's after I don't see the point in going long haul. May as well go nearer.

Yeah, doesn't seem much point in travelling further than you need to in order to get what you want. Although maybe OP is describing winter sun holidays.

Original poster
LaDamaDeElche · 09/10/2023 11:52

ReadyForPumpkins · 09/10/2023 11:25

But that's what he enjoys, is it wrong really? I would say the same thing for AI. I tried twice after DC1 was born because everyone says it's great with children. I hated it. I left the hotel every day and didn't want to eat the AI food. However, some people clearly love that and AI is very popular.

He enjoys it, but always moans about the travel time for about a week after he gets back 😂 I suppose if you want that kind of holiday, it's the travelling a massive distance I don't get. He was at the same hotel chain in the Caribbean as he goes to in Spain. The hotel looks almost identical.

OP posts:
RampantIvy · 09/10/2023 11:52

FrenchandSaunders · 09/10/2023 11:43

If it's just sun/beach/hotel he's after I don't see the point in going long haul. May as well go nearer.

I agree.
I like to swim and flop and explore and immerse myself in local culture. I wouldn't be interested in an AI holiday at all.

Original poster
LaDamaDeElche · 09/10/2023 11:53

Thewizardbinbag · 09/10/2023 11:27

We went to Marrakesh and then travelled all over Morocco from there, we saw everything we could.
Then we went to Gran Canaria and only left the resort to go to the beach!

I enjoy a bit of both; adventure and exploring but also a week of absolutely nothing just to recharge.

I'm a bit like you, I like to spend days chilling, but also love to see the country and do things, especially if it's somewhere I haven't been before and may not go to again.

OP posts:
Original poster
LaDamaDeElche · 09/10/2023 11:57

FrenchandSaunders · 09/10/2023 11:43

If it's just sun/beach/hotel he's after I don't see the point in going long haul. May as well go nearer.

That's what I think too. He was moaning about the travel time to me and my siblings, was going on about that more than the holiday! Makes more sense to go to a European country, as the weather is still so nice. I live in Spain and it's still 30 degrees or more here every day. The mornings and evenings are cooler, but that's ideal for most people.

OP posts:
Topseyt123 · 09/10/2023 12:00

Some days I will stay around the hotel and pool reading my book, others I will go out to the beach, into the local town to visit shops and other restaurants, or on excursions, out for a walk etc. That way you see some of the surroundings and not just the resort, so get a truer picture of the culture.

I like a mix. We are all different though. If they are doing what they like then fine. If they are moaning about it afterwards then maybe they enjoy a good moan too.

usernother · 09/10/2023 12:01

The only time I've nearly done this is when the hotel was so luxurious and the service was so fantastic I didn't want to leave. I did leave it a couple of times because my OH wanted to, but I felt so relaxed and looked after I really didn't want to. It was my perfect holiday.

underneaththeash · 09/10/2023 12:03

We've been to some lovely AI and non-AI and I'd be bored stiff within a couple of days if we didn't leave the hotel.

But then some people's idea of a holiday is to go to Dubai!

PinkRoses1245 · 09/10/2023 12:03

Personally I can’t justify flying long haul and just staying in the hotel, seems a total waste. We’re not people who can sit by the pool for a whole week anyway, we’d always do a few days trips

Graciebobcat · 09/10/2023 12:04

I think if it's 35C plus it's too hot to do very much. 30-35C - do things but not for long and slowly. 25-30C - the same as above but you can do a bit more. 20-25C - lovely for walking about, sightseeing etc.

So it depends where you are and the weather, and also things like humidity. We've had holidays where we didn't do very much (2021) as it was just lovely to actually get away, lie in the shade, go in the pool, read lots of books, eat nice food, have a cocktail at 12.05pm, and it was also pretty hot. We didn't do much except eat out a few times (places having only just reopened) go to the beach and potter round the local area, and a boat trip.

We've also done big tours where we are up early every day, onto the next place, sight seeing etc. And somewhere in between this year - eating out all the time, lots of time by the pool, lots of time at the beach and some sight seeing and boat trips.

littlegrebe · 09/10/2023 12:05

I burn very easily so sunbathing holidays have never really appealed. But we thought we needed a do nothing type holiday this year after a really shit and exhausting time with DH's health, so booked a city break with a nicer hotel than usual with a view to having a couple of days just sitting around and a couple sightseeing. In the end we were out every day - something about being away from home gave us our energy back and neither of us wanted to miss out on the many interesting food options nearby.

Graciebobcat · 09/10/2023 12:07

Also even when DH and I were much younger and pre-kids, we did do AI for a week, just somewhere warm and good value for money, to mostly lie by the pool, swim and read, as we had been so busy and stressed at work and were just knackered. Sometimes it's just what you need.