Bikini or swimming costume?

[CordylineCapybara]

Going on my first all inclusive sitting-by-the-pool type holiday in 10 years, first time with kids and wondering whether most others will be wearing bikinis or swimming costumes?? It's a very young family oriented hotel. I know obv I can wear whatever but just curious.

Take both? That way, you can suss out what other people are wearing once you're there.

I always wear a bikini, a sturdy one though as my DD grabs at me

I do the same - sturdy bikini with shorts style bottoms.

I would definitely be going for shorts style bottoms. Looking in my drawers at the bikinis I had 10 years ago I was appalled at the lack of coverage 😂

I do rash vest and board shorts. That way I can just have fun with the DC rather than hoiking boobs about or undoing wedgies. Also means I don't have to ask someone to suncream my back every 20 mins.

If you’re going to be in and out of the pool most of the day a bikini is much easier to go to the loo in. Trying to put a wet cossie back on is torture!

Im taking both this year. Last year I just had swimming costumes...I felt silly for not bringing a bikini. Most women regardless of age or shape were in bikinis

Don't you just hoik it to the side?! I do!!

I usually go on AI family holidays, the type with waterparks, and I'd say that I saw many swimsuits, perhaps more than bikinis, although anything goes. Wear what you like, there really isn't a right or wrong. I personally feel far more secure in a nice swimsuit, especially with lifting and carrying young kids, and going down waterslides.

Definitely a bikini for me! I like my torso to get tanned and I hate the feeling of a wet, cold suit on my tummy area.

We recently did a week in a mid-budget family-friendly resort in Croatia. Definitely more bikinis than swimsuits there, and definitely nobody worrying about "coverage" - lots of thong or very high cut styles on the young, fit mums (and a couple on the DGAF old, unfit grandmas - more power to them!)

I only took swimsuits because I didn't have time to find a bikini before we left and the sight of me in my pre-breastfeeding ones is not fit for public consumption 🫣 There were only a handful of other women in swimsuits but I didn't feel especially prudish or out of style because I took styles that I know I look good in.

What does a sturdy bikini with shorts bottoms do that a swimsuit doesn't?

Shorts style bottoms can mostly look very like great big knickers, ie not very flattering. I honestly don't get them. Sturdy bikinis lose the fun element of a bikini.

Take a costume for water parks. Otherwise bikinis all the way...dry quicker, easier under clothes etc

I always take swimsuits and tankinis, I prefer the extra coverage and a pair of board shorts for the water parks but really anything goes so whatever your most comfortable in.

I now have long rash vest as I can’t be bothered with all the cream

Genius! Will do this now!

Sports style bikinis rather than string ones, ideally with high waisted bottoms. I’m not a fan of shorts, I feel they are unflattering but the high waist covers a bit more and still gives illusion of longer legs and slim waist. Tops with higher neckline cannot be pulled down when holding kids in pool otherwise they would have exposed me constantly when they were younger

I prefer bikinis because easier to go toilet when wearing all day, can change just bottoms if wet and less comfortable

I was expecting someone to say that's disgusting! Not that I'd care.
But yeah, it's easy, and you don't have to fight a soggy cossie.
Fwiw, I am not a bikini person, just don't feel comfortable.

In England, I’d wear a tankini top/separate bottoms.

If abroad where it’s absolutely boiling, I’d do bikini.

This, although i usually don’t bother with the shorts and go swim suit and rash vest. I hate sun cream.

so much easier wrt suncream, and definitely can move better than worrying about things falling out a bikini. A swimsuit tends to hold the boobs in much better than a bikini so being active is easier.

i don’t give a fuck about what anyone else is wearing. Yes most others are in bikini’s, but it certainly doesn’t make me feel “silly”.

Bikinis. Swimsuits don’t suit me at all so I never wear them. Have a variety of styles and colours from sporty to skimpy and I will wear them even when I am old and wrinkly.

Ha never been able to successfully hoick, especially after a few poolside rosés!

What does a sturdy bikini with shorts bottoms do that a swimsuit doesn't?

Easier to get changed out of a bikini than a swimming costume (at the beach/lake etc.)...dry off a bit, pull dress on, take bikini bottoms off and put knickers on, pull bikini top off if still wet.

All good points, I can see the convenience for those reasons, but if on an AI pool holiday (as I generally go to) I somehow feel so exposed there in a bikini, perhaps at the beach or lake there's more to look at and do other than sitting on sunbeds.

I love a pretty swimsuit, they can be so flattering, and there's less chance of them moving around or needing adjusting. I've found some which don't ride up at the bum or roll down at the bust so I'm all set