To wonder why people go on holiday to exotic places

[Cockwomble]

When they are the types who go all inclusive and never leave the resort.

Why not just go to whatever cheap place is sunny to eat pizza by the pool for ten days?

You haven't really been to cuba/mexico/egypt if you stayed inside a hotel complex and ate english food by the pool from the buffet have you?

Yup. Suppose for a variety of bar staff?

Exactly coco!

Why do you care what other people do on their holidays? scratches head it's their holiday, their choice and their money

I agree, but the problem is that a lot of 'exotic' places are actually quite unsafe for tourists outside these compounds. I think a lot of people don't realise this until they arrive and then are stuck in the resort for the duration of their stay.

They might go on excursions...

Some people are timorous. Maybe if they go AI and go on excursions they might get braver for next time?

I have been to egypt many times, sometimes i have stayed in the resort and others i have gone out and about.

Why does my choice of how i choose to spend my holiday bother you so much?

I completely agree. The idea of being confined to one area for a fortnight just does not appeal to me. If I go somwehere I want to see the real place, not an artificial resort.

I would probably say YANBU but having travelled around much of Egypt, I really can't say I like the place very much. On the other hand, friends and family of mine who have seen a lot less of Egypt, staying in one resort, have all had a fantastic time.

YANBU... Someone I know came back from an all inclusive trip to the Gambia saying it was very nice but there were too many foreigners.

I dunno, jealousy at the fact I can't afford to go on holiday to such an amazing destination that it's frustrating people don't take advantage? I'd love to go to Egypt and see the pyramids etc. I just can't fathom why you'd go and not see the wonders on offer. I also don't get why you wouldn't try the local food. It seems pointless - you can get the same benefits from Spain!

I am allowed to muse - it's not like I spend my day wringing my hands over it!

I think this too, but I admit that it stems from jealousy. I have never travelled outside of Europe and have only had few holidays abroad. It does bemuse me to hear of people going abroad every year, but only to sit on a lounger by a pool and tan. Mind you, I can't tan, I just burn so naturally it wouldn't appeal to me.

The real egypt is a dump. Grinding poverty and rubbish everywhere. A 5 star AI resort in the right spot is heaven on eart especially if you dive or snorkle.

YANBU. It doesn't bother me as such but I've never understood it. I lived abroad in a university town with lots of foreign students and it did bother me when students had been there for a year and still barely spoke a word of the local language because they only socialised with people from their own country. What a waste of time and money.

very true canspel. And a five start resort in egypt sounds just what I need right now. NOT the real Egypt.

I am not sure why it bothers you so much?? I have been to Cuba and we stayed on an island, getting off the island was expensive. We went on excursions onto the mainland (expensive) and had a couple of days trips out also. But i wouldnt have gone out on my own, we dont speak the language (a failing on our part) and were very unsure of where to go, its not like we could jump in a taxi and go to a nice restaurant (Cuba is not like that).

Maybe if we stayed in Havana it would have been different, you could walk around the city and try different places to eat but when you are stuck on an island with a minimum of 30 minutes to get to the mainland you sometimes dont have a choice.

cantspel you'd go and see the pyramids at least though, wouldn't you?

I am not talking people who stay in AI 5 stars and go on day trips and snorkle. I am talking those like my colleague who literally stay by the pool and eat pizza from the buffet!

but they do cockwomble, they go on organised excursions which are safe and easy, and why not if that's how you want to do it?

I always travel independently, but it does make me laugh when me and the family go to our secret exciting off the beaten track local hotel and everyone else there has their Lonely Planet open at the same page...

The pyramids are awesome but they are surrounded by cairo which is so near you can still smell the stench. The local food can be tried in a decent hotel i would not want to eat it from a road side seller.

The pyramids are not the real Egypt. They are a tourist trap.

What's with everyone asking why it bothers me so much? Like I run around, PLEADING with anyone who'll listen about it, and shouting WHHHHYYYYYY?!!

If you don't want to talk about it and you think I'm a fecking eejit for posting about it don't bother looking at the thread, surely.

Cockwomble i have done most major sites in egypt but i only want to go to them once but i still like going to egypt even if all i want to do is stay in the hotel. Some resorts are miles from anywhere and are just basically a beach holiday.