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?

I like the idea of organised excursions in theory, but in practise they are over priced, cattle on a bus, tourist traps.

Please, read my comments PROPERLY.

I am not talking about people who take excursions. You are confusing my actual point with me having a problem with AI resorts in exotic places.

You can go to other pyramids, all alone and unvisited in their little deserty bits. You can go on horseback, it's great.

I don't care what people do on their holidays either.

I don't travel abroad for a number of reasons and I'm not bothered by that so my musings aren't based on jealousy. But I can only see the point of travelling to other countries to experience something of what that country is like - what the culture is like.

I just think it's a bit of a waste of money and a bit odd to travel all that way and then sit in a resort.

Apart from the jealousy bit, I completely agree with you, Cockwomble.

Abu Simble was worth going to, even if we did have to get there in a rather rickety plane.

I went to India and there were people that stayed around the pool for two weeks and never moved. We went off and did our own thing. So cheap and easy to do in India. Safe, as well. Having said that, each to their own. Some people just want to veg out. India was a good option, guaranteed weather and a cheap package deal in a fab hotel. I dont blame them for having the holiday they wanted.

Some resorts are miles from anywhere and are just basically a beach holiday.

That's why I don't see the point...but then again I have not been anywhere exotic so I suppose I actually want to see it. It isn't old hat to me.

But I can only see the point of travelling to other countries to experience something of what that country is like - what the culture is like.

Yes, that's my POV too.

I went to Mexico, rode the local buses to small fishing villages, went snorkling with the locals and ate seafood in beach side restaurants. It was a great holiday, apart from having my wallet nicked which happened in the tourist resort, not out in the villages. Everyone was very welcoming and kind wherever we went because they don't get the fat American tourists who complain about everything. The only tourists who find their way put of the resorts are the ones who are prepared to try a few words of Spanish, are polite and want to try local food.

A 5 complex in Spain is very different to a 5 in Mauritius. Different sea, different sky. They are not the same. I know what you mean though!!!

I dont blame them for having the holiday they wanted.

eh?

I suppose it's abit like saying why do some people watch Beverly Hills 9127634 whatever, and others documentaries on the origins of Zarathustrianism (sp). Different ways to enjoy oneself.

I went on an AI once, we only had a week and thought we'd try the whole veg by the pool, stuff our faces etc thing. We lasted two days and went stir crazy and had to get out.

But plenty of people LOVED it.

"My BIL went to Mexico last year, 2 weeks all inclusive and never left the hotel. He now tells everyone how wonderful Mexico is."
And there's the answer. Bragging rights. They like to say they've been to places, without actually having to put up with all those petty inconveniences like not knowing the language, the currency, etc. (AKA "laziness").

'A 5 complex in Spain is very different to a 5 in Mauritius.'

I have to admit though, I would LOVE to be able to compare the two!

Haha belgo indeed!

whereyou It seems like that to me sometimes.

Yes but but

It's not terribly different to going to Calais once and then talking about "France"

Why shouldn't you have beach resorts in egypt?
The weather is fab and unlike most of europe they are an all year round resort.
You dont want to experience the real culture of egypt. It is male dominated and 95% of the people live in poverty. FGM although outlawed is still widely practised.
You could go to luxor and see the valleys, karnak ect which are great but you will also have to put up with they young men selling themselves to the what they see as rich tourists.
Cairo is a real dump with dead things floating in the nile, traffic and fumes are a killer and they wont let you in to the city of the dead anymore as egypt doesn't want you to see how the real people live.

I know someone who's been to Egypt 3 times and never got near the pyramids because of local trouble. Also the thought of an armed escort through it doesn't appeal.

They don't have the armed escourt any more.

I know what you mean OP. I had several colleagues at my old workplace who every year spent a fortune on holidays to far flung destinations (Dominican Republic, Mexico, Jamaica) and literally never left the resort. I just couldn't get my head around why you would travel that far and spend that much to sit around a pool when surely you could do the same for a lot less in Europe.

Each to their own I s'pose.

I have done the driving arcoss the desert in convoy thing with a army escort. It used to set off about 4 in the morning from safarga to luxor.

My in laws go to all these exotic places. MIL suns herself by the pool and FIL takes himself of on the local buses and markets etc. Suits them!

I travelled independently round India when I was young, and worked in a kibbutz in Israel. I also hitched hiked to Greece through many European countries including the former Yugoslavia. I actually picked up work in Greece when I ran out of money.
This year I'm going AI to Sharm, and will probably laze around the pool in the complex, with my kindle and a cocktail, though I may find out about excursions to Petra.
I'm too old and like my comforts too much to bum around now, but if your'e young it's an amazing experience.

Funnily enough it's often more expensive to get a 5/4* resort style holiday in Spain than it is in places like Egypt and the Caribbean, presumably because labour is cheaper in "exotic" countries. Also the weather's better outside the summer season.