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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to not understand holidays where you just sit by the pool every single day?

197 replies

MeetMeinBaaBar · 09/06/2013 19:28

Now I get that a holiday is about doing exactly what you want to do and to basically relax.

But I just don't get people who go to a different country and sit by a pool all day every day. My friend just came back from 2 weeks away, I asked her if left the hotel at all and she just looked at me blankly and said no.

I love relaxing by the pool, but I also love going to a different country and actually seeing that country - if I'm by a pool in a hotel I might as well be anywhere.

I guess it's like going to Egypt and only living within the walls of the hotel and never seeing the Pyramids.

She didn't even go to a beach ... meh, I know it's her holiday but yeah I just don't get it.

OP posts:

2rebecca · 09/06/2013 20:07

I don't tan, just go red and get uncomfortable sat in the sun for long, I'm rubbish at reading lying down or semilying down so sunloungers and reading don't go together for me.
I like a mix of free days where nothing is planned and you can laze about/ walk/ sit by pool and swim and active days of cycling/ kayaking/ walking etc.
I do understand why some people enjoy the sitting by a pool thing, it's just not for me.
I get annoyed if I have to pay for a sunbed as I'm not usually on it for more than an hour.
I can switch off when doing nothing, i just get bored or hot and tired.

LtEveDallas · 09/06/2013 20:08

As I said on the other thread, my 2 weeks doing nothing is needed. I have a very busy home/work life and barely any social life. For 2 weeks a year I want to relax, sunbathe, swim, read and chat to DH, DD and any friends we make.

I don't want to spend any time on a stuffy coach in traffic jams to get to the 'must see' tourist attractions. I don't particularly want to walk anywhere because without my 'special' boots anything more than a mile hurts. I don't want to 'learn' anything - but if I did I could read about it as easily as listening to a tour guide.

I WANT to do nothing

Wishiwasanheiress · 09/06/2013 20:08

If you can afford Mexico I don't see why you should have to go to Spain.

Sparklingbrook · 09/06/2013 20:09

DH hates it if I start talking to strangers on holiday.

tulipflowers · 09/06/2013 20:13

If I go away for a week I love nothing more than just a recharge the batteries by laying by/in the pool including swimming and snorkelling.. ( Last 2 hols have only been to sharm) If I go away for 2 weeks then yes I want to see the country I have visited.. So would hire a car, see the sites... Guess it just depends how much time u have on holiday

littlepeas · 09/06/2013 20:13

I always used to think it was a waste of time, but dh and I went to Antigua 6 months after I had started a new job which involved long hours and lots of stress and responsibility and all I did was lounge, read, eat and drink. It was amazing and just what I needed! It was also our last holiday before we had our first dc, so it was perfect really - no opportunities to do that now! Previously we have always did adventurous things and properly explored the countries we visited, but Antigua really stands out as an amazing holiday, even though we did nothing of note!

Wishiwasanheiress · 09/06/2013 20:15

I think what odder is the real sense of superiority of those who run about all day to those who stay by a pool. I'd say chav but as the ones who really seem to get people's goats are those on exotic all incs I really dunno if the word fits.

It's a holiday. People do different things to relax.

Sparklingbrook · 09/06/2013 20:16

What do you do on a pool holiday if the weather isn't that great?

takeaway2 · 09/06/2013 20:18

Well at the moment I'd love to do that. But can't. Two young kids etc. having said that I've done enough travelling before kids, living in different countries so it's fine for me.

We did go up Croatia one year and there were these people on the plane with us who literally slept all day till late (emerging from the room past lunch and didn't do much, get drunk till late and repeat...) and were quite envious when at the end of the trip asked what we did and we rattled off that we'd done snorkeling, swimming in the sea and pool. Saw some sights, ate out etcetc.

Tweasels · 09/06/2013 20:22

Pre DC, I couldn't have thought of anything worse than lying around sunbathing.

Now, I'd give anything for an hour or two with a book in the sun without anyone bothering me, it sounds like bliss.

velvetspoon · 09/06/2013 20:25

Before DC, I'd have found this type of holiday boring, and wouldn't have 'got' it. Post DC, we had no money for friegn holidays so took vacations in the UK (mainly budget caravan parks) where we were doing stuff, going places, seeing things, with the DC all the time.

Now my DC are older, I'm a lone parent with a stressful full time job and a busy life, I love the idea of sitting by a pool and doing nothing but reading and relaxing. I can't swim so it really is just sitting there for me. But I find it relaxing in a way I wouldn't relax on a busy holiday, or even if I spent a week at home doing nothing (plus I wouldn't get the sun).

Sianilaa · 09/06/2013 20:26

I go on holidays for different things - family ones, sightseeing ones, and girlie ones where we sit by the pool all day! I went on one of those in April and loved every second of soaking up the sun, swimming, reading - and not having to do anything or wipe any bums or cook or have someone jumping up and down on my stomach shouting "mummy mummy mummy mummy mummy mummy MUMMY!"

So YAB a bit U - everyone likes different things.

TiredFeet · 09/06/2013 20:27

I used to think like you, and preferred doing watersports/ skiing and getting out exploring the country I was in. B;l';lut right now with a pressured (albeit part time ) job, a hyperactive toddler and an energy sapping bump and a husband who has been kicked out I would happily trade anything for a week lazing by a pool in the sun doing nothing.

instead I'm getting 5 days in devon with a sort of potty trained toddler!

Fluffy1234 · 09/06/2013 20:30

I love sightseeing holidays (particularly twin centre ones) and also cruises. When i was younger i enjoyed beach holidays with lots of watersports and just the occasional day trip. I can see why people want to relax by a pool all day and for a lot of the year you have to go long haul to get the weather. I just think it's a snob thing to knock pool type holidays especially all inclusive ones.

meddie · 09/06/2013 20:31

I have had friends who went to Cuba and I asked them what they saw over there and how fantastic to get to explore Cuba and all they saw was their hotel room, the side of the pool and the hotel bar... That I dont get. Why not just go somewhere cheaper and closer.n Why pay a lot of money and fly all the way to South America and not even leave the hotel.

noddyholder · 09/06/2013 20:34

Atm it would be heaven

Fluffy1234 · 09/06/2013 20:35

Is Cuba South America?

SirChenjin · 09/06/2013 20:38

I think it might actually be closer to the Carribean!

LunaticFringe · 09/06/2013 20:38

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

LtEveDallas · 09/06/2013 20:38

My DH is the opposite Sparkling. He talks to everyone and is constantly introducing me to randoms that he has met by the bar/pool whatever. Last year we spent almost 2 weeks with a random Dutch Guy (who looked and sounded like Dolf Lungren) and his non English speaking wife and child after he started chatting to him in a slide queue! He was lovely until the last couple of days when he offered DH some v strong Steriods and some Viagra that he'd been happily selling to all the Russians by the pool - he admitted this was how he funded his family holidays .

We also ended up at an 'End of Ramadan' party after DH befriended most of the bar staff - now that was fun.

Life with DH is exhausting

Weener · 09/06/2013 20:39

I think Cuba is classified as being part of North America.

susiedaisy · 09/06/2013 20:39

I can see both sides but I prefer busy holidays, I sat in the garden today in the sun and lasted 45 mins before the sun got too much for me and I had to go indoors so I really couldn't managed two weeks, but I can totally see how people who have alot of stress in their lives or work long hours, maybe care for elderly relatives etc would need to get away from it all and do nothing for a while!

SirChenjin · 09/06/2013 20:41

I think that's another reason why we avoid holidays in the sun in complexes - we're far too unsociable, and like P&Q to do our own thing

Shakey1500 · 09/06/2013 20:43

LtEveDallas do we share a DH?

Mine's the same, leave him for 5 minutes and he's chatting away to all and sundry. I love it actually, that he's personable after my reclusive ex

I would sit and relax by a pool if only I could get comfy on a sodding lounger. Too hard. Too soft. Sun's in my eyes. Not reclined far enough, reclined too much. It's so much HASSLE!

Mintyy · 09/06/2013 20:44

Yanbu in that I simply cannot get my head around the concept that you could be in a different country and not want to get out and about a bit.

Yabu in that there is a tiny weeny amount of sun in the UK atm, and if lying in the sun is important to you then you have to make the most of the two weeks you have available to you, especially if it has cost you £££ to be there.

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