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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
LadyBeagleEyes · 10/06/2013 10:36

I agree Mackerel.
I don't quite get the moral superiority by some people to those that enjoy a laidback pool holiday.
It doesn't make them better people.

SirChenjin · 10/06/2013 11:15

I don't think there's any moral superiority - I'm not seeing it on this thread anyway. People are obviously falling into 2 camps - those who would be bored lying beside a pool and those who find it relaxing. Where is the moral superiority - did I miss something? Confused

cory · 10/06/2013 11:36

For me, a holiday is a break from the stresses of everyday. Since I have a sedentary job with lots of reading and sitting around, the ideal break would be something like a walking holiday: plenty of exercise and not too much brain work. If I had a job that involved lots of travelling or heavy labour, then sitting by the pool might seem ideal.

Though I'm probably also one of those people who need "counter-irritation" to relax from stress.

Fluffy1234 · 10/06/2013 12:17

Back to the bit the OP wrote but his/her friend not visiting the Pyramids when in Egypt. When I went I did visit the Pyramids with my DC, we flew from our resort to Cairo for a day trip and this cost us nearly £1000. It was one of the most amazing days of my life but obviously a lot of money and not everyone wants or can spend this amount of money on top of the actual holiday cost.

wordfactory · 10/06/2013 12:20

I have had holidays like this OP and it was juts what the dotcor ordered.

But I prefer to mix it up and generally choose multi centered holidays if possible.

SirChenjin · 10/06/2013 12:22

I think it also depends on your family too - we have 2 teens and a 6 year old. The teens are always looking for things 'to do' (once they've dragged themselves out of bed that is!) and the 6 year old can't sit still for a minute. DH and I have sedentary jobs that involve using our brains (what brains we have, that is!), we're not huge extroverts, and none of us like the heat - so for us a holiday is about warm, rather than hot climates, a place away from a complex so we can be on our own but with towns and cities in easy reach, countryside to walk/bike in and have picnics, and theme parks etc for the older DCs who love them.

That will sound like hell to many - but what they hell, it works for us!

LtEveDallas · 10/06/2013 12:24

We did the same fluffy, because the coach journey was something like 8 hours on really bad roads. Cost us a similar amount and all DD did all day was moan about how hot/bored/stuffy/travelsick she was. can you imagine how bad she'd have been on a coach?

We won't be doing that again in a hurry!

PrettyKitty1986 · 10/06/2013 12:26

We are generally quite active. We go on lots of uk active short breaks, active days out etc.

A holiday for us is chance to relax. Don't get me wrong, if we went to a location where there was actually something amazing within reach then we'd do a day trip to see it. But if nothing jumped out I wouldn't go exploring for the sake of it iyswim? Pool or beach is fine with me.

jellybeans · 10/06/2013 12:32

YANBU but each to their own. Pools bore me. I like the beach though but do a lot of sightseeing too. Two of my friends went to Egypt and they didn't go anywhere other than hotel/beach..

Scrazy · 10/06/2013 12:36

I've just come back from a week in Spain. We stayed around the pool a couple of days, beach a couple of days, boat trip and walking the rest. It was probably my most inactive holiday to date in that we didn't do a big day sightseeing. Enjoyed it and I feel chilled and recharged now I'm back.

I wouldn't have personally spent the whole time by the pool and in the complex but don't fret if people want to do it, it's their holiday.

SusanneLinder · 10/06/2013 12:37

I don't think I am morally superior to anyone, but I am not a pool/beach holiday sort of person. I like to explore where I am and prefer to go somewhere where I can try out the language, so preferably not too touristy.
I have done the sunseeker, Canary Islands/Spain thing, and I enjoyed it at the time, but its not my thing. Each to their own, I suppose. :o

The kids and DH are desperate to go to Florida, which I have to say would be my idea of hell :o. I hate theme parks, and would rather do a tour of the Southern States

AmberSocks · 10/06/2013 12:43

i wish icould sit by a pool for ten minutes let alone all day!its not really like that with 4 kids under 5,soon to be 5 kids under 6!

our family holidays when i was ;little were always to somewhere hot,so usually the carribean,and somewhere where we didnt leave the hotel for two weeks,my mum and dad lay by the pool going red and we were shoved off to the kids club.

I cant say i didnt enjoy it because i did but it was also all i knew,i dont think my kids would be very impressed with that!

whopayswhat · 10/06/2013 13:47

I love sitting by a pool sunbathing and doing nothing. BUT I wish I didn't enjoy it so much TBH.

Firstly, its impossible with DS (6) and unfair on him too. Secondly, sunbathing is risky. Thirdly, even when I have a lazy sunbathing day, I don't feel energised- I feel more tired for some reason Confused.

So, in all honesty I really wish I didn't feel the pull of the sunlounger Angry.

FrantasticO · 10/06/2013 14:42

Jengnr I'm on the same page as you!
Sun - check
Relax - check
Book - check
Stroll for evening meal - check

My idea of bliss!

Leaves more room for others to sightsee I am thoughtful, honest Grin

JackieTheFart · 10/06/2013 14:52

My ideal holiday right now would be a weekend away, by myself, somewhere hot but not too hot, where I could read my Kindle all day every day and be waited on hand and foot.

MNBlackpoolandFylde · 10/06/2013 14:58

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MarmaladeTwatkins · 10/06/2013 15:27

I love sitting by the pool all day! Luckily, DS and DH do too.

We get up about 9am and get to the pool early, take DS back in midday to about 1.30 then back out. Then we tend to do our sightseeing during the early evening before eating out at around 10pm. I love it! I do enough bustling about at home. I don't pay thousands of quids to do the same in 35 degree heat.

whopayswhat · 10/06/2013 15:31

Marmalade out of interest what does your DS do while relaxing? Tell me tell me- so that I can encourage my DS to do the same Grin.

NeoMaxiZoomDweebie · 10/06/2013 15:34

I suppose a small child will perhaps play in the water, play with electronics or eat! Grin That's what most seem to do anyway.

greencolorpack · 10/06/2013 15:35

I did this recently, just myself and dh for a week abroad. Fantastically boring it was. Not supposed to say that out loud cos it cost a lot but it was pretty full. I didn't have enough good books to read. Just loads of shit chick lit. I wrote a diary lambasting it. I gained loads of weight from three very solid meals a day and I still haven't lost the weight (my usual diet involves working so hard I don't get a chance to eat much, lunch at 4 pm, tea at 11 pm sort of thing). So i agree, op. you should go on holiday to discover new things and stretch the mind, that's my plan for my next holiday with best mate and kids in July.

MarmaladeTwatkins · 10/06/2013 15:40

DS loves being in the water so he swims! He loves it. We buy him some inflatables and he's made for the day. Invariably, he'll make friends with other children there and they'll play together too. He'll come and sit under the parasol and read with us and chat and have some lunch/a drink. Sometimes he'll bring down a box of Lego with him and he'll sit and build for a bit too.

Honestly, the weather here is so shit that it is a real luxury to sit out in heat all day. We all like just doing not much. Also DH and I get to lie on the sunbeds and just talk and laugh with no stresses butting in.

MarmaladeTwatkins · 10/06/2013 15:41

I also love swimming so I get in the pool with him and spend time doing some with DS too, meant to say!

whopayswhat · 10/06/2013 15:43

Thank you marmalade I will give that a try.....

Peetle · 10/06/2013 15:50

YANBU.

I've done this sort of thing with the DCs as they just want to muck about in the water all the time (either pool or beach), with varying degrees of support and supervision. I'd prefer to be traipsing around old cities' museums and galleries, discovering interesting backstreet cafes or hiking mountains somewhere, but that isn't the sort of thing you can do with five year olds.

However, last year we found ourselves surrounded by people who lay by the pool all day every day for a fortnight just reading (50 Shades mostly) and not even swimming. Now I like a good book and read a lot, but not all day every day.

The highlight of my day was going for a run at about 7am before it got hot - bit of exercise and siteseeing combined.

stealthsquiggle · 10/06/2013 15:51

I am seriously considering finding a portable craft project (knitting, maybe) to take with me on holiday this year. Up until now time has been occupied with DC, albeit in a more relaxed mode than at home, but now DC1 will be taking himself off, DC2 will often opt to be in kids club, DH will be diving all the bloody time, so I may have more time than can be occupied just by books. I can't do "just" sunbathing - unless I fall asleep, I will be bored in 5 minutes.