to get annoyed with people who judge beach holidays?

[3DStanley]

I get really annoyed with the type of people who say 'Oh I could never lie on the beach for two weeks, you must be so bored!' and act like the only valid use of my precious two weeks off a year is trekking barefoot through the Andes teaching orphans English.

I get especially annoyed because 95% of them seem to earn lots of money for jobs with very little stress.

AIBU?

YANBU

Why do they care if someone does a lazy pool holiday?

Not my taste but would never be bothered to be so passive aggressive anti it "how do you do it?" "My idea of hell" etc

Much prefer skiing as its cold and its less effort than walking

Is it?! Blimey. I've always assumed that skiing quite literally would kill me. I'm still trying to co ordinate my two legs after a good thirty years of ownership

I like the thought of apres-ski, that sounds terrific.

I love hearing about how other people holiday and what they like doing. It gives you an insight into their character. I love a beach holiday. DH does not as he can't swim so we go to France where there is beach but normally also a lot of other things to do. If someone slags off beach holidays I just explain why I like them and ask them why they like what they do. Meh, people are different.

A beach holiday is genuinely my idea of hell. In the same way as running the marathon, or doing one of those cycle races would be. It just isn't something I'd enjoy.

That said, if you said that's what you were doing, I'd say "Lovely - enjoy!". There'd be no judgement, other than a recognition that we like different things. Which is fine. As I look at it, if everyone liked doing what I like doing, the prices would be sky high and everywhere would be crowded. Supply and demand and all that.

So - it's not unreasonable that someone doesn't like your sort of holiday....but it is bloody rude to denigrate it.

You are so, totally NBU, OP. I think being shitty about beach holidays is the new "oh, we dont have a telly, they rot your brain don't you know". For the record, I can't imagine anything less like a holiday than driving from one end of the US to the other for two weeks, but I wouldn't be rude enough to fucking say so when the person telling me about doing it is happy and excited.
I bet if someone did start a thread called "talk about lovely beach holidays here" a load of whingey killjoys would turn up on the first page to bore on about the dangers of the sun and the moral inferiority of lying on a lounger. Good job we can get away from them on holiday, eh

YANBU, it annoys me too. I like both kinds of holiday. It's great to find somewhere that allows for both exploration/cultural excursions and beach/pool days too, but it can be expensive to find this kind of destination, or else you need more than just a week to really get the best of both worlds, or to rent a car abd drive which I don't always feel confident doing depending on the country.

What I love about beach/pool type holidays is being able to get into a routine that requires very little decision making or risk taking, reading loads of books in the day and eating and drinking well in the evenings, in a totally relaxed head space.

That said, I wouldn't want to ALWAYS do that kind of holiday. But I'd never sniff at it.

Amazed that so many people love to hear about other people's holidays! I find them about as interesting as their dreams (the asleep ones, not the aspirations). I never talk about my holidays beyond "yeah, nice" and I always hope others don't tell me about theirs, either.

It's never occurred to me to think it's a mark of disrespect. I remember one of my friends telling me at length why my skiing holiday was her idea of hell, ended with, "Black people don't ski" and a look of disgust.
I just thought it was funny. I really don't want human interactions to turn into a beige, saccharine half-lie. "That sounds great; how lovely". Bleagh.

Amazed that so many people love to hear about other people's holidays!

I really do love it. I will willingly look at all your photos I especially love MN threads about logistics.

My favourite thing to do on a Saturday (saddo alert) is to read the little page in The Times weekend pull-out with the travel doctor advice

I think YAB a bit U
People like different things. But if someone asks my opinion on a holiday that sounds like my idea of hell, I'll tell them so. Relatively politely, with "horses for courses" caveat.

It seems that all the people who 'travel' have loads of holidays, money and fairly stress free lives.

DP and I work in demanding roles in the NHS. We're incredibly stressed, have 5 weeks holiday a year and are only not seriously struggling cos we live in an affordable bit of the country. The one "beach holiday" we've been on we came back incredibly stressed due to the boredom, lack of food choices (AI = an unhappy vegetarian) and endless noisy children and drunk other people. We actually hired a car 5 days in and drove around the island just to get out of the resort and try speaking the Spanish we'd practiced before we went!

We recently went on a hiking/climbing holiday after a seriously stressful period at work. Busy all day every day, no other people and very odd-looking tans thanks to hiking socks- came back relaxed as anything!

My point being, people are different and by making these comments you come across as a bit judgey yourself.

I really do love it. I will willingly look at all your photos grin I especially love MN threads about logistics.

I'm not really a beach holiday person but YANBU.

It's the assumption that their holiday (trekking through the Andes or whatever) is sooo much better than yours. Who gives a fuck?

Personally I like somewhere in the middle.

I don't do beach holidays but that's because I dislike hot weather and don't sunbathe. I'd be bored on a beach holiday, but wouldn't judge anyone else who enjoyed them. I'm definitely not a "traveller" either though. I've been to some great and unusual places but only places with good food safety and hygiene, no malaria or other tropical diseases, clean and efficient public transport and nice hotels. I've been to Hong Kong but wouldn't go to mainland China and have been to Taiwan but wouldn't fancy Thailand or Vietnam. I like cities rather than resorts but don't want to eat from street food stalls or commune with nature. There are some people who just don't consider it a worthwhile experience unless you've trecked through the Andes. I met a sneery American once on holiday who laughed at me because I didn't want to eat salad that had had flies on it, apparently food poisoning is all part of the travelling experience.

YANBU, I love all holidays me - from camping to 5 star luxury, beach holidays to cultural tours! As I get older I'm getting a tad more adventurous but that could also be down to the fact I drink less and don't have hangovers till 3pm!

Horses for courses but then, equally, some people are just dicks! 🍆

It's probably unreasonable to say, 'I could never lie on the beach for two weeks, you must be so bored!', but I frequently say, 'I could never lie on the beach for two weeks, I would be so bored!'. And I think that's okay.

I've never judged, or been judged on my 'type' of holiday, to be fair. What ever works for you.

I am, however, in the minority in my family it would seem. Hence when we went away on a slightly extended family holiday, I was bored shitless read a lot. The fact I sustained an injury and so couldn't get around on my own was a contributory factor. It didn't help my non-enjoyment of beach holidays.

I'm willing to concede my opinion might change when I have children of my own though!

I am super excited about our beach holiday

The big deal for me is that everything is included, so NO WORK for me

I have spent too many holidays doing wifework (booking and planning everything, making plans for when it rains, cooking, shopping, finding a place to buy proper tea/milk/new shoes for ds/rain capes, bike hire, car hire, being responsible for everything.... DH and DSs love it but I need a holiday after our "holidays")

So this year I booked a beach club holiday, everything is included.... am thrilled

""I do judge all inclusive holidays""

I've only done AI in Morocco, Cyprus and Egypt, on the package that we were on, meals in any of the trips booked were included and packed lunches. Only one day was spent around the pool (in a week). Longer on the beach, in a two week, mainly snorkeling.Service was included.

In the same year as Cyprus I went to Turkey SC, it cost a lot more and the eating experience wasn't any better.

They worked out cheaper than SC, after just buying basic food and water. So what would you judge?

I wouldn't necessarily include parts of Spain, Canaries, Majorca etc as a Beach holiday, because there is other stuff to do. More the newly popular Albufeira and Sunny Beach Bulgaria. Just not what I want to spend my limited holiday budget on.

But no one ever has this convo do they:
A: Oh, where are you off to on your holiday?
B: well we are going to Amsterdam, I'm looking forward to the culture, arts, museums
A: ah I would be SO BORED if I had to do that for two weeks, give me a free pina colada any day!

Just to add, I love holiday pictures and nose on FB at people's, who I've never met but have because they play the games.

To a lot of people, a perfect holiday is lying on the beach, enjoying the sunshine, peace and quiet and having the option of doing nothing. Sounds heavenly to me

IABU because I always think that people who say "Ooh, I could never lie on a beach for two weeks, I'd get soooo bored" must have really empty heads.... I love having a bit of time to let my brain decompress.

Seriously, if you get intellectual stimulation for fifty weeks a year and you can't slow down and sunbathe for 14 days, you might not be very comfortable with yourself. Maybe they should all try going on a silent retreat. They can't say they're bored if they're meditating.

I always think that people who say "Ooh, I could never lie on a beach for two weeks, I'd get soooo bored" must have really empty heads....

Definitely. I do the sympathetic head-tilt and explain that I have an active inner life.

I can see why people are offended when people say their 'idea of hell' is a beach holiday for two weeks. It's a very odd comment, considering what many people are going through in the world.

YANBU but I think people just judge whatever you say. For our holiday DD(8) and I are backpacking/camping and all I've had from everyone I've spoken to is 'I think I'd rather be on a nice beach somewhere.'