Why are people on holiday so miserable

[Angelbabygloria]

I’m on a hot Mediterranean island with DP on our annual hol. Every time we go abroad we notice how miserable / rude the majority of people are.
It’s a mixed resort - mostly older couples, quite a few families, a few younger couples. Mostly German holidaymakers, then British and then Russians.
We smile and say a quick ‘morning’ when we get in lifts etc. Rarely anybody smiles back or the most we get in a grunt.
The Older people are the worst. They look at us like we’re dog poo they’ve just stood in. They push in front and like to be the ‘first’ at everything - boarding boats, at the buffet etc.
I thought holidays are supposed to be enjoyable, happy times? I get families can get stressed with kids, but if you’re retired why can’t you enjoy these simple pleasures of nice weather, food on tap, places to lounge?
I really hope I’m not like that in 40 years

Lol I have no idea what kind of holiday you have booked. It sounds awful.

We normally keep to ourselves but would never ignore someone saying good morning. I’m clutching at straws here but is there perhaps a language barrier?

I hope you manage to have a nice time despite this situation.

Peoples problems dont disappear just because theyre on holiday.
Illness, job worries, tense relationships are all still there. Have a little empathy.

Hmmm well maybe at least some of them are in pain when standing so quite like not to queue behind perfectly fit able people? Maybe they couldn't have children of their own. Maybe they've just had a huge row, lost all their cash playing bridge and stubbed their toe. Maybe their underwear is riding up. There are lots of reasons for people to be uncomfortable and unhappy. Age in itself is unlikely to be one if them so your prejudice against the older people is most unattractive. Remember, you will be old one day too.

Why are people on holiday posting on mn?

I had the same experience in Florence. Twatty people barging past glaring at you after you've given way to them on the pavement, as in 'how dare you fucking exist?!', self-important nobodies pushing to the front to see some masterpiece inside the Uffizi after the rest of us had been so patient and fair. I started making good use of my bony elbows pretty quickly ❤

I'm massively generalizing but that mix of nationalities isn't known for their gregariousness.

We went to a resort with a lot of Canadians who were like happy Brits!

IME Brits abroad love nothing more than to bond over a good moan about the place. We steered well clear of them. Easily noticeable by their negative small talk.

I'm British BTW!

I knew there’d be some responses about people being ill or in pain etc. Not everybody is ill or in pain on holiday. Couples not talking or even looking at each other at mealtimes, makes me sad. Ps I’m on my i pad , browsing mumsnet, reading , having a nice time :)

OK well you are awesome and have an amazing happy life and holiday and everyone else there is inferior and not as happy as you. Is that the right answer?!

Vogue no, all I said was I am having a nice time.

If I had job worries I wouldn't be wasting my money on a holiday.

OP - some people are just rude. It’s probably best to ignore.

I quite often Mumsnet on holiday. If I’m having an hour or two around the pool, I will take my iPad.

Maybe they've put the holiday on a credit card and are worrying about their debt.

Maybe their marriages are on the rocks and this is their last-ditch effort at saving them.

Maybe one of them wanted to go and the other didn't. So the one who didn't want to go is sulking and spoiling it for them both.

Maybe they're just grumpy fuckers in general.

I smile and say hello to people on holiday but that’s, I’m not there for conversations with strangers.
Mind you, I don’t do hotels like that either - mainly so I don’t have to have conversations with strangers

I've been married for 30 years and when on holiday DH & I quite often sit in contented, relaxed silence together. People aren't necessarily grumpy or sad just because they are not chatting animatedly

We don't usually meet rude people on holiday. Perhaps it depends where you go?

agree with the door opening for people. Yesterday dp prised a closing lift open for a lady half in/ half out and even he, who won’t say boo to a goose, was a bit at not getting a thanks.

But none of those worries should prevent you from acknowledging someone politely greeting you. I wouldn’t expect someone to become my best friend just because I’d said good morning but some I would expect some acknowledgement as a basic human courtesy. Perhaps I’m in the minority though!

We smile and say a quick ‘morning’ when we get in lifts etc. Rarely anybody smiles back or the most we get in a grunt.
The Older people are the worst. They look at us like we’re dog poo they’ve just stood in. They push in front and like to be the ‘first’ at everything - boarding boats, at the buffet etc.

Never encountered this on holiday!
Sorry OP but sounds crap and not something I have experienced before on holiday!

If other people’s behaviour bothers you to this extent ‘every time we go abroad’, why not rent a house somewhere remote and minimise contact with these people whose inability to live up to your standards of cordiality irritates you so much?

Other than language barriers (but a smile is universal and "good morning" pretty widely understood) I can't think why this would be, sounds miserable. I'm always at my social best on holiday, will speak to anybody and share a laugh with strangers and have always found most of my fellow holiday-makers likewise. Maybe it's the particular location - is it perhaps known for being quite an "exclusive" destination and therefore people keep to themselves more?

We went to a resort with a lot of Canadians who were like happy Brits!

YY to this - see also Kiwis, gregarious and cheery without being obnoxious and in your face

My experience of Germany was that it was normal to acknowledge people in lifts, when entering a small shop or a doctors' waiting room.
They thought people who didn't, such as the British, were rude.

I do know where you are coming from OP Recently in a lovely restaurant on holiday and DH commented look how miserable everyone else looks - and they did. No sure why although did wonder whether couples who don't spend much time together at home (and rub along fine) then find it a bit much when its 24/7?

I have always been surrounded by mostly happy people on holiday. Maybe you have been very unlucky op? either that or you are very very bored and are spending way too much time monitoring everyone else.

They are on holiday having downtime, perhaps for them the whole joy of being away is to not bother talking or smiling, but just recharging.

Maybe you are being very annoying with your over enthusiastic hellos first thing in the morning.

That's why we go to self catering holiday houses with no neighbours!

Avoids miserable fuckers