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

I agree gottachangeaname1 my ex was like that, spend lots of money to go and see his favourite band and he would stand at the back with arms folded looking as stoic as possible. Whyyyyyy?? What's the fucking point.

Can't say I have noticed a problem, but it would depend on the type of resort you are in and the mix of people.

I find most people annoying anyway!

Needy because other people make you sad.
Needy because people are miserable and not enjoying themselves according to your standards.
Needy because despite being met with grunts or being ignored(rude I agree) you keep saying good morning.

Please and thank you expectations are fine,but even those differ slightly from culture to culture.

Just enjoy your holiday and stop fussing over why aren't other people enjoying theirs.(in your opinion)

I've been miserable on holidays before, but never rude.
all, and I mean all, of my misery was related to dreading going back to work.
i'm leaving in 5 weeks though, my health has taken quite the kicking because of my job and i'm determined not to let work steal away the remnants of my health.
holidays were no good because I kept having to go back to my job afterwards.
hopefully I can get back to the person I used to be, before I started this dreadful job.

See above ^ DH used to love merrily chatting to other women, but when the boot was on the other foot, and I chatted - at length - to a man in front of him, he didn't like it, and he knew how shit he had made me feel.

Seriously? I didn't assume that he was chatting to them because he fancied them. I presumed that he was doing it because he liked the company of other people rather than just you on holiday whether they were male or female. Chatting to people to make your partner feel jealous seems pathetic.

I so thought this was gonna be about my family and I had my justifications all ready. Turns out that the 6yo is just as trying by the med as she is at home!

If you book a holiday you have a certain expectation. You look forward to it, build up to it, get really excited about it... then it's just the same old crap in a different place, especially if you have children with you. It turns into a bit of an anticlimax. Add to that the fact that you feel as though you have to have fun, it can feel even more of a nightmare!

Tbh I like holidays (though I've not been abroad for 12 years as we have no money) but it never feels super special really. Just, like I said, same crap in a different 4 walls.

@ILoveMyDressingGown it's much better crap though. No cooking,no cleaning ,no laundry,nice food,yummy sweets and plenty of drinks .Much more preferable crap.

RebelRogue

ILoveMyDressingGown it's much better crap though. No cooking,no cleaning ,no laundry,nice food,yummy sweets and plenty of drinks .Much more preferable crap.

Well yea, it is if you go to a hotel or something. When dh & I went away for a couple of nights the other year, my mum had our children and we stayed in a lovely hotel then and it was as you describe.
When we manage to go away with our children we can usually only stretch to caravan/camping stuff so it's not so luxurious

It is not my experience of holidays, though I do not do package holidays anymore and have not done so since the internet made the non-package option easier.

The risk on holiday is meeting people who want holiday friends and if they latch onto you it's impossible to get away from them when you're in the same resort. I will smile and mutter Morning (if I realise I'm being spoken to) but I am unlikely to make eye contact and will definitely keep moving!

@ILoveMyDressingGown sorry just realised i sounded a bit braggy. We only had 4 such holidays,2 of them with DD. The ones with DD were paid one with some inheritance money and the second OH got an unexpected bonus. Since then it's always "we'll go next year.." .

Being on holiday with children isn't that fun. I'm usually glad when we get home.

And being old often isn't that fun either. And lots of old people look miserable, even when they're not, because of gravity.

I didn't read it in a braggy tone Rebel; I think I forgot about hotel hoildays when I wrote my original post simply because I've not been on one with my dc yet. Same as you, I have to say to mine, "We'll do that when we've got some more money..." Into then, Skegvegas and Scarbados will have to do

into until then...

And lots of old people look miserable, even when they're not, because of gravity.

This made me giggle more than it should've had.

because of gravity haha, I worry my face is going this way. Resting Inadvertently Looking Grumpy Face

I'm probably going off a tangent but when we moved from central London to a tiny rural village it threw me that random by passers would greet me and exchange pleasantries. I wondered if they'd confused me with someone they knew! That just didn't happen in London when you walked down the street. You're far more anonymous.

I'm used to it now and don't find it so disconcerting. I'm into it now.

Pushing to be first at the Buffett, on boat trips etc No excuse for that OP. That's not being miserable, that's being rude fuckers!

We try to pick resorts that have a high amount of German and Scandinavian tourist because they are clean and demand high standards. Honestly they are on the whole lovely friendly people. Obviously you have to make an effort to smile and do your best to communicate. IMO the British are just as bad about bagging the sun loungers. I did once visit a resort for the day were the holiday makers made me ashamed to be English. I’ve never been on a holiday abroad like you describe though. Where are you? I only want to know so I don’t book a holiday in the same place.

Omg some people your entitled to your opinion and I’ve had it plenty of times on holiday with people like that a holiday is ment for people to get away from their worries and problems for a week or so jeezzz people get a grip enjoy ur hols by the way

This is the reason we rent a villa with a private pool - so we don't have to deal with rude people! Don't take it to heart just enjoy the rest of your holiday ☀️

I’ve never been on a resort holiday but I’d have thought it’s impossible to do it without even a bit of politeness to other guests? Why go to a resort if you want to walk around with your eyes lowered, avoiding people?

The PP whose husband chatted up 2 women and ignored her on holiday, that’s grim. I’d imagine you might get stuck with someone like that on a resort holiday and that’s why I wouldn’t go!

Holidays are stressful and rarely live up to the fantasy expectations that precede them. However, that does not mean that holidaymakers need lose their manners because real life has not been evaded but has travelled with them. Anyone can say thanks for a lift door being held and they should too.

I was seriously considering an All Inclusive holiday after hearing in different threads and in RL that they are the best for families.
Now I think we will stick to villa with pool.

As someone married to one I think the issue is Russians OP. Walking around smiling is the equivalent of putting a sign on your front saying “I’m a fool” and just not done. (Doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do it, just that that’s not how they do things.)