All inclusive, don't even need to leave the resort!

[Borgenstein]

I'm not judging but I'm genuinely curious as to what people do all day on these all inclusive, all in, don't need to leave the resort, type holidays?

I love travelling. Normally if someone suggest some I go somewhere I go but I've been asked to go on on every of these types of holidays next year. All food is in. There is nothing of interest nearby that doesn't involve alcohol.
The couple that have asked us went to Egypt some years back on a similar holiday. When she got back I asked her if she'd been to see the pyramids? Been to the desert? She laughed and said "god no, we didn't leave the resort, it was bliss".

But what on earth do you do all day then?? I have asked her this very question and she said you go for breakfast (sounds like the same shite menu every day), laze by the pool until lunch time, go for lunch, laze by the pool until dinner, go for dinner (again same shitty menu every day) and then get drunk whilst watching the "entertainment".

Now I don't want to upset this friend as she's been through a hard time lately and she'll be gutted if I say no but the whole thing sounds like two weeks of boring hell.

AIBU to make an excuse as I just can't see what I'd do after 10am each day??

Yeah I wouldn't waste my precious holiday allowance on that OP. For me I see holidays as a time for experiencing new things and having adventures, I don't think I could even have one day just sat by a pool or on a beach as I'd feel like I'd wasted that day.

I think a Holiday is a change from your usual life. The kind of holiday I like depends on what is happening in my life at that time. If you are stressed out and working hard and shattered then you might just want a rest and recharge.

If you are not shattered to start with then you might want to do more stimulating and active things on holiday.

It takes all sorts I cant stand sunbathing or just sitting about but can see how some would love it. Especially if you have a stressful job. I am not someone who can sit still for long so it would drive me mad. don't mind the idea of not having to worry about food though but then again that's more to do with worrying where the money is coming from than actually eating out.

We did 4 Carribean AIs pre kids, at resorts where no children were allowed

I can't say the menu was boring - there were at least 3 restaurants in each of the hotels and everything was a la carte, no buffets.

We went to the gym, had treatments in the spa, went scuba diving, did watersports. We hired jeeps for a few days to explore. Never once saw any evening entertainment at the hotels - that sounds a bit naff.

It was lovely.

If you seriously were unable to relax for 10 minutes then there is something very wrong and you are probably in far greater need of relaxation than you realise.
There are plenty of AI holidays that will be near areas of interest for you and that have plenty of activities in the hotel such as yoga,, tennis etc. Or why not suggest a break with 1 week relaxation, 1 week city/mountains as a compromise. Im sure if you asked your friend instead of moaning to strangers you could come up with something you would both enjoy. You're friends, surely you have something in common?

I love AIs. We do luxury 5 star adults only ones and the appeal is being waited on all day. Usually they have at least half a dozen a la carte restaurants so wonderful meals at night with whatever cuisine takes your fancy. There are things to do in the resort such as boat trips, snorkelling, sports etc. It's a week or two of relaxation.

I also love 'busy' holidays so road trips or city excursions but somehow feel I need another holiday when I get back as I never get to just relax.

Everyone has their own preferences and it sounds like you should just say it isn't for you and decline.

We do AI every year . Both DH & I have full on demanding jobs & use this holiday as time to recharge the batteries. Total relaxation, lots of reading, spa treatments , a bit of tennis & lots of time with the kids . It's a holiday that suits us.

I couldn't spend my summer holiday, traipsing around places, it's to exhausting.

Cultural trips are saved for a few city breaks during the year.

We're going on an all inclusive holiday next year. It's our first holiday abroad as a family. We wanted all inclusive for ease- I have no idea what I'm doing so I wanted to know everything is covered, we don't need to go looking for places to eat to suit all our tastes and within a budget, we don't need to take much spending money with us, I won't need to worry that were spending a fortune on constant drinks for the children. It'll help a little with my anxiety!

I'd love to do the whole sight seeing thing, trying local cuisine one day too. By the time we've saved enough money for another holiday, the children will be old enough to really appreciate the experience. Either that or they'll have left home!

We've been AI but have always left the resort at some point. We usually budget for 4 or 5 day trips so we get to see the countryside

I guess some people just don't have the kind of inner life where they can amuse themselves without constant external stimulation, but don't worry- I'm sure it doesn't necessarily make you a less interesting person.

And some of us amuse ourselves without constant 'external' stimulation all year long but just fancy a change when spending thousands of pounds and travelling thousands of miles to be in a different country . It like a shame to not even attempt to experience the local food, sights and cultures .

I have never been all inclusive and really enjoy going to different countries,seeing different cultures and tasting different foods - none the less we had a stressful year so thought this would be a good option. However we don't plan on staying in the hotel the whole time - yes we will stay for some meals (prob at least 2 a day - from reading trip advisor you can get a packed lunch if going out - which suits us) but we did a lot of research about loads of different hotels/resorts and chose this one as the resort it is in has loads to do - boat tours to a shipwreck,around caves,snorkelling,water park to a name a few. We also researched about a few restaurants and will most definetly be going out to a few of them and might rent a car to see the rest of the island. I have a friend of a friend who is a travel agent and she said unless you are going to a hotel with an a la carte dinner menu it's a good idea to budget in going out for dinner if you are into local food / want a change

Its seems to me that you have a preconceived idea of what a AI is which is incorrect. I thought the same during my 20s until I actually went on one when I was 30.

There are a few countries where you may be advised not to leave the resort - those resorts are clearly not for you. If you want to travel with your friend then you need to find somewhere that you'll both like, which imo won't be hard. Even a basic AI will have some kind of entertainment schedule. The higher end ones will offer things like snorkeling, windsurfing, classes of some description etc. Most tour operators offer excursions (or you can arrange to do things yourself quite easily and usually more cheaply). You mention there's nothing of interest nearby. Where does your friend want to go? Most European resorts will be near something slightly interesting. Hire a car and go out. Stay in a major resort/city and have access public transport to get to things you're interested in.

I've done AI twice, FB once and am doing AI again this year. I've never spent an entire day in the hotel. We always go out and explore and have a meal or two in local restaurants. I don't want to do AI forever but with a 3 year old they are great. The buffet is quick, plenty of choice for dd, I'm dearly hoping dd will go to the kids club just once this year so I can have 2 hours off, there's a disco for her in the evening - happy kid = happy parents.

Longhaul AI, and more expensive European ones, will tend to have a larger choice of restaurants. Those would probably suit you better. Longhaul may better if you want somewhere warm outside of our summer.

However, if your friend only wants to sunbathe, and you only want to go out and explore, and one of you will resent the other for doing so, it probably isn't wise to travel with her.

I've not previously liked the idea of all inclusive, but at 27 weeks pregnant the idea of sitting by the pool, swimming every day, bottomless orange juice, food on tap and being close to the hotel room with DP (as my sex drive is bonkers!) sounds incredible right now. Some people love adventure, some people love to relax, and all for man different reasons. I'm sure once baby is born I'll be back to my adventurous self!

I used to hate the idea of all inclusive but now with the kids it can be so relaxing to get some peace while the kids r busy in the pool. Lots of water sports available and kids disco and funfair.

But we still do some sightseeing and shopping, couldn't stay there 24/7.

Good grief, some respondent's are being arseholes here, just because someone doesn't like your sort of holiday? And you're calling the OP judgemental? Fucksake...

I'm entirely with you OP, all inclusive isn't my sort of holiday either. I like to be busy too (not because I'm boring and need constant entertainment ) but because it's a big World and I'd really like to see some more of it. Whatever holiday floats everyone's boat though.

As to the original question; can you compromise on something where there's exploring for you in a luxury resort for her? Would she consider half board so you can potter to somewhere interesting but local for dinner?

I've travelled no end. I've lived and worked abroad, studied languages and really got to know those countries inside out. I work for an airline and have been all over the world and when the newspapers print those 50 places to visit before you die, I've done most of them. I was brought up on last minute holidays with no accommodation booked until you got there, my family very much looked down on package holidays, and so did I really. However my husband has been quite ill lately and we've done a couple of AI or doing nothing holidays, and actually it's been lovely to stop and do nothing- we normally have incredibly hectic lives.

It depends what you like. I have a very stressful job and my holidays are my chance to unwind and relax by doing nothing. It takes about 3 days of this before I start sleeping all night and not waking up at stupid o'clock like I do at home. I've never stayed in a hotel the whole time because we like going out in the evening but I no longer have any interest in sight seeing because I did lots of it when I was younger. During the day at a hotel I read, listen to podcasts, take part in hotel activities (quizzes, games, aqua fit etc) or sometimes just doze under my umbrella. Suits me fine and I feel rested after my holiday.

We have never done AI, we always go SC preferably to a fairly secluded villa with a pool. DH goes off during the day to do his thing, far to active for me, and I lounge around by the pool reading, sleeping and eating and then we get together in the evenings for dinner and whatever type of local entertainment we fancy.

It's easy to do both and for both of us to have the kind of holiday we want.

It certainly wouldn’t be my worst idea of a holiday although I’ve never been on one. My holiday hell would be trekking up a cold wet mountain everyday followed by the reward of sleeping on the floor in a tent and a Vesta curry dinner. This was unfortunately my fathers dream holiday!

I've never usually been one for that type of holiday either, and have never had all inclusive packages I think their a rip off n

But.. Recently I can see the advantage. Total relaxation, don't have to worry about a single meal, going anywhere... Just literally do nothing, take loads too read watch Netflix on phone...

I love travelling and have been lucky enough to have done a lot of it - including very active holidays, African safari, Inca ruins in Peru, Egyptian pyramids, central australia etc etc - but I am also delighted to go to an all inclusive for two weeks and not leave the hotel. The trick is it has to be the right hotel - fantastic food, activity option etc etc - try tripadvisor.com to read reviews. But to be honest, sounds like you don’t want to go so don’t.

I’d rather not go on holiday at all than go all inclusive, there is nothing about it as a concept that appeals to me.

""I've never usually been one for that type of holiday either, and have never had all inclusive packages I think their a rip off""

When I've done AI, I've priced it out and it's never been cheaper to go SC, or HB, my youngest DD can't eat when she first gets up. We all have a drink etc. I chat to people and there have been other guests who have paid for SC, for what we got AI for.

I've only done AI with Thompson, now TUI. If you book a trip at the hotel, you get your lunch provided.

So when we went to Marrakesh, we did the Waterfalls one day and got lunch thrown in, at the place were everyone eats. There was a free shuttle bus to the Souks.

It was the same in Egypt. We got a private stretch of beach, including Coral Reef, with bar/service.

When I've done AI in Europe, there has usually been good snorkeling areas, close by. I could quite easily snorkel for a week,
with a couple of other things to do

I'm lucky enough to be able to do a few city breaks, as well.

We go out nearly everyday when we are away. Some members of the Family don't, they want to relax.

Some people like drinking holidays. It's their time and money, so they are entitled to that.

OP, don't go on this holiday. Your holiday requirements don't mix and it may damage the friendship.

I never understood why anyone would choose AI until I wound up with 3 children. A perfect holiday for me is one with sun, pools, and not having to even think about cooking or shopping or even where to go for every meal. Not having to listen to kids pester for ice creams and drinks constantly and then worry about them dropping them. Not having to go through the menu with all of them and then be annoyed if they leave most of it. I love that all inclusive food they can help themselves to and it's ready straight away and all these things mean less moaning and whining and that is exactly what I need on holiday. However I would never stay in the complex every day. I like lots of trips and a few meals out as well. I can totally see the appeal though. You need to be honest with your friend or you'll have to say no every time she suggests the same type of holiday.

5 star AI in Egypt is about 2-3 star everywhere else in the world, so I get what you mean, OP.

But a good 5 star resort has proper luxury beach areas, at least a few swimming pools, fantastic indigenous landscaping and it’s not over crowded. It feels like its own little haven. Yeah, not in Egypt though. Sorry.