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??

I’ve only been AI once as generally I like to explore and walking about and discovering restaurants is one of my holiday highlights but OMG it was amazing!
We did a week in the Maldives and it was a beautiful, peaceful, relaxing slice of paradise. The food was superb, we snorkelled with sharks and turtles, walked round the Island, went on a couple of excursions, read, swam, sipped cocktails and watched the incredible sunsets. I’d definitely do it again in the future, although probably not in Europe.
I’m one of those normal people who actually enjoy a range of holidays though - city breaks, European beaches, Orlando theme parks, long haul and exotic. There’s really not much I wouldn’t enjoy.
If you’ve got good company surely it’s more about who you’re with.

Yanbu if you don’t fancy it but you are bu to say ‘these type of holidays’ or pretending you can’t ‘understand’ why people just want some sun, relaxation, a pool, food and drink.
Oh and ‘these places’ aren’t all the same. We came back from a 5 resort in June. Five restaurants, 5 food and service, amazing drinks, lovely pools and entertainment, gorgeous grounds - and we left the resort every day to explore the area, the markets, the attractions and the beach. You can use the hotel just as you would use any other you know 🙄
If this particular area has nothing to do/see just tell your friend it’s not for you.

I wouldn't go. Like you I am not a fan of AI although I appreciate some people do enjoy it for various reasons.

Basically you like very different holidays and it won't work if you go off and do your thing and she is by the pool all day. You might as well not be together.

AI is always going to be more expensive than SC/eating out when you compare like with like.

Yes, you can get mid range buffet style AI for less than the cost of, say B&B plus eating out, but the quality of the food and the experience of the latter is likely to be far superior.

I've never done AI because I don't like buffet meals for lunch and dinner and I don't want to pay for high end AI where you get to eat lunch at a beach bar and a la carte food every evening.

So if we stay in a hotel, we will get B&B but then eat out for most meals, plus have a couple of trips to the local shop to stock up on drinks and snacks so we can have the odd snacky meal and a drink on the balcony without paying hotel prices. A good compromise that works for us.

So there are lot of posters who have never had the experience, but are certain it's shit and not worth the money. Right.

I've travelled extensively and done all possible forms of accommodation, from hostel dorms shared with 20 people to most luxurious resorts in Bora Bora. My only requirement for AI is that it must be a good one, as you don't want to spend a week eating shit food for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and fighting over the last rickety sun lounger.
Just got back from a lovely 5 star one and everything was brilliant. Amazing food, different dishes every evening even for the buffet, plus 10 other restaurants to choose from. Kids clubs with plenty of staff and activities. Great Spa. You don't have to think about or worry about anything - whatever you want, hotel can do it for you. Trekking in the Amazon jungle it isn't, but there's a time and place for everything.

AI doesn't mean you have to stay in the resort all the time. AI suits us at the moment with young children but I do like to see the country that I am visiting. We went on three excursions so did see it. You don't have to be chained to the hotel.

I uses to feel the same, OP, and couldn't see the attraction in a week AI if you were just going to do the same stuff you could do in the UK.
I still love the ideas of lots of different holidays - hiking and staying in a cabin in Scotland, sightseeing in Europe, seeing lots of natural wonders, foreign cities, local cultures worldwide etc.
But at the same time I'm exhausted, stressed, and sick of picking up after everyone else. A week spent being catered for and lounging by a pool or (clean!) seaside sounds like bliss right now!

I've been on these a few times since becoming a mum. I use them because they're cheap but yes mind numbingly boring, however they work really well with kids (no cooking or cleaning!) and lots for them to do.

However I try to use them as a base rather than making it my entire holiday so will download bus maps before going and plan outings most days, and usually one or two days hire a car and go further. So in a week holiday probably only spend 1-2 full days at the hotel and pool. works for me and cheaper than bespoke holiday.

I love AI. I had a very pressurised job and I loved having nothing to do all day but lie in the shade and read a book. If I was travelling to see the country I wouldn't go AI but for relaxation and guaranteed sun you can't beat it.

AIs we've been to have consistently been better value than B&B and eating and buying soft drinks out and a whole lot easier with kids. Food has been excellent but not a fine dining experience but with my 2 I am not getting that for another 10 years or so anyway and tbh I'm not bothered. Had lovely 3 course meals served to us by a waiter every night at last one we went to and that was mid range - steaks about 3 times the size you get here and better quality. When we go to France it costs us 10 euros or more for 4 soft drinks each time and when its hot that quickly adds up self catering.

We've been on AI a few times. Usually somewhere where we can go visit places, go to the beach etc. Last year we travelled from Salou to Barcelona for the day. As I have a chronic health condition the next day was a lazy day by the pool so I could recover. But we took a walk down the beach in the afternoon as I got bored lol.

If it's somewhere you can do trips then that seems to work. Not sure I could stay in a hotel resort for 2 full weeks.

If it doesn’t appeal to you don’t go.tell your friend it doesn’t interest you, why wouldn’t you?
Your friend is not so fragile that she can’t handle you having different taste in holidays.

I would not have considered AI before having kids.

Once we became a family they have been brilliant.
We have been 12 or so AI holidays over the years.

We have usually chosen small, family run hotels, 3 star, often with villa type accommodation.

The food has always been great, simple but authentic ( Greece and Turkey), using fresh ingredients and lots of variety.

Most hotels will prepare a packed lunch for you if you want to go out for the day ( even if we ate out at a restaurant the packed lunches were great for snacks and drinks during the day).

AI is generally such good value that we would eat out in the evening every two of three nights.

Self catering with kids is work I don't want- and I hear all the arguments about BBQs, cheese and bread lunch etc, but it still has to be bought and carried back from the supermarket, chopping boards have to be cleaned, food waste dealt with, floors to be swept to clear crumbs.

AI all the way with kids!

Sounds like my kind of day... 🤣 Seriously tho we do have some days out on ai - I certainly wouldn't go to Egypt and not see the pyramids. It is sometimes nice to relax by the pool all day tho

We have 3 young children and tomorrow we’re going on our 3rd AI holiday and I can’t bloody wait! No thinking about meal planning, shopping, food prep, cooking, clearing up or even what restaurant to go to. You just pitch up in the restaurant and it’s there. Bloody marvellous. We’re going to a place that the reviews on trip advisor suggest is great for food with lots of variety and local dishes. Our kids aren’t picky eaters so they’ll enjoy that but even if it was chips and fish fingers I couldn’t give a crap. I’m knackered and it’s been a bit of a shit year. DH and I want to do bugger all for a week. Horses for courses and all that. I’ll take them to a museum when we get home

DH and I are very much not the AI types but I was pleasantly surprised when we went to Mexico last year (he was racing and it was way less complicated to stay at one of the official hotels and have transport etc provided). The food was great, the hotel complex had a lovely beach and was amazing for snorkelling, kayak and sailing hire was included, we played loads of table tennis, had the odd day/half day with a book by the pool or the sea, we hired a car and went exploring, we got taxis out and about, and did lots of early morning running and cycling. It wasn’t really significantly different from any other holiday, we just knew that we could eat or drink whenever we wanted without having to budget at all. I’d definitely do it again if DH is competing somewhere a significant distance away. I’m unlikely to start going on AI package deals to the Costa del Sol though.

Did it for honeymoon - never again! And we went out a bit but it’s not for me. I love reading but I also love sightseeing, eating variety of places, and I get cabin fever staying in one place too long whether that’s at an AI resort or in a SC villa.

Also, the omelette station was the best thing ever and I still fantasise about it now 😂

I've had two lovely all inclusive holidays, eating, drinking, reading, people watching. The occasional walk round the resort (which was a bit like an island) But I'm in my sixties. I don't think I'd have enjoyed it when I was younger either.

BellMcEnd I am with you all the way.

Like you I really don't care if my kids eat chips and ice cream for a week , but mine are not fussy eaters and happy to launch into calamares or stifado.
All the AI resorts have had decent food , but I would be happy to live off salads if it means not having to cook, shop or wash up for at week.

Most of the AI hotels I have been to provide food outside of mealtimes, so a pide station set in the grounds, coffee and cake in the afternoon, a kids early tea at 4pm with pizza, or a kebab and pitta bread station.

The resorts in Egypt are often very, very far away from the pyramids. I also have a friend who goes to one of these resorts and never leaves it. I think he just goes for a break. I do think it's a bit of a waste, but...
I also don't understand those people who pack their holidays with so much sight seeing that their holidays look like really hard work or who get up earlier on holiday than they do for work.

If you didn't think your type of holiday was 'better' than hers, then telling her you don't fancy her type wouldn't be the slightest of problems.
Therefore, the problem is all yours.

My friend likes bgt. She said to me 'Do you fancy going to watch BGT live?' 'No, thank you, not my thing. Hope you enjoy it.' We're still friends strangely.

I don't think you are being unreasonable or a snob, but I do think you and your friend should reach a compromise, you said your friend has been through a lot, maybe a week or two doing nothing is what she feels she needs right now, however, if the holiday isn't for a while, her view by the time the holiday comes around may be different. Why not say doing nothing isn't for you and you will go if she can reach a compromise with you that you can take a couple of trips and do a couple of activities whilst away, find out as much info as you can on whats available in the area, and just say we can make a rough plan such as the first two days (day and a half) relaxing, then a day exploring a day relaxing, next day do an activity for example,

I've done all board basis holidays and I much prefer the freedom of self-catering yet I hate having to cook and wash up so we usually go half board, if you miss a meal you don't feel you've wasted as much money than if you miss a day with all meals and drinks included. the best part of AI though is not thinking about what to make for dinner where to go. and my DSS can go get himself as many drinks as he likes without hurting the spending money.

i do think you should go and you may be pleasantly surprised that you actually enjoy sitting around chatting delving into a good book more than you realise,
we have had a really tough few weeks (last 3 years have been hard with serious illness for me) in our house we had a really sick dog and then we lost her (she is like my child) then my DH had long awaited (3 years) foot surgery so is unable to do anything to help me out around the house, (his foot is at risk of collapsing if he puts weight on it) therefore i am run completely ragged, I'm exhausted and not in the best of health myself, (cancer remission and post-op hysterectomy)

my DMIL and DFIL said on Sunday that is it, we are taking you away (Rhodes) when they said all-inclusive I was a little like oh no and boring as they are the types that do NOTHING on holiday (they work extremely hard) and that isn't for me, we love exploring doing activities, shopping, yet in the same breath i was like oh god yes we need it!

DH thinks there isn't much to do there and will be bored. my reply was i quote " you can't do anything anyway, I'm dead on my feet at the moment running around doing everything, which I know is annoying you because you feel its your fault its not, Nephew can keep DSS entertained, we've had a great action packed holiday already this year, plus I'm sure if I ask nicely, your mam can have DSS one night for us so we can have some aallooooone time " at that he was sold haha!!
there is a total of 6 of us going including DSS and nephew. (can keep each other entertained) when i explained to DH we where AI he said well at least you can have a break you need it, (it's killing him he can't help me)

ive lost where i was going with this........ oh yeah, although you say its not for you, you dont know what is around the corner and by the time the holiday comes around you may actually need a week or two of doing nothing, and again you can always make a compromise with your friend every other day or every few days she comes along with you and does site seeing, activities etc jst be honest with her, or even consider going half bord so you have meals included on the days you stay at the hotel. im sure she would much apprecite you making a compromise with her to go than not going at all .

"Thay said I couldn't imagine going to Egypt and not taking a few days out to see the Pyramids shock that is quite shocking!!"

Why? We went to Egypt in Feb as it was guaranteed to be warm. The hotels in Egypt that have water slides in the actual hotel actually have them open at that time of year (other places slides are more seasonal) We wanted the snorkelling.

As I say we did the pyramids pre children, it is not a magical experience. It is getting out of your transport to people tying things onto your arm then demanding money, or taking your camera off you to take a pic, then demanding money and refusing to give your camera back until you do. Or every second person you walk past re tying the scarf on your head as it is wrong, then demanding money. And it is MILES away from the beach resorts. It is not an easy trip, and not a trip I wanted to do with the children. Egypt is massive. It is like saying I couldn't imagine going to London and not visiting Edinburgh.

Don't go then Smuggins. You like different types of holidays. So what. Maybe she's posting on another forum in 'horror'.