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??

muttmad - I wouldn't go.
I would rather save and have an AI holiday every few years than have a holiday where I am swapping one set of chores for another.

I do no housework on holiday.

Period.

I'd never been on an AI until we had DD. Now we love them. Although only have a holiday every other year. People are being very judgemental assuming it is all about the booze. Its not for us. Yes, its nice to have a cold beer by the pool but I can assure you it is not about getting drunk all day. I have never been to an AI resort like that. I'm sure they are out there but I research carefully and choose nice resorts. We also eat lunch out if we are out for the day, we don't allow ourselves to be stuck to the resort just because of meals. Or we have a decent breakfast to fill us up for the day. Or we might go out for a walk or a look around the market or to sight see and have a late lunch when we get back. We usually have an evening meal out once or twice in the week for a change.

Where it really comes into its own is for DD. She can help herself to soft drinks, icecreams, hot drinks (she loves hot chocolate when she's been in the pool!) The buffet style is also great as she can try lots of little bits of food that she might or might not like without the risk of ordering one main meal that gets wasted and then go back for more if she does like it.

We do love days by the pool but don't do it every day. We read, listen to audio books, I knit, do a crossword, people watch (!), swim, snooze. We are so busy day to day at home and I find it hard to fully relax so the enforced relaxation is great. Obviously not all holidays suit everyone. If you don't feel like its for you, don't go. But also, don't assume its all just drunk Brits downing one beer after another.

It won't work. The only way it would is if they are happy for you to go out for days out and just socialise in the evening. If there's nowhere interesting to visit then just say no. I would hate a holiday like this as well. It's not wrong just you have different interests.

Sounds amazing to me, I work long hours then run kids around to various sports till late most days. 2 weeks of sitting by a pool reading sounds amazing.

Food is great on good quality AI resorts, kids usually play in pool, play board games/cards 2ith us or do kids club activities. They love it too.

When they have no arranged activites and moan they are bored I always tell my kids only boring people get bored!

I actually feel a mild sense of panic at the prospect of a holiday like that. It would feel like prison to me. I can't bear relaxing and unwind by being very active - running, hiking, getting out and about. I can't even spend a sunny Sunday in my garden without feeling stressed about and imprisoned.

It's not a snobby thing, I think it must actually be nice to have down time like that, but it really isn't for me.

I always thought it wasn't for me but then i went to one in Mexico. the resort was beautiful, there were maybe 12 restaurants and several bars. there were maybe 6 pools and a treatment spa and its own beach. so really it was just like going to a small town. I loved it and going between the beach/pools/getting a facial/ playing tennis and reading all day is all you need sometimes!

This is an example of a low cost three star AI hotel we have stayed in.

www.sunshine.co.uk/hotels/Yel_Holiday_Resort_Hotel-8446.html

It's in Turkey, a small family run hotel, stunning location, food was superb, clean beautiful well kept grounds, tennis courts, regular seafood and fish BBQs, some ( cheesy) entertainment- which the kids loved.
Lovely pool, with a waterslide.
Local bus stop just outside hotel.

It's full for the rest of the season, but we typically paid £70 a night for two adults and two kids ( we went on a free kids deal)

So that £70 was for the room for 4 of us, all food and all drinks all day for 4 people.

So £17.50 per night per person for accommodation , limitless food and drink, soft and alcoholic, poolside snacks , fresh coffee, hot chocolate, ice cream, all day long, from 7am until midnight.

I go all inclusive but go out too. It's nice to know that I don't have to pay for breakfast/lunch/dinner and can get a snack later at night. All inclusive is great for kids who want a drink or an ice cream because they can have what they want when they want it and I'm not needing to go to the room for money or have money on me.

I couldn't sit by a pool all day. Some days I do but there's usually so much to do in an all inclusive resort and outside it.