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??

Please don’t go on one. The last thing those of us thoroughly enjoying our relaxation and hard-earned pleasure is someone sitting with their judgy pants pulled up so high they’re worn as a balaclava.

knock it

Pre-kids I would have agreed with you that holidays need activities, although some days on the beach/round the pool are nice.

Now I have kids under 4?

The idea of doing nothing but reading and sleeping on a sunbed, occasionally rousing myself for a swim or a cocktail, without having to cook or clean a thing, for two whole weeks, sounds like my wildest fantasy 😭😭😭

No point going if you know it's not for you and you won't enjoy it. It's not my idea of fun either, but of course some people do enjoy it. Your friend will get over it, I'm sure, just be honest with her.

I would usually agree with you but right now I can’t think of anything more appealing than lying completely still next to a pool with a book and maybe a cocktail for a whole week.

It's not my cup of tea at all however with kids aged 3 and 5 am seriously tempted to give it a try for next year.
Keeping kids happy is by far my biggest priority for holidays these days.

We tend to have a week AI at February half term. I just want some sun and relaxation and as it's not our main holiday it's easier to budget. We tend to snorkel, read, use the pools and free water sports, the children enjoy the clubs and activities plus the water slides.

It's fab and really chilled just what we need.

I wouldnt mind that for 2 or 3 days tops, but I really like trips out

I do like to sit by the pool and read but would get so bored if that’s all there was to do, for longer than a weekend anyway. It does sound as if you have different ideas of fun. Surely there is a place that caters for both though? You can explore and meet up for food and etc. Sharm you don’t tend to leave the resort as it’s dangerous. However there are plenty of places where you can have both. We went to sa coma once in a resort place that had an all enclusive option. But we went on loads of day trips all over the island and to vineyards etc.

We had a holiday in March which was AL in Mexico. It was guaranteed sunshine. We did absolutely nothing and it was just what we needed to recharge our batteries, lots of drink, reading books, good food and walks on the beach. A week was more than enough though as normally I like to be up and about.
Our summer holiday was the exact opposite, lots of walking and sightseeing in Europe for 2 weeks.
Everyone has a different idea of what they want a holiday to be.

I’d suggest a cruise to your friend. Some (such as NCL) do all inclusive, your friend can relax by the pool, drink cocktails, read etc, you can join her for some of the time, then explore the destinations, get some culture, or take part in quizzes, lectures, classes etc on the ship. Best of both worlds!

We have family in Florida and I go there to read and sip wine by the pool as it is the most boring place in the world

Wow - I don't do Disney or any of the parks but I still wouldn't describe Florida as boring. There is absolutely loads to do there.

Oh I love it!!! If I was single or just on a couples holiday I would go out and about a lot more but when we go with the kids it’s perfect!!

We laze around the pool whilst they play, they sometimes go kids club. I read, we play games together etc.

If she's a good enough friend to go on holiday with surely you can just say - whilst it's a lovely offer it's not really your type of holiday, you aren't really a sunbathing by the pool sort of person and neither is your dh. She must be aware of the type of holidays you usually go on and probably won't be shocked.

It's not for my either so just say you don't fancy it.

I like a bit of down time but like to explore new places. I can stay home and do nothing so no point paying hundreds to do that somewhere else.

It seems to just be about doing nothing and eating and drinking to excess.

Could you compromise on location and be somewhere more interesting so you can go out and about?

Just to add we always look for a AI with a la carte options for the evening too as buffet can be samey.

Doing stuff is what I do all the time. I don't need to "do stuff" when on holiday.

My df would say only boring people are bored, and I've never got enough time to be bored.

I could sit on the beach all day for a fortnight and not be bored as there's so much to watch and listen to.

If we get a holiday it's self-catering in England. We usually spend most of the time on the beach and a couple of days doing other things. I'd hate to be dashing round all the time, as I said, I do that all the time at home.

DH and I went to Thailand a few years back. Every day was full on "doing stuff" so one day we decided to dedicate the day to sunbathing, lounging in the pool and drinking cocktails. We lasted 10 minutes before deciding we were bored and had to go and do something so two weeks of it is going to be undoable.

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.

I don't understand the idea that All Inclusive has to be sitting round the pool? It pretty much means for us that meals are sorted and we don't have to worry about them. We still can go out and do the exact activities as you would do, just that we don't have to cook for ourselves and can just grab drinks on the way to dinner/pool/room. All inclusive does not have to be sitting by the pool.

In fairness, even fancy holidays in the Maldives are technically “not leaving the resort” holidays. Although it’s easy to do boat trips / scuba diving / sailing there, it is still organised within the resort.

If you enjoy a particular activity (I am thinking of scuba diving) then it is quite easy to do while never leaving the resort in quite a few countries.

Be honest with your friend, say it’s not really your type of holiday as you love to travel & explore. She will totally understand & anyone would prefer honesty over excuse making.

I've done two all inclusives with kids and loved it. Really easy holiday. I've also just returned from a holiday to Bali (not all inclusive) with the kids and loved that. Just because I've been to one before it doesn't make me a certain type of person; it was just the right holiday for what we wanted at the time. I have a friend who is massively judgey about all inclusives and despite having two exhausting young kids who NEED entertained, she books a villa each year. Her husband spends the week messaging my husband about how awful the kids are being and how stressed they are. But she won't 'lower' herself to book into a resort where the kids actually have something to do. It's madness.

I'm actually in an AI resort in Mexico now. We've done lots of city breaks and villa holidays over the years but I love an all inclusive.
The kids are kept busy all day, they've done cooking lessons, snorkelling, volleyball. We've all gone kayaking, jet skiing, boogey boarding.
We've lazed around on the beach. I've read four books. It's been heaven. The foods been fab, we have five restaurants to choose from. We've been into the local town a couple of times, but that's it.
We've picked Mexico because we can get a five star hotel, fly on a great plane and it's cheaper than a five star in Europe. Believe me I looked!
I know it's not for everyone and we don't do it every year but it works for us.

I'm with you OP. 3 weeks in SE Asia and I spent precisely half a day on a beach. I tend to move around a bit (i.e. start holiday in one place finish in another, sometimes a neighbouring country) and sometimes I don't book hotel number 2 onwards until I'm out there. Less all inclusive, more street food.

I think I'd go stir crazy within the first 24 hours of an all inclusive holiday in one of those resorts where you can't really leave the premises - many of the Jamaican resorts, for instance.