Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

358 replies

Borgenstein · 30/07/2018 17:28

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??

OP posts:
user7680 · 30/07/2018 17:59

It’s called a holiday. Time to relax. I find doing activities every day tiring. Walk to the beach yes maybe go on boat trips but nothing strenuous

MarshaBradyo · 30/07/2018 18:00

I want to relax, near water - pool or beach and not do much, but don’t give a second thought what others want to do

Firesuit · 30/07/2018 18:00

No don't go, you will be proved right with regard to boredom. And based on a sample of one experience, I would say that pre-paid eat-as-much-as-you-like food will be just crap enough to ensure no-one eats more than they need to to keep themselves alive.

A beach club might be a similar but less boring option, if the idea of sailing, windsurfing, or kayaking appeals to you. I'm trying that this year after deciding that flying to spend time in a hotel pool seemed insufficiently entertaining.

Happypuppy · 30/07/2018 18:01

O kids, but I like an AI hotel even though we end up taking trips and eating out around half the time as well.

We didn’t leave the hotel for around 4 days of our last 11day trip it was a perfect balance.

MarshaBradyo · 30/07/2018 18:02

I prefer to be somewhere I can go for a walk rather than stuck in one place, but still relaxing

RossPoldarksFloozie · 30/07/2018 18:02

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?

We holiday in high end All Inclusive Adult Only Resorts. It was Mexico this year. We had breakfast in our suite then went to the pool or beach if we weren't going out. We go to the gym daily so this was normally early evening and went for a run along the beach early morning. We did various trips Xcaret/deep sea fishing/Chichen Itza/snorkelling. I went to the spa for treatments/massage a few times while DH played beach volleyball or water polo on the days we stayed at the hotel. We went out at some point most days. There were 5 restaurants to choose from and various bars and it was never the same thing on the menus wherever we went.

I wouldn't do an all inclusive as you describe though OP. That would be utter hell for me and people can call me a holiday snob all they want. I'd rather stay at home than go somewhere like you describe.

Ambs81 · 30/07/2018 18:02

In my 20s i travelled a lot - india, new zealand, south america, japan - both on gap years and work breaks.

But as I've got older and had a child, i like a holiday without a schedule and prefer to chill out, read, play games with my little boy, and have chat with my husband.

My husband is restless and we usual do 1-2 day trips, but frequently spend a day by the pool or on the beach next t the hotel.

Try not to judge! Appreciate everyone has a different idea of fun and relaxation, and yours may change one day too...

I have a close friend who simply never goes on holiday - uk or abroad! I find it a little strange but don't judge, she has different priorities right now.

sugarPlumFairly · 30/07/2018 18:02

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

kenandbarbie · 30/07/2018 18:02

Don't you read?

Lemontart25 · 30/07/2018 18:03

Why can't you look into excursions to interest you & suggest those to friend & spend some time doing what she enjoys & some what you do? Most AI hotels have plenty of activities be they water sports or similar going on throughout the day.

awetpuddle · 30/07/2018 18:03

I don't think you should go - you will be bored for two weeks and that will ruin her holiday. ( I would be bored too, but each to their own).

MsSquiz · 30/07/2018 18:04

When we've been all inclusive (10 day trip) we did 1 day trip out and 1 evening trip out) the resort had a lot of restaurants so it was our choice if we ate at the same place more than once! (No "shitty same menu")

On those holidays I do what I don't get time to do at home, relax by a pool or on the beach, cocktail in 1 hand, book in the other. And other than having reservations for dinner, I can do what I want, when I want.

Not every holiday we go on is an all inclusive resort holiday, but when we do choose them, it's to do exactly that, stay in the resort

Boulty · 30/07/2018 18:04

Each to their own.

Do you want a Blue Peter Badge for 'doing things'

Stop judging

implantsandaDyson · 30/07/2018 18:05

I don't understand why you just can't say No, it's not your thing. I've said no to weekend break suggestions my friends have made and no-one has fallen out. I've no interest in spa, massages, anything along those lines - so I don't go. We're all still talking.

I've been on all inclusive holidays. I like them - what do I do?. Precious little! I swim, walk, read. Thank Christ I have the ability to spend more than 10 minutes in my husband's company without being bored.

C0untDucku1a · 30/07/2018 18:05

You could read a book a day / every couple of days.
You could look at what trips you could incorporate into the holiday, maybe every third day?
Or just say it is not your kind of holiday.

speakout · 30/07/2018 18:05

I like wind down holiday.

My life is hectic at home- constantly dashing around, OH and I - and the rest of the family don't get much time to relax or talk.

I don't want to spend my holiday being crammed full of busy days.

I like to read, to talk with my family, to snooze by the pool, to soak up the sun and enjoy the warmth, to watch ants, to listen to music, in short not do a great deal.

It takes a few days to get into that "zone", but when it happens it is almost like meditation.

Just taking time to switch off.

Tw1nsetAndPearls · 30/07/2018 18:05

I never said it was shite (just the food sounds shite) and I know everyone likes different things but two weeks just laying on a sun bed? I'd be bored to death by lunch time on day 1.

You don't need to actually say it is shite we all know what you mean.

We are at a resort at the moment - not AI as we can't afford it and I am limited with what I can eat. We are going out most days but each day we are taking DS to kids' clubs and he spends a few hours each day in the pools. In the evening he likes the entertainment. I like lying by the pool and reading or reading random crap on the internet. We have been on cruises before and enjoyed the relaxation of the sailing days and so I can understand why people might rarely leave a resort holiday.

MissCharleyP · 30/07/2018 18:05

I went AI years ago in the Caribbean, we did do other days out and trips though. Going again in a few weeks - not my ideal choice (I’d rather do New York) but DH hasn’t been well and wants a week in the sun doing not much. Went to Egypt a few years ago; didn’t do pyramids etc as it was too far (and too expensive on top of what we’d already paid) I hated it as I was so ill and vowed only to go to the Caribbean in future if the holiday was AI. Decided to go on this one as a friend who is pretty discerning has been to the same place and loved it. We’ll go out if we want to, you don’t HAVE to stay in your resort but people do as they’ve already paid and don’t want to pay again elsewhere.

Pyjamaface · 30/07/2018 18:06

Normally I would say I couldn't sit around doing nothing but this year I did precisely that! In a beautiful villa, loads of trips I could have done and planned to do bit we did nothing and it was bloody lovely.

Got up, leisurely breakfast, read, swim, read a bit more, snooze, lunch, read, swim snooze then dinner. I think the most effort I had all week was playing a couple of games of pool.

The only reason I don't stay in AI resorts is that I don't like people very much Grin

Grandmaswagsbag · 30/07/2018 18:06

My idea of hell but I can see the appeal to others if I try really hard.

Emmageddon · 30/07/2018 18:07

I couldn't care less what other people think of my holiday. I work full-time in a physically demanding job, with exhausting long shifts, and my ideal break is somewhere sunny and all-inclusive where I can do as little as possible for 7 days and 7 nights, once a year.

One week with absolutely nothing to do except read, sunbathe, swim, chat, play scrabble, drink wine and eat nice food is utter bliss.

BackforGood · 30/07/2018 18:07

In my 20s I thought the same as you.
As I got older, I have found those 2 weeks of doing absolutely nothing to be bliss.
I read - never get round to reading for the other 50 weeks of the year.
I judge people watch.
I sunbathe.
I swim.
I get up when I wake, and I eat when I'm hungry - without having to think about what I'm having / have I got the ingredients / having to cook.
Everything is paid upfront, so no worries about keeping track of spends.

However, if it isn't for you, then tell your friend. No point in trying to change what she wants to do, or trying to pretend to be enjoying it, or getting there and then wanting to do something different. that way neither of you will enjoy it.

NellMangel · 30/07/2018 18:07

Just tell her you like getting out and about. If she's desperate to holiday with someone maybe she'll consider a different location.

I'm sure there's some all inclusives that feature day trips etc.

yesiamgoingtoeatthat · 30/07/2018 18:07

I wouldn't do it for every holiday but sometimes a week's AI is exactly what you need. For me, part of a holiday is not having to cook (or certainly not every meal) so AI can be an important part of relaxing. Obvs it has to be somewhere with good food otherwise it's depressing.

Plus you know how much you're spending and don't get caught out.

Plus you can read, and read, and swim, and read... :)

sprinklesandsauce · 30/07/2018 18:08

Just be honest with your friend and tell her that it is really not your type of holiday. We are all different!

I like a mix when I go abroad, some days lying in the sun and some days sightseeing. I would not want to spend the whole time doing either exclusively. I do go on holiday to relax though, not to race around like an idiot so sightseeing would be at a gentle pace too.

Swipe left for the next trending thread