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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:
brizzledrizzle · 30/07/2018 18:08

Drink. Swim. Eat. Repeat.
Have sex?

We went all inclusive one year, we went out somewhere every morning to see the local area and then spent the (hotter) afternoons by the pool and then went out for a walk in the evenings when it was marginally cooler.

Userplusnumbers · 30/07/2018 18:10

I love to travel OP, but I also love to relax - while one of our holidays tends to be a bit more cerebral and activity focused, there's something to be said for a good old 'fly and flop' - different strokes for different folks.

I like to snooze in the day time, stay up late and enjoy the evenings people watching, catch up on a ton of reading, eat leisurely meals without having to worry about prepping, cooking, or cleaning up after it, dips in the pool, talk to my DP, and genuinely have a bit of time to switch off. Just as useful and valid a use of holiday time as exploring and learning about a new place.

IDontEatFriedTurtle · 30/07/2018 18:10

I never understood holidays full stop, I used to move places and spend time there get to understand the culture...be a part of it.

Going to Egypt and being bused back and forth with other tourists to various pyramids sounds shit to me. No real value in it. Doing it with kids would be hell on earth

Now I've got kids and look forward to the next 6 weeks of sitting in the house... I can see the appeal of sitting in a resort where they cook the food, watch the kids and you get sun! You're doing nothing anyway, might as well do it with good food and warmth.

KatharinaRosalie · 30/07/2018 18:10

It's not snobbery
Well stating it's boring and shit kind of is...
It is possible to go on a holiday with friends, where one couple wants to sightsee and be out and about the entire time, while the other lounges by the pool. You just meet up for dinner. Won't work if either tries to get the others to do their thing and judges if they don't.

Notmany · 30/07/2018 18:11

A clam relaxing time where you can minimise stress?

There are lots of different ways to have a holiday and none at better than others, just what is right for you at that time. No need to be snobby about it.

LeslieKnopefan · 30/07/2018 18:11

Also all inclusive very massively. You can get cheap ones that are a bit Brits abroad but fair enough if that's your thing.

I've done ones in Egypt with 8 restaurant, 5 pools and loads of activities and an adult only one in Croatia where it was so quiet and nice. Oh and I don't drink!!

A week is the max I can do but I love just relaxing and reading and snoozing!

RaspberryBeret34 · 30/07/2018 18:11

Definitely don't go if it isn't your type of thing, OP. Just say you prefer a more active holiday and ask if you can compromise. I think it'd be possible to get something that's in between and your friend can do some pool lounging while you head off and do things.

I love a full on experience type holiday but have also had lovely all inclusive holidays. I find best to just do a week or 10 days all inclusive and go on a couple of excursions - I went to Egypt for a week and we had a (manic) day seeing the pyramids and a boat/snorkelling trip. I don't usually lie by the pool though, I'd always choose the beach (reading loads!) and do lots of snorkelling, walks along the beach, finding shells, etc.

You can also go out for the odd meal even though you're all inclusive. In fact, I ended up on a half board holiday in Spain where we didn't realise (in advance) that the evening meal was included. The food was a bit basic so we mostly had a lovely big salad (the salads were amazing) as a starter at the hotel then headed out to a restaurant. We had budgeted to eat out so it was fine.

It depends where you are whether the food is the same shite or not. I loved an Egypt holiday where breakfast was endless! Including eggs made any way you like, in front of you - omelette with whatever fillings you wanted and also waffles, pancakes etc. Fresh fruit chopped up in front of you. I could have eaten breakfast for every meal!

100kindsofwonderful · 30/07/2018 18:12

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’ve read some rubbish on Mumsnet but this is the most paranoid defensive piece of hostile crap I’ve ever come across!

Celebelly · 30/07/2018 18:15

I like both kinds. Some holidays I go on just to swim, read, eat and relax and enjoy the sun. Others I go on and pack it full of sightseeing, day trips, etc. It doesn't always have to be either or.

userabcname · 30/07/2018 18:17

I wouldn't go OP. I am more of a "relaxer" and went on a city break with a friend who, like you, has to be on the go constantly. It was exhausting - up at the crack of dawn every day, out and busy until night then dinner, drinks, a show/clubbing/event....I think we averaged about 3 hours sleep a night. By the last day I was so tired I put my foot down and insisted on an early night. She was annoyed as she felt we "wasted" our last evening. We did fall out over it for a while. Lesson learnt for me: only holiday with similar minded people!

TruffleShuffles · 30/07/2018 18:18

I always do one AI holiday a year, usually end of December/beginning of January. I own my own business and the run up to Christmas is our busiest time so a week holiday of pure relaxation where everything is already paid for is heaven. We tend to go long haul and you find these resorts are very luxurious with a few restaurants and bars to choose from. We do still tend to go out a couple of times on excursions to see the a a bit of the country we’ve visited.

I have to say I’m a bit of a snob when it comes to European AI as it’s so easy to just wander out of hotels here and find local bars and restaurants that I think it would be a waste to never leave these resorts.

OP all inclusive isn’t for everyone at all and I can see why some people wouldn’t enjoy but if you can afford to go away a few times a year for me it’s nice to just have one really lazy holiday where you don’t have to do anything.

ShatnersBassoon · 30/07/2018 18:19

She won't be gutted at all! You don't want to spend a lot of money on a holiday in a destination you're not interested in visiting. What is it that you're struggling to say to her?

displacementofwater · 30/07/2018 18:19

Why not actually discuss it with her and see if you can come to some sort of compromise. Surely it doesn't come down to go and hate or don't go at all.

RebelRogue · 30/07/2018 18:21

I love "don't need to leave the resort" holidays.
First because I love swimming and water, and don't get a chance to do that much at home. I could and do spend hours in the pool with DD or just myself.
Other things we do ,just hang out and talk to eachother ,play games etc. I read a lot. We go looking at random stuff in markets . We go to the beach. Eat a lot Grin Entertainment is mostly shit but funny and DD loves the kid's discos. Sometimes we go visiting or go on activities.

What's the appeal for me? Doing nothing...(I know a lot of people have harder lives and jobs) I'm so exhausted physically,emotionally and mentally that it's absolute bliss.

petrolpump28 · 30/07/2018 18:23

We have teo holidays a year, one adventurous and one lazy all inclusive. They serve very different purposes.

Well you are very lucky then.

quizqueen · 30/07/2018 18:23

The only all inclusive I've been on was to St Lucia in the Caribbean. It was fabulous. Lovely food with lots of choice- pizza bar, ice cream parlour, buffet style, a la carte restaurant, themed restaurants, great weather, pools, the sea, lots to do in the resort itself- exercise and craft classes, kids clubs, water sports, boat trip with BBQ on secluded beach, diving off the boat, walk in the rain forest, trip to market day and to see historical sites, different entertainment every evening- magic, dancing, singing, fire eating, competitions.

So what do you like to do on your holiday, OP, that you don't have to pay extra for!

PeakPants · 30/07/2018 18:24

Don't they say only boring people get bored easily? Sounds like you need constant entertainment, OP.

As for innocently asking how to make the holiday more bearable, how on earth do we know? We don't know where you are going but surely there is something nearby that you can visit if you must.
Some people are happy just relaxing in the sunshine, catching up on reading, doing nothing. I met loads of people like you when travelling- always obsessed with doing everything. They were the total opposite to me and I don't feel like I have missed out by not going to every single sight.
It probably has something to do with extroversion/introversion too. I am an introvert, meaning that I am not dependent on external stimulation to feel content- in fact, it stresses me out. You are obviously the opposite.

feral · 30/07/2018 18:25

It would bore me stupid doing that for more than a day or two but I know plenty who think it's heaven. Each to their own!

100kindsofwonderful · 30/07/2018 18:26

Don't they say only boring people get bored easily?

That’s just a cliched soundbite you fool!

TruffleShuffles · 30/07/2018 18:26

Is the country you will be holidaying in decided OP? I’ve done an all inclusive in Marrakesh and it was just 10 minutes from the centre of Marrakesh where you could spend a few days exploring and the opportunity to go on trips to the mountains and loads of other stuff. So maybe if you could find an AI hotel somewhere like that as a compromise would that be an option?

100kindsofwonderful · 30/07/2018 18:28

I mean that’s why the op would be up and running, becAuse she would keep herself amused!

Candyflip · 30/07/2018 18:28

But it is true that more intelligent people are lazier. So I think there is some truth in the “only boring people get bored”. I am the laziest person I know. 😉

IDontEatFriedTurtle · 30/07/2018 18:29

love doing nothing, but I agree that if you don’t see any of the locale it is really boring. 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, but if I was in Egypt or Greece, I would want to see and do things.

What, all of Florida is the most boring place in the world? Grin It's bigger than England.

Lethaldrizzle · 30/07/2018 18:29

I've only ever done them with kids. No time to get bored.

delphguelph · 30/07/2018 18:32

I wouldn't do it for every holiday but sometimes a week's AI is exactly what you need

^

Yup.