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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:
peoplearemean · 30/07/2018 18:49

All inclusive doesn't have to mean do/see nothing. It can be the most economical way to get somewhere. We often book AI on the basis of if it's shit we can eat elsewhere and if it's not then it's good value.
Egypt - well I can see why you wouldn't go anywhere else as the pyramids etc can be 8 hours away. Other places I don't think you would just stay in resort.
I have a hard job and I am pretty happy by the pool but equally I like a little explore, AI doesn't have to stop that.

SophieLeGiraffe · 30/07/2018 18:50

Like many other PPs I never thought AI was for me until I had a full time job, a five year old and enough of cooking/cleaning/laundry self-catering holidays! We’re also lucky enough to take two holidays a year so we have one activity/City/culture/exploring holiday and one relaxing.

Next month will be our third year in a row doing a 5* AI and we def don’t get bored. DH is a mad cyclist so hires a bike for a few days, I do yoga, running, gym and swimming, maybe go to the spa, DC goes to kids club if he wants (he does!). Then there’s beach, pedals, water parks, inflatables, crazy golf, tennis, basketball, jumping in an out of the pool, cards, reading. We usually hire a car for a few days to a week and go explore the island and if there’s an interesting looking day trip we’ll take that - but would rather do it ourselves so as to avoid Other People. I’ve never seen anyone overly drunk from being AI on the booze, we make our own evening entertainment most days and the food where we’ve been has been amazing and very varied.

Don’t knock it till you’ve tried it but if you do go make sure you do pick the right resort so you have some comfort that the food will be decent (choice of a la carte restaurants as well as buffet) and there are some activities in or near the resort.

Maelstrop · 30/07/2018 18:52

Don’t think you’d be unreasonable to decline. We thought we’d enjoy it, 2 weeks in the Caribbean doing nothing at a resort. Boy, were we bored! Not at all our thing, but it was dangerous to leave the resort except on guided tours. Torture.

It’s going to be expensive, OP, I wouldn’t do it just because you’re afraid of offending and your mate’s been through a hard time. You’d be better off supporting her and spending time with her at home.

Grimbles · 30/07/2018 18:52

We go A.I. it is handy when you have kids wanting drinks and snacks all the time, you don't have to carry cash around when sitting by the pool, meals are provided if you want them, or you can go out. Even if you eat out most nights the extra cost for AI is worth it for breakfast, snacks and drinks.

You are actually allowed to leave the hotel and do whatever you want to do on them, you aren't kept prisoner..!

PeakPants · 30/07/2018 18:52

Haha obviously hit a nerve 100kinds

100kindsofwonderful · 30/07/2018 18:54

There are different types of All Inclusive. There are ones with 100s of sunbeds, booze all day and grotty buffet food.

There must be because the PILs and SIL and her kids, 5 now I think, and various cousins and uncles and aunts go for a few hundred each and boast they are always legless by lunchtime to get their monies worth Hmm

WeeM · 30/07/2018 18:54

This is why I like a cruise-busy days for exploring new places and then sea days for chilling out/activities on the ship. And the food is amazing.

SynchroSwimmer · 30/07/2018 18:55
  • maybe find out where the hotel is located then:
  • usually classes on offer....yoga, zumba, pilates
  • maybe a sauna or naturist area for relaxing / meeting new friends
  • Look at Google Earth to check out the geographical area
  • long adventuous walks and hiking?
  • local bus routes to go off track?
  • snorkelling trips with your own kit
  • cycle hire locally, if not free in resort
.....I could go on X
100kindsofwonderful · 30/07/2018 18:55

PeakPants yes I obviously did!

1981m · 30/07/2018 18:56

I was like you until I had dcs. All
Inclusive was not our thing. However the thought of dragging a 3 and 5 year old around cultural places and sorting out the practical side of car hire etc fills me with dread. Our last three holidays have been all
Inclusive. Not my ideal holiday but I think we will do them for a few more years until we feel dcs are old enough to take out and about without it being a nightmare.

We ve just been to a two week all inclusive which for us was a bit long for us. We alternated between pools, beach and water park and then did two excursions. We would do 7/10 days if we went again or I am hoping dcs and do a more active holiday next year.

speakout · 30/07/2018 18:57

OP I find it really odd that you seem to know all about all inclusive holidays yet haven't actually been on one.

Strange you are such an expert.............

museumum · 30/07/2018 18:58

Never been AI but I had a resort holiday after hanging my thesis in. OMG I needed a week of not thinking.
There was yoga and tennis and I ran before dinner so it wasn’t totally sedentary but it was very relaxing.

user546425732 · 30/07/2018 18:59

This is why I like a cruise-busy days for exploring new places and then sea days for chilling out/activities on the ship. And the food is amazing.

Same. Though if you go on a cruise never, ever eat butterfish if it is on the menu. I've seen it several times on cruise ships and eaten it once. Never again.

RollaCola84 · 30/07/2018 18:59

AUBU to tell your friend it's not for you and to decline the invitation - no. AUBU to sneer at things other people enjoy with phrases like same shitty menu and put entertainment in quotation marks - yes.

Each to their own but I couldn't holiday with someone who couldn't sit still and read a book, enjoy the scenery or just relax for fifteen minutes without claiming to be bored. Sounds like holidaying with a demanding child.

MrSpock · 30/07/2018 18:59

Peak you sound a bit silly.

LJdorothy · 30/07/2018 19:00

My friend does AI with her pal even though she prefers sightseeing holidays. They compromise by having a horizontal day followed by a vertical day when they visit/shop/sight see. I think you need to say what you feel and see if such a compromise can be reached.

LakieLady · 30/07/2018 19:00

hammering, I feel the same as you. I don't see the point of going halfway round the world if you're only going to use the hotel's own facilities.

But then touring England in a motorhome like we do isn't everyone's cup of tea, either. It's a good job we're not all the same!

Allegorical · 30/07/2018 19:01

Did one of these holidays a few years back in Cape Verde. I was very stressed out and in the middle of studying a. Post grad.
So yeah the chance to chill out with a book and not think much was great. I did actually take part in. A lot of activities so it doesn’t have to be boring. Joined in the water polo a few days, played beach volleyball, a few other things like that. Loved it.
Sometimes you just need to relax.
The one thing I don’t like is the evening meal. Much prefer a proper sit down meal with waiter service. It’s all over so quickly at these buffet things, doesn’t feel special.

HolyMountain · 30/07/2018 19:01

Oh God I love an AIGrin.

Just tell her it’s not your thing, no need for the drama.

ForalltheSaints · 30/07/2018 19:02

Not for me but I can see the appeal if you just want to relax and read, swim or lounge about. A break from having to think about money in a sense as well.

Purpleartichoke · 30/07/2018 19:02

Reading, reading, and more reading.

In more detail: Breakfast, read by pool, lunch, read some more. Shower than dinner. Early bedtime for couple time.

Pure Bliss

VickyEadie · 30/07/2018 19:03

My older brother and his wife do all-inclusive hotel holidays. They also tend to stay in the resort. They're going to Vietnam next year.

Why? Why fly all that way to stay in your hotel complex?

RideOn · 30/07/2018 19:03

I went on one to Dominican republic.
The sun shone, I read books, I swam and suntanned. I drank a cocktail or 2 in the afternoon.
There were 3 restaurants and water sport activities on site.
We left the resort once!
I liked it, never done it again but it was a truly relaxing holiday. I would not go for 2 weeks.
If you can't relax in one place past 10am maybe you need this type of holiday!

BigSandyBalls2015 · 30/07/2018 19:03

Depends on all sorts of things. That sort of holiday had never appealed to me, prefer doing stuff. But last year we had a week in Ibiza in a fab all inclusive hotel after a difficult very tiring few months. It was bliss, sleeping, reading, eating/drinking.

Fenwickdream · 30/07/2018 19:04

I’d hate it, would feel like a prison to me. Find it weird when people travel all the way to Jamaica and are told they can’t step foot out side their hotel as it’s too dangerous. Why not just do all inclusive in Spain then? Nearer, cheaper, same holiday as far as I’m concerned.

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