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??

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

Exactly. Just go to France or something

90% of my travels abroad in the last 2 years have not been all inclusive in any form, but I did spend 10 nights at a very nice all inclusive in Cuba (this was after giving way to my internal reservations about them).

After having taken the leap I can understand the attraction, as at the time I was so stressed I wanted to feel like I didn't have the commitment of having to leave the hotel daily and sight-see (which I'd done in Havana before this) and just wanted time to be chilled. The resort had beach access, the food was very good (restaurants, as opposed to a buffet).

I'd do it again, but I'd be very careful about the resort. If it's 5* and well maintained, it's great, but if you chose the wrong resort and it was run-down, poor food etc, it'd be my idea of a living hell.

Also if we spend money we try to do that off resort so we do support local businesses a little at least

Because they're doing as they like. Imagine that, different people enjoy different things, that does not make one sort superior to the other. Live and let live.

I'm going shortly to a week AI in the Canaries. I'm a single full time working mum of three children with a large age gap and I'm shattered, I can't wait. The older 2 will go off and do the sports, make friends etc, youngest will hopefully use kids club at some point. We will go to the water park a couple of times, swim, get some sun, I am hoping to actually read! No stress, no making meals, all inclusive is great for the kids as they can choose what they want from the buffet. Lovely.

We (as a family) like 2 types of holidays - hiking/action/exploring/snorkelling/etc then but sometimes it's just nice for a week to go to a resort where it's all done and you don't have to think of anything! We take lots of books and suncream and laze around. Don't think I'd like that type for more than a week at a time - but it does have advantages! You also feel really rested afterwards- especially if you make good use of the spa!

I never understood this either, but I had a beach holiday (not AI!) this year after a very difficult time and I was completely happy to lie at the pool and relax and recharge. I was exhausted, and an exhausting holiday would have made me worse. Not fancying it every year, but I did think I'd been a bit judgemental before.

I am somebody who likes local food and visiting places, so did not think an all inclusive was for me. I have traveled a lot, had 14 holidays in 1 year. I have been ill, a very cheap all inclusive deal came up in Crete 100quid for a week in April, so I went. I have seen the sites in Crete before. I simply enjoyed the beach, sun and company of other people everyday, for a change and took a few trips to local towns. I would do it if I had children and wanted to keep the cost down, they are safe and have activities.

I went on a ritzy AI in St Lucia a few years ago. It was wonderful; a private villa with all the perks of the hotel, different restaurants to eat at, SCUBA, tennis lessons, boat trips. I'd happily go again. Don't be sniffy about other people's holidays.

I've done my fair share of hostelling and backpacking.
As a knackered mid-40s primary teacher there is nothing better than lying in the beach in an adults only AI resort, being disturbed only by a nice young man bringing round the rum-based beverages.

Haven't read the whole thread but could you go on an overnight trip somewhere whilst there? Or hire a car or a bike and get out the resort?

I’ve been all inclusive a few times. One at a crappier hotel and yes the food was terrible & so were the people but we did day trips and explored the area etc. Another one was a 5* hotel with amazing food, plenty to do all day within the resort with sports facilities and events etc. So it depends on the hotel and area you go to!

But sometimes I did just want to eat loads, drink loads and read my book in the sun. Nothing wrong with that - people are different.

And anyone who starts a thread with ‘I’m not judging but’ and then insults everything about an all inclusive holiday is obviously judging, so don’t pretend you aren’t

I'd love an AI right now.
I've spent the last two weeks in hospital with my chronic illness, am still quite weak and some sun and all food provided would suit me.
I've travelled independently loads, got on a plane and sorted the rest when I got there, but that doesn't work right now.

I have gone on three AI holidays and absolutely loved each one.

I have backpacked travelling for months and been on activity holidays, camping in Europe city breaks etc which have all been marvellous.

Sometimes though it wonderful to go away for a week, recharge the batteries, read, relax and not do anything.

Each holiday have also had trips out so if you want to venture out, you can.

Just say no thanks.

Or go, but go out places during the day (the hotel isn't a prison, you are allowed to leave!)

If you're not able to do either of these things, then maybe examine your lack of ability to be assertive.

Ds1 and me are autistic, so sitting at the same table and the same sort of food each time is great for our need of routine and familiar. We (except dh,) are fussy (sensory issues,) so being able to see the food and replace it if it's wrong is great. The dcs like the pool, we like the drinks that are included... We go out on day trips though. I'd get cabin fever if we never left the hotel.

Just be honest OP - if lying by a pool for two weeks isn't your kind of thing just say no. There would be nothing worse than going, because you feel sorry for your friend, and then it becoming glaringly obvious on day one that you were hating every minute of it.

So say 'X I'd love to go away with you, but I'm afraid two weeks of lying by a pool just isn't my kind of thing. If you fancy doing something more active I'll come, but I really think you'll have more fun with someone else you wants to relax. You know me, I can't sit still for 5 minutes'.

If it's any consolation, I'd be the same. I love reading a book by the pool for about an hour, but if I've got on a plane and gone somewhere new I want to see something of the place, not stare at the same view and never leave the gates, but for a lot of people that's what a holiday is - doing absolutely nothing for as long as they're there. Each to their own.

My problem with AI is that they add little to the local economy.

So far this year I've spent a couple of weeks snowboarding, hiking and cross country skiing in Canada. I've spent a week in a self catering apartment in Croatia. I spent 3 weeks travelling around USA.

I have a week in an all inclusive resort in the Caribbean to end the year. I'm very much looking forward to lazing about doing not very much at all beyond reading, enjoying cocktails, nice food, spa, bit of snorkeling and lots of sex.

There's no buffet, no reservations for restaurants and no pressure to be on a schedule. Bliss!!

there is nothing better than lying in the beach in an adults only AI resort

I’ll second that, adults only makes it even better

I don't know why people assume you can't go out in Jamaica either. I've been many times, both for holidays and for work, and never been confined to a resort.

I think it depends what you want out of the holiday. If its a holiday to go somewhere interesting, do and see things etc then your idea of a holiday sounds fab and tbh I like to do things on holiday. But sometimes if its been a hard few months at work, I can see the appeal of having everything included, kids entertained for me and doing sweet fuck all by the pool for 2 weeks.

book, headphones, no "whats for dinner" no handing over a 10 euro note every 5 mins for a drink.

Normally I love travelling. I grew up going all over the world.

However this year has been really stressful and horrible so I have book and AI 5 star holiday. It means I don’t have to think about anything. I go to the air port and that’s it. Lovely.