Holidays- how do you compromise?

[laughinggnomehahaheehee]

My partner and I have been on a number of holidays together over the years, all city breaks, as that's what he prefers. I've enjoyed visiting these places, and find the holidays interesting, but not really relaxing.

I've brought up the suggestion of a luxurious hot holiday next year, with pools and beaches with clear, warm waters, and he's absolutely adamant that he would hate it.

My siblings have young kids, so couldn't go with them. My friends either have their own families, or wouldn't be able to get the time off when I have time off.

AIBU to expect him to come with me for a holiday of MY preference for a change? Or should I go alone?

I agree with all the above ; your DP can't dictate all your joint choices however there are lots of compromises to be made with staying either in two places or staying somewhere that provides both options easily eg Croatia, Greece, Costa Brava, Sicily etc

I think you’d struggle to find a beach holiday which didn’t have interesting tuff to go and see as well. I’ve been to Tenerife a couple of times and loads to go and see, Mount Teide, some great canyon walk, whale watching, rain forest, water park. Didn’t spend a single day without going somewhere.

went to Mexico and went to various Mayan ruins and ancient sites, cenotes, swimming with turtles,.

barcelona is awesome. I’m sure there’s similar places.

Dubrovnik area, great for this, fab hotels but loads of culture etc (even better if he likes Game of Thrones).

We try to do holidays with a bit of both. E.g. next holiday is a few nights in a capital city followed by a few nights in a hotel overlooking a lake.

But it would be fair to say you haven;t been on your sort of holiday ever, so time to make amends. Having said that - I have never been on a sun sea and sand holiday where you just read books and lounge around because DH hates them. Even though I'd love one, I love lots of other kinds of holidays too.

This is us to a t. So we mix and match and now I like finding interesting sights for him and he will cart all our stuff to random secluded beaches for me. Next year we have split it 4 days adventure, 4 days chill 5 days adventure 4 days chill.

Old Town Malaga is great for this - Bach in the city & a historic city with roman ruins to explore.

Beach ⛱️

Barcelona

I’m not a beach person but discovered diving which suddenly made resorts like the Maldives interesting!

We don't have this as all of us struggle with lying on a beach. I have felt that we ought to relax more though as we tend to be busy every day.

I've been looking at Mexico - Yukatan peninsula and Jordan. Both places you could have an active few days then relax for a few days on the beach.

Alicante and Valencia are also great city/beach combos, also Valetta in Malta, Palma Mallorca, even Lanzarote with the Cesar Manrique arty stuff, caves, vineyards, volcano park.

You'd have to have a really limited imagination to think that a beach and a nice hotel with a pool automatically means there's nothing arty or historical to see nearby.