AIBU to think that I might be a bit young for a 'winter sun' holiday?

[MevsDHoliday]

Lighthearted: My parents want DH and me to come with them on a week's 'winter sun' holiday in December in Spain. DH thinks it would be nice, but I can't really imagine it and view these kinds of holidays as kind of a retiree thing. The weather won't be hot enough (22 degrees ish) to do much swimming/water activities, and I'm not really sure what I would do all week. We're in our late 20s. AIBU to think we're a bit young for this?

Even without the very real skin cancer dangers, I don’t understand sunbathing at all… it’s the most boring ‘activity’ imaginable: lazing around all day doing nothing. Awful.

Don't get the age thing ? I'm 29 and go away every winter to break up our horrible film winters, anywhere is better than here on a rainy sleety December

I agree with those who say you’re being very optimistic to expect temperatures of 22°C in mainland Spain in December. Even in the very south of Spain you’ll get the late teens as a maximum. I wouldn’t look at it as a ‘Winter Sun’ break, more of a ‘well, at least the weather will be nicer than at home’ kind of holiday.

We went to the canaries for some winter sun in January this year - first time I'd ever been anywhere warm in winter and it was a revelation! It was about 23 degrees so not that warm objectively but having left the uk in 2 degrees it felt boiling, and we enjoyed swimming in the sea/water park. The thing that struck me most was how high the sun was in the sky - I felt blinded getting off the plane! It really topped up my vit D and made the rest of winter much easier to cope with. Would def recommend

I've been to Barcelona in Feb before. It was sunny, it was NOT warm. Warmer than the UK, yes - but not warm!

We often go away as a family in the October/February half terms to the Canaries as it's 23°C+ (bearing in mind that's a shade temperature - it's definitely sunbathing weather!).

If it's something your parents want to do, why not have a chat and make it something for all of you? There are resorts close to cities, you could hire a car etc so you could all still get what you want out of the holiday.

I agree with you OP

A Spanish beach resort in December is not something I would have especially enjoyed in my 20s and I’d regard it as a bit of a waste of money and leave.

For a week in December I’d look at Marrakech or skiing. Or even better, if you have enough leave go backpacking or flash packing somewhere further flung for 2 weeks. IMO your 20s is the time to go places like India, Sri Lanka Guatemala, Mexico, Peru, Indonesia … save Spain for when you have kids or are older and can’t face the discomforts.

Hmm I see what you mean, I don't imagine Spain to be overly warm in December anyway, we go away in Feb half term but it's usually somewhere really hot, perhaps you need to view it differently, think of it as a quick break from the UK weather rather than a thing that old people do?

This.

Depends where in Spain, we did a city break to Malaga in winter and it was lovely - not beach/sea swimming weather but warm enough to sit outside, explore the city, have walks etc.

Wouldn’t go on holiday with my parents full stop. Wouldn’t be a holiday really would it.

The weather won't be hot enough (22 degrees ish) to do much swimming/water activities,

If you wouldn't enjoy a holiday is that isn't hot enough for you to swim and do water sports and you want nothing else from a holiday, then it's probably not for you.

If you'd enjoy being somewhere a LOT warmer than the UK in December, would enjoy walking, sightseeing, being able to eat outside then it really doesn't matter how young/old you are .

@HerVagestyTheQueef I can see the appeal in lounging by a pool with a book and a cocktail, but just laying there cooking yourself seems bonkers to me!

Omg, how ageist!
Not all yoing people want searing heat and just to sit around a pool.
Similarly, 'old' people don't necessarily want a mildly sunny holiday.
Don't go into marketing or elderly care!

Surely that depends on your relationship?

I go away with my mum for a long time weekend once or twice a year and we have a lovely time. I'd never go with my dad though, he'd drive me mad after an hour 😂

I think you have a point to some degree actually OP. Prior to having kids DH and I used to go on holiday out of season. I'm a redhead and burn more or less as soon as I step outdoors so I wouldn't go to the South of Spain in mid Summer if you paid me. I enjoy travelling outside the main holiday season for lots of reasons. However, you're right in that there tends to be more older people in holiday resorts during the Winter and it definitely won't be lounging by the pool type weather.
Personally, that suits me pretty well as I don't like crowds or really hot weather and doing active stuff or seeing historical sights is much better when it's cooler and not as busy. But it depends very much on what kind of a holiday you want of course.
DH and I went to Lanzarote in January one year when we were in our 20s and we probably were one of the few couples in the hotel under 60. That didn't bother us as we don't go on holiday to party or particularly looking for new friends, we just wanted to explore the island and I was training for a half marathon so it was very nice to be able to run every day in warm, dry weather. But you're not wrong that there is a different feel to these places out of season with generally older clientele and that may or may not appeal.

The only time I've ever been on a winter sun holiday was when I was young!

The Canaries in winter are lovely. Plenty to do: walking, sightseeing, historic sites, boat trips, markets, museums, eating tapas and drinking wine outside with a view, etc. DS, 24, is very happy to join us.

I went with my DM years ago the week before Christmas as I got an unexpected week off work, we both say how it was the most relaxing and best holiday ever. We had no expectations as it was a cheap last minute deal and we both came back so rested, relaxed and chilled for the Christmas rush. I was late 20s and we ate out every lunch and dinner, all the restaurant and bar people were lovely to us and giving us free drinks and desserts and so on, I think because they are so into family in Spain and loved the idea of a mother/daughter being on holiday together. It was quiet but the weather was lovely, and there were a couple of days warm enough for the pool and the beach. 22 in the shade is a lot warmer in the sunshine.

Haha we refused to let my DF come with us in case he drove us mad but afterwards we regretted it as it was all so chill he would've loved it.

Advantages of going on a winter sun holiday:

1. More sunlight at a time when it's so dark in Britain people get depressed.
2. Not so hot where you're going that you're at risk of dying of heatstroke if you go for a walk.
3. Destination isn't bursting with people.
4. Cheaper.

I kinda feel that, with climate change making summer temperatures in southern Europe unbearably hot, a trip south in December makes a lot more sense than in August.

Just embrace it your inner adult. I used to do winter sun holidays to Spain with the Dparents when I was your age. Always enjoyed the endless cups of tea and G&Ts with the early evening news. My summer holidays were backpacking active exploring type trips.

Op makes no sense

Winter sun?

Who cares what people's perception is??!

The weather won't be hot enough (22 degrees ish) to do much swimming/water activities

^

Ah well. Stay back at home and watch the rain pour (again) on the windows

I agree. The sea is too cold at that time of year in Spain and beach resorts aren’t the same in the winter.

That temperature isn’t a given in mainland Spain either. It can be 16/17 which whilst nicer than here isn’t warm enough for lounging around and going in pools. It’s usually cold at night too. I went in November once and it was 4/5 degrees in the evening.

Canaries would be ok though.

You should definitely stay in the UK & freeze, rather than go to Spain, because you are young.