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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To feel so disappointed I can't get in the pool

202 replies

Pikola · 01/03/2025 11:30

Very much a first world problem. It is however ruining our holiday a bit and I can't see a solution.

We came to Cyprus expecting the weather to still be a bit chilly, its Feb. Its absolutely baking lovely hot and sunny. Fantastic! But the pool is so cold it's basically unusable, no one has got in it. My husband has tried three times and had to get out straight away.

It's lovely getting all in the sun but part of the fun is cooling.off in the pool.

It sounds silly but it's putting a bit of a dampner on things as I can't really sit in the heat for long without it and I really love swimming pools on holiday.

We are in Paphos, it's lovely. Any tips??

OP posts:
XXylophonic · 03/03/2025 07:24

ReadingSoManyThreads · 01/03/2025 16:22

YABU to go on holiday to a small island and complain that the pool is too cold when you've the sea right in front of you.

Why do people go to coastal locations for their holidays yet sit by a manmade pool? I just don't get it.

Not everyone enjoys swimming in the sea. Some people are scared of it. The sea can be rough depending on the weather. I personally dislike the scratchy salty feeling if there are no showers around. Enjoying some time at the beach and then swimming in a pool is perfectly reasonable.
I also doubt the sea would be much warmer in February.

Phonefiend · 03/03/2025 07:25

bakedFishandChips · 01/03/2025 12:28

If it was me, I would go to a local cafe where the mama works and engage in conversations and ask her to give me some local recipees, take pictures of her with my kids and make a memory album of the true things in life I've seen there, not just sitting by a bleach stinking pool all day - but that is me

Yes that’s just you 😂

Good luck with the sea OP. I’m not hopeful though-that won’t have warmed up yet either.
Otherwise just dipping your feet in and having a little splash round your face will cool you down

Enjoy the rest of your holiday

Tonkie18 · 03/03/2025 07:29

Swimming is good for the circulation.

Tonkie18 · 03/03/2025 07:30

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Swimming is good for your circulation and it improves your reynaulds ☺️ I would be debilitated without it. Even on methotrexate, hudroxychloroquine and viagra!

Diningtableornot · 03/03/2025 07:38

Charcoalpen · 01/03/2025 15:14

I know

weird that the op either thinks that temp is “very hot”

or… lied? Weird

Show quote history

Maybe it’s very hot in direct sun but the air temperature is low.

Rulerflex · 03/03/2025 07:39

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XXylophonic · 03/03/2025 07:42

I went to Egypt in January and the top temps were 18 degrees. The pool was freezing but I decided to just go for it. The first few seconds were excruciating but once I was in and acclimatised...oh my gosh what a rush! I've never felt so energised. If I could get past that initial discomfort more often, I'd make it a regular thing

Tonkie18 · 03/03/2025 07:48

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I think you’d be surprised. I’d categorise my reynaulds as debilitating. So much so they sent me to an and e my hand turns black. They thought my limb was ischemic. They’re unusable when they’re cold which they always are. I’ve been through a battery of tests as they thought it was something more severe. On thermal imaging my left hand stays blue even when exposed to 30 degree heat. So I know what you’re going through. Yes getting in the pool is painful. But once you start moving you warm up. It really improves my symptoms. Swimming is the only thing I can do, my joints won’t allow me to do any other exercise. I was skeptical at first too, but after a couple of lengths you do warm up and it’s not as bad as you think it’s going to be. Getting out of the shower/bath at home is worse because you haven’t worked out and got your blood pumping. The pool is actually where I’m warmest (not initially).. from September - May I have to stay under electric blankets most of the day to keep warm even with the heating right up.

Rulerflex · 03/03/2025 07:52

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Rulerflex · 03/03/2025 07:53

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Jade520 · 03/03/2025 08:00

Inflatable to float around on while just sticking your arms/legs in.

liveforsummer · 03/03/2025 16:47

I'm surprised you've even found somewhere with a pool open in feb/early march in Cyprus. I find you can't use pools there except from mid June to end August as the nights can get chilly fast outside of that and the days are pretty short. You will find people swimming in the sea. Mostly Scandinavians though, who are perhaps made of tougher stuff! Maybe head out and start exploring instead. Lots to see and do. You could head up the mountains and maybe even ski or sledge.

liveforsummer · 03/03/2025 16:56

MissyPants · 01/03/2025 13:30

They are all like it, I lived in Cyprus for a few years.
You need to go to Nissi beach at Aiya Napa if you have transport, it's beautiful.

It will still be too cold to swim . I have pictures of dd on nissi beach as a toddler wearing a fleece jumper and hat 😆

mambojambodothetango · 03/03/2025 17:10

We had same in Turkey at Easter a few years ago. I managed to swim a bit in my wetsuit. Can you get a cheap wetsuit? Sea was definitely warmer. Have you been in the sea yet?

irregularegular · 03/03/2025 17:11

In my experience, pools in southern Europe are hardly ever heated and almost always unusable out of season. It's particular frustrating a bit later into Spring when it might be starting to get really quite warm and it would only take a tiny bit of heating (and therefore little cost) to make them very usable especially if it was eg a air source heat pump. I really don't understand why more hotels/villas in Europe don't want to extend the season of their pools, but there you go.

I'd much rather go in the cold sea than a cold pool.

Yourcatisnotsorry · 07/03/2025 09:27

Book a hotel with a heated pool? Or find one nearby that has one or an indoor one and ask very nicely/pay to use it. The sea will probably be warmer. Our Portugal pool was unusable in September so we went to a nice hotel nearby with an indoor pool they let us use (I have a cute baby I think that helped 😂)

Mush62 · 09/03/2025 10:11

DustyLee123 · 01/03/2025 11:32

I found the sea warmer in the canaries

I agree, the sea at Paphos is lovely, if i remember correctly the beach is called tomb of the kings or something like that.

drivinmecrazy · 09/03/2025 10:23

My mums pool
In the warmest part of Spain is unusable until mid may (if you're a hardy swimmer!) and end of October so not sure what you were expecting TBH.
But I do find, even on the coldest winters day with the sun shining brightly , I've looked at the crystal blue water and thought, 'why not'.

Never been brave enough to try 😝

notforonesecond · 09/03/2025 10:27

We had this in Greece once in early April. I hadn’t been abroad for so long I didn’t even think about how cold the pools would be so early in the season.

We even had a swim up room for the first time and barely used it because it was too cold. I did force myself to get in the pools a bit to be fair and I had thought ahead enough to have wet suits for the kids but I don’t think I ever worked up the nerve to put my shoulders in 🤣

Mush62 · 09/03/2025 14:18

MissyPants · 01/03/2025 13:30

They are all like it, I lived in Cyprus for a few years.
You need to go to Nissi beach at Aiya Napa if you have transport, it's beautiful.

Have you got any idea where Paphos is in relation to Nissi Beach ffs?

Blackbird84 · 09/03/2025 17:49

bakedFishandChips · 01/03/2025 12:28

If it was me, I would go to a local cafe where the mama works and engage in conversations and ask her to give me some local recipees, take pictures of her with my kids and make a memory album of the true things in life I've seen there, not just sitting by a bleach stinking pool all day - but that is me

Performative holidaying at its finest…

Laboheme78 · 09/03/2025 17:53

I’ve swum in my pool in the Uk when the water is 15 degrees. It’s cold but ok for a quick swim while you are moving. It’s definitely not leisurely though. As others have said - always check whether it’s heated because unless you’re into July/aug abroad, a non heated pool will be very cold.

Original poster
Pikola · 10/03/2025 09:08

Thanks for all the replies.

We did go in the sea, it was very cold but slightly warmer than the pool.

We also went to an indoor pool at another hotel, that was relaxing but felt a bit odd when it was so warm (yes I'm not lying as someone suggested) and sunny outside.

Had a lovely holiday but lesson learned. Heated outdoor pools only if not going in Summer as although it may not bother everyone it was disappointing for us.

I did not, alas, go to the local cafe and get recipes from "mama" but we did have some lovely seafood at the harbour, went to a little bar by the beach with peacoks and chickens and spent the day at coral bay, a stunning blue flag beach.

OP posts:
Mush62 · 10/03/2025 10:00

Pikola · 10/03/2025 09:08

Thanks for all the replies.

We did go in the sea, it was very cold but slightly warmer than the pool.

We also went to an indoor pool at another hotel, that was relaxing but felt a bit odd when it was so warm (yes I'm not lying as someone suggested) and sunny outside.

Had a lovely holiday but lesson learned. Heated outdoor pools only if not going in Summer as although it may not bother everyone it was disappointing for us.

I did not, alas, go to the local cafe and get recipes from "mama" but we did have some lovely seafood at the harbour, went to a little bar by the beach with peacoks and chickens and spent the day at coral bay, a stunning blue flag beach.

I love Cyprus, been there loads of times

Amba1998 · 10/03/2025 10:02

For future holidays pick (1) a proper winter sun destination and (2) a hotel with a heated pool

just because it’s sunny now doesn’t mean that’s the norm for this time of year and it was a risk IMO. Just be glad there’s sun and sit back relax on the lounger