Remembering why I don't like hot holidays

[langernat]

Not convinced this is the correct place to post but I'm at an all inclusive at the minute in the Canary Islands and have just realised that I really don't enjoy the whole hot holiday thing. Or maybe it's just the all inclusive thing. I will begin by saying, I love travel but while sitting by the pool today it suddenly dawned on me that I struggle with the following:

Sun cream - the constant applying and reapplying does my head in. Not helped by the fact I'm really pale so it's a constant cause for anxiety worrying if I'm getting roasted or not

The shite entertainment - it's awful. Animation programs by the pool. Enough said.

Loud people by the pool - just annoying having to hear other people's constant small talk

The food - bland and samey

Anyway, have I just reached the point where I'm too miserable and need to give in to the fact that my idea of a relaxing holiday is somewhere in the autumn where I don't have to worry about getting cooked? Everyone around me seems relaxed and brown and loving it whereas I'm pale, patchy with burn and left wondering how they can feel comfortable sitting around in wet costumes!

Anyone else?

All of these other than the sun cream are just features of an all-inclusive hotel tbh.

I don't know why they have become the predominant type of holiday really.

Why not try a city break somewhere staying in a boutique hotel where you aim to eat out every evening.

Yes.

I can't sit by a pool for very long. I like a beach to swim.in the sea but only use the loungers to dry off.

I'll only stay in an all.inclusive that has very good reviews on food and drink because I like better quality and less of it. I've found in the early and late season these hotels are just affordable for us. And its not so hot for walking and driving around which I do like.

The last one had mainly branded drinks available on AI which we enjoyed. I'd have one before dinner, a glass of wine at dinner, and a drink (or two) after. In the day I had coffee and the odd fruit mocktail. All plenty for me and with food too, it was worth the off season AI price.

We tend to make our dinner more like a meal out. Rather than heap all and sundry on our plates as, quite often, the starters and puddings are really very similar night to night.

If I can't find an AI like that I'll go B and B or self catering and eat out for variety at recommended places.

Yes me. Did all that when much much younger and you just couldn't pay me to sit by a pool or on the beach in very hot weather now, or at any time TBH!

I'm in the fortunate position of being able to travel at any time of the year. I do longer city breaks now with side trips outside the cities to places of interest. I usually do 7 days in March and late October.

I do travel to Southern Spain near Gibraltar, as my brother has a flat there, but only in Winter i.e. December over Christmas and New Year and beyond if I can! The weather is always surprisingly pleasant and I can get out and about exploring without passing out from the heat.

Try something different and see how it compares. One man's meat is another man's poison though, (or woman's I suppose!).

Definitely sounds like it's the AI that's the problem.

We got to a small Greek island and stay in a town with lots of shops and tavernas within a few minutes walk, a beach etc.
We stay in a hotel with a pool/pool bar/restaurant that has self catering apartments. We don't make our own food but having a fridge and large dining area is a lovely plus.

The pool is never super busy as there are only 30 apartments.

We eat out every day at a taverna of our choosing (use the hotel's restaurant for breakfast or lunch) and take the holiday at our own speed. Lots of travel shops to book boat trips, waterpark trips etc to break up the beach/pool days.

It isn't busy city breaks vs AI, there is a middle ground for those of us who like good quality food and relaxed sun holidays.

I love a hot holiday on my own or with my husband if it’s just relaxing by the pool and it’s not too busy (although I’m more than happy to sit in the shade for a bit or go up to the air conditioned room during the hottest part of the day). And I’d always choose somewhere with options to go out for nice meals/drinks in the evenings.
I do love an autumn or spring break if I want to do any exploring/site-seeing/hiking etc- I don’t want it too hot if I’m doing stuff.

With the kids I hate it being too hot. The sun cream, the worrying about them getting too hot/drinking enough water etc, the whinging and not sleeping because they’re too hot. They also need to be active which means either constantly being in the pool (which is stressful with small kids) or them getting hyper because it’s too hot for us to go out or run about.

Are you alone OP or with family (namely small children who need supervising)?

You are there now, on the Canary Islands. Can you use your global position to feed your imagination, how the moon looks, what stars you can see there you can't see here?

Any chance of escape literature?

Can you find a shaded table and write, draw, read? Or play cards, or whatever you "wish you had time for" in your daily life.

Go for a swim early morning when the pool is quiet and the sun isn't quite as strong.

What else is around?

Also finding a shaded sun lounger and listening to the snippets and small talk of other people's lives can be entertainment in itself.

I'm very much over the type of holiday you're describing. I've realised the idea is so much better than the reality, which as you say, is too hot, not that comfortable, and actually quite boring. Day after day of buffet, pool, buffet, nap, shower and nice dress, buffet, bar, bed, with the odd trip to traipse around a market or ruin in searing heat, is actually a bit rubbish. I'm definitely a see the sights at 18-22 degrees tops person these days.

I’ll happily swap places with you

You’re going to the wrong resorts! Sandals in the Caribbean are the best!

No buffets (ok They do have one for breakfast). After that it’s all separate dining with different cuisines. Top shelf liquor that isn’t watered down and tasty drinks. Weirdly since it’s plentiful and not watered down, most don’t feel the need to ‘get their money’s worth’ therefore getting stupid drunk.

I’ve never seen the mad rush for a sun chair (I love those videos though it looks like madness!) lots of umbrellas or little palm hut things. You can book a butler room and they’ll arrange for a sun chair/umbrella for you to rock up to at your leisure. (I have in my preferences that I am the palest pale person they will ever see and when we meet them for the first time I can see the panic in their eyes imagining me combusting by the pool. But I assure them that I am fine if I can get a sun chair with shade and I’ve been in their region successfully)

Entertainment ranges from local musicians to their cast that does everything from musicals to current songs, DJ parties, piano bars, etc.

Good options for off resort activities

I promise I have no financial affiliation with them and aren’t an employee 😁 their resorts are a game changer though.

September / October only for me!

Rent a self catering villa. Much nicer.