How much do you do on holiday

[gollygosshhh]

Bit of a row between dh and I on holiday today - in Balearics and have spent most of the week in the resort. It’s a good family friendly place, loads of activities for kids and a beach and water park nearby which we’ve visited. But when abroad I like to see a bit more of the area and suggested a boat trip to a different part of the island tomorrow. Dh basically shot the idea down saying it’s too hot and it’ll be a nightmare with the youngest (3) who to be fair is probably happiest playing in the pool and attending the hotel activities. Older ds (12) may benefit from seeing a bit but isn’t really fussed either. But I get bored and just feel like it’s a waste to come this far and basically stay in the hotel all week.

I don’t disagree with Dh per se but feel a bit deflated and I guess guilty for not making the most of our time away. I’m not talking exclusions everyday but if it were up to Dh we literally wouldn’t go anywhere. Is it worth pushing this or do we just stick to norm.

Is it because you want to or you think you should? Do exactly what you want. Personally I need to be near the sea or pool in August in the Balearics and I’m happy keeping things simple.

Why on earth should she bribe him?? Sounds like he isn’t too keen as well.

This is why I don’t go on those kind of holidays.

Regarding the heat, you will almost certainly be cooler on the boat because sea breezes being amplified by the movement of the boat, so that might be quite pleasant in itself for a break!

Just home from Majorca and far too hot to do anything. We stayed by the pool every day except one day we went to the beach for an hour in the morning. Children are 5 and 10

I can’t get my head around people who travel… to sit in one hotel resort eating and drinking and dipping in and out of a pool. I’m with you on this one! The hotel is a base for exploration as far as I’m concerned.

Depends on how i feel tbh.
This year well in December im going to a spa hotel in venice, so it will be relaxing and im doing nothing, but sleep plot about and have treatments.

I went to vietnam a few months back and i was go go go, I loved it though.

I do as little as possible. But I’d just ask if it’s really getting the most from your holiday if you spend a day doing something which three out of four of you either are not bothered about or actively do not want to do? But if you are madly keen on that particular activity then go for it.

I suppose it depends on how well behaved your kids are and if they are likely to chuck a fit at any point at spoil the day. DS9 has always been very laid back and could be taken anywhere so we've always done alot, we tend to go to Center Parcs and are on the go 95% of the time, swimming, archery, quad biking, go karting. When we did turkey (in a heatwave) 10days we did two different cruises, horseback riding, paragliding and a bus trip to the sulpher mud pond place, 3 days in the hotel, a day at the markets and a beach day.

But if you want to just have rest, read, eat, relax why would you not go somewhere nice to do that?

Boat trip sounds great. Woman up and go yourself or bring your eldest with you. Enjoy !

We're in Majorca atm & as we're b&b we've been out every day at least twice, to the beach (15 min walk), shops & out to the local restaurants in the evening or get the bus further afield. When we're all inclusive I still like to get out and see the sights but make sure we're always back for mealtimes 🤣

Do you always struggle to understand that we are all individuals who enjoy different things ?

We're in the Balearics at the moment and it is so hot that we've not done as much as planned, but we have managed a cathedral and a castle. I'm with you, but my DP is not great in the heat- so we don't normally holiday in Europe in the summer but the eclipse drew us! Our conclusion has been that we'll come back again in April/ October as we'd like to explore more

We like to do as little as possible. We sat round the pool from 8am-6pm today. Went swimming a few times and had lunch but apart from that didn't do anything else. Its too hot to do much else.

We’re going to Menorca in September. We go every year so we’ll be going out and about to the beaches that we know well and like best. In the evening we’ll be going out to eat.

When we used to take the DC on holiday we spent most of the time at the pool/on the beach and then go out in the evening to eat. They enjoyed doing that and it was their holiday too.

I'm a doer, love exploring and sightseeing but I don't have kids so I don't have to consider anyone else (my OH is just like me so no issues).

You said you are in the Balearics, don't know if Menorca (love) or Mallorca (take it or leave it) but there is so much to explore. (If Ibiza I haven't got a clue).
If you are in Menorca and want to do something kid friendly go to Loro Parque, you can get a taxi easily from anywhere on the island.
If Mallorca I would go to Palma for a few hrs.

It depends, sometimes I want to go and see the sights and do cultural stuff, other times I just want to relax and not have to walk anywhere or do anything. I think if you’re on a resort holiday you’re not missing out on anything whereas if you were in Rome or Paris you would be.

I’m very active on holiday and like to see as much as I can. The one thing we do least is swim but we do that twice a week in the uk.
having said all that a 3 year old could be a nightmare on boat trip so your dh isn’t wrong either . Can you have a day apart?

Pre-child I'd be constantly doing stuff. Now I have a child who loves a beach and a pool, and a DH who likes a leisurely lunch with a book.

So we book holidays with something for everyone. The latest holiday had beach day, zoo and theme park for DC. History museum and pub lunch for DH. A hike and boat trip for me.

On occasion we also do things separately - eg I'll entertain DC so DH can read every info board in the museum, then he'll watch DC so I can hike to a lighthouse he's not interested in or something.

Give and take isn't it?

We also have both had shortish (5 day) holidays alone which focus on not-child-friendly interests (war history for him, birdwatching for me etc).

I say go for the boat trip without him if he doesn't want to. I'm sure you'll feel much more confident afterwards!

I’m really not that desperate to go it’s more of a we ‘should’ do some memorable, cultural stuff and see a bit of the country but it’s blazing hot and the kids are happy by the pool it just gets a bit samey

You're like my dh. Feeling like he 'should' be doing something. Normally he ends up going and doing the stuff he feels he ought to do and I stay behind and do the things I want to do.

I must say I do think it's pretty unreasonable to drag your family away to do something you already know they won't enjoy as much as they're already doing, because you think you should

This

We tend to go out 2-3 times in the week if staying ai. I bore easily so even on the days at the hotel I may go for a walk

I only travel to actually explore a country, I don't think I have ever been on a holiday where I just lounge about at the hotel for most of my trip. I always do a few activities every day - anything from sailing, going to various viewpoints and cliffs, parks and gardens, monuments, museums, shops, beaches, ancient ruins, waterfalls, markets, etc. I also enjoy more unusual things like visiting abandoned buildings and sights. Oh, and day trips to nearby towns, as we usually rent a car. But if we don't, we go by bus.

I wouldn't be able to spend the whole week just at the hotel and pool either. Though with kids we have only just taken them abroad this year and we went in May half term as we wouldn't cope going in the summer.

Can you go on an organised excursion if worried about logistics?