Why are people so sanctimonious about people watching TV on holiday

[INeedAHolidayRest]

Why is it wrong if, on my holiday, I want to watch TV?

I see it all the time- if some posts (here, Facebook, other SM) that they are disappointed that the TV doesn't work- then there are posts after posts saying 'you can watch TV at home' 'how can you watch TV in insert beautiful location

I am currently on a UK break and the TV doesn't work- the host has said there is loads to do elsewhere.

But it is my holiday, I don't see why people accept it is ok to lie on a Sunday lounger for a week, but don't think I should have my own escape.

I don't want to read, I just want to catch up on some series in peace and quiet, is that too much to ask?

I go away with friends and like my own room, so after all day swimming, lounging, cycling , sightseeing, eating, drinking and partying I love a bit of telly/music when I come back to a quiet room at the end of the night.
Judge away .

When my DS was young we always ended up going on holiday as soon as the Scottish schools finished because it was much cheaper. Unfortunately this also coincided with the Tour de France being on TV. And my son was a massive fan of the cycling. We always had to arrange our holiday activities in such a way so that he got to watch that. My H and I would sit by the pool or whatever or do whatever else we wanted. Then when the cycling was finished we got to do stuff and go places together as a family..
It was a compromise .

Jacelancs , you sound like the right one to go on holiday with , very organised, I’m afraid i’m quite the opposite 🙈.
Bet we’d get on great , especially after a few glasses of vino 😂

3 kids (one disabled, needing a lot of care), a job that I often have to do in the evenings because there’s no wrap around care for my disabled child, chores, studying, reading, walking the dog, Pilates… I’ve never really watched TV.

@mondaytosunday- At home I don't have anyone to make me club sandwiches or mai tais or mojitos and bring them to me or a massive spa bath where I can also sit and watch trashy TV. If I was at home I'd always be thinking about what I 'should' be doing instead. I'm not into golf or watersports so my family get to go off and do things they love and I get to spend a day indulging myself and everyone's happy.

We never watch tv on holiday. We are usually on the go all day, then in the evening maybe wandering round the town, having a drink, playing cards, chatting, reading. Not all those things, but one of them……. We tend to either stay in places with no tv at all, or get back too late to consider watching it. But I only tend to watch tv at home as a way to avoid doing chores………

But why does that make you a better person?

Where did I say that?
I was just explaining how it’s not something I do.
You asked in your title why people were sanctimonious about it.
I was explaining it doesn’t happen for various reasons on our holidays. No sanctimony at all!
Maybe you should stop judging yourself for doing it and just enjoy doing what you enjoy doing!

I'd think it a little odd if people just spent the entire day, every single day watching TV; but to us, part of a holiday is relaxing and downtime. Once you've enjoyed your day doing whatever enjoyable leisure pursuits, what on earth is wrong with wanting to wind down with some TV?

Where would these people draw the line? Do they consider it a waste of valuable holiday time sleeping at night - as you can do that at home anytime?!

It's by the by, but we were at a holiday cottage a couple of weeks ago watching the TV in the evening when we learned of Dolly Parton's death. I also recall being at a holiday cottage in Derbyshire in 2004, watching with horror all the footage of the devastating flood in Boscastle as it unfolded.

I don’t watch TV much on holiday - maybe a bit in the late evenings if I’m in the UK, but I don’t watch Netflix or anything. But people shouldn’t be looking down on it if that’s what you enjoy doing to relax. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with it.

I find it weird when people say ‘But you could watch TV at home’. I mean, yes, of course you could. But you never hear someone say “But you could read a book at home” or “You could go for a swim at home” or “You could have a pizza and a glass of wine at home” when people do those things on holiday, which suggests there’s a strong element of snobbery when people sneer at TV but not at other ways people choose to relax.

Also, I’m pretty sure people who watch television on holiday are also doing other things. I don’t think many people spend a lot of money on a holiday and just sit there in a darkened room 24/7 watching TV. Maybe some people like to relax with TV in the evenings, or maybe they sit and watch on their phone / tablet while they’re sitting out by a pool or on a balcony for an afternoon, or as a PP said, while their family are off doing other things for a day or two. But I really don’t think many people just sit there indoors for a week / fortnight doing nothing else.

I like watching Abroad Telly. It's cultural immersion. Most recently in Greece I watched breakfast news (ten people shouting at each other about farming), a soap opera that mostly concentrated on filming inanimate objects and a quiz show where you had to guess letters to find words - I got pretty good at that old alphabet let me tell you.

If the accommodation is advertised as having a to then it should be fixed, doesn’t matter how much stuff there is to do

(also I love watching the to on holiday as at home have to think about all the boring stuff in the evening- stuff to get ready for work or kids the next day) can enjoy it properly on holiday especially after a busy day doing stuff!

Because I'm old & tired!
I had a few days away (UK) & was exhausted by 9pm!

I’m not in the habit of watching TV at home as I’m an avid reader, and probably wouldn’t on a beach holiday, but on a more active holiday - bring it on!

After a long and tiring day of hiking, skiing or sightseeing, it’s nice to have a shower, dinner and then hole up with a box set or movie.

I quite enjoyed having a TV on holiday this year as we had an apartment and had a few evenings where we watched a K-Drama series DD14 wanted to watch, and a few movies all together. DS19 stayed in a few nights to watch a gaming tournament that he follows, and we even all went out to watch a couple of football matches on big TV’s in local bars. I work nights, DH works long days, teens all at school or college, our 2 week holiday is a mix of busy and chill, just like our normal lives. Just we get more time together with very few chores to think about.

One of my favorite types of holiday is a city break often in the uk. I like to look around all day and then relax with TV or a book in the evening.
There is a kind of snobbery about TV not just on holiday. Personally I like tv a lot and watch quite a bit. I am quite selective about what I watch and I record things I like. I also like reading, board games and podcasts. I am not so keen on cinema, shows and pubs.

We watch TV on holiday.

We connect our phone to the hotel or villa TV and watch Netflix etc.

In fact we went away with DD to a villa in France last autumn and we watched a different movie every night.

Very very normal for us.

If the place is advertised as having a TV then it should have a working TV. The host saying there’s other things to do doesn’t cut it.

Depending on the holiday, we might well watch TV in the evening on holiday- we recently did a UK based trip where we did this some evenings.

I find it very odd that people want to watch TV on holiday. However, I think thats more to do with me than them as I am influenced by one of the first holidays we took when married.

Beautiful Greek island. You could see into the living room and the terrace of the rooms below. One couple about our age. He led on the sofa the entire holiday watching TV....and back then you had to feed coins into the thing to make it work and it wasn't cheap. She led on the terrace. You could hear her saying that she was going out, wanted to do things, go to the pool. He refused and she either went alone or stayed on the terrace.

She clearly wasn't happy at spending all that money to watch 1990s day time telly

Same here. I really enjoy watching the news in other countries to understand what's going on for them and how they speak about world events. So I'll often have breakfast telly on in the morning as I'm getting ready to hear the news as well. Also like to watch cooking shows abroad. Came back with a nice recipe for strawberry salsa from Madeira a few years back.

I don't care really if you want to watch tv on holiday.

I do care if you book somewhere that says it has a tv, and it is not there or not working. Basic false advertising.

If it is not a hotel or B and B, I care that someone is making an income from a home that could be someone's year round.

Had a great trip to see family in the States a few years ago and logged into my Netflix from their smart TV. It was great watching shows that weren't available to UK customers and gave me a break from my family 😁

YANBU. I’m an early waker and I love to spend time in the morning drinking tea and watching the news or have it on in the background while I get ready. even on holiday.
We also tend to have packed out days on holiday so when we get back to our room, it’s nice to have a shower and some downtime, or let kids watch tv for an hour and chill before we head out again in the evening.
And if we are having an evening in the room, sometimes we just want to veg and watch tv. I don’t want to go out every evening and I don’t want to sit on the balcony every evening.
There’s nothing wrong with having a tv on holiday and I’ve no time for people who think they’re somehow better than you because they don’t.

Agreed! It’s your holiday booked and paid for to do exactly what relaxes you - no guilt required!

This is why SM is to be avoided. Who cares what anyone else thinks? I’d rather be relaxing watching TV than setting up a tripod to video myself running into the sea for 30 seconds.