Do you chat to people on holiday?

[natarlie]

When you’re on holiday, do you chat to strangers/other holiday makers?

I’ve been on holiday to places where couples seem to very much keep to themselves. I’ve been to other destinations where people just start chatting at a bar/in the sea/ at a restaurant

I chat a lot more than I used to since having DC an often my dd ends up playing with other children so I speak to their parents. I don’t other than that though.

I avoid eye contact and probably come across as stuck up, but I really don't want to chat to people on holiday. The minute people know that DH and I work in the medical field, we get asked for our opinion on their piles, medication or pessary cream or they moan about their 'hopeless' GP. We now tell people we are accountants if really pressed and that seems to dampen the chat.

I quite enjoy making holiday friends, but they remain just that, holiday friends. Back home, we have nothing in common, but it's nice to put the world to rights over a glass of wine with like minded people on a lovely warm summer evening. I have always made holiday friends through my very sociable children.

Absolutely not, I might manage a 'good morning' at the breakfast buffet but any more than that I'll shut right down.

We often holiday with another couple and my friend is exactly the same as me.

This year though we found it hard shaking off other people in our hotel ... we're wondering if it was a swingers place in hindsight 😁

The strangest scenario I've seen along these lines .... I've mentioned this on here before. Me and DH were in Greece. Sitting by the pool reading, I noticed an older couple (English, 70s) next to us. The woman kept getting up walking round the pool and chatting to a group of 3 (nan, mum, daughter, American). The body language of the Americans wasn't that friendly and I became a bit fascinated by it all (book was boring!).

When they went for a swim the older lady would immediately get in and swim over, they would get out etc. Her DH seemed annoyed at her.

I eventually got talking to her and she said they had made friends with the Americans on holiday last year at the same hotel. They kept in touch vaguely on facebook and she noticed a post saying they had rebooked and she decided to do the same and surprise them 😮 .... who does that!!!

Mostly a little bit of small talk here and there apart from on River cruises where I make really good friends. I met one American lady last year when we were in Asia and I’ve already visited her and we are meeting again this time in Europe in a couple of months.

Yes I do. It’s nice to have time to just sit and chat.

Im a chatter box but i only book adult hotels only.
I have met some amazing people on holidays and woke-up to some odd ones im sure i never left the bar with.
😂 What happens on holiday stays on holiday.

Backpacking, yes I'll stay in a dorm and make friends for life.
An actual holiday, no I want complete privacy and space to relax. With no one except DH and family around thanks.

oh what a nightmare! that is crazy!

No I don't make friends on holiday. I usually am with family or husband, or own friends occasionally, and don't see it as a time to make friends.

God, no.
I suspect the chatty type are swingers

I do to a degree but not in the sense of spending all day together or staying in touch afterwards. More being friendly with people you regularly bump into.

Depends where we are.

I don't when it's a relaxing sort.

I'd never start a chat with someone who's lounging by the pool.

But we do frequently go to the USA and they've super chatty folk so will chat when we're in queues/on transport.

Yes I can chat to a stone in the road

I've been on guided walking holidays where it would - frankly - be odd if you wanted to keep yourself to yourself.

On self-guided walks, I'd frequently end up chatting to other walkers at points where people stop. (Your recognise each other by boots and backpacks.) It's a sensible thing to do. People will tell you if there's a problem on the path or a good viewing point.

I always come home with at least 3 new facebook friends from holiday!

Hell no.

People always talk to me and DH quite a bit.

Best was Canary Islands in 1998 when engaged we got chatting to some Scottish pensioners. We were about 30. We took them out with us for the day in our hire car, we had a really good day and they bought us lunch as a thank you.

Another good memory was being serenaded by some Spanish fishermen, my BF at the time was embarrassed.

I'd rather not. I don't mind a chat by the pool or at a bar but DH and I are not interested in arranging to meet up with folk for drinks, meals, or saving sunbeds to spend the day near to these people.

I know a couple who come home from every single holiday with new friends, to the point that they all travel to stay at each others houses for weekends and book future holidays together.

It really depends. I don't like to just assume that other holiday makers or locals speak English! I'd prefer to speak to locals over other holiday makers sometimes though. You hear all the local goss about the town, issues, good, bad, interesting facts etc.

Yes I like chatting to new people. I wouldn't use MN if I was the keep myself to myself type.

Best was Canary Islands in 1998 when engaged we got chatting to some Scottish pensioners. We were about 30. We took them out with us for the day in our hire car, we had a really good day and they bought us lunch as a thank you

My DH and I made friends with a couple who are 79 and 86, we are mid/early 50’s, they were great fun. We got chatting at the UK airport lounge before we’d even taken off and then spent a whole week with them.

It really depends on the situation.
I don’t tend to chat so much in the hotel, just a hello if I see the same people a few time. But I will chat if we are in other situations.

One American couple I got chatting to on a whale watching trip. We had an hours journey on the boat to where the whales were and as we started chatting in the queue we sat together on the boat. We are still in touch as we ‘friended’ on Facebook.

I’m happy to chat to anyone if I don’t think I’ll see them ever again. Heard a quote recently which sums me up:

I adore my friends and I love strangers, I just can’t stand acquaintances.

Nothing worse than getting friendly with holiday makers then not being able to get rid of them for two weeks, speaking from two bitter experiences. I’m the same with our neighbours.

I am quite a chatty person but i've never really got chatting to people on holiday. How does it work then? Does it happen more in hotels where you go all inclusive or full board so you see people at dinner?