Are holidays fun?

[tigerthecat]

Is there something wrong with me? I'm coming to the conclusion that they aren't all they're cracked up to be. Tell me honestly - your last holiday was it good?

[spudqueen]

Absolutely FANTASTIC. Went to Florida, did some of the theme parks, went on an airboat ride, went on a helicopter ride, played lots of mini golf, did lots of shopping, oh, and ate out a lot!

[jocasta]

My holidays have always been good, it's just the fact that im not in work and don't have to get up in the morning that does it for me!

[Peri]

Holidays in Florida are always fun because there is lots to do.  It does depend who you are with tiger, and how stressed you are and how many small children are with you, so I can see what you mean.

[jno]

mine was fine. But different strokes for different folks. Do you like lying on beaches, riding rollercoasters, visiting castles, or what? The idea behind holidays is that you need a break from your regular life - but if you really like regular life (happy family, good job etc) then maybe you don't need one so much. If you do need one, work out what you want to do - places you want to see? interests you want to pursue? - and see if you can build a holiday round it.

And try not to take your daily life with you. Family may have to come, but if you spend your time at home cooking, try to eat out. Let someone else do the cleaning. Leave your mobile at home. Good luck!

[-=BigD=-]

Munich!!! Beir und Weisswurst!!! Loved it!!

Hoidays are only fun if you do what you want to do!!! I compromise with my gf. I push her (not in the forcing sense in the wheelchair sense) round EVERY shop i the city and in return i replace the lost energy with litres munichs' finest brews!!!

So if your somewhere for 3 days; 1st day she's incharge, 2nd i'm in charge, 3rd we pick together

[kaktus]

All my holidays have been great. There have been the occasional sore feet ans small injuries, but I can live with that considered what great experiences I've had when I gor them :0) Maybe you're going to wrong places? Like jno says, work out what you would like your holiday to be like and go for that.

[juliely]

Mine are going to be great from now on. The kids don't want to come anymore and they are old enough to leave on their own. Yippee !!!!!!

[silly moo]

Yes.
Don' think I've ever had a bad holiday - a lot of that is due to always making the best of whatever happens.
I love holidays.

[KARL]

I suspect this is most definitely an area where state of mind and general attitude sets the tone. For example, there are those who define a holiday as good if they can't remember it, others simply concentrate on soaking up the differences from daily life - the answers so far reflect this. My holidays (and work travel which has in fact involved much longer absences to the point where being at home is more like a holiday) have all been interesting and almost all very pleasant. A single small incident can leave a bitter taste and have effects that are totally out of proportion - therefore it is important to know what you want and not simply go forth asking "why am I not having FUN ?" (a thoroughly abused concept anyway). Possibly what is afflicting you is the often found attempt to capture other people's sterotypical excitement (which in itself is sometimes a phoney acting out of roles to recipe expectations) - find your own niche, even if it happens to be occupied by several others, but be sure it suits you. Much of the direct advice given so far is in my opinion very good. Above all,  be insured so that the biggest possible  setbacks (but hopefully will never happen) cannot be a total disaster. My late father used to have a particular aversion to flight delays: he practically went into orbit over the slightest delay, and this when he was retired and had all the time in the world - I told him I couldn't think of a better way to make a mountain out of a mole hill and ruin his day (or several). To his credit he laughed at himself and felt much better, but I actually think his reaction was a copy of what you see in the films (it was not appropriate to him but "everyone goes ballistic, don't they ?".

[KARL]

A lot of people hope to emulate a preconceived image of life and are, it seems to me, highly likely to be disappointed. If I were to drink beer and lie on the beach I would discover the surest way to go out of my mind but I fully accept that there are those for whom the best holidays are those they can't remember - I accept that I am not one of them and don't try to capture their utopia. Much of the direct advice given so far is, in my opinion very good. Find your niche and you will enjoy it, even if it is occupied by several others. But make sure you are well insured so the worst setbacks (which hopefully will not happen) are not an irrecoverable disaster. My late father used to practically go into orbit at the slightest flight delay, and this was when he was retired with all the time in the world and absolutely no serious deadlines to meet. I think it was a copy of what we see in films, "everybody goes ballistic, don't they ?". I pointed out to him this was a very clever way to ruin his day (or several) - to his credit, he laughed at himself and felt much better.

[KARL]

Sorry, AB - everything went blank in a high-tech fit of screen seizure and I thought I had lost everything at the first attempt, but now I see both attempts are up. This was not deliberate. Sincere apologies.

[stevie21]

I agree with KARL's opening completely. I'm going away soon knowing that even just being out of the country will be a welcome break. No matter what happens while I'm away I'm at least not at work and will enjoy that.

Also, for me, one of the best bits about being on holiday is just doing or experiencing something different. Trying new foods etc. Hearing people speak a foreign language is a constant reminder that I'm on holiday so I love that even though I have no clue what they're saying!

[Lou1968]

Some very good responses to this question.  Karls point about making sure you know what you like and not getting roped into someone elses idea of a good holiday is a good one.

The problem is, expectations are so high for a holiday it is sometimes very difficult for you to meet those expectations.  By the time I was mid twenties I was well and truly tired of the beer and beach holiday's and although I do still like a beach holiday, I try to avoid the teen resorts shown on TV.  I also try to supplement the beach holiday with something different.  It might just be a weekend away in this country but its just nice to be away from home and work for a while.

[mash]

Last one in Lebanon, brilliant! In fact I've never had a bad one! Even when it's not what I expected I just think, OK let's enjoy it for what it is.............we work to long and hard to not enjoy our holidays. 

[yucca lover]

Where did you go and who with I love all my holidays even go on my own some times