Passport At The Ready

What are fly and flop holidays?

Fly-and-flop holidays involve flying to somewhere warm and spending all your time relaxing, typically by a beach. Surveys show that around half the UK population likes this type of holiday.

People usually like to go somewhere with warm weather and sunshine. Many people like to relax on their holiday and do nothing more than sunbathe, read a few books and have a few drinks.

However, some people do not like fly-and-flop holidays. They think they are boring. Why go to another country if all you see is a hotel resort? I am one of these people. When someone proudly told me they read five books on their holiday, I couldn’t help but think that it was a waste of time, and they could read those books at home. Why not take the opportunity to see the world?

Maybe I have a problem and don’t know how to relax. I decided it was about time I tried a fly-and-flop holiday. I have recently been to the Maldives but didn’t do much flopping. I spent most of my time swimming or snorkelling. As a travel blogger, I should really try a fly-and-flop type holiday and put more effort into relaxing.

The Experiment Day One

I booked a week in Cape Verde, where there was not much to do but relax. The hotel was fully inclusive, so there was no reason to leave. If I could survive a week here, I could survive anywhere.

On day one, I got up quickly, had breakfast, and thought, “Now what?” We walked along the beach, looked at the lighthouse, explored the hotel, and stopped at the bar for a drink. It was now 11:30, and I was already wondering what else to do. Working out how to have a shower without scalding myself occupied me for the next 10 minutes, but having mastered that skill, I was looking for new things to do.

In the afternoon, I spent time in each of the six pools, including two with a swim-up bar. The sea was too rough to swim in, and at the end of the day, I wondered if I had made a mistake booking this holiday.

Days two and three

I managed to relax a bit longer over breakfast this time. We spent the morning in the local town; however, it was stressful, as my daughter’s purse went missing. The afternoon was spent bobbing in the pools again.

On day three, we went for a long walk along the beach and spent the afternoon in the pool again. I was trying hard not to use the word boring,but the only thing I looked forward to was the meals.

Days four and five

I tried sunbathing in the morning. I managed 2 hours, which is a record for me. It seemed a waste of time as I was never going to turn brown. I am fair with freckles. After weeks in the sun, I turn from a ghostly white to the colour of white marshmallows, but also get a red nose. I didn’t feel great after sunbathing; I was just hot and tired.

Day six

We went on a trip exploring the island, which finally felt productive and enjoyable.

Conclusion

I can survive a fly-and-flop holiday, but it isn’t for me. I need structure in the day and something to interest my mind. I can relax, but adjusting to a slower pace takes a few days.

Why are fly and flop holidays so popular?

The travel industry reports that the number of people who want more than just to fly and flop is increasing; however, fly-and-flop holidays still represent the perfect type of holiday for half the population. There are many reasons why this type of holiday is popular and will probably always play a major part in the travel industry.

Burnout—Many people are now feeling stressed. Mobile phones mean some people can’t escape work problems even when they get home in the evenings or at weekends. It’s no longer just managers who get messages about work. Many bosses think it is okay to send texts to their workers about any issues they think of at any time of day. The days when you can forget about work when you leave the premises are gone.

Fly-and-flop holidays give you a chance to destress. Some people will still answer their work emails, but most find that as they distance themselves physically from work, they can switch off. Fly-and-flop holidays allow you to switch off from work, rest, relax, and forget about any deadlines.

COVID-19 caused so much stress and uncertainty that holidaymakers now crave stability; they like to know exactly what they will get on holiday. In time, COVID’s influence will diminish, but the world can still seem scary, and going to one place, staying there, and resting is non-threatening.

Fly-and-flop holidays are easy to book. You use a travel agent and book everything you need in minutes. You don’t need to decide which attractions to visit, find out when they are open, find a tour you can go on or work out how to use the local transport. Everything is handed to you with a click of a button, a nice, relaxing holiday. If it is fully inclusive, that is even more convenient.

Holidays where you stay by the pool are cheaper than paying to see attractions, going on a safari or hiring a car to explore. Fly-and-flop holidays are often sold as package holidays and can be cheaper than buying the hotel and flight separately. Unless you are keen to explore, purchasing the most affordable type of holiday makes sense to save money so you can stay longer.

People are more aware nowadays of how important our mental health is. Society has always had stress, but nowadays, stress comes from many different directions and can be relentless. We are aware of how stress can affect us both mentally and physically, and we should take action to look after our mental health. Fly-and-flop holidays are a great way to recharge your batteries and reduce your stress levels.

Some hotels can make you feel special. It isn’t just that they look expensive and have a wow factor; they also treat you as if you are someone important. Last year, my daughter thought I had made a mistake when I booked our hotel because they sounded a gong as we arrived and then whisked us away to sit out on a couch, we sipped drinks of our choice while booking in and then waited for our butler to show us to our room.

It is good for the soul to be spoiled sometimes. These hotels that treat you as a valued customer are not cheap, so spending as much time as possible enjoying all the hotel’s facilities rather than just using the hotel for bed and breakfast makes sense. 

Fly and flourish, or explore holidays

Fly and flourish holidays are holidays where people are more active and might improve themselves. This could be by learning more about the local culture or a new skill like cooking the local cuisine.  

Fly and explore is when someone explores the local area, sees the top attractions and visits the local museums.

The trouble begins when you treat a holiday more like a checklist. All the most popular places and best restaurants must be visited and photographed. Fly and flourish holidays are meant to improve yourself, but some treat holidays as a collection of selfies to prove they have been there, seen a new place, or learnt a new skill.

Learning to relax is essential for your health, even if you don’t like to fly and flop. Incorporating some relaxation into your holiday will be beneficial.

Try a chilled fly-and-flop holiday.

Maybe you are considering a fly-and-flop holiday because you have been stressed lately. Or perhaps you want to spend the holiday with someone who prefers to rest. What should you do?

• Don’t go to an island with no attractions. Islands are great for relaxing, but can also drive non-relaxing types crazy.

You could plan to go sightseeing one day and relax the next. Some people can feel trapped on an island with few or no attractions. You need to learn how to relax before committing yourself to such isolation.

• Choose a hotel with lots of activities. If the area doesn’t offer much entertainment, a hotel with many activities can give you structure and things to look forward to. A guided walk through the rainforest, yoga lessons by the pool and local cooking classes in the evening could be enough for you to chill by the pool for the rest of the day.

• Put relaxation into your schedule. This is a morning or a few hours when you don’t have to get up early or rush to see an attraction before all the crowds arrive. Maybe plan a morning break in a city to chill midmorning over a cup of coffee and people watch.

• Go away with a group of friends. Sometimes, a group of friends or relatives are enough to relieve any boredom. If you go away with the same people you see daily, you won’t have many new things to discuss.

• Splash out on a 5-star hotel or a fully inclusive resort.  I have been to some very expensive hotels and have spent time at the hotel rather than treating it as a place to sleep. It is much easier to relax when food and drinks are brought to you, or the accommodation is so luxurious you don’t want to leave.

Where to go

43% of people like to go on beach holidays, so going somewhere like the Maldives or the Caribbean is popular but usually not cheap.

Places around the Mediterranean are popular among Europeans. Indonesia and other East Asian countries are popular with Australians. Most Americans prefer to holiday in Hawaii or Florida, but Mexico is popular if they do go to another country to chill.  

Strangely, when people go on a beach holiday, they often prefer to chill around the pool rather than the beach. So, going anywhere with a pool and warm, dry weather is suitable for a fly and flop holiday.

How to make the most of fly and flop holidays

The idea of fly-and-flop holidays is to relax and destress, but sometimes, the holiday does not feel relaxing.

• Do research beforehand to make sure you choose the right hotel to meet your needs.
• Make sure you know what the visa requirements are.
• Choose a chilled country, such as a Caribbean country. You can’t help but relax when everyone else is. It is hard to relax in busy, noisy cities or places where you are constantly being pestered to buy things.
• Consider the easiest and most relaxing way to return home. Would it be best to get a taxi from the airport instead of struggling with suitcases on the train? Can you ever sleep on planes? If not, can you choose a flight that isn’t overnight? If your home is a long way from the airport, you might want to consider booking a hotel and driving home the next day when you’ve rested, especially if your flight lands late in the day.
• If you can make returning to your everyday life an easy transaction. Order your grocery shopping to be delivered to your house the next day. Maybe pick up your pet the day after you return. Don’t arrange lots of things to do during the first week.

The feel-good and destressed factor typically only lasts a few days or at most a few weeks after your holiday. But if you can add some time in your life to do things you enjoy, your stress levels will stay low for longer.

Summary

There are lots of advantages to a fly-and-flop type of holiday. It is cheaper and good for your health if you don’t overindulge in food and drink.

On the other hand, seeing new places is good for understanding that everyone doesn’t live the same way as you do in your country. It makes you appreciate your country more. If a country has problems, such as an earthquake, you will probably be more sympathetic if you have visited the country and met the locals. By seeing more, you will have a greater understanding of the world.

On average, people have 3.9 holidays a year, so why not take one fly and flop holiday a year and see what it is like? Or maybe make time to relax more on holidays. There is no right or wrong way to take a holiday, but why not experiment with the different options?

You might be like me and find the occasional fly-and-flop holiday relaxing. I can’t go as far as lying on a lounger for hours, but I can be persuaded to read a book, sit in a swing seat, and face the sea for at least a few minutes.

Enjoy your next holiday, whichever style you choose.