Travel-related stuff follows.
Some ten years ago I was on a package tour in Sri Lanka, in a hotel that catered primarily for all inclusive tourists. We were there mostly because at the time the selection available via our local travel agency was severely limited, I might have otherwise chosen somewhat different hotel.
This was two-week trip. As usual, we went out just about every day to see what's around us, and for lunch and dinner at some nearby restaurant - breakfast we had in hotel. We did also book some local tour trips, especially one single-day animal-sighting tour to jungles at the center of the island. And damn, those leeches there were something else! But I digress there..
After a week, halfway through the trip we had group trip to southern part of island. What was exactly visited is not important, but part of that trip was lunch at local restaurant there. A couple next to us though that food was too hot - to me it was kinda bland, and guide confirmed this, they had especially made extra mild portions for our group. I don't blame this couple, not everyone likes their food hot, but I started discussing with them of other things, and found out that they had not left the hotel - not even once! - during that entire week. They were just there enjoying their all inclusive catering.
For me this is absolutely baffling. I could not imagine staying in a hotel for week or two, as for me sightseeing - on our own, that is - and eating out is essential part of the travel. And part of the latter is to just walk around, looking for a nice restaurant where to eat this time. Preferably different each time.
This is how we have always traveled. Before kids, and even with small kids. They follow along, in stroller when small, and we bring their food (if they can't eat "normal" food) with us. After growing a bit they follow on foot. We have never had any problems there. Yes, kids are too tired sometimes and I have to carry them back to hotel, but that's just normal.
Some other people I know on the other hand prefer all inclusive traveling with kids. Hotel absolutely must be 'all inclusive' kind and they rarely, if ever, go restaurant outside hotel to eat or do anything else either. "Too difficult" they say, but as far as I know, they have never even tried. But that's okay, it's not my problem. It's just weird to me, to me these people are missing half of the travel experience!
Of course there are not two exclusive types. Some like to rent a room/condo/apartment and even cook themselves. And that's perfectly okay too. To each their own.
I am a bit bothered though because these days it seems that at some locations you can't even get anything but all inclusive-type places (when going through agency, wife isn't too excited with idea of doing arrangements ourselves.) This itself isn't an issue, but often these are located far away from towns, locations where there is nothing but other all inclusive places nearby. So nothing to go to. I once accidentally booked a trip at such a hotel once, so we had to get all inclusive at the location, which was a bit of a bummer.
What kind of traveler are you?
