If you remembered I took a short break in September, it was a long-awaited break for 18 months since I found out I was pregnant.
We booked a short holiday with the fabulous Club Med because I have heard so much about it and we could really use a beach resort break without much planning. The aim is to chill out arses off by the pool with ice-cold beers and a glowing suntan.
Long before I settled down with a family, I always wanted to work in a holiday resort. Like many others, I thought it will be really nice to work in a happy environment under sun, sand and sea. If you are like me, our thoughts are very far away from the truth.
Many employees started working at the resorts, thinking the same way as we do. What is more fun than to have an environment with happy vacationers and have a blast every single night?
Loneliness
As much as you are surrounded with likeminded people, you are away from your family and closed ones. It can get lonely somehow even when you have awesome colleagues. I get homesick when I’m overseas. Even now when I’m living in Kuala Lumpur, it is an hour flight but it doesn’t make things easier.
Work Through Important Dates
As in the service industry, you’ll have to work during festive seasons. Christmas, New Year, Valentine’s Day… even on your birthday, it gets lonesome without your family around you. What makes it worse, you will have to put up a happy face to front the paying customers and party along with them.
No Personal Time
If you live in the resort quarters like most do, you won’t have your own personal time. If you decide to take a stroll during your off days, you’ll be bumping into resort guests within the vicinity. You can’t just say no if they approach you with a question, can you? And if you are required to work overtime, there’s no excuse of needing to be at home because of personal reasons like family time. If you worked in hospitality field before, you’ll know that hotels and resorts are always short on staff. There are options if you wanted to have more personal time to yourself, including looking at the possibilities of having your own holiday home. If you go down this road and decide later that it’s no longer the best for you then maybe timeshare exit companies may be the option that you can consider, as this is not something permanent. There are many other options to enjoy your spare time in your resort and these can be researched online.
Coop Up Within A Small Area
If you are based in a resort on a small island like Maldives or Mauritius, your area of escape is pretty much confined. Most of the resort staff I know will rather stay in their rooms during their off days to avoid being all smiley in front of their coworkers and resort guests.
Nearly No Upgrade Opportunities
Unless the resort management provides regular training courses that are recognized worldwide, you’ll find it hard to break out your own time to do a course of your own.
Of course, the lure of working in a beautiful resort with happy people is undeniable. There are plenty of benefits too, like meeting people all over the world, sharing experiences and stories and with quality food and accommodations provided with. As much as it is attractive, many would find themselves burned out after a couple of years working in a highly energized environment due to the above reasons.
Hence, the next time you are vacationing in a resort, spare a thought for the service crew when their service is slightly off the mark that day. I don’t think I can smile 24 hours, 7 days, 12 months, can you?
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