Well, a key part of vacations is being able to do what you want! And for those of us who have to work, it's being away from work responsibilities! (which is tough in this age of interconnectedness and technology)
I'm currently vacationing (for the first time in a long time), and it's fantastic because I'm in-between jobs and don't really have many responsibilities.
(But I'm still am occasionally getting work emails from both my old employer and my future employer)
I do tend to enjoy adventure-y vacations. Not extreme sports or anything, but ones where you explore local cultures, do some light hikes, taste all the local food, etc. I know some people would like to just sit on a beach and get some sun, but I sort of hate sunburns and bug bites, so if I can avoid those things, it's great
I also don't really care much for being waited on hand and foot. Of course, some basic hospitality is helpful. But I'm travelling with some people right now who are trying to stay in 5 star resorts (mind you, we're in SE Asia, so our dollars go a long way here), and it's honestly a little weird having service staff watching your every move.