The shine has come off going abroad for me, has it for you?

[cornplant]

I've read a few posts on here and I've been feeling the same way, that going abroad really isn't all that enjoyable.

People complain of being too hot, mosquito bites, spots from sun cream, fizzy hair etc.

Since I've had my son I've been abroad twice and have mostly hated it.

Maybe I should just go to Cornwall every year instead!

[Inliverpool1]

It gets better. We did Disney with a 4,6 and 8 year old and it still is one of the happiest 2 weeks of my life.

[Lagatha]

We holidayed self catering in the UK for a few years when DC were small and it worked better for us. But I still like going on holiday abroad. You don't have to go to a beach or a hot place.
I don't like 2 weeks, I prefer a few shorter trips

[BanginChoons]

I'm a single mum and I love holidays abroad with my kids. We go self catering and explore the area we are staying. It's a big adventure, but the uninterrupted family time is what is best about it. This could be found in the UK also.

[JaneR0chester]

With young children we too spent many family holidays in Cornwall, venturing to different parts of the UK as they grew up.

But the are some amazing places outside of the UK too, so YABU to not want to go abroad again. With our teens we have been to some lovely places in Europe and the Far East.

Yes, there are possible bugs and heat but you can pick the "right" time of the year and weigh up the pros and cons.

[Ginandtonic31]

Hell no. I live for my holidays abroad! Just going to the airport gets me all excited!

[BaronessBomburst]

Abroad is a pretty big place!
You can have fabulous trips if you pick the right destination and time of year.
For example we went to Sicily one May. It wasn't too hot, there were no mosquitoes, and blond DS was the centre of attention. I generally found the people lovely, child-friendly and helpful. For example, DS started to cry because the ice cream we'd bought from one shop was dripping on him. Someone from a competitor's shop came running over with wet wipes and a paper cup for him to put it in.
Things like that make travelling with children much less stressful!

[mbosnz]

We had the most wonderful holiday in Spain last August. Had the most beautiful villa, in the middle of nowhere. It was amazing. Definitely my happy place at the moment, remembering that!

[cornplant]

I think we'll have a year off going abroad next year and then maybe plan a properly child friendly trip the year after that.

I also wonder if mass air travel is actually a good thing!

[easyandy101]

Abroad is a pretty big place!

[CherryPavlova]

We did UK holidays ( and once a year Centre Parcs Europe it’s friends) with little children but loved travelling abroad with them from about ten years of age.
Now all of them love travelling, as we do. I think to an extent it depends what you do abroad. All in one hotel room, sitting by a crowded pool all day is never going to be much fun. A villa near a beautiful beach, with a pool and good restaurants close by and opportunities for exploring is generally going to be more pleasant.
A Neilsons/Club Med experience worked for us during teenage years as there was lots for everyone to do.

[cornplant]

A Neilsons/Club Med experience worked for us during teenage years as there was lots for everyone to do.

Perhaps year after next we'll look into a 'package' type holiday that works for a 3.5 year old. Maybe that's the key.

[Tippety]

I was fortunate enough to manage to save enough to travel extensively before going to university, and I loved it. Since then though I haven't been abroad, I think I was lucky enough to go everywhere I really wanted to go, and places in the UK have kept me busy for the past decade or so! But now I have DC I do think when they are older they would benefit from seeing somewhere different, but aside from that I happily wouldn't bother. Like anything though everyone is different aren't they.

[BogglesGoggles]

I find I look better abroad - the water is terrible where I live.

[drspouse]

There's a lot of "abroad"! But if all you know of "forrin" is "hot" maybe it's not for you.
We are going skiing next year so will be happy not to spot you on the slopes.
I do hope you put on sun cream in the UK.

[DeadBod]

We go on holiday abroad every year and have done since DC were born. We spent a few years enduring kids discos etc but we tailored the holiday to the age of the DC. As they got older we did more travelling and sightseeing rather than beach and pool.
I can't see how anyone can complain about being too hot etc as these things are known before you travel. Don't like hot weather? Go out of high season

[LonnyVonnyWilsonFrickett]

Goodness no, I love to go abroad! I'm very careful where I go in summer as any temp south of 28 is very difficult for me (Portugal last year was perfect) and we're thinking of making our 'main' holiday at Easter next year because of where we want to go. I've only been abroad once this year, I usually have a few shorter trips too, and I'm really missing it. Dying to go somewhere new! But I am also trying not to fly too much...

[PregnantOnPurpose]

Yep, after we drove down to Devon, stayed in a beach view lodge with a hot tub, took a trip to the big Tesco nearby and stocked up on food and alcohol, plenty of wine in the fridge, space to BBQ. Plenty of places to go out for dinner and lunch, the beach was a walk away, another beach a short drive. I absolutely loved it, and because we didn’t need document after document or passports or health cards. It was so much easier to just book and drive down.

I will be holidaying in the UK for the majority of my life now, albeit I will take DD abroad on occasion so she gets to experience it. Only 23 weeks pregnant so that’s miles away yet!

[AlexaShutUp]

What an odd post!

OP, if you don't want to go abroad, then that's fair enough. There are lots of lovely holidays to be enjoyed here in the UK, and flying is not good for the environment in any case.

However, don't assume that "abroad" necessarily means hot weather and mosquitos. There are so many different and wonderful places that you could visit, and it sounds really ignorant if you assume that all overseas destinations are the same!

I absolutely love visiting different countries and learning about different cultures, and I have never found it stressful to travel abroad with my DC. Having said that, I will be looking at fewer foreign holidays in the future as we all need to reduce our carbon footprints.

[NameChangeNugget]

Sorry, I completely disagree.

Overseas travel gets more exciting every year, with every new place and experience.

[lovelyupnorth]

Love going on holiday both in the UK and abroad. Have traveled my whole life and our DDs have the travel bug.

Looking forward to going to see DD1 in west Africa in January.

Also love holidays in the uk.

Most important thing is do what’s best for your family.

[Gone2far]

We've travelled a lot, and had some brilliant holidays, but I've come to the same conclusion. This year we travelled round Romania and it was just hard work, compared to the week we spent in the UK later on.
I also hate flying - the whole experience - airports, being jammed into a plane like cattle, and feel that one thing that I can do for the environment is to stop flying.
I'll be making an exception for the Netherlands and Belgium though, as I couldn't not go there, they are so civilised, and with weather I can deal with. But we're taking Eurostar.

[ExecutiveFiat]

I absolutely love going abroad and have done for years. Now it’s just me and DH as DD is an adult, although she does still holiday with us sometimes. I don’t like staying in the UK much if i’m honest, apart from short breaks occasionally. The older I get, the more places I want to visit, and revisit. However, I don’t really understand taking small children abroad. I think they are pretty much happy anywhere as long as there’s a beach.

[violetbunny]

I don't get why "abroad" has to mean "hot" or "mosquitos". The world is a big place! Some of the best places I've been to have been in cooler weather (e.g. Japan). City breaks can also be fun if beach isn't your thing.

[CardiFree]

Um, you don't have to visit very hot places you know. There are so many culturally fascinating amazing places out there that are not just about sunbathing.

If travelling is not your thing fair enough. But if heat, mozzies and frizzy hair are your only concerns then that's a bit daft. Sorry.