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Original poster

Why don't people take their kids on holiday?

337 replies

Micnerhss · 26/11/2025 15:05

Just to be clear, I don’t mean people who genuinely can’t afford holidays... I’m talking about people who can but still don’t.

In my close friendship group, I’m literally the only one who takes my kids away. We love seeing the world, exploring new places, different cultures, and just getting out of the UK for a bit. I honestly think holidays are so important, its proper family time away from the constant busyness of life.

But none of my really close friends ever take their kids away, not even for a little UK break, and I just can’t get my head around it.

The excuses are things like “I don’t know how airports work” or “I wouldn’t know where to go”… but there’s a whole world out there!

If you can afford it, why wouldn’t you treat your kids to a holiday?! They are missing out on so much by never leaving the UK!

OP posts:
Original poster
Micnerhss · 26/11/2025 15:26

SilverStripedSunset · 26/11/2025 15:15

I don’t know anyone who doesn’t take their kids on holiday, never mind multiple people. Your experience sounds unusual OP!

Obviously I know some people who do take their kids on holiday but my closest friendship group dont, wider friends do.

OP posts:
Nothankyov · 26/11/2025 15:18

I have to say I don’t know anyone who doesn’t take their kids on holidays! That’s bizarre at best. I know a friend of a friend that likes to go on holiday just with her husband and leaves her kid with either her parents or his but that’s not the norm in my group. We are away every school break 🤣 and live for holidays!

Florencesndzebedee · 26/11/2025 15:17

That’s weird if they can genuinely afford it but I find there are a lot of people in the Uk who are not curious about other cultures or getting out of their comfort zone. Horses for courses I guess.

Beddiem · 26/11/2025 15:15

We don’t fly anymore. So bad for the environment. Traveling elsewhere takes effort. So we generally do uk breaks. And we’re skint. That too.

SilverStripedSunset · 26/11/2025 15:15

I don’t know anyone who doesn’t take their kids on holiday, never mind multiple people. Your experience sounds unusual OP!

Amba1998 · 26/11/2025 15:14

Micnerhss · 26/11/2025 15:05

Just to be clear, I don’t mean people who genuinely can’t afford holidays... I’m talking about people who can but still don’t.

In my close friendship group, I’m literally the only one who takes my kids away. We love seeing the world, exploring new places, different cultures, and just getting out of the UK for a bit. I honestly think holidays are so important, its proper family time away from the constant busyness of life.

But none of my really close friends ever take their kids away, not even for a little UK break, and I just can’t get my head around it.

The excuses are things like “I don’t know how airports work” or “I wouldn’t know where to go”… but there’s a whole world out there!

If you can afford it, why wouldn’t you treat your kids to a holiday?! They are missing out on so much by never leaving the UK!

Someone said to be they aren’t interested in just parenting in a different location

however even if my kids are having tantrums. It’s 30c outside, someone else is cleaning up their mess at dinner / cooking their dinner / making their beds, there’s no school runs commute, ironing uniform, doing school admin, or going to work. All of that with the addition of a cocktail in hand then yes please

FastTurtle · 26/11/2025 15:14

Logically I understand the reasons why but I am baffled too.

I love holidays so much and do struggle to not get why other people don’t.

readingmakesmehappy · 26/11/2025 15:14

We don’t travel internationally because airports are extremely stressful for ASD children, as is being in a different place. Perhaps that will change in the future, but for now I don’t deliberately want to make my life more stressful than it already is.

Palourdes · 26/11/2025 15:12

SoftandQuiet · 26/11/2025 15:07

Have they never travelled before they had children? They sound scared.

Yes, they sound frightened, as if they’ve never travelled, and are unwilling to try something new. (My parents had barely left their county, never the country, until I went to study abroad and booked them flights to visit, and talked them through passport applications etc. I first left the country aged 18 as an au pair. I had to change flights at LHR, with absolutely no idea how airports worked. But I did it.)

I do think it’s very unusual that your entire friendship group is like this, though.

ShesTheAlbatross · 26/11/2025 15:12

But do you know they can afford it? Maybe they are saying “oh I’m not sure, I wouldn’t know where to go” but they’re thinking “it’s far too expensive for us!”

MrsTerryPratchett · 26/11/2025 15:10

It's genetic. Really.

Some people have the wanderlust gene and some people don't. And I suspect that's not the only gene at work. Some people are (hard-wired) slower approach which means transitions are harder for them. You know those people who all live in a three road configuration around granny's house in one village.

Then there's my family. Lived everywhere, travelled everywhere else. I don't get it. But I get looks when I say where I've been. They think I'm insane. I think they're missing out.

You need all sorts in a world.

SoftandQuiet · 26/11/2025 15:07

Have they never travelled before they had children? They sound scared.

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