Holidays are just not worth the money

My life isn’t generally grim enough to need to ‘escape’ for a couple of weeks every year to be honest. So it’s not remotely depressing

Lots of great staycations you can do, very sensible! Even abroad, you aren't guaranteed good weather.
And not having to go through security is worth 2 holidays.

I have had much the same thought as you, OP. And in recent years I've changed the type of.holiday i've gone on.
Whereas before I did the whole 'week in the sun's thing in the summer, I have recently done more city breaks and gone abroad at different times (Christmas, Easter, half terms). I find it much easier to get VFM out of this type of break, because there is so much more choice.
Last year I went to Rome for four nights at Easter. It cost the same as a week in a holiday resort over the summer but I felt like I got so much more out of it. I had miles more choice over what to do, where to eat, when I did stuff. I've done Paris, Amsterdam and Singapore in the last couple of years and loved them all. And I look back on the weeks I spent on beaches in the Med and wonder why.

Sounds to me like you are going on the wrong holiday. A week in Greece on the beach and in an inclusive hotel is my idea of hell so £3.5k spent on said adventure is my idea of hell and I would feel resentful. Booking a euro camp as a base and then going out exploring every day and trying new restaurants or booking a city break, 100% my idea of heaven and I would happily spend that money on a family holiday and enjoy making memories. Maybe you need to change the holiday type and it won't feel like such a waste of money. Also budgeting for it ahead of time makes such a difference so you go and have the money to pay for what you want to do rather than coming back to a hefty credit card bill to be paid off till next year's holiday.

It’s not on the “off chance” though, that’s the point, holidays are 1-2 weeks of your unapologetic wishes, be that sunshine, pools, mountains, sight seeing, whatever floats your boat. You go on holiday expecting fun, ok sometimes things go wrong, but on the whole it’s what you want it to be, what you plan it to be. It’s the whole point.

Out of interest, what sorts of things do you buy? Like what gives you pleasure to spend money on that a holiday wouldn't? Is it interior design, cars?

@Anarchy99

so…what’s your answer then…? Never have a break?!

How completely and utterly depressing

I do make time for those people though. I just don’t see the need to rinse hundreds or thousands on the off chance of having a good time.

Fair enough if it’s your thing but I would sooner spend the money on something that I enjoy

No I wouldn’t say that. I’m ND so it may be different for me.

For me it’s like Christmas. Everyone makes a huge deal and puts up ridiculous decorations and lights but then they come down, making everything feel even greyer than before,

I practically have to be forced to take annual leave anyway - I had to take a whole week off recently at HR’s insistence and by Wednesday I was going insane!

Why not just stay home and save money, OP? Put your mind at rest @Phonicshaskilledmeoff

No, I feel blessed and grateful. I feel refreshed and raring to go. Life is too short and making time for the people most important to you is a blessing not afforded to all.

Ikos Andalusia……been before and it was amazing and it’s what life’s alll about, love making memories with the kids and feel blessed I can give them these holidays. We couldn’t afford it as kids ever and I want to be able to do it for mine now we are lucky enough to be able to. Which one did you visit? They are an amazing brand.

That’s such an odd mentality, why do anything nice if it can’t last a lifetime? That’s what life is, a long string of moments, all we have are our memories really, I like to make sure I have lots of wonderful memories, which holidays give me.

But isn’t it more depressing when you come back, having had a nice time?

Because I can’t see the point - even in the UK. I don’t think it’s something that I would enjoy. Paying out a load of money, packing, travelling, spend a few days somewhere, then back to packing and travelling.

I don’t want to piss away hundreds of pounds for a week when I could buy something exciting which would last me a lot longer.

Honestly I love it. It gives me a chance to slow down, clear my head, take a break from the mundane cooking/cleaning/washing up etc. I love being able to get some sun, swim in the pool, go for walks, have a morning coffee on the balcony and order breakfast to the room. It feels like I have worked all year for a nice treat and that I’m investing in me and my kids, creating memories and happy times they will hopefully remember long after I’m gone.

Yeah you are coming back to it all but it gives me the energy to cope better and something to look forward to next year.

I have come to dread them. DH has dementia and I have to think and take the stress for both of us. DH prefers self-catering so I end up doing the same jobs I do at home, in unfamiliar surroundings with fewer facilities. There are good moments, of course but overall the stress outweighs the pleasure.

Ooh which one? I just came back from an Ikos resort. Superb. And no I don't feel worse for coming back. I have fabulous memories. Isn't that what life's about?

Maybe you should try it 🤷‍♀️

I think it's quite insular and sad never to go in holiday. Why don't you?

Going on holiday is my absolute favourite thing in the world to do!!! I absolutely love it!! ❤️
I have 2 young children and we've travelled all over together, Interrailing trips, European road trips, long haul flights, short haul, city breaks, UK breaks. We try and go abroad at least twice a year.
It's the only thing I spend money on. We absolutely love adventures and experiences.

£6k??? But the boring bits will still be there when you get back. Surely it must feel worse to get back?

Genuine question as other than a weekend in France over 30 years ago I haven’t been on holiday since I was a child

I honestly just can’t appreciate your mindset. I love holidaying and I would do it every second if I could. Just spent £6k on a lovely 5 star AI that is top notch and will enjoy every second. Just wish I could do more holidays.

Absolutely.

I do think though that for those who are going to be eating at restaurants as often as daily, AI may be cost neutral. The holidays you describe in 80s Greece wouldn't be cheap to recreate these days, especially not with older kids. Self-catering where you do the catering yourself rather than paying to be catered to in a different way is the truly budget option. And of course, many places don't offer AI anyway.

Yeah, I'm a single mum on a low income. And if it means we can see Rome, Paris, Berlin, the Pyrenees and the Alps, I'll happily cook up some pasta at the campsite or in a studio apartment.

I'll say this again: Holidays can fit all budgets. You don't have to go AI. You don't have to eat out every night if you can't afford it. You don't have to have a private pool. You don't have to fly anywhere. You can have a great holiday without doing any of those things..

Life would be boring without holidays.