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Original poster

Do you think people ‘look down’ on UK holidays?

223 replies

Helmlover · 02/02/2019 20:41

Just a thought I was having today.

My partner and I have booked a UK cottage holiday in August for us and his kids which has not worked out much cheaper than a holiday abroad. However when his kids discussed it with their mum her reaction was ‘oh can’t they (my partner and I) afford to take you away anywhere nice this year?’.

To be honest, we could afford to go abroad if we wanted to but just fancied a UK holiday this year.

Do people really look down on UK holidays and assume that people who holiday in this country must be too poor to travel overseas? Sorry if this sounds silly but her reaction has made me feel slightly paranoid.

OP posts:
Arkos · 02/02/2019 20:43

Yes they do. We never go abroad... and we don't skimp on our holiday rentals. But we do get that look of pity. Ah well... we are happy and that's all that matters

Knittink · 02/02/2019 20:46

I don't think so. In some circles, a UK cottage or camping holiday somewhere lovely would be considered superior to a package holiday in the sun.

isseywithcats · 02/02/2019 20:48

i think its because the weather isnt garaunteed in the Uk we have had some lovely holidays in the Uk but even a weeks holiday has had some grotty weather at some point, we booked five days in Paris with a weekend straight after in Bamborough camping, remember waking up on my birthday sitting in the front of the tent watching it pee it down with rain

isseywithcats · 02/02/2019 20:48

and my birthday is in august

Drogosnextwife · 02/02/2019 20:48

Yes they do, not my family as we never went abroad when I was young either. People seem to think if you are not going to a concrete all inclusive jungle where it's 90° and you don't lie next to a pool all day, it's not a holiday. Well some people any way.

hidinginthenightgarden · 02/02/2019 20:48

I have never had bad comments about staying in the UK. A childless colleague always makes jokes that we go to Butlins alot but our kids are 3 & 6. Chasing them round a pool hoping they don't drown, get heatstroke or sunburn is not my idea of fun!

Tinyteatime · 02/02/2019 20:50

Isn’t holidaying in the U.K. generally more expensive than going abroad now? There are many beautiful places in the U.K. that beat your classic package hol destinations abroad. The only downside to holidaying at home imo is unpredictable weather. Last year when it was scorching everyone holidayed in the U.K. and they were desperate to flog foreign holidays at a bargain price. That pretty much tells you that if you can guarantee sunshine everyone would just stay here, because the U.K. is absolutely beautiful. We always holiday here (but cheaply). I wouldn’t worry what others think. It’s your holiday for you to enjoy!

TheMagiciansNiece · 02/02/2019 20:51

I think holidaying in the UK can be a very middle-class thing. I have a friend who is very middle-class and looks down on anyone taking beach holidays abroad.

I personally would rather go somewhere with nice weather than holiday in the UK, but each to their own.

Danglingmod · 02/02/2019 20:51

Depends what circles you mix in. I know certain mc types who only holiday in the UK and Northern Europe, especially during the poorer years of paying for private school Grin.

greenpop21 · 02/02/2019 20:51

No, I don't. I love both. So many people have never seen their own country.

Pandasarecute · 02/02/2019 20:52

They shouldn’t! We paid far less to go abroad last year than to go to Cornwall the year before

SwimmingJustKeepSwimming · 02/02/2019 20:55

Hmmm this again. We're going to cornwall for £600 and could have gone for leas. Cant see a family of 4 going abroad for that.

We usually holiday in the uk for less.

RoryLeighGilmore · 02/02/2019 20:56

I think it's sort of programmed into people to look down on it a bit. I wouldn't see it as a holiday if it was in the UK although do realise this is a bit illogical.

I do struggle to understand people who have no desire to travel and see the world whenever they can. I see time in other parts of the uk as standard trips to see the place you live, but not a real holiday.

Danglingmod · 02/02/2019 20:59

And that's fair enough, Rory, if you genuinely visit lots of different and varied places and absorb all the culture when you're there, but plenty of people who look down on UK holidays or deem them "not proper" just do beach and drinking holidays...

elQuintoConyo · 02/02/2019 20:59

I'm looking forward to 2 weeks between Lincoln and Dartmouth this summer! Old haunts, new places.

There are some gorgeous and interesting places to visit in the UK - roadtrip around Scotland is something we'd like to do in the next year or two.

Anyone who looks down their nose at a UK holiday is a tool and should be pitied.

Believability · 02/02/2019 20:59

I don’t look down on it but I can’t bring myself to spend the money it costs to book somewhere decent in the U.K. in the summer purely because of the likelihood of crappy weather. I go abroad because I need the sunshine

Deerland · 02/02/2019 21:01

A more important question is... why on earth would you care? Surely people 'looking down' on your holiday choice says more about them than you?!

Dimsumlosesum · 02/02/2019 21:01

I find the UK far more expensive than going abroad! No one I know would turn their noses up at a nice UK break.

TruffleShuffles · 02/02/2019 21:03

I think people are responding with confusion rather than looking down on you. Most people go on holiday for better weather so can’t understand why you would pay more to holiday in the U.K. where you can’t guarantee good weather rather than go abroad for guaranteed sunshine.

I would like to visit more places in the U.K. but never do in the end as even the most beautiful places can be bloody miserable when it’s tipping it down. It would feel like a waste of money.

HouseyMcHouseFace · 02/02/2019 21:04

The poshest people I know holiday in the Scillies and Scotland.

Original poster
Helmlover · 02/02/2019 21:04

I understand the weather argument but nice weather abroad can’t be guaranteed. I know people who went to parts of Europe in May/June and it pretty much rained the whole time while it was beautiful here.

OP posts:
BeardedMum · 02/02/2019 21:06

I love holidaying in the UK, but after 10 years of rain in Cornwall we had had enough. In the sun, I cannot think of a more beautiful place thn cornwall.

StripLynchet · 02/02/2019 21:09

I'd far rather go to a well appointed holiday cottage in a beautiful part of the UK than some shitty resort on a polluted holiday island somewhere in Europe.

KanielOutis · 02/02/2019 21:10

Growing up we went on holiday to my nannas house in the same county and we loved it. I first went abroad age 18. My own children don't think they have had a holiday unless they have been abroad. They have had plenty of UK holidays, but only seem to count the two foreign trips as holidays.

Hanumantelpiece · 02/02/2019 21:11

Couldn't care less if they do. I'm quite happy staying in the UK. I don't currently have a passport and nor does DH or DC so it'd cost us a few hundred before we'd gone anywhere even if we were thinking of going abroad.
We go self-catering too, so mock away.

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