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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:
ThriftyMcThrifty · 03/02/2019 03:18

It’s normally more expensive to holiday in the UK, in my experience. Food and meals out etc tend to be cheaper on the continent, so after factoring that in it’s generally cheaper to do a package deal.

LEMtheoriginal · 03/02/2019 05:45

Blue25 - what an arrogant attitude you have there.

Madeline88 · 03/02/2019 06:00

I can’t think of anything worse then going to a resort that you never leave and don’t see anything of the actual country.

Hellokittymania · 03/02/2019 06:08

To put it in perpective

Greeks go on holiday in Greece
Italians go on holiday in Italy
Etc

Why do you think SO MANY tourists Love the UK??

Dermymc · 03/02/2019 06:09

I do struggle to understand people who have zero interest in exploring the world and visiting new places. In my experience these people can be quite narrow minded and dull.

I struggle to understand people who knowingly pollute the planet by flying at least once a year.

The UK has plenty of wonderful places to explore. Why not enjoy them?

HeronLanyon · 03/02/2019 06:12

What a strange thing for that person to say ! Why would a uk holiday say anything about what you can afford or enjoy !? Uk holidays are very often more expensive than cheaper overseas options anyway. Loads of people who travel the world adore uk holidays too - I am one of them ! Don’t care in the slightest what people think.
Good god the whole of eg Cornwall is full of middle class families/bods being achingly and often self consciously ‘appropriate’ taking a uk holiday - does she think they can’t afford or choose not to travel elsewhere as well?! Sounds very old fashioned and insecure comment to me.

Raven88 · 03/02/2019 06:13

My DM and SD have no interest in going abroad and go the same place in the U.K. every year and they like to take the dog too. Some people judge them, but they don't care because they are happy with their holiday and think the thought of spending hours in a airport is mad when they can drive a couple of hours and be on holiday.

MsTSwift · 03/02/2019 06:21

No - I get the opposite vibe that Cornwall in August is the “right” family holiday - worthy wholesome Enid blytonesque and those of us that fly off for guaranteed sun are flighty decadent types Grin

flatpackbox · 03/02/2019 06:21

No idea really as it isn’t something I have experienced. I don’t look down on UK holidays.

Some years we have been abroad a lot. It’s city breaks for us or holidays with activities like skiing or water sports.

This year we are having two weeks back to back in different cottages in different areas of the UK, £2100 for two weeks in small but naice cottages for two of us. No idea (no care either) why anyone would possibly look down their nose at that.

I don’t want to go abroad this year, my dog is old and has really aged in the last few months and I don’t want anyone else looking after her.

Rafabella · 03/02/2019 06:25

Not at all! Some of the wealthiest people I know holiday in the uk. Yes the weather is a factor and you do take your chances there. However, I think more family memories are made on a uk break because you tend to physically do things, as opposed to simply sitting on a sunbed in Spain for the vast majority of the fortnight. We have had the best holidays in the south hams. Brilliant times!

Lightsdown · 03/02/2019 06:42

In the summer, yes, at other times no. I think it is because the weather is so variable in the summer that some see it is risky and hence you might be wasting your money - it is a risk!

greendale17 · 03/02/2019 07:02

But for me it would seem a waste of precious annual leave. It’s a big world out there, life is short, so I try to see as much of it as I can, so a holiday to me is seeing places that are not on my doorstep.

-This

LillianGish · 03/02/2019 07:04

Some people look down on UK holidays, others look down on all-inclusive packages in Europe or to exotic locations where you stay in a compound and never leave your hotel - it depends on the circles you mix in and who you are trying to impress. Better all round to do what you can afford and what you enjoy without mentioning it to anyone - in any case there are few things more dull than some boring on about their holiday which in the era of Facebook and social media is becoming more and more common.

Biologifemini · 03/02/2019 07:09

People look down on AI resorts in Tenerife from comments I have heard and read.

Torsz · 03/02/2019 07:10

I don't do it deliberately but I have been brought up to think of a holiday as meaning going overseas. We're having a baby this year (plus various other circumstances which mean we have no money!) so can't afford to go abroad for the first time in as long as I can remember...

We are going away with friends and family a couple of times, but only within the UK so in my mind they're trips rather than holidays. It will be lovely but I think the weather and the lack of 'seeing the world' prevents me from feeling like it's a holiday when you don't go somewhere completely new/different to home.

Having said that, I know it can be just as (and more) expensive going away in the UK than abroad and it's all about individual preference!

famousfour · 03/02/2019 07:21

Lots of people go to Cornwall, Devon etc. I don’t look down on it but assume they are not fussed about heat or travelling.

I go abroad because I love the sun and more chance of that in Greece than Cornwall. Plus love seeing new places. UK holidays are by no means cheap though they can be of course.

NicoAndTheNiners · 03/02/2019 07:23

I rarely travel out of the uk.

I get anxious about travelling, hate flying and don't like been apart from my dog. I spent 12k on a caravan so the dog could always come on holiday with me. If people think I can't afford to go abroad that's up to them.

famousfour · 03/02/2019 07:23

That said I think there is some assumption that people are doing a ‘staycation’ because they can’t go abroad. Not sure that is always true.

Miane · 03/02/2019 07:23

I’m as middle class as can be. Wink I live in a terrible naice place. Grin

Everyone we know holidays in the U.K. at least once per year.

Most go to Centreparks (not really our thing) but lots go camping, book holiday cottages or do UK city breaks.

Some families have their own holiday homes in gorgeous U.K. locations and rarely go anywhere else.

To be fair most of these people might also go on a foreign holiday as well during the year but I’ve never heard anyone look down on a U.K. holiday.

Our social circle don’t generally go on holiday for “the sun”, they go to see things, do activities or just to spend time with their families.

ifiwasabutterfly · 03/02/2019 07:28

What I find interesting is that everybody on this thread that is looking down on holidays abroad is being very shortsighted about them.

Holidays abroad don't have to be a package holiday or stuck in a resort or or going to magaluf there are so many amazing places to see! How about exploring Germany or Iceland or Scandinavia?

Life is too short, I want to see the world! We have seen a lot of the U.K. it's not a big place and you can do weekend breaks very cheaply these days by booking premier in type places way in advance. We have also used lots of the sun holiday caravans. Never actually used the site in anyway just the caravan as a base to explore. Bank holiday weekends are perfect for it.

But if I am using holiday from work I want my passport!

Calledyoulastnightfromglasgow · 03/02/2019 07:29

Not at all. I think many people are trying to cut their flying due to global warming. None of my friends would look down on this at all.

We are camping in the highlands this year.

My kids favourite trip last year was camping. Portugal was “too hot”

Miane · 03/02/2019 07:34

That said I think there is some assumption that people are doing a ‘staycation’ because they can’t go abroad. Not sure that is always true.

I would agree with that Famous. We can afford to go abroad but regularly choose a U.K. holiday instead.

We can afford hotels but regularly choose camping or a caravan instead.

We have even occasionally spent our holidays staying at home but having a series of special days out.

It all depends on what you want out of a holiday. I’d bored out of my mind lying by a pool for a fortnight but lots of people really enjoy that.

It’s terribly rude to comment on anyone’s holiday plans other than to say “how lovely”.

I can’t imagine what your MIL was thinking OP, is she usually so ill-mannered?

Buggerbuggerbuggerargh · 03/02/2019 07:42

How about exploring Germany or Iceland or Scandinavia?

All places I went to before we had ds. But taking a two year old on a city break or to see the northern lights of the glaciers? No. Thank you.

MsTSwift · 03/02/2019 07:45

We home exchange which changes things somewhat as we have then have free house / car so travel more than we would otherwise. Do get massive flying guilt so trying to cut back

Crimson72 · 03/02/2019 07:46

We’ll be holidaying in the UK this year - not because we don’t enjoy going abroad, but we just love Cornwall and have had our best holidays there.