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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:
MaisyPops · 03/02/2019 09:15

Satsumaeater
I always find the first 2 weeks of September brings out the glorious UK weather, just as we all go back to school annoyingly.

MsTSwift · 03/02/2019 09:22

It’s all very well humphimg about no bad weather just bad clothes etc but to some of us a blast of heat is the essence of a summer holiday. If my summer holiday was sitting in a rental house in the rain I would feel pretty glum tbh. Don’t mind bad weather rest of year but need some warmth to see me through the interminable grey months

OnTheHop · 03/02/2019 09:26

“Let’s ignore how many local communities are decimated by holiday lets....”

No let’s look at how many communities were decimated by rural / coastal poverty, with residents fleeing for work and selling their old homes for inflated prices! Or how many people living in tiny cottages with steep dark stairs (‘quaint ‘) moved out to new builds on the outskirts.

And how many rural / coastal places are kept afloat by the holiday and tourist income.

The fleet of Ocado vans that clog the High St on a Saturday represents money that could be better spent in local shops, granted.

But the holiday cottage economy is not all bad, and was not the chicken.

Foxyloxy1plus1 · 03/02/2019 09:26

I do think that there are people who regard you as inferior if you take a holiday in the UK. Holiday seems to be synonymous with getting on a plane, otherwise it’s not a holiday.

It depends what you want I guess. And what stage you’re at. Holidays with young children are very different from holidays with older ones or without.

ZenNudist · 03/02/2019 09:26

Look down is the wrong phrase. People who look down will sneer at all sorts of things. Including holidays abroad.

I do trips in the UK. Love the Lakes but for a proper holiday it has to be abroad. I dont count my city breaks abroad as full holidays either.

Plus you know where you go on a sun holiday but get no sun? That doesn't feel quite like a holiday either!

Skiphopnjump · 03/02/2019 09:28

We always had holidays abroad (cheap package Spain and Turkey) and caravan holidays as kids.

Me and DH have mostly gone abroad but now we have a toddler and I am really enjoying UK holidays. As PPs have mentioned, I can't think of anything worse than trying to chase my 2yo around a pool and making sure he doesn't burn. It doesn't seem very relaxing! Give ma nice cottage where we can take our own car and be a bit isolated.

We have a week in Whitby and a week in Cornwall booked for this year and I can't wait!

JacquesHammer · 03/02/2019 09:30

Last person who was really sneery about U.K. holidays was in an FB group I’m in.

She was directly rude to people holidaying in the U.K. whilst she jetted off abroad.

Didn’t smile to myself at all when she had a week away and it rained. Every day. Whilst we had a week of glorious sunshine in the Lakes Grin

TadaTralala · 03/02/2019 09:33

crowded Spanish Costas or Cornish beaches? hmmmm I know what I prefer? My in-laws live in Cornwall and some of our best holidays are spent down there.

Hollowvictory · 03/02/2019 09:38

But it's not a choice between crowded Spanish costs or cornish beaches is it? There is a whole world out there that isn't a crowded Spanish beach! I hate these crap polarising arguments that say you can only do o e thing abroad and one in the UK. I love Cornwall go every year. But that doesn't mean I can't go anywhere else in the world. I've had shockingly rainy dreary weeks in Cornwall as well as brilliant ones.

Venetia11 · 03/02/2019 09:42

We always stay in the UK for our summer holiday and have always been very fortunate with the weather, though are always prepared!

Even getting the ferry is much more convenient for us than the plane as there's less queuing and can bring the car.

Am sure some people do feel sorry for us though but they are too polite to say!

OnTheHop · 03/02/2019 09:50

Oh, the whole thing is so tediously steeped in class sneeriness:
Is a UK holiday on the Costas del Boden and Joules of North Norfolk or Rock, or a static at Great Yarmouth? Is abroad the Sun-Bed Dash or a private pool in Puglia?

Everyone does what they enjoy, within their own budget and other constraints.

(My Dc have done all these holiday types and enjoyed them all)

bananasandwicheseveryday · 03/02/2019 10:03

I agree with the pp who said that the people who sneer at a UK holiday are often the same people who think a holiday is basically sitting round a pool all day, getting burnt. Personally, I can't think of anything I'd like to do less. I hate the hot weather and would get bored on that type of holiday. Strangely, friends if mine who visit places abroad where they can explore the local area and go off the beaten track, are the ones who seem to appreciate that my holidays in the UK are what I enjoy. Our UK holidays are not usually much cheaper than the friends who rent a villa or go on a package deal to a hotel in Costa Del Sun, and for me, seeing Hadrian's Wall, discovering the cool of a well hidden waterfall in Yorkshire or the amazing drive down into Cheddar Gorge beat that any day. Even if it is raining.

Hanumantelpiece · 03/02/2019 10:44

Dermy we had a great day on holiday last year. On a near-deserted beach in Wales - the tide was out, it was drizzling, and the scenery was amazing. We caught up with people we knew, paddled, had ice cream and then watched the sun set over the sea.

Imperfectsusan · 03/02/2019 10:54

No. I love them and do go on them, but sometimes the weather is unreliable. Sometimes not, of course, and those times are magical.

evto · 03/02/2019 10:59

People look down on whatever they can if they are arseholes:

I am autistic and so are 2 of our DC. A UK holiday is perfect for us. We do the same holiday every year because familiarity helps. I have lost count of the amount of times o have said (when asked) I am going to X on holiday and straight away followed it up with an explanation. The real me doesn't care much for what people think, but the adjusted masking version at work tries very hard to fit in and feels the explanation necessary in a world of 'we are going to [insert foreign land]

Danglingmod · 03/02/2019 11:12

Here's the thing about weather too:

Not everyone hates the UK weather. I don't. I like a mixture of rain, sun and cold. I can't bear it over about 23 degrees. So, when I go abroad, I go to places with similar climates:northern France, Germany, Scandinavia. I also prefer the scenery and architecture in those kinds of places.

Horses for courses.

AnotherPidgey · 03/02/2019 12:14

We tend to mix it up. The world is a fabulous place including the UK. I now know why Cornwall was gridlocked on our holiday there last year as I think half the people on this thread were there too Grin

We tend to alternate years in the UK/ abroad, plus DH's family are in another country so we vary that with shorter family and longer exploring trips.

Last year's camping trip was totally idyllic (other than the traffic). It was just on the tail end of the heatwave so not too warm and stayed dry all week. The DCs were old enough to play freely near the tent and entertain themselves with other children and we genuinely relaxed on holiday for the first time in years.

DCs have taught us that there is pleasure in an AI resort, although we do take advantage of excursions and nearby towns. None of us could cope with all day by the pool/ beach. The range and avaliabilty of food felt "safe" at an age where long waits in restaurants and unfamiliar food is a gamble.

I used to find it odd that people would go to exactly the same place and relive the same holiday year in year out, whether that is the UK or a resort. DCs have taught me that there is value in familiarity, although we do favour places where there is enough variety so you can mix it up each time and alternate around.

For cost, the UK can be dear compared to cheaper packages.

WhentheRabbitsWentWild · 03/02/2019 12:14

We were going to Norfolk .The nice village of Holt

We are certainly not middle class so perhaps as well we had to cancel .

OnTheHop · 03/02/2019 12:28

WhenTjeRabbits: Holt has 2 fish and chip shops and a kebab shop Wink

(It also has TWO Joules shops now though Shock ).

And N Norfolk has Burnham Market AND lots of caravan sites.

I hope you can re-book!

Contraceptionismyfriend · 03/02/2019 12:32

I've never experienced someone looking down on a UK holiday. People do show more interest when we've gone abroad.

However personally with two young children I much prefer UK breaks.

No dealing with airports, costly extras usually someone is throwing a tantrum (that being me)

We've just been abroad. And that should do me for a long time. I really want to go back to Nottingham. That was amazing.

Dothehappydance · 03/02/2019 12:34

another Growing up we went to the same place every year, my parents still do (though now on 4th accommodation as others have been sold over the years) I used to moan.

I now inflict the same on my children. Going away at Easter, it will be our 11th or 12th time, we have moved from the one cottage to the bigger one but exactly the same place. Thankfully the dc do enjoy it. It's lovely, the owners have seen us grow from a couple to a family of 5.

BlancheM · 03/02/2019 12:40

I think so but my 'staycations' always cost more than I'd spend to go almost anywhere abroad. There are always cheap package deals on offer for beach holidays in the sun.

What a wanky thing to say to a child though.

Justmeagain123 · 03/02/2019 12:50

I find it's food that costs so much in the UK, a meal out is so pricey vs places we like to holiday, go to the US and you can easily eat cheaply 3 times a day with a variety of food. Here, self catering for most of the holiday seems the only plausible option (for our budget at least) and that just isn't how we like to spend a holiday, I love eating out and trying new food.

Calledyoulastnightfromglasgow · 03/02/2019 12:52

I don’t think mainland Europe is a cheap option any more

MaisyPops · 03/02/2019 13:08

Justmeagain123
Is the US quite affordable once you're out there? It's somewhere I've always been interested in going but wasn't sure on the costs of eating out etc.