What are your little holiday "traditions"?

[CarolDanvers]

Those little things you do that wouldn't really excite anyone else but you make you happy and enhance your holiday? I like going to a supermarket as soon as possible after arrival and buying shampoo, conditioner, shower gel and body lotion in a scents or brands not available in the U.K. Then we use it all holiday and if I like it I buy some more to take home and then whenever I use it it takes me back to being on that holiday 😊

am chuffed so many of you like my holiday box.

It's definitely loved here. We have just had first baby, but usually take niece and nephew away. If I'm shopping with them they love choosing something to go in.

Hope DD loves it as much as they do.

Have loved this thread and reading all your traditions.

For DD I have started a book, with a note of where we went and what we did for each holiday, like a holiday diary......it can live in the holiday box!!!

The other thing that lives in the box are items I may have forgot or lessons I've learnt the hard way. Spare dog collar and lead I'm looking at you.

Ahhh how they have changed now we have kids. Uses to be we'd get accidentally shitfaced on the plane, drop stuff at hotel, go out, drink more beers then spend 6 hours trying to find our way back to hotel.

Now we have new traditions... usually while camping. Toddler DD has to hand out the pegs while pitching the tent, and also has to "help" roll up the tent at the end by sitting on DH who is trying to roll it up. Ice creams will be regularly deployed.

We always eat out the night before we leave and get take away the night we come back. An ice cream everyday is compulsory too! Lots of lovely ideas here.

G&Ts at the airport... the earlier the flight the better, as it feels naughtier.

we always swear to eat less and do more culture...we never do, so that's our tradition

been to Amsterdam I don't know how many times and 25 minutes in the RijksMuseum is the sum total of the culture, there was a scary giant puppet, we left. To buy a stiff drink. That thing still haunts me.
We look it all up, make plans and then just daunder about people watching, buying coffees, cakes, drinks and meals and wandering about markets.

Christsake, they have moved it to the tate

We come to the UK in Spring (budget airline and hand luggage only) every year. It’s become a tradition to:

Pack heavier clothes away in our suitcases as we stop using them in March.
Save hotel toiletries for the first night.
Buy two of those lightweight facecloth medallions that expand in water.
Pack ancient underwear/T-shirts to use and throw away so there’s more room for souvenirs.
I buy a CD for our collection and a kindle book.
A multi-socket for our tech.

Once we’re there:
Classic FM on the car radio.
Fish & chips on the hoof is a must.
Variety pack cereals.
A delivery from Iceland (other supermarkets need a UK credit card) with stuff like black pudding, Kraft lunchables, Aunt Bessie.

I also have a hardback notebook that we fill in every year with our planned activities. DC write memorable phrases on the last page for that year.

This year I had the L’Occitane Advent Calendar so I have lots of mini products to take with us! Even though we go to the same place every year I still get excited and the traditions are part of it.
This year DC1 is extending University holidays to come with us after a 2-year break when holidays with the family were NOT cool!

Listen to R2 on UK holidays

Take my washing puff thingy with me and leave it when holiday over. Have a new one ready and waiting in the shower when I get home.

Clean house top to bottom, washing up to date and beds changed before departure

I always complain on last day of holiday that I haven't had an ice cream. DH and DD roll their eyes

Christmas tree bauble from all holidays (preferably with the year on it)

Fridge magnet

Send postcards

Individual cereal packets for UK holidays.

If travelling by plane, I always spend the whole return journey worrying that either my Nan or the Queen will have died.

Lots of souvenir tea towels and mugs. DS1 now says "look there's a gift shop mum".

A "surprise" holiday. Last year I told them at the airport where we were going. Planning the same for this year!! Excited 🇸🇪 😉

Wine for me. M&S shop for UK self catering. Even better if the meal deal is on!

I've loved reading this thread!

I'm taking my DS on his first holiday in June, he will be 10 month. It's a UK holiday and I'm thinking I might buy a postcard and create an album with the dates and highlights of the trip and do that for each holiday!

My tradition is a bacon sandwich and a pint in the airport no matter what time we fly!

I never set foie in a supermarket on holiday if i can help it. Currently on a tiny island in Indian ocean with no shops so that works for me!

We have a holiday clipboard with random info attached to it. Lists of places to visit, dog friendly beaches, restaurants that we want to try, events and festivals, and money off vouchers. I'm considered very "sad" and get endlessly laughed at by the kids who are pretty much grown up now but when DS holidayed with friends recently he had to condescend that they were so disorganised they could have done with a clipboard too!

Loving this thread but @MsMightyTitanAndHerTroubadours I'm going to have nightmares after watching the video of that freaky puppet!

I always buy a supermarket bag carrier thing for a euro so when I'm doing my weekly shop in Aldi at home, I feel all continental with my Mercadona and Albert Hein bags

Jack Daniels and coke on the flight
New book and downloaded films
Meal at height - such as berlin tv tower etc
Climbing lots of towers for views
Something fun - such as VR, Segway etc
Try the local delicacy/tipple - usually a food tour

Always have a G&T on the plane - never drink it otherwise!

Must get a fridge magnet too!

Couple of bottles of wine in the luggage in case too late or too difficult to go out to a local supermarket on arrival! Bliss!

Every time we go abroad, we start with a cocktail on the plane because it's fine to drink first thing in the morning on holiday
Dd chooses a magnet.
Dd gets a holiday hoodie (the ones with the name of the place we are. E.g. Menorca) and she wears it on the plane on the way home.
We always lose something over the balcony 😂 a beach towel, dds bikini bottoms, 1 flip flop.

We love a self catering holiday and we always get a variety pack of 8 and I always sing the song to go with it 😂

So many -

We have champagne the night before and champagne with our breakfast at Heathrow.

We go to a particular restaurant for lunch when we get there (same place as we have a house in US), and dh and I have the same cocktail and I tragically, take the same photo.

When we get back, we go out for a fancy meal that evening. I think because, when I was a child, coming back from holiday was mega depressing - so we always make it really nice.

everyone getting there pillows set up in the car.

food shop when you get there is somehow thrilling especially in foregn countries but even a welsh Tesco seems amazing!

tuna splodge being the first meal.easy,comforting. done.

the 2 bars of diary millk put in the fridge door on arrival for evenings.

choosing your book.

packing bed linen.

traveling in the dark.
stopping for a golden arch.

Always buy myself some fancy perfume at the airport!

kateandme what is a golden arch?

Is it a sexual position that I haven't heard of?

Mine are quite rubbish but a a tradition is a tradition

I write packing lists for everyone and start packing about 2 months before we go so I know I don't miss anything. Makes me feel less anxious.

We also have a good tidy up of the house before we leave so there's nothing to do when we get home. Leave detailed instructions for cat sitter with important information like where they like to be scratched

We buy sweets / chocolates / mints for the flight out.

And I always take a sandwich on the plane with me, even if there are meals included (just in case I don't like the food) as I've been sat on a long haul flight feeling very hungry once before and felt miserable

I take a book to read and leave it at the hotel when we leave.

We walk to the nearest shop when we first arrive and buy a few beers and nibbles for the room.

We always buy a tea towel for my dad and dh's parents with the name of where we've been.

(Yes, I realise food features quite heavily in my traditions)

I forgot! Dh is in charge of a holiday playlist for in the car on the way to and from the airport. He takes this job very seriously