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 😊

Ooh, forgot the Lunchables for the car journey, kids not normally allowed that sort of junk.

When my boys were little we used to go self-catering in either Norfolk, Cornwall or France and would drive there.

I used to make them Activity Boxes - A lidded plastic toy-box type thing - they contained things like a lego model to build, a new DS game each (this was in the time of Nintendo DSs), a DVD, Play Doh, sweets, colouring pens, a small game, a new teddy, cards, glow sticks etc.

The boxes were always hidden under stuff in the car boot and when we arrived we would take stuff into the house / chalet and secretly put the boxes on their beds for them to find.

It was always the most exciting part of their holiday and we all still talk about them now. They remember every single one of them. How I most those sweet, innocent days.

*miss. Not Most.

Normally get a mcDonalds on the way to the airport (Gatwick got rid of their mcDonalds a few years ago).

Fridge magnets and tea towels as souvenirs.

I take a 'treat bag' full of smallish toys and sweets (glow sticks, push pops, etc) for the children (often cheaper buying abroad) and give them a gift most days.

I always buy myself something to remind myself of the holiday which I wear on subsequent holidays eg a hair clip, a cheap bracelet, beach bag.

We never ever cook when on holiday that is one of our rules!
Children alway buy a keyring
Love going to the supermarket to browse

The five minute rule is such a fantastic idea because those thoughts of ‘did I pack X’ and ‘did I switch off Y’ can easily spoil the journey!

I have an online packing list for every type of holiday. Print and pack I never forget anything. We do go away most months so organisation really helps.

@Sgtmajormummy

A delivery from Iceland (other supermarkets need a UK credit card) with stuff like black pudding, Kraft lunchables, Aunt Bessie.

Unless things have changed in the last year, Waitrose and Ocado take my American credit cards. I’ve also ordered online from Sainsbury’s with those cards as well about 4 years ago. Give it a try again.

Budget for an Ikea blue bag of washing (or sometimes two) to go to the launderette for a service wash the day after we get home.

Means there is no post-holiday washing mountain to contend with. Everything is just bagged up, sent to the launderette and comes back clean and folded ready to put away. Bliss

I love these! We've started making holiday scrapbooks with photos, ferry tickets, postcards etc and a note of what we did each day.
DH's family did this when he was little and he still has them. They are lovely to look back on.

I've adopted the holiday box idea - we're going away at May half term so that gives plenty of time to have a great box.

@BigusBumus
That’s so lovely, what a wonderful memory for them. I hope my children look back at our holidays and remember them as fondly.
Everyone says it ( kids growing up) all flies by so quickly, it really seems to doesn’t it..

When I was a child (1960's) and we went away, if it was a long journey, usually on a coach or train, my parents would wrap up small treats - some sweets, puzzle, I spy book, crayons & colouring book etc and I would be given them throughout the journey to unwrap to pass the time.

All these years later, I can still remember the excitement and anticipation of what was in each small package. Lovely memories.

that's one of the loveliest posts I have read on here.

elQuinto. Thank you. You have probably noticed that it was written in the past tense. He absolutely loved his trips to Norfolk and looked forward to them all year. He died last May aged 94, the day before we were due to travel. I went by myself and although sad, felt very close to him. It will always be a very special memory for me. Oh God, I’m crying now. 😢😂

Our holiday tradition is a little box of trinkets. If we are holidaying in Britain we always stop at a service station to buy something to eat. When we go camping this summer I want to visit the beach and coffee shops.
We sleep in the car or make small talk to pass the time. Prayers help too.

for you Alexa xx

Thank you anmh

Something my mum taught me- I always buy a 'useful' souvenir. She started it in Switzerland, where she bought a milk bottle carrier that could fit 6 bottles-we are 6 siblings and had milk delivered every day, and UK ones at the time only held 4. I got an aluminium ruler, totally unlike any you could buy here, and used it every day at school.

So now I buy mugs, or tea towels, or other household paraphernalia that is useful and unique to where I visit.

I also love visiting foreign supermarkets and peering at the 'strange' things they have for sale there

House has to be lovely & clean before we leave.
Let friends/fam know you're away and apart from text to close fam, ABSOLUTELY no social media/emails etc.
Holiday's close to the sea ( UK & abroad )
UK - stop half way for lunch - always have/or purchase on the way; mini cereal pack, magazines, treats & alcohol.
Abroad - 1 little treat at duty free, food, then shallow breaths & panic, checking boarding every few minutes until sitting on the plane!
Unpack quickly and go and explore.
Have tripadvisor prints for; " best places to eat/drink/see /visit etc"

&FuckitFriday - forgot that we also do a boots meal deal. 3 out the 4 of us have a Mexican chicken wrap. The rebellious 4th one has something different each time. It’s such a good deal

I'm a little sad that I don't have that "holiday" feeling anymore as I live abroad and travel so I no longer have that lovely "packing for 2 weeks in Lindos and getting to Gatwick at stupid o'clock in the morning" feeling anymore.

That being said, every time I see the BA flight waiting to take me back to LHR, I get through security and "start" my holiday with a glass of wine.

And thinking back on previous visits, the general ritual my parents and I have is that they'll get me a costa coffee when I let them know I"ve landed so when I get through arrivals, it's waiting for me. And then when we get back home, they'll have a Gregg's Steak Bake waiting for me too, with a mug of yorkshire tea. Proper English rituals

Flying back with my two boys for Easter, leaving DH here, so I'm looking forward to doing the same again!

I like going to the local supermarket and buying unknown brands. I often go on holiday to Greece and like to look out for some Loux sour cherry drink, which I really like, and some Lays or Ruffles crisps. I also like to have a frappe on my first afternoon there, followed by a glass or two of wine. I like to buy a little naff souvenir too, last year I got a pen at the airport with a Greek flag that popped out. I often buy useful things that catch my eye, got some little knives in a Greek supermarket that are really handy for peeling veg.

I'm holidaying in the UK this year so will be looking for some nice local produce/tacky UK souvenir. Will be stopping at a motorway service station too, for an over priced coffee and some sweets.

I like to clean the house before I go, so it's clean and tidy when I get back. The cat goes in a cattery so I make his litter tray up, ready for when he is home again.

I like to buy magazines like Take a Breaks fiction feast or a word search/puzzler. Only ever buy these mags when going on holiday.

I used to fetch a pebble, small rock or seashell for my grandma and grandad when I went abroad. I didn't have many holidays anroad until about 7 years ago, but when I did go (in my 30's!) it reminded me of when I was little and finding my "prizes" on the beach.

I remember clearing their house out after they had both died and they still had the pebbles on a special shelf in the living room.

That makes me sad but also happy at the same time. Yes, I did keep them!

@JingsMahBucket
I should hope things have moved with the times and I might give Ocado a try but that would be (gasp) breaking with tradition!

Lost in the mysteries of time as to why, but all UK holidays have to be accompanied by having an ELO's greatest hits album on the car CD. We've worn at least three out, thankfully they're usually easy to find in charity shops.