Are children missing out if they’ve been abroad?

[Shopperami]

Are children missing out if they’ve never been abroad?

BluntandtithePoint we have come away with our 7 month old. He had enjoyed swimming loads and the sand, seeing new things etc, and we have enjoyed being looked after by hotel staff!
It's definitely harder work than a baby free holiday but I'm glad we've done it, I really really needed a break.

Under the age of 5, no I don't think so. Beyond that yes I think they are missing out if they don't have the opportunity to go abroad.
My children have had some fantastic experiences on a variety of breaks abroad and I truly think they will shape their thinking and possible decisions in future.

'Probably' but I can't reconcile my aim in trying to become 'greener' with jetting off here, there and everywhere. My husband loves holidaying abroad and my DC are keen. I went to a fair few countries when I was younger, including a 2 month trip around the USA that my Mum organised- no package element. This makes me feel even worse but it's a different world now and climate change is an existential crisis, we can't pretend that we haven't noticed and carry on as we were.

Mississippilessly My point about babies was that they will never remember a single thing about it. That is what makes it pointless. Older children will gain experience/memories. Otherwise it is just a holiday for the adults, not the children.

We travel quite a bit and dc love the experience and are good in long flights and drives but I do think dh and I can be a bit selfish with our holiday choices as we're not all inclusive in the Med people. My dc are happy in a static caravan in a site in France with a pool - they love those holidays - but equally enjoyed New York, Chicago and the Great Lakes. They do seem to take travel for granted and see our summer trip to Canada as "oh yeah, we're just going to Canada this year!" I guess they just expect it and don't quite grasp cost and distance.

Taking babies abroad is for the parents! We travelled with both of ours from babyhood, but we weren't under any illusions that it was for them - it was for us

As for Butlin's providing all that any family ever needs on holiday

Of course it is for us! Sorry if I wasnt clear. I'm under no illusion that he will remember it!

Goldenbear, if you still want to travel, the ferry and then train is a pretty environmentally-friendly alternative (assuming of course that you live in UK rather than US). My parents took us all over Europe as young children, hardly ever went in an aeroplane.

My db who is an academic and needs to travel quite a bit professionally never flies within Europe.

We never went abroad when I was younger and I don't feel like I missed out.

General views seem to be that they would be missing out then.

Corythatwas, that's a very good idea and no doubt the children would love that. Equally, I absolutely hate flying but that isn't the reason for not wanting to go abroad.

I think a person misses out if they've never been abroad. They dont necessarily need to have done it as children.

Most parents* will end up taking their children on the sort of holiday that could happen anywhere anyway. They want to relax, get food that everyone can eat and maybe a kids club.

• I know this is MN so I expect several posters to twll me about their last holiday to visit that Sentinelesetribe. But that aside, you get my drift.

Personally I'm a bit suspicious of people who go on holiday and act like it's changed their life. You can only get a very shallow knowledge from a holiday. Moving places is the best way to learn about a culture, which your children may do as adults.

No not at all I never did as a child and first went abroad as a young adult. It was great to do it then as I was very excited and appreciated it more.
Going abroad is a luxury but it's essential to spend time together as a family even if it's just at home. It certainly doesn't need to be abroad. I think they would only be missing out if they had no holiday time as a family. It doesn't matter where.

🙂

Shooerami Why won't you tell us why you are asking ?

I grew up in New Zealand so v isolated, no Europe on tap!

I was jealous of all the kids that went to Australia / Pacific Islands / Bali for their holidays. Many people in NZ / Australia have not been outside the Southern Hemisphere because of the share expense and I don't think they have missed out.

We were poor (mum a single mum) I went to Australia twice as a teenager, which I loved (hot weather - beaches and big cities) and the US once which was an incredible experience.

I lived in the UK for close to 15 years so have been all around Europe whilst it has been great fun, I honestly don't think it has broaden my horizons.

Backforgood- I was talking to someone and they said that it’s wrong if children don’t go abroad.

I don't think so, and I know people who's kids have only holiday'd abroad, so they've never been to Cornwall or the Lakes or Pembrokeshire (for example) which I think is a shame - I don't think foreign holidays trump knowing your own country. Balance is always good but if it had to be one or the other I'd stick to the UK.

DD is 9 and has never been abroad, this is the first year she's started to indicate a desire to go, though what she'd actually think of it I don't know, I'm certainly not looking forward to trailing round restaurants trying to find something that a picky vegetarian child will eat! But we will go, sooner or later.

Unless you visit everywhere they will of always still missed out technically.

A child might not all the best place in Spain but could tell you where say Norfolk was. You could visit Africa as a tourist but unless you visit the cut off non tourist parts you’ve still technically missed out.

A holiday is what you make of it wherever you are. I traveled aboard a lot as a child but I couldn’t of told you a thing about the uk outside of the city I lived in. Not sure what my knowledge of say the Dominican helps me with when I couldn’t of pointed out say wales on a map.

Yeah I have no idea what’s happened with a lot of the words above. Know the best places, couldn’t tell you etc

Please don't think I am sneering at all inclusive holidays...I long for them as much as I long for cultural city breaks as i love the sun and love relaxing on the beach, but they are much more expensive than anything we can afford.

We can just about manage to get to Europe once a year for a long weekend but the rest of our time is spent camping or visiting family in the UK.

I am hoping our next foreign excursion will be by ferry as I think the children will love that.

I don’t think an all inclusive beach holiday counts as going abroad per se. It’s more about being exposed to different cultures. Going abroad is a great way to do that. But package holidays have zero benefit beyond a chance to relax a bit.

Willowstar you are saying that an all inclusive holiday is not a cultural break. I don't agree. Have spent a lot of time visiting various archaeology suites, art galleries, museums in Europe whilst staying at all inclusive hotels. The two are not mutually exclusive.

@Bogglesgoggles read my previous posts about all the things I've done with my kids whilst on 'package holidays'. You're talking nonsense. Booking a holiday that includes a package element I. E booking 2 or more elements from the same company, has no imp on what you actually do on a holiday. You can hook a package to anywhere.

@hollowvictory I’m not talking about package holidays in general. I’m talking about them in the context of beach holidays. Beach holidays (particularly in Europe) tend to offer very little by way of cultural experiences. If it’s an all inclusive musical tour of Austria and Italy then fair obviously that’s quite different.