Do "most" people really have an annual foreign holiday?

[PreservativeFree]

Reading on here how many people feel their annual getaway is essential, I'm surprised.

In my imeadiate circle, I'd say less than half go abroad every year. My parents haven't been abroad in years, although they do travel a lot in UK and could certainly afford it if they wanted to.

My closest friends occasionally visit family in France but generally don't like to be away from home.

My sister goes camping in France about once every 3 years, when they can afford it.

We're at a fairly comfortable stage in life and have had foreign holidays but quite often choose the Lakes instead.

My boss, on a six figure salary, has a camper van and usually stays in UK.

My young adult children are more likely to do an activity holiday with friends in UK than a lads beach and booze holiday.

I also know quite a few people who won't fly for environmental reasons.

Obviously, I do know people who go abroad too, but in my circle I don't think "most" people go abroad every year, even those who comfortably could if they wanted to.

I've tried to find some stats, but failed. Does anyone know?

@denverRegina

"Trouble is that even if "you" are going to a culturally rich area of Spain, you still have to share the airport/plane with the "media stereotypes"."

Oh god forbid you might come into contact with a fat cockney in a Union Jack vest 😂

I once had a great drunken night singing sweet Caroline with a Union Jack wearer 😁

Spain I think. We are still Facebook friends.

For the record, I’m a culture vulture too and love nothing more than exploring historical sites.

Hell, I booked a trip to Pompey within hours of watching the Mary Beard doc.

I haven’t been abroad in over a decade.
I tend to holiday in the UK because my family lives scattered all over so I generally go on holiday to visit family.
I would like to go abroad, but I’m not even gonna think about it until COVID is well and truly under control.

@BiscoffAddict

There’s a lot of financial privilege on MN, so of course responses to this thread will be skewed towards ‘everyone I know goes abroad at least once a years 🙄. Meanwhile in the real world it’s a bit of a mixture. Most of the people I know with children might go every other year and have fo save up for it, but mostly they stay in the U.K. either in static or tourer caravans or tents. They seem to really enjoy it. The people I know go regularly as in at least once a year are the older retired couples and younger people who don’t yet have children so more disposable income.

It’s expectation not financial privilege.

Primarily I’ve paid on credit cards. I ‘ve also done working holidays. I’ve taken up friends offers to stay in their places, I’ll go for 4 days and not 7.
I love being abroad.
In the same way I know people on similar incomes that buy new furniture, have spend money on nails and hair or have takeaways every week.
Being working poor often means debt ( few can buy and run a car on one minimum wage income). I happy to owe a few grand and see the world.

I would guess that the bell-curve for the number of foreign holidays per year would pretty well match the bell-curve for family income.

I simply can't handle the stress, lone parent and food allergies make it too much hassle. I last went in 2006.

Same for us except it’s accommodating DD’s disability that adds the stress. Our only trip abroad, we used a travel agent who did all the donkey work. But even then she dropped so many balls we ended up sorting most of it ourselves.

This is mumsnet so most on here will have 3-6 holidays abroad, earn at least 75k, have childcare sorted and never any issues with it, have at least 2 ovens and 2 dishwashers and of course a massive walk in pantry, cannot understand why people would rent and throw money away, have made hundreds of thousands on property and have a cleaner.............. allegedly.

You must be reading a different Mumsnet to me. Most often they’re earning 20k a year, living in central London, spend nothing on anything, manage three trips abroad every year, but not understand how anyone could spend £100 on a new coat.......allegedly.

I’m also laughing at the suggestion that having a cleaner is some kind of unattainable luxury that only high earners could possibly afford. Mine costs me about 45 per month. Most people spend more than that on a night out with friends. Attainable even on an average salary for most.

@AbsolutelyPatsy

whatever subject there are always posters taking offence, bah,

I don’t think anyone’s taking offence as such.

Just a bit wtf at your position.

You still haven’t answered why you think ‘BAME’s’ only go to India and hate NT (I love a stately home btw), nor why you discredit mine and @SimonJT lived experiences. Or why you are concerned about this.

Have you not ever been to an airport and seen black travellers in the easyJet/RyanAir queues?

We do a 2-3 week holiday abroad every year (probably not this year though!) it's a caravan holiday to France and we cook for ourselves/don't eat out and drive over. There's 5 of us. If I took us for a few days out to London/amusement parks etc and to eat out it would probably come to a similar cost.

An annual holiday is our family priority and even when we've been living on beans for the rest of the year we've still managed to do it.

Hell, I booked a trip to Pompey within hours of watching the Mary Beard doc.

Love Gunwharf Quay.

Pre-Covid, I would say we went abroad perhaps three times a year. Most of our friends are probably the same.
But I'm not having a huge issue with putting that on hold at the moment. Needs must.
I certainly wouldn't fancy travelling on a plane/through an airport right now - or on a train for that matter.

I have gone on an annual summer holiday abroad every year for most of my adult life.
I love the sunshine and crave warmth.
Before kids usually exotic places and £££.
As a family usually the Med somewhere and a cheaper holiday.

Growing up I never went abroad. I had a holiday every year but it was in England. No one I knew went abroad as it was deemed expensive only people I'd heard of going abroad were a lot wealthier.

Now we go on holiday abroad at least once or twice a year, often more. Of our friends almost all go abroad at least once a year.

I work in a mixed catchment school. About 60% ish go abroad every year - but there are a big chunk who don't, and several who don't go anywhere on holiday each year.

@denverRegina

"Trouble is that even if "you" are going to a culturally rich area of Spain, you still have to share the airport/plane with the "media stereotypes"."

Oh god forbid you might come into contact with a fat cockney in a Union Jack vest 😂

tbf it is rather ghastly. That's why I use ear plugs and a face mask if I've not been able to find a seat in business class

Another thing about mumsnet holiday threads is that everyone is a "traveller" who loves exploring & experiencing new cultures. No one fesses up to being the holiday maker that lies on the beach for 2 wks!

These would be the same people who try to claim they are absolutely doing the right thing taking their kids out of GCSE prep for a fortnight because their holidays are so much more educational than being in school.

ONS statistics say that in 2019 there were over 90m trips overseas by UK residents of which 59m were 'holidays' (although visiting relatives overseas for some reason doesn't seem to count as a holiday). I guess if a reasonable number of people go 2-3 times, probably that means 30-40 million people holiday abroad at least once. Half the population or a little more

I do want to spend more time travelling the U.K. and have done a good few Premier Inn U.K. road trips in the past, but I do balk at the prices.

My bucket list includes Norfolk, Cornwall, a working farm holiday. Oh and after watching the BBC lawyer drama I want to go Wales as it looks beautiful.

I find it hard to say book U.K. months in advance due to weather concerns. And no, camping is not for me.

Before I’m called ignorant I know a Pompey hence the auto correct.

I booked Pompeii of course

I reckon most people I know go abroad...but I'm in Ireland and our weather isn't as good as England's unfortunately! I don't always beach,I love.city breaks too

64% of brits were taking a foreign holiday before covid

We always went abroad and sometimes more than once, we did have one year where we went to Wales.

It’s a self selecting group isn’t it. Almost all mine and DH friends are people we met at University or work. This mean they are all in professional occupations on above average salaries.

But as much as I do miss not going abroad plus we have a lot of family overseas which is very sad and far more of an issue for us than a holiday we are booking nothing nor have any expectation. Anyone that travels across borders just for a holiday however is currently in my view selfish.

We currently have a relative who has traveled across Europe, they are apparently exempt from quarantining for ten days as on a business trip. There is actually a list of occupations that have less restrictions. Their occupation isn’t on it. They are currently visiting friends and family. DH and I have had a huge row as I have said they are not setting foot in our house, this is someone who has crossed at least two amber alert countries two days ago.

Yes we always do. But I've gone off the idea with Covid and all the crowding at airports.

"tbf it is rather ghastly. That's why I use ear plugs and a face mask"

You do right love. Block those beer bellied, pie eating, flag wearing scroungers out.

You would think it was a god given right the amount some people are moaning about this and last year!

Well said. Holidays are great of course, but are a luxury not a necessity, much as everyone enjoys them. Many people are unable to go on holiday at all in any given year, (and yes, I've certainly been in that category).

Here you are: www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/abta-british-travellers-holiday-europe-flight-shame-campaign-a9147226.html

Over 60% of people - so yes it's most of us.

I love holidays (city breaks, country breaks, lying on a beach or skiing) and really miss it. This is not a horrible problem to have but it's disappointing and an inconvenience. Some people hated the pubs being shut (or gyms, shopping centres - all sorts of things) and some hate not being able to go on an overseas holiday. All of the covid closures have horrible impacts on the people who work in those sectors.

@PurpleBiro21, re the NT, I read it and heard it on discussion on the radio,
that also includes the british countryside, dont blame me for what i read!

and the bame that i know, my own personal experience of their holidaying.