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?

@Gwenhwyfar

I agree with this. For too many people saving up the average of a cheap family holiday say £500 every single year just isn't affordable. Let alone a holiday abroad.

I was surprised by how many flights were related to stag & hen do's, pre-covid.

whatever subject there are always posters taking offence, bah,

If someone is taking offence wherever you post, maybe that should tell you something.

Yes, I'd say about 90% of my friends/family (and us) go abroad at least once per year, we're currently in a beautiful but freezing/wet Cornwall, I love it here and we come every year, but we usually have an abroad holiday too!

@MintyMabel, the issue for many BAME is the racism they face abroad,

and @MintyMabel i was not referring to my posts

Most people I know do go abroad more than once a year.

Travelling is a priority for me, and in pre covid times most of my spare cash would go on this. I appreciate not everyone can afford to go abroad and feel fortunate that I can. I go without other things so I can afford to go on holidays.

I find the judgmental attitudes on here about holidays really ridiculous actually. Everyone has different priorities but that doesn't make someone who looks forward to going on holiday a sad individual with no life.

My parents were very insular and didn’t go away and so I didn’t until I went to France with school. I was lucky to do 3 trips with school and then I did a year abroad for my degree and ended up living abroad and travelling a lot. I think a lot depends on life stage. I’m in the small children phase of life and I’m not that bothered to have missed my planned trip last year and probably this years too. One my youngest is 4 I will be wanting more holidays to share experiences with them but also to relax and use kids clubs. In a few years time a holiday will feel more important to us again and a proper break. At the moment it feels a bit like ‘same shit, different location’.

"If anything it is only the very rich that can afford to stay in this country to holiday."

Rubbish. You're right that holidays can be done very cheaply abroad but you're wrong that only the very rich can holiday here.

We go every 4 years or so. Can only go in school holidays and live down South where housing is expensive. Of DC's school friends I'd say 1 in 5 goes abroad every year. Usually ones who have family abroad. For my colleagues, depends if they have DC. If they have DC then no, they don't tend to go abroad.

Ted27

I think £30 per night even in a Premier inn in a seaside resort in school holidays is never going to happen

I just put in Devon and for a week in August on the coast it is coming up at between £2200 - £4100 for a week in August.

I’d say it’s harder to do a “guaranteed nice” (sorry, dumb phrasing but long day) in the UK than abroad. The weather is less reliable obviously, and some places are pitched in a more expensive way when it comes to activities or places to eat out. Whereas a random touristy bit of Spanish coast is more likely to be cheap and cheerful imo if you just want a fly and flop style holiday.

We’re doing UK holidays this year. Obviously it’s an unusual year in terms of demand but our first one is £100/night + food + travel + any paid attractions we want to enter, on the s coast. The next one is a group holiday so harder to parse but I’m pretty sure the price we’re paying for a Welsh barn rivals Knightsbridge per square foot. Attractions nearby include a farm and a beach.

I go abroad several times a year, as do most of my social group. But my kids are adults, my mortgage is paid off, I’m in a well paid job and can travel out of school holidays. When my kids were small we stayed in the UK or saved up for a Eurocamp holiday every few years.

It is cheaper to go abroad in my experience, we go to Spain every October half term and it is cheaper including flights than going to butlins or centerparks the same week - fact.

I work in travel therefore the vast majority of people I know travel a lot, definitely more than once a year.

www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/leisureandtourism/articles/traveltrends/2017

In 2017 there were 72.8 million visits overseas by UK residents (business trips, visiting family, holidays), with a population of 66 million, so a bit above one trip per person. But as always with statistics that will cover a huge variability.

www.theguardian.com/business/2020/nov/17/people-cause-global-aviation-emissions-study-covid-19 says that around 50% of the UK population fly abroad each year. So once you include the one-offs, and the people only travelling for business I'd say the stats suggest that something like 30-50% of the population take at least one holiday abroad every year.

Which kind of adds up with the stories about 1% of the world's population causing 50% of the carbon emissions, partly due to frequent flying.

@tobypercy

www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/leisureandtourism/articles/traveltrends/2017

In 2017 there were 72.8 million visits overseas by UK residents (business trips, visiting family, holidays), with a population of 66 million, so a bit above one trip per person. But as always with statistics that will cover a huge variability.

www.theguardian.com/business/2020/nov/17/people-cause-global-aviation-emissions-study-covid-19 says that around 50% of the UK population fly abroad each year. So once you include the one-offs, and the people only travelling for business I'd say the stats suggest that something like 30-50% of the population take at least one holiday abroad every year.

Which kind of adds up with the stories about 1% of the world's population causing 50% of the carbon emissions, partly due to frequent flying.

I think airplanes are only around 2% of the global carbon emissions ( I was actually surprised it was that high )

I do hope there is some more R&D into electric airplanes, I do know there are some smaller electric aircraft in development but not sure about large passenger jets.

@Bythemillpond

I just did a very quick search on Premier inn and came up with several seaside hotels, family rooms, 4 nights under £200 in August

without looking too hard

I love holidays abroad.

In the UK the weather is so variable that it can make the whole trip a waste of money (for me anyway).

I work really hard and rarely “switch off” from work completely but do find it easier when I’m not in the country and my colleagues know that. If I’m in the UK, and particularly if I have time off and I’m staying at home, which is what’s happened over the past year, then I check emails, read papers etc etc. If I’m by the pool in a villa or sightseeing in a new city then I don’t think about work at all. It’s very freeing for me. And that doesn’t mean that I don’t like my “normal” life, I do. I work hard,I’m professionally ambitious, take on a lot of responsibility and I’m rewarded well financially. But holidays abroad are my break and personal reward.

@Weirdfan

The holiday threads on here amaze me, I haven't been abroad for nearly twenty years (only been twice in my life) and no UK holidays for over 10 years. Several reasons, money primarily but also the fact we have pets which complicates the whole thing and we also have a history of car breakdowns and other holiday disasters which have put me off if I'm honest. I genuinely don't understand the concept of 'I need a holiday', I always seemed to come back needing a holiday to get over the stress of the holiday!

Snap. Not been on holiday since 2008. I'm autistic though and hate being away from home.

A couple of friends holiday only in the UK, another one a mix of both, we only holiday abroad, usually 3 times a year

I enjoy U.K. holidays but they are exhausting and expensive! Lots of driving, having to pack clothes for every single type of weather, lugging about picnics and jumpers everywhere you go, days out costing a small fortune. Compared to an AI somewhere hot where you pack light: swim things, shorts and sundresses and never have to carry a heavy bag anywhere or make decisions about where to go or contingency plans for shitty weather. We do all types of holidays and I’d always want to but I do miss having an easy, uncomplicated, relaxing trip abroad this summer. I spent years not being able to afford much in terms of holidays at all so I very much recognise the privilege of having the choice now (in non-covid times) but I wish I could just have some guaranteed sunshine and visit a sea that I could swim in without freezing my toes off!

Yes, I personally always have a holiday abroad every year (usually one or two). As a family, we usually have our holidays in the UK (self catering or camping). Our dc are primary and preschool age. They don’t really appreciate a holiday abroad. We have taken eldest one to the US (to visit family) and I’ve taken each of them abroad alone. But our big family holidays are always in the UK. Dh and I like going abroad though (either together, rarely, or alone with the other parent at home).

DP and I were just saying that @LegoPirateMonkey We’re on a U.K. holiday at the moment and it feels exhausting! I think it’s because abroad we’d have a few days of literally lying by the pool waiting for the next meal whereas in the U.K. it’s obviously not warm enough for that so it feels like we’re constantly having to find things to do/travelling to different places/spending money!!

Jesus Im dying from the heat this week.