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?

@StyleAndLasers

An annual getaway is essential (to a given value of essential obviously) to me, but it doesn’t have to be abroad. In the last 13 years we’ve had two “abroad” holidays, and one was Normandy which is barely abroad It absolutely is not cheaper for us to holiday outside the UK, given we have teens, want at least two bedrooms, to be near the sea and have to holiday in school holiday time. I have looked extensively, and asked on here for help in finding that mythical much-cheaper-than-the-UK holiday, and while there were lots of suggestions none were in the school holidays or factored in paying for flights for two older children and two adults.

I agree. We have 3 teens and rarely pay £500 for a self-catered cottage by the sea at the beginning of August. Lots have been really nice. Won't say too much about Pontins last year, but as that was only £60 for the week we'll forget about them. In fact, having just looked it up, the cost of just getting passports would be more than most of our holidays. We normally book fairly last minute and get a reasonable deal.

I would have far more sympathy to people moaning about the cost of term time holidays if they were people struggling to afford a camp site.

I know three families who always go away. Two ago to family in Europe, and the other works for a flight company and they have a scheme where employees can turn up and wait for a flight with spaces which means they don't pay for the flight I think. They've never failed to get to the place they like going.

fantastaballs
And yes to ask the people saying it's cheaper to go abroad than stay in the UK. For 5 of us it's £900 for a crappy bronze standard caravan in the uk with sirens on top. We can get a week in Portugal, Corfu or Italy for that! Self catering is great for us and we always hire a car if it's outside a city.

I also want to know how you get 5 people to Portugal, Corfu or Italy with car hire, airport transfers for a week @ £900!

I don’t really understand why the people who are saying they need a change/want to get away etc. can’t go on trips in the U.K. - yes some of them have become really expensive if people didn’t book them early, but there are plenty of places to visit across the U.K. that are still affordable (if you can normally afford a holiday or three abroad each year) if you use some imagination. I’ve travelled for work and holidays all of my adult life so this is the first time I’ve not been abroad in 25 years at a guess. But I’m going on different holidays in the U.K. instead and they will be lovely too.

@Wegobshite us too - the pandemic has left us in a very lucky financial situation as we had 4 holidays refunded and DH has done shitloads of overtime

Most people I know who can afford it have a holiday abroad every year. The only people I can think of who don't are my parents. They don't usually holiday in the UK either - they're just happy at home.

We would usually go abroad once or twice every year, but we haven't missed it too much in the past year. I'd rather prioritise opening up in the UK and being cautious about overseas travel, rather than risking another lockdown.

We don't go aboard regularly. Neither do my family.

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

Its horses for courses. UK holidays don't appeal to me at all. I don't mind a weekend somewhere different but a holiday for me is laying round all pool in the sun doing absolutely nothing, then dinner and a few drinks under the stars.

We're very happy with our life in the UK and don't find it stale nor boring at all. Yet, we holiday abroad several times per year (one of those trips being to my family who lives in another country). We're both used to frequent travelling as we come from families who did that, most of our friends do, plus we both travelled a lot for work so after a while in one place, we start to feel a bit caged. Why would you think that people who like to travel abroad have something missing/not right in their lives? They just may have a different outlook on fun/different taste to you.

We usually go abroad at least once a year for a holiday, and sometimes more to visit family and friends in other countries. I absolutely adore our holidays and have really missed them, but I don't think they're "essential" and I don't really understand people choosing to travel abroad this year when there is so much uncertainty.

It isn't a question of hating our lives at home at all, it's just that as an intercultural family with experience of living in multiple countries between us, we love to explore. We don't do beach style holidays, we try to go to a new country each year and to learn a little about it.

I'm looking forward to our next adventure, whenever that might be, but for the time being, while covid remains an issue, we will be staying at home.

We go annually some times twice abroad if we can afford it. We have a modest 3 bed semi and a small mortgage so have a decent amount of disposable income to enjoy on holidays. I have friends with large detached houses who rarely go on holiday. It's all about what makes you personally happy snd how you wish to spend the money you have

I don't feel desperate for an escape. Isn't there something wrong if you do? It seems alien to me to spend 50 weeks of the year longing to be somewhere else

Well, if you can find me half a million, I'll move somewhere and won't be desperate to escape. Without that half a million I have to make compromises on where I live and looking forward to holidays and travelling gets me through the daily grind.

Pre pandemic I went abroad about 3 times a year. Once family holiday, once ski weekend and once with friends for mini break. Some years it would be more than that.
It would be great if I found my job so enjoyable and fulfilling that I didn't look forward to a break- if that had been the case the last 16 months would have been a blast - but although I don't hate it I do like a change of scene.

I'm mid 30's I have been abroad three times in my life.

1. France for an overnight stay away with DH for my birthday. Not a holiday really it was just one night. Early flight enjoy the day, sleep and then fly home.

1. A Make a Wish holiday for my DS, we went to Florida, it was amazing.

1. Not a holiday, but I flew to NZ for a year to escort my mother who had decided on having a mid life crisis but wasn't the most stable of individuals so since my first born was still a baby and portable I went with her.

I don't see the fuss about foreign travel, yes I'd love to see the world but I'd want to actually see it, work new places and explore the real culture. Sitting on a beach or in an all in live hotel? I'd rather poke my eyes out with a stick tbh. What a waste of money and time!

We usually go abroad a couple of times a year and a couple of U.K. breaks. The main Sumer holiday is abroad. We have dogs so usually drive to France and take them with us.

I used to travel a lot with work too.

I can't think of anyone in my circle who doesn't go abroad on at least a yearly basis.

how woudl you find the answer to yoru quesiton op? there must be stats somewhere
ask More or Less

Not every year by any means. Probably every 3 years.

I also don't get the argument that it's cheaper to have overseas holidays than UK holidays - never found that at all.

Most people I know go abroad multiple times a year. Lots of people ski in the winter and then Europe in the summer. We normally have a week skiing in France or Italy, 10 days abroad for our main holiday, a weeks holiday in the UK and then maybe a long weekend abroad too.

@AbsolutelyPatsy

how woudl you find the answer to yoru quesiton op? there must be stats somewhere ask More or Less

Or use google?

No, I've oy been abroad once when I was 15, and that was with my aunt and uncle. I've never been with my parents, and we have never been as a family. We are supposed to go abroad next year for a wedding, I'm absolutely shitting myself to get on a plane with my kids. I didn't even realise I was afraid of flying.

“Almost half of UK holidaymaker had taken a vacation both abroad and within the United Kingdom in the the last 12 months, according to a survey conducted in summer 2019.”

From here www.statista.com/statistics/480160/share-of-britons-going-on-holiday-abroad/#statisticContainer

@TheoMeo

The travel to abroad puts me off - perhaps people are keener if they live near an airport. In theory it's simple but you have to factor in hold ups on the road to the airport but also horribly early/ late departures

I learnt early doors that early and late departures weren’t worth it. Stuck in rush hour , biggest queues and makes you feel tired and unwell.

I usually book late afternoon flights out as they are the next cheapest. I get lunchtime flights back so you don’t get the build up of flight delays but also no hanging around with a hangover watching the clock.

I did try Google, as I said in OP

I’m late twenties, I’ve been abroad once when I was 18, my DH is in his mid 30’s and has never been abroad. Our families couldn’t afford it when we were growing up, I had UK holidays every summer but DH was part of a very large family and they only went on a uk holiday once when he was a child. And now we’re adults we can’t afford it now either

Im the complete opposite, I've never been on holiday in my life. Most I've had is three or so days at my brothers in the different county. As a kid parents couldn't afford it and we had caring responsibilities and as an adult I'm now said carer to my mum so can't go.

I have several friends who went away as kids but now are unable to do more than a couple of days away for various reasons as adults

The majority of others however do go away. One friend counts down from one holiday to the next. Always one booked pre covid.

My cousin is retired and she was always away too, she'd have about 4 or 5 a year somehow.

I cannot believe that you, and your father before you, said that those who need to get away should improve their everyday lives instead, and that ‘it’s a shame’ 😂😂😂
That’s so small minded and ignorant. I and everyone I know very much enjoy our normal lives. We also all enjoy foreign holidays and look forward to them greatly. How ridiculous to suggest that means there’s something lacking in our every day lives 😂😂😂