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?

[quote 4PawsGood]“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[/quote]
I found that one, but it doesn't say how many of those holidays were abroad?

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
Its not longing to be somewhere else because you are unhappy being here. To me uts being excited about seeing and exploring somewhere new.
Different countries are so different to my everyday experiences its nice to be pushed out if my comfort zone. I don't think there's anything 'wrong with me and it is quite a rude suggestion from you.

Shamoo: 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.

SamW98 a holiday for me is laying round all pool in the sun doing absolutely nothing

These two comments summarise the argument for me. It depends on your holiday expectations. I love travelling, usually abroad, but I replaced that with a glorious week pottering around Wales last September. This year I'll probably go to Norfolk as I can't be bothered with all the extra hassle of travelling abroad. I'm kind of glad of the difficulties of foreign travel as I get to explore bits of the UK I wouldn't normally plan to visit.

However, if I wanted to lie by a pool in the sun all day doing nothing, then I'm unlikely to be able to replicate that in the Breacon Beacons or the Norfolk Broads.

My family have always holidayed abroad so its what I've known as 'normal' all my life.
As a kid we used to have two holidays a year one abroad one in the UK and for me I loved my holiday in the sun and dreaded the one in the UK. Doing activities in another town just holds zero appeal to me

My grandparents were ahead of their time and used to go to Spain in the 50's and 60's when foreign holidays were not common for most people. They used to go by boat and train before flying was affordable and to them it was worth every minute of the inconvenience

Of all the tings I've missed the most the last 15 months, my holidays are the biggest one.

And there's absolutely nothing missing in my life - what a bizarre comment

@denverRegina

"In answer to your question op, only on mn."

Don't be ridiculous. You think it's only MNetters that have been financing the booming travel industry pre-covid 😂

I travelled extensively and regularly before MN existed

Where did I say only on MN?

you woudl have to do your research pre covid times op

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.

No one fesses up to being the holiday maker that lies on the beach for 2 wks!

Oh god I will! Love nothing more. I travelled a lot in my 20s though and also for work. I feel now I just need a break

I also don’t much like skiing and spend more time in the spa or reading by the fire than on the slopes when we go.

www.abta.com/

"Where did I say only on MN?"

You didn't. I quoted another poster

No one fesses up to being the holiday maker that lies on the beach for 2 wks!

I do!! Well the pool rather than the beach but yes I have had holidays where I've done nothing much more than soak up the sun for a fortnight only moving for food and drink.

It might be others idea of hell but its my money and my choice to take that chance to chill

In my circle, most do. The few who don't regularly go aboard tend to do "posh" UK holidays - the super expensive cottages /hotels.

We do live in South east UK, so its about an hour to drive to a ferry port, or less to Gatwick Airport. I do know a few families who do camping in France, which is pretty cheap.

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.

Yes to the 3 holidays a year, no to the rest 🤷🏼‍♀️

I also want to know how you get 5 people to Portugal, Corfu or Italy with car hire, airport transfers for a week @ £900!
It wasn't me that posted but I can see how it's done. We live near an airport that has lots of budget flights and if you know when they are released they are cheap. So my friend at work got flights for her family to Paphos for £40 each then rented a villa so a really cheap holiday. There are so many choices for villa/air bnb that prices are driven down. We have flights booked to Croatia that we've had to rebook twice now due to Covid. We're going with another family so 6 of us. The flights were less than £300 for the 6 of us. We plan to go island hopping but could easily get a cheap hotel or villa and have a really cheap holiday. Car hire at airports and holiday destination is also really cheap. I think I paid about 100 quid for a week in France a couple of years ago and could have got cheaper. Airport transfers, well you'd have the hire car from the airport so cost included in that.

For the last few years we go abroad with another couple in October, chasing the sun. It’s a nice end to UK sunshine and the beginning of darker days and endless winter.

The rest of the time I am happy with UK summers, nothing nicer than sitting in my garden at the end of the working day with a cold drink and a good book.

Also I feel that the UK has some of the nicest beaches in the world and the most beautiful countryside anywhere. When I see some of the black sand beaches abroad where you have to pay to sit I long for somewhere like Swanage beach with Punch and Judy, ice cream and the sight of children happily digging in sand like they have done for decades. It’s such a shame we can’t depend on the weather!

Yes to the 3 holidays a year, no to the rest 🤷🏼‍♀️
Same!
Although to be fair Dh did the child care when the children were little so I could go away.(as I did when he went away)

Off my closest circle of friends I have one who doesn’t go abroad every year, she goes abroad once in every 3 years of so?
Everyone else I know does.
Not necessarily laying on a beach, I hate that type of holiday but usually I’d have a week skiing, a city break to run a half marathon/marathon with running friends, city break with other friends, city break with DP.

I also get to the lakes/peaks/north Wales/Scotland as often as possible. No kids and a tiny mortgage so I’m happy to spend my money on it!

most posters are just telling your about their plans,
not really an answer to your question imo

We go abroad every year (apart from last year and this year with COVID).

We usually have a city break somewhere abroad around May time and then a big holiday later in the year.

It’s something we always look forward to.

I don't consider foreign holidays a 'god given right' or ' essential' during a pandemic, and although frustrating, won't be rushing to get on a plane any time soon.
We have had a foreign holiday every year, sometimes two. Almost all of my friends and colleagues ditto but appreciate we're lucky to have 2 decent wages coming in. One of my dear school friends and partner both in minimum wage jobs save really hard to have a foreign holiday every other year. So it really does depend.

So many very beautiful places in the UK, of course you can have a good holiday here but weather not as reliable and accommodation and food way more expensive than the equivalent in most overseas resorts. Plus there are too many of us to accommodate without overcrowding.

@XiCi

I also want to know how you get 5 people to Portugal, Corfu or Italy with car hire, airport transfers for a week @ £900! It wasn't me that posted but I can see how it's done. We live near an airport that has lots of budget flights and if you know when they are released they are cheap. So my friend at work got flights for her family to Paphos for £40 each then rented a villa so a really cheap holiday. There are so many choices for villa/air bnb that prices are driven down. We have flights booked to Croatia that we've had to rebook twice now due to Covid. We're going with another family so 6 of us. The flights were less than £300 for the 6 of us. We plan to go island hopping but could easily get a cheap hotel or villa and have a really cheap holiday. Car hire at airports and holiday destination is also really cheap. I think I paid about 100 quid for a week in France a couple of years ago and could have got cheaper. Airport transfers, well you'd have the hire car from the airport so cost included in that.

In school holidays?

Yes we usually do. We lost a holiday last year and this year year. Ive got every thing crossed for the holiday we have booked for xmas. I'll cry sad tears if this one gets cancelled!

Depends on your social circles/ wealth I suppose.

Personally, I stopped going abroad when I realised I prefer holidaying in the UK : )

<a class="break-all" href="https://www.statista.com/statistics/480184/average-number-of-abroad-holidays-per-person-in-the-uk/www.statista.com/statistics/480184/average-number-of-abroad-holidays-per-person-in-the-uk/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.statista.com/statistics/480184/average-number-of-abroad-holidays-per-person-in-the-uk/www.statista.com/statistics/480184/average-number-of-abroad-holidays-per-person-in-the-uk/

The last 'holiday' I had was a weekend away in 2018. Before that, 5 days in the UK a few years before that. No abroad since 2009.

Money is tight and when we have any spare, holidays are way down the priority list.