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?

I love travel, going abroad isn't always necessarily a holiday in the way most people see it, for me. In between work, having dogs (no children) me and my Husband are ticking off places on our 'list' They take 6 months to plan (DH does it all himself) and can be anywhere between 3-5 weeks long. We do this once a year during the winter.

We also camp all over the UK with our dogs.

My group of friends (all couples some with children) do have holidays abroad but the type that are 1/2 weeks on a European beach in a big hotel. One friend doesn't go anywhere else but Centre Parcs. Spring, Summer, Autumn and Christmas.

I grew up abroad, I have always travelled a lot for work and holidays. I find being stuck in one place extremely frustrating. I hate having to live such a risk averse life.

[quote PurpleBiro21]@AbsolutelyPatsy and to answer the questions directly - many of my black friends do family package holidays.

We did one as above and had planned to do Europe or Turkey last year. As a family.

I’m intrigued as to why you think we’d be less likely to do so?[/quote]
Apparently we need stats rather than BAME voices 🤷🏽‍♂️

In normal times we would have a winter sun holiday usually in the canaries for one or two weeks around Xmas or Feb half term & a summer cottage break for a week in school summer hols. Not been away on holiday since Dec 19, and won’t book anything overseas until restrictions are removed. Too much hassle. Most people, I know travel much more than my family, usually.

@PurpleBiro21
because the BAME that i know, do not,

Never went on foreign holidays with my parents and they have never been abroad. I don't think they've ever left England and at their ages they never will - in their 80's.

Before I got married I had only been abroad on a school cruise in the Med.

come off it @SimonJT, your voice, my voice, is only a drop in the ocean, not a true reflection

@AbsolutelyPatsy

ok *@PurpleBiro21* i gather you do, and many of your friends,

Yes and we see many black and Asian families on packages holidays too.

Out of interest, why do you ask and why do you think we wouldn’t?

I have a large family (5 kids/2 adults) looking at prices of suitable accommodation in Cornwall (approx £3k for a wet week in august) I'd much rather spend another £500 and go for a sunny week in Turkey. Which is what we usually do.

[quote AbsolutelyPatsy]@PurpleBiro21
because the BAME that i know, do not,[/quote]
answered

Erm, plenty of my BAME friends and colleagues go abroad, to Spain and the like...

and some may spend their holiday going to India to see their family for example

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.

@AbsolutelyPatsy

and some may spend their holiday going to India to see their family for example

of the ones i know of course, before anyone takes offence

We tend to have an "abroad" holiday more years than not. Yup not great for the planet but in every other area of life I actively try to reduce our carbon footprint as much as I can do I won't lose sleep over that factor.

I'll be honest and say I love it - different sights, smells, sounds, language (I even love mooching around a foreign supermarket for some unknown reason) - and I've missed it so much. Especially as knowing that when we do our uk caravan seaside holiday later this year it's highly likely it will turn unseasonably chilly and piss down with rain for 7 days solid. We're unlucky like that

@AbsolutelyPatsy why are you so concerned re BAME people abroad?

As we see here, some (presumably white) families don’t routinely holiday abroad. Some do. This is the same for black families.

I don’t understand why race has been bought into it?

And I hate flying. I'm not scared of it, but there's so much waiting around and stress over delayed flights and general curfuffle.

We go abroad every year. It some cases it is actually cheaper to go abroad than to holiday in England
I love travelling and make sacrifices in order to travel.
I don’t intend to travel until 2022 because I don’t think there’s any point with all the restrictions

I’m intrigued as to why you think we’d be less likely to do so?
Because she's stupid enough to believe the media stereotypes, and thinks that the only people to visit Spain are overweight cockneys with union jack towels on their sunbeds who have a full English and 15 pints of Stella for their breakfast

We would normally have one main holiday abroad and one or two city breaks. Haven’t been anywhere in 2 years now though but we had a nice holiday in Ireland last year.

why not @PurpleBiro21

i understand many BAME would hate National Trust property visits, it is simply of interest

@m0therofdragons

I only know a few families who don’t. Most of my friends have a summer holiday abroad.

We love travel but not the laying on the beach type:
2019 - Canada, BC and Alberta Rockies drive
2018 - France, Brittany
2017 - USA, New York, Chicago, Wisconsin lakes
2016 - Italy, lake Garda
2015 - France, Loire valley
2014 - Jersey
2013 - Canada, Alberta

2020 was supposed to be Florida. I have family there too.

These sound amazing!

For me, it's varied over time. The first time I went abroad was when I was 24 years old! Then I had 2 or 3 foreign holidays per year for around 10 years. Then had a few years without going abroad at all. Then started going once a year. Now not been abroad for maybe 5 years and don't really have any intention of doing so.

Over the years, foreign travel has become more and more stressful and uncomfortable. Back in my 20's (1980s) it was actually enjoyable. In recent years, it's been more of a chore. The airport "experience" ruins it for me before we've even left the UK. Electronic check in that usually doesn't work, ridiculously long queues at security, and actually, everywhere else too. Then over the years, seat size/pitch on planes has reduced. Everything is just so stressful and crowded.

I can honestly say that if I never went abroad again, I wouldn't miss it. And that's someone who used to be a regular.

And I'm white, as apparently that needs saying.

@XiCi

I’m intrigued as to why you think we’d be less likely to do so? Because she's stupid enough to believe the media stereotypes, and thinks that the only people to visit Spain are overweight cockneys with union jack towels on their sunbeds who have a full English and 15 pints of Stella for their breakfast

you dont know me, yet you call me stupid,