Summer feels totally different this year?

[madeinmanc]

I'm not just saying this because the weather's just turned dreary but summer feels really different to me this year, especially in my location. I live by the sea in a holiday resort and I'm sure there was much more of a buzz and holiday vibe the past few years, and it seems strangely absent this year.

I do various outdoor activities and they were all busy last year, sometimes it was even hard to book on some things. The swimming pool was booked out and people were out for walks. I remember going for walks and seeing groups of people out walking, these days I can often not pass another person.

Could it be that people aren't holidaying in the UK anymore, i.e. no more "staycationing"? 🤔Economic worries? But some of the things I'm thinking of are free activities.

Has anyone else noticed this, especially if they live somewhere where people go for UK holidays? It honestly feels so different to me.

Last year the weather was much much better. People were much more likely to take a punt on a uk day out.

the year before people weren’t going abroad.

the year before we were locked down.

Agree the weather plays a massive part in UK days/weekend/weeks out . I'm glad for the rain for the most part, 40 degrees and houses burning down last year was horrific but wish it would warm up a bit!

I am in Valletta at the moment. 34 degrees, blue skys every day, lovely clean clear sea and 2 lovely pools.

At the moment in the UK I wouldn't want to swim in the sea, not that many hotels have nice pools or the guaranteed weather to sit round them . A fantastic seafood pasta here is 14 euros and a beautiful (and huge) chicken risotto I had the other night 16 euros, a decent glass of really lovely Maltese Chardonnay is 6 euros - my H and father in law had 3 hours round the terrific WW11 museum for 7 euros each

Exactly people moan when we do go anyway

I agree with this. Us ‘tourists’ know we’re not wanted in U.K. holiday towns. I could ignore it for a cheap getaway, but I’m not paying £1000s to be moaned about. I’d rather stay at home or go abroad somewhere.

I love seeing tourists round our town giving it a holiday vibe, but I know I might be the exception. You couldn't move without bumping into a Spanish speaker last summer and I loved it!

but presumably you were having the picnic, as were all the others, because the weather was nice?
If the weather isn't nice, you and the others won't be having a picnic on the beach.

Everyone is skint and depressed. Some are abroad.

I love a flat Brittany beach on a dreary summers day! Brings back memories of summer holidays and beach clubs.

To be fair to holiday let owners, prices have risen a lot recently for them also.

Ie ours was booked up last year for this summer already. For x price. We haven’t raised the price in 3 years. However since then all our utilities, insurances, etc have all increased on average by 35%. Some 100%. So this summer we have much higher costs, but no higher income.

We are going to have to increase for summer 2024 to not start making a loss. But I think we are still pretty reasonable for size/ location/ amenities provided

It’s a horrible heat this year- very humid and claustrophobic. Im avoiding going out

I spoke to colleagues in Germany and some had said in the past they wanted to come to the UK for a holiday.

Now you need a passport, lots of them don't have as you can travel in the EU with your identity card. Too expensive and too much hassle for 2 weeks holiday.

They also said cottage prices are quite high.

So, your normal EU holiday maker may be missing as well.

I live in a popular Devon holiday spot by the beach. Lots of holiday parks in the area, and their bookings are down. I run holiday lets and our bookings have been sluggish, and lots of last minute 2 night breaks. It would not be financially viable for us if the accommodation we own had a mortgage on it. I make a very modest profit and it requires a lot of hours of marketing, and property maintenance. This is commonly reported on the holiday owner forums I read, so not just me. Owners are reporting dire trading. The staycation industry is struggling due to the economy, but also the financial viability of running this sort of investment business is not so attractive now. The Government have killed small lettings business operations stone dead, and doubling council tax on all second homes is ill-thought out. Our accommodation is on a holiday park so we could never convert to residential renting. Not that I would want to having read the new rental reforms coming into force. The changes to the business rates rules make holiday lettings less attractive for starters. I believe bookings are down about 30% in my area, compared to pre-covid years. I watch the holiday parks for trends, and they have vacancies for the school holidays (which is an event I have never known in all my years of doing this). Prices have been slashed. Package holidays abroad seem to be cheap too, so I guess those families that can afford 2 weeks in the Costa del are doing just that. The holiday park staff around where I live tell me that guests are not using the clubs and on-site food outlets as much now. If they come on holiday, they stay home at night and buy from a supermarket.

Same. Really unpleasanty muggy.

I'm off abroad this year. First time since before COVID. Oh yes!

I suspect there are more like me. And more like I'll be after trip (broke).

Talk of falling numbers prompted me to google

We are forecasting 35.1 million visits in 2023 (86% of the 2019 level and 18% higher than in 2022) and £29.5 billion spend (104% of the 2019 level and 14% higher than in 2022).

With 39.4 million visitor arrivals in 2019

So revenue up slightly post Covid from 2019 but numbers lower

I'm the same. I met my bestfriend while she was holidaying in Cornwall!

😊 most of us are too busy at work to complain about people on holiday here. Thankfully.

I think the whingebags have too much time on their hands and start spiralling about tourists, planning permissions and Greggs 😂

I live abroad and I think they’re all here! You can gladly have them back 🙈
busy periods generally mainly July & August, it’s been busy since April this year non-stop

It's a complete rip off holidaying in UK, way too expensive and busy for mostly rubbish accommodation and weather. I looked at renting a cottage, for next week, last minute and it was still a lot more expensive than my week away all inclusive in a beautiful hotel in Cyprus last year.

Just for reference, what do people think is a reasonable cost for a 2 bedroom holiday house rental for 1 week?
Has prime location, spacious, outdoor space and views. In € or £

I get that, honestly, and I sympathise. But that doesn’t mean people will be able or willing to pay the increased price. Everyone’s costs have gone up, so that means less money for holidays for many.

I want to know how families of 5 are holidaying in Spain for £2.4K!

things seem quieter here too. But the weather is not inviting to go to places in the Uk. And I love a UK holiday, but it’s a lot of money for unpredictable weather.

@UrsulaIsMyQueen - oh i do understand. Everyone has higher costs now days.

Mixture of things, I think.

This is the first year since 2019 that people have been able to book and go abroad without having to factor covid in. Wouldn't count last year because I know some people's options were still limited by vaccination, and also for those who want to book their summer holiday early they may have felt it was a risk to do so while there were still things like isolation in place. So some of the people you saw last year wouldn't have been in the UK if not for covid and the knock on effects.

Then also the weather is patchier, and not really like even the more typical drizzly grey crap British summer. That's actually easy enough to power through, but the thunderstorms are offputting. And the raw sewage on the beaches will funnily enough have put some people off.

Crikey where I live is busier than ever. Its hideous and can’t wait for them all to go home!!