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.

Some of us haven't forgotten the instructions to stay away as we weren't welcome during COVID

I can see that, is it in the U.K. Do you think you’ll still be booked up next year?

@StefanosHill - not uk no. We we southern Europe. It seems busier that every so I hope so. I know other places locally like holiday rentals and hotels have already increase prices massively last year and they still seem to be booked up also.

We’re going back to same place this year as we loved it last time

It was around £1000 more which was a bit ouch but we still booked

@StefanosHill - ours will only work out around €120 increase for the week, nothing like £1000 extra.

I did wonder if we got a bargain as it was new on the site last year as so much more, in the end it was still better at the higher price

That increase sounds v reasonable

This is one of the reasons a lot of us don’t want to holiday in the U.K. to be honest.

I’m guessing it’s a combination of things - I’ve noticed more friends heading back off on foreign holidays this year now Covid restrictions have all but gone.
On the other hand, others I know cannot afford a holiday / days out this year.

I think its just too early generally there will be definitely less money sloshing around this year so might be less bustling in areas like yours

I dont know how people are finding holidays abroad for same as UK. We going to Devon in August £770 for a week in a chalet via Airbnb
I'm looking at may half term next year I'm spain and theyre £2.5k self catering for anything habitable

Depending on what you want it's sometimes cheaper or at least easier to budget going abroad as well. I read something about all inclusives being more popular now, and I think that might be because the upfront costs are so transparent. I really like a UK break, but there's always the risk that the weather will completely fuck it up so you have to have contingencies too, which requires money. Whereas there are holidays abroad that pretty much remove that risk.

😂 all that grudge holding must be oh so difficult for you. You need a holiday...

Where I live (Leeds) it's heaving and feels very summery. Lots of people sitting outside at cafes, in bars etc. We have no beach but people are river swimming or going to the nearby lido. It really feels like summer to me.

Everyone's in London- been heaving for weeks...

It's got to be a combination of factors, surely?

• cost of living crisis
• high cost of UK breaks vs. abroad
• unpredictable weather
• poor customer service
• lots of people holidayed in the UK between 2020-2022 and maybe don't want to again due to above
• people who can afford to holiday wanting to go away after possibly several years at home
• UK hospitality sector still struggling for staff
• negative press about unwelcome visitors in places like Cornwall

This is overseas visitors coming back. Apparently, visitors from the US are up hugely on 2019 - there must be lots of pent-up demand post-pandemic.

I actually think a lot of people did their 'summer things' in the 6+ weeks we had of really hot weather earlier in the year. And now there is less push to do summer things because they've already done them. We live in a touristy area and certainly beaches and footpaths and picnic spots were really busy back then - definitely saw people places (whole families several deep) where I have never gone and seen another soul but us before! I suspect now people are staying closer to home waiting for the bulk of the school holidays and saving money. And definitely I think lots more will be going abroad than in recent years (thank god).

This.

Also, during Covid when we couldn't go abroad, the prices of UK holiday homes sky-rocketed. If holiday home owners are still charging 2021 prices in 2023, then people won't be booking them.

A friend spent £6k total for 4 to go eco friendly (train) from south England to western isles of Scotland. Great luck that They had fantastic weather ( unusual) but many of the restaurants/ attractions were closed due to forth of European seasonal workers. They were so disappointed

This, exactly.

Holiday lets got so greedy and pushed prices so high after covid, and they haven’t come down. theyre now no longer good value or affordable for lots of people, it’s cheaper to go abroad all inclusive with better weather and kids activities than it is to stay in the uk and eat out/find activities to do.

Exactly. Central London is absolutely buzzing right now. Perfect weather as well, not too hot.

I can imagine. Love going out in Leeds. I was in York in May and everyone was sitting outside drinking. I got sunburnt!

That is true

As others have said, UK destinations capitalised on post pandemic stay cations, ramping up prices and now they're paying the price. I know costs have gone up for them and of course many struggled through the pandemic but a shitty static at a run down site isn't three times better than it was a couple of years ago when it was a third of the price.

People are not bothering with the UK so much or are going abroad for better weather and value for money. Don't blame them.

June was nice at the start, it now doesn't seem as nice for some reason... lots more cloud and drizzle and not as 'dry hot' as last year.

It could also be inflation though, we use to pop of for a weekend randomly and just book a night in a travelodge which use to be around £30-£60 for a Saturday (depending on place and time of year, we would shop around for cheaper sites). Now those same travelodge rooms we use to stay in are £100-£200 a night.

We are also feeling the pinch more so we have less income, higher out goings and they are charging double making it impossible. AirB&Bs and everything else has shot up in price too.

I would love to just nip of for a mini weekend away, we aren't super fussy about luxury (budget chains are fine by us) but we just can't find anywhere this year.

Coastal southwest here. Lots of caravans and camper vans but towns not at all busy. Weather is poor so it feels as though summer has already passed.