Has anyone else gone off travelling?

[TennisToday]

When I was younger I did loads of travelling around the world. USA, Australia, New Zealand, SE Asia, & Europe. I loved it, I worked abroad and traveled with friends and by myself.

Im now in my 40s and my family were talking about holidays and they were coming up with this plan to do some elaborate travelling. I made sounds of being excited and enthusiastic but inside I was thinking ‘please no’. I genuinely would be happy with a cottage in the U.K. with lovely walks and my dog and lots of good books.

I feel so boring, my DH really wants to ‘travel’ as we get more freedom as the kids get older but I don’t. I will do it because it’s what he wants but it just fills me with dread. I used to have no fear, not one bit of anxiety traveling by myself but now even packing puts me in a spin. I find the whole experience so stressful.

What’s happened and am I the only one???

Let them do the organising
and I bet nothing comes of it!

I haven’t gone off travelling - although I realise there are a lot of places I have no interest in visiting. Flying is a complete pain though - 20-30 years ago it used to feel glamorous, but now it’s more like an ordeal you get through before you can start your trip.

Same.

Very glad I travelled in my 20s but unless it’s somewhere really out there (Antarctica or something) I can’t be bothered.

Oh look another European city with the same flat white and avocado toast I can get at home, and queue to be a tourist with the other 28373 tourists to get the same Instagram photo. Nope, over it now!

@TheNewHiker you are correct!

@CraftyNavySeal i agree with you on the food front (but i find that eating out in general- can make it better at home!)

I think you make an interesting point about where. So for example the three holidays I would like to do are:

• Canada countryside staying in cabins and travelling around, seeing a bear would be a bonus
• Driving holiday in Denmark
• Motor home in Iceland

Non terribly exciting or adrenaline rush seeking!

Maybe I’m just bloody old!!!

Totally understand. I've been to some amazing places abroad and loved it, but just can't be bothered now. Haven't been abroad since 2018. Have done UK City breaks though to Edinburgh, Belfast and Liverpool and really enjoyed those.

Yes i feel a bit been there done that with it all and cba with the hassle. I'm happy in the UK

Nope. DC are just getting to an age where we can do more adventurous travelling and we are off to Vietnam at Easter - I can’t wait. Will be a bit more luxurious than my backpacking days which I’m fine with 😜. When DC are grown I really hope we still have the energy for more extensive child free travels.

Conversely I have no interest whatsoever in a UK cottage, although Canada sounds good. Different strokes for different folks.

I'm ok if I go on my own, then I just use an underseat backpack and go from there. Mostly city breaks. But if it's a family or group thing I get the shudders. It's not that I dislike any of them, I just don't have the patience anymore to deal with the needs and wants of everyone besides myself for an extended period!

To an extent tho OP, you're just sated.
I didn't 'travel' per se. No gap years etc. Holidays, but not travelling. I had an exciting job in my 20s and in my 30s had children.
So now, in my 50s, i do want to travel! I feel time is telescoping and running out. My parents died and I thought 'crikey, I'd best get cracking!'
DH on the other hand, travelled everywhere with work. All over the world, though not always to glamorous places. He just wants to stay home now!

Same! I've lived in Asia and travelled a lot, now I just fancy staying in the UK, and exploring places I've never been to like Northumberland. I love being by the sea and I don't like hot weather. Flying is such a pain and I can't take my dogs with me. Have no nterest in fancy hotels, I've done all that, a nice cotttage is more my style. Tourism is so much different now, it's all about getting an Instagram worthy photo rather than the actual experience. And it's not very environmentally friendly.

No, you're not the only one!

We've done a fair bit of travelling and planned to do more once DH retired (mid 50's) but I've realised I enjoy a coastal or lake holiday in the uk far more than I do going abroad.

I just feel like I can't be arsed hanging about in airports or flying, or getting dressed up every night to go out (yes I know you don't have to go out when you're away, but it tends to be the norm)

I'm not even bothered about getting hot weather these days - I find the idea of sitting in my PJ's in front of a log burner after a bracing walk far more appealing 😂

I haven’t gone off it, I never fancied it in the first place 😂
I love holidays and generally enjoy visiting somewhere and exploring the area for a week or two but the idea of carting my possessions about in a sweaty backpack and sleeping in less than comfortable conditions has never appealed to me at all.
When I go away I want to be going somewhere equally if not more comfortable and luxurious as/than my own house otherwise I’m not going!!
i’m 40, dc are 20, 19 and 13 - I’m looking forward to more relaxing holidays without them in the near future 😂😂

@TennisToday

Those 3 holidays you mentioned all look like great trips to me, certainly not boring.

What is it your husband wants to do ?

You’re definitely not on your own.
I’ve been to various countries in my 20’s and much prefer short breaks now

Airports are way worse these days

I'm 61 and have done a lot of holidays travelling. I just love it. I adore the airport experience but long-haul flights are an ordeal now as the seats are too hard for my post-menopausal flat arse. Happy to stick to Europe.

Having said that, I've just booked a trip to Canada 🙄😁

Yup, used to travel 2/3/4 times per year on holidays all over the place, but last flight was 2019 and we're just no longer interested. Our problem is Manchester Airport which is an absolute hell hole with miserable staff, far too crowded etc. and awful congestion on the roads to get to/from or unreliable trains with crap timetable if you want to risk public transport. I'd rather stay in the UK than face the pit of misery that is Manchester airport.

I've done a lot and still enjoy it but you would not catch me in a hostel anymore 🤣

I probably do more 'holidays' nowadays but that's mainly to fit in around work.

Yes I agree . But when I find a hotel I like I'm very loyal . Like to know what I'm spending my hard earned on I suppose.

Nope, I'm with you. I think I travelled too much and never spent a single holiday at home. Now I'm completely the opposite.

@Ted27 he wants to:

Road trip USA (I’ve travelled lots of US and worked there so I’m a bit meh - he knows this and is going to do this with one of our DC apparently)

Costa Rica

India (I’ve said no to this - told him to find a friend to take)

Japan

Universal California

All awesome trips but i don’t want to do any of them! But I will do them with him because I know he’ll be disappointed if I don’t.

Interestingly we went to Vietnam for our honeymoon and bloody loved it! Enjoy

You and your DH…. Generally happy marriage or “issues”