To not "get" holidays

[tootsietoo]

So all anyone is talking about now is where they have been or where they are going on holiday. The discussions started at about Easter - "have you booked your holiday yet?" And, feeling like a complete freak, I say, no, we haven't got a clue what we're doing in August.

Every year it's the same - around June we feel that we really should do something for a holiday, start looking into it, get staggered at the amount it will cost us even to go somewhere basic that we don't really fancy and give up.

We are lucky, we live in a nice old house in the middle of nowhere and I love it. I don't want to leave it and the dog. DH works away a lot and so it's a novelty being here all together. We have loads of stuff round here we like doing. DH is on holiday for 2 weeks now, and we're staying here. We've got loads of things we want to do (day trips to climb a mountain, go to beach, bike rides and so on) and really looking forward to it.

But the children (5 & 6) have started asking why we don't go to Spain and telling us that ALL their friends have been on a plane and they haven't. So then we start to think we're weird.

Are we? Is anyone else a conscientious holiday objector?

I dont think there's anything wrong with holidays and generally I feel embarrassed about how unadventurous and un-traveled I am...really I'm just a lazy boring homebody.
I'm sure I'd be a better person if I went somewhere, I just dont really want to

I'd love to travel more its just money that stops me.I'd love to see different places I can't see how you wouldn't

If it's like being at home or worse then I'm just not interested. It'd have to be the lap of luxury for me to consider it a holiday.

2 of dd's friends (they're 18) have been in Prague for 2 weeks and all they seem to have done is eat KFC and drink loads of cheap booze in their room. They could have done that at home.

The best part of holidays for me is coming home again. I enjoy getting away but after a week or so I am so glad to back in my own bed again.

Holidays for us vary as to where and levels of luxury. Everything from camping in a wet UK to a nice hotel somewhere warm, dry and sunny (and lots in between).

Thats not several times a year - usually just the once because we need to travel to see family at various times of the yeat.

But what actually makes a holiday for us isnt where we are - its the fact we are away from home with no interruptions, no jobs or tasks so we as a family actually do spend all day together doing fun stuff.

With any holiday - this is with varying success. Some places/activities are rubbish and others surpass expectations.

The thing we find with being at home is that despite us living on a coast and less than a mile from our nearest beach, 40 minutes to mountains and living in beautiful countryside we always get sidetracked with mundane home life chores as well. Today for example - we went to the beach and a castle and had a picnic out. Lovely day really great but when we saw black clouds gathering we rushed home so DH could mow the lawn and I could get the washing in. Whilst waiting for tea to cook tonight I started filing bank statements and ended up filing loads of other crap I should have filed ages ago. We got home to messages on the answer phone that we needed to deal with etc etc. No big deal but just every day mundane shite. When we go on holiday - none of this happens. Everyday is filled with nice stuff. Somehow even washing the dishes on the campsite is more relaxed and chilled than loading and unloading the dishwasher at home.

That said - if you are happier at home then stay at home. Why waste your money discovering new places if you have no desire to. Holidays will only ever be good or nice if you are open to the idea and looking forward to them. There is no rule that says you must go.

Somehow even washing the dishes on the campsite is more relaxed and chilled than loading and unloading the dishwasher at home.

So true. It's the novelty of the lovely view, and the fact that there is nothing pressing to get back to.

my idea of bliss is going away by myself, it doesn't have to be far.

We have loads of stuff round here we like doing

You can do all of that and still have a holiday.

We've got loads of things we want to do (day trips to climb a mountain, go to beach, bike rides and so on) and really looking forward to it

And you can do all of that in Spain (and lots of other countries). Nothing wring with showing your kids somewhere else, if you can afford it. Doesn't have to be that costly

I live in a beautiful seaside location, so I understand the idea of holidaying at home. I do it most summers ( I live in the southern hemisphere). However going away, somewhere warm during winter feels like a lovely holiday. DH and I recently took the kids to Asia for two weeks for a holiday and it was a mixture of all the things people have discussed. It was stressful being in airports, waiting, with a four year old. But,for him, hours playing in the pool, in the sun, was marvellous, and a great break for us as we just had to lounge around the pool while he splashed around. Sight-seeing was stressful and after a couple of days I realised that staying at the poolside with DS was much better ( while DH and older children did the cultural sights).

So although it was relaxing in some ways, in other ways it was stressful with a young child, and I was very glad we didn't do it when he was about 2.

I love that the children had the opportunity to see a different country, and perhaps that helps them appreciate how great we have it in the Western world (it certainly gave me a new appreciation). It was nice to not cook, clean or lift a finger for two weeks.However, it cost a lot, and we'll be paying off the credit card bill for a while

The best holiday we have is the the one where we go somewhere close to home,which is an island, free of cars and traffic, no tv, walk every where, and just really chill out with the family. I find that much more relaxing than international travel.

I'm really looking forwards to a week away in a caravan in Cornwall soon. We're going to a wedding so thought we'd get value out of the journey by using it as our main holiday. With DC of 4m and 2 1/2 yrs, I can't escape much of my mundane duties, but I'm looking forwards to a chunk of quality time with DH who won't be distracted by work, DIY etc. Self catering works best with DS's allergies otherwise he'd live on fish finger and chips, but that gives us freedom to do our own thing, and DH mucks in more than he would at home.

Our holidays have minimal planning, although now we have DC we do extra planning like book accommodation in advance. Just before the DC, we went travelling for 3m and the total of our advance planning was flights there and back, and 3 visas (the 4th we had to obtain at the border) and accommodation at our first destination. The rest we made up as we went along.

I love seeing different places, and that also helps me appreciate what we have on the doorstep. Since having the DCs, we have less weekends away, and I'm really missing the change of scenery. Life is a bit simpler when away- even if you're washing up in a field next to a tent.

It's up to you. It's a bit insular though.

Well YANBU to not want to go on holiday, different strokes, different folks and all that.

But to not 'get' them is a bit unimaginative.

We are lucky that we have had some fab holidays. When I was little, holidays were a complete stress, mum hated being away and there were lots of rows. DH has taught me that it's great to be away, he is much more adventurous than me. It's the only time we do stuff all together as a family, at home everyone does their own thing and we both work, a lot. We had 3 weeks in Australia a few years ago, and I loved having my kids close and with me all the time

Your holiday sounds absolute bliss as it is! Do what you want and revel in time to potter at home.

How about taking the DC to a European city for a long weekend if they are desperate to fly?

I used to take mine at that age and the journey was so much fun for them, they loved the experience and just walking about, having a hot chocolate in cafes, listening to other languages, buy some postcards, bit of light shopping,sneak in the odd short gallery visit and the novelty of a couple of nights in a hotel, and they were very happy!

I love seeing new places and even on a beachy holiday there are places to go and see. Unfortunately since we had kids we can't afford to go abroad so have stuck to camping, butlins, London, and visiting family. Want to save up to go to France next year as we lived there for two years and really want to go back. Would love to take the kids tomthailand too as we spent 6 months backpacking there. Would also love to take them to disneyworld, do the inca trail, go on an African safari, visit australia , travel route 66 in a camper van, do a lord of the rings tour in new Zealand etc etc. if I won the lottery would just pack up with dh and the kids and go.

Regarding camping, best tip is take the in laws and the favourite uncle - means chores are shared out amongst more people plus the kids leave me alone and nag nanny carol , grandad and uncle Hywel to play with them/ sit on there lap/ paddle in the sea/ explore the caves/have a shoulder ride etc etc!

holiday means 'not working, a break from the routine'. Where you do it doesn't matter, it is perfectly possible to holiday at home. Especially in the UK with so many wonderful things to see and do.

enjoy your summer.

My first plane trip was when I was 25 (honeymoon). Before that, we'd gone on holidays every year alright but stayed in this country. And seen some beautiful places (but my parents had gotten stuck in a rut of the same place for, at that stage, over 10 years - they bought a holiday house there about 5 years ago now and suddenly spend a lot of weekends there so go on holidays abroad again!!).

Since then, I've done a lot of foreign travel both holidays (city breaks and proper 10 day/2 week hols) and for work. We've beent o some incredible places together, DH and I, and latterly DD as well. (A few of those have been to various places in the UK, which have been lovely holidays).

But we have also holidayed here in this country - before and after DD's arrival. When the weather is good, that is wonderful. (Not so great in rain, but we still get out and do things as we have the gear and are relatively outdoorsy!).

And I really like having some time at home, with no work to rush to, and able to enjoy the wonderful things on our own doorstep.

And a fortnight sitting on a beach in Spain is my idea of hell. We've managed 2 seperate occasions, both pre-DD, of a single week on a "beach" holiday when totally stressed out and needing to relax - we barely spent any time sitting on the beach (lots of walks though) and maybe a couple of hours at the pool some days. And there is absolutely no WAY I could persuade DD to stay at a pool all day either - she wants action!!

I can't believe peoe are saying they don't like holidays. You crazy people!

I love holidays. Camping in the UK to staying in a swish caravan resort - love them all. Total break from normal life (work, chores) and most importantly for me you get to spend almost all day and evening outside when on holiday.

I basically work in order to go away on holiday. We can take 2 weeks unpaid leave so I do that in addition to 5 weeks holiday. This year I'll have been away for all those 8 weeks (mainly abroad but one week at a music festival) and a few additional weekends UK camping. Seriously mega.

Might think a bit differently if I had to think about DCs and pay for them, much easier with just a DP. Although one week was away on my own (probably the best so far!), and another one with my mum without DP as he didnt fancy those trips.

I love holidays, I love any sort of trip.

I like beach holidays, exploring holidays and camping holidays. DH would rather be in the UK, but I love the buzz of an airport.

When I was younger the majority of our holidays were UK camping holidays, we went to Spain once and Australia to visit relatives. The camping trips were just as memorable as Australia.

For me just getting away from phones & work and being a family of 4 without outside interference is just fab, where ever it takes place.

It all about just getting away from home for a while, not same daily routine.

At the moment we go and stay in static caravans (compromise dh loves camping me not so much) its cheap and cheerful, the cleaner makes the beds and cleans.

We go out on the beach to animal farms, nice family meals out which are much cheaper than our locals at home. Donkey rides and bouncy castles my kids love it, dh gets a break from work (I work while on holiday).

I like holidays, but I'm very unadventurous! I like a change of scene, but I like to go somewhere I know the children will enjoy and which doesn't take long to travel to. We haven't been abroad since DS1 was born (5 years ago!) and tbh we haven't missed it.

We've recently started going camping over weekends which works really well for us. Next year we'll probably venture over to France for a self catering holiday. The thought of dealing with our 2 in a hotel (early morning starts!) turns my blood cold.

We climb all our near-enough mountains and bike ride and visit the beach at the weekends.
For us a holiday is a chance to go further than we can in a day trip. We often go in the UK to scottish islands or bits of the country we've not fully explored before.... and then sometimes we go abroad to the alps for example...

There IS something interesting for children once they get to a certain age about being somewhere with a completely different language and food and culture. I had great UK holidays as a child but didn't go to a non-english speaking country till I was in my late teens and I wish I had gone earlier, I would have had more interest in languages at secondary school if I'd been abroad at primary age.

Yanbu.
I have only realised as i have got older, that i genuinely dont enjoy holidays abroad. Ive been away loads, to lots of different places. But its just not 'me'. Last year me and dp couldnt afford a holiday as we bought a new car and had 2 big summer weddings to go to. Everyone was all 'oh my god! You're not going away?!' But to be honest we actually didnt miss it.

So we have decided to have a 'staycation' this year. We both have next week off work, and we have got a little pot of spending money. We will just go with the flow and see what happens. We may have days out to the coast/shopping/etc or we may just sit at home in our pjs, eating chinese and ice cream, working our way through the netflix catalogue. The most important thing is the time off work and turning the alarm off :)

I think its about finding what type of holiday suits you.

I imagine if you have never had a fab holiday then you dont really know what you are missing - perhaps??

Its not just packages to spain, camping in a field. With a bit of imagination a holiday can be whatever you want it to be and where ever.

That said it must be lovely to love somewhere that you never feel the need to get away but I think a big part of the holiday is being away from routine no matter where you are (campsite half an hour down the road for a weekend - 5* Hotel somewhere the otherside of the world - both offer the same in terms of a break from a routine).

Lovely that it is (and slightly envious) of your lifestyle to never feel the need/urge to have a break from home I do think for your kids sake it would be nice to take them somewhere for a few days once every now and again if funds allow. I think its a nice experience for them. Again a camping for most kids is an amazing adventure, it does not have to be back packing around Nepal or an all inclusive in the costas.