To ask if holidays are a necessity or to have fun all year round?

[Rayn]

Just wondering about people's thoughts. I am just in the process of booking a holiday for next year and mentioned it to a friend. She has not been on holiday for 10 years and has no inclination to ever go again.
The way she sees it the money spent is for a week or two!

She said she would prefer to use that money and split it down into twelve months so that they can have a good quality of life and take kids to cinema, ice skating, eat our regularly etc

Got me thinking though I love my breaks away and we rarely do activities unless on holiday.

So which do you do? We can't afford to do both so it would be a main holiday once a year or treats all year round.

I think my kids would opt for treats all year round. I on the other hand like a break away from normality.

I’m not a great lover of holidays so I prefer short breaks anyway but I’d never sacrifice having a good quality of life all year for 2 weeks in the sun so I’d agree with your friend .

I prefer to spend money on having a good lifestyle all year round. It also means there is more to look forward to if you are having regular days out and treats, rather than waiting all year for one holiday.

A holiday every few years is more than enough.

I prefer regular small treats - big holidays feel a bit "all or nothing" and I hate the sorting out and feeling blue afterwards. We go away every few years.

Another one for treats all year round. Otherwise the post - holiday blues would be intolerable.

Yes - I had to make this choice years ago - go out every weekend or have a holiday once a year - seemed a no brainer to enjoy each weekend.

I'm lucky enough now to be able to do a holiday and weekends but actually I prefer to have a better quality of life all year than save up all my expectations for a 2 week break.

I make home and home life as happy as it can be and then I don't feel the need to "get away".

I haven’t been on holiday in over 5 years, as my DD goes with her dad every year, she hasn’t lost out. But next year we are doing a “once in a lifetime” trip that is costing an arm and a leg. So I guess I’d rather save up and do something really memorable,

We have leaned towards having a fuck off amazing holiday every 4-5 years. It wasn't a particularly considered approach but has developed naturally.
Next year we're off to Hawaii with a couple of pitstops in the US. The kids have done school trips or been away with family (UK based) in between, DH travels a lot so not so bothered and I'm happy with my lot. If I wanted to get away for a couple of days here and there I could.

We don’t mind camping or self catering so we can afford a holiday in the UK or NW Europe, a couple of weekends away, and day trips etc. I love the idea of two weeks in a hotel but not willing to make the sacrifices required. Kids love our camping holidays, we get a break while they make new friends. We live near the coast in Devon so don’t desperation need a fortnight on a beach every year.

If I had to choose it would be fun all year round. I can’t imagine sitting in
and doing very little as a family during our leisure time. I do love a holiday though!

I bloody love going on holiday. I never understand the posts on here with people saying it’s too hard work.

But then I love a camping trip to wales (almost) as much as I love a five star Ai trio to Barbados.

Actually that’s a lie, I don’t do five star. A nice four star works for me :-)

I would go away every month if I could but we can’t afford it 🤨 we tend to do things at the weekend some things free some not but also have cheap holidays too mainly in Wales. Haven’t been abroad this year but will hopefully go to Majorca or turkey next year.

I used to go on holiday when DS was young but tbh I'd rather stay at home and potter about, have day trips or short breaks than a big expensive holiday.

Travel just isn't a passion of mine and I'd rather spend my money on little, everyday luxuries or things that I really enjoy. DP agrees so we're both happy.

I love my holidays. But then we are in a fortunate position to have money to spend on fun things all year round and still pay for a couple of flights a year. We also have a surprisingly large amount of family/friends abroad - when they come to the UK they stay with us and we often stay with them for a long weekend.

The one year we didn't go abroad I didn't feel truly refreshed so holiday every time for me.

Having a holiday is really important to me. We live a pretty busy life, and and just stopping doing everything that normally goes on, and spending time together is really, really important to me.
That said, holidays don't have to cost a fortune. We've had lots of 'cottage in Wales' type holidays. nor does 'doing stuff together as a family' during the year have to be expensive things such as cinema and ice skating. We've also managed to spend lots of time having fun with our dc without spending a fortune.

Ultimately, it is up to you, as a family. Doesn't matter what anyone else prefers to do with their money / time.

We bloody love holidays and I think they are the single biggest thing our children will remember about their childhoods. We love a few weekends away throughout the year too.

My mum was never one for extravagance. She thinks a takeaway is a waste of money and she'd have a conniption if she knew what we spend on holidays. As a result of her puritanism, I am completely frivolous.

I'm fortunate in that we do pretty much whatever we want from week to week.

But I need holidays to be able to properly switch off and recharge.

We have family abroad so we sort of have to go. Also get fed up of the same old view/ street/ etc but maybe that's because I grew up travelling a fair amount. I think it is valuable to widen horizons by seeing other countries.

Both points of view are reasonable though.

I need a holiday and my kids have great memories from them... I wouldn't it we had to scrimp all year though. Lucky we can do all.

I am fortunate that I don't have to make the choice. However, I would not sacrifice my general quality of day to day life for a week or two away. Could you have a holiday every two years perhaps? Or shorter breaks?

To be honest, if you are happy with things as they are I shouldn't worry too much.

I expecr next year will be the first year I haven't been in a big 2 week holiday (still trying to figure a way we can make the finances work but we have just bought a house).

The 10 day to 2 week holiday is SO important to me. It is a proper switch off from work. A long weekend of even 5 days doesn't give me enough time to actually switch off. I would rather sacrifice the small things year round to make the holiday memories ans relax.

When we were in the UK I insisted on a week each summer in Spain. Dh always wanted to go for longer but I felt 7 days of sun, fun and spending money was plenty. Then we could still do other things during the year.

I'm now in Aus so don't have a specific need for a sun holiday, but holidays are fun. I think if you can afford it, a change of scenery for a week is great.

But then my dc are great with change and travelling so it can be relaxing. Appreciate that's not everyone's experience!

I've got a bit bored of the annual holiday in the sun. Really looking forward to a staycation next year. I hate having to have a house/dogsitter and worry about the dogs while I'm away.