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.

We Had a big holiday this year and we are going again next year. Now my children are older holidays are so important to me. I would rather sacrifice smaller things so we can have a really enjoyable time. My boys have football each weekend so we all go and spend time with each other like that for free. Cinema trips I always go to the cheaper showings and use Tesco vouchers for days out. We never have takeaways and I’ve given up wine now. I suppose it’s up to whatever you are happy with? We won’t be having a holiday in 2020 though

Fun all year round. It's a lot of pressure to put on one/two weeks. We've had a couple of terrible holidays, one when I got terrible tonsilitis and spent a lot of time in pain or looking for a Dr. Another all inclusive holiday where we had 2 weeks of crap repetitive food and being eating alive by mosquitos. I would hate to go without all year and then have a less than amazing holiday.

Great view points! I
Like the idea of a small cheap break away which leave money for FUN!!

Pre dc me and dp never really went on annual holidays, we did long weekends and treats all year round-meals out, gig tickets etc. Now we have the children we kind of compromise with a cheap ish UK holiday and a few small treats the rest of the time. I'd hate to scrimp all year and have an expensive holiday ruined by a bug or something. We're very lucky that we can do a bit of both, or at least we have been u til this year as ds has started school so not sure even a small UK holiday will be affordable next summer so might have to go back to smaller, more regular treats.

Time off work is a necessity. The amount being under threat because of Brexit.

How you choose to spend that time is up to you. The only concern I would have for those who do not go away is if they are working or following work emails during time off, or if it because of some fear of travelling or being away from home.

It doesn't have to be all or nothing, lots of local activities don't cost much and even an annual holiday needn't cost a fortune. £2000 on an annual holiday broken down weekly is about £38 a week are you really going to be able to have loads of brilliant excursions for that? Whereas you could enjoy the annual holiday have something to look forward to and take advantage of cheap things in the local community, my town had a free music festival and fireworks last weekend. This weekend there was an open day at the local fire station, with demos and kids could have rides in the fire engines and 'help' put out fires. DN loved both and it cost next to nothing.

I hate holidays. Loathe packing, unpacking, flying, hot weather, drunk people, post-holiday laundry and being away from home.

I'd much rather stay here! A weekend break in this country now and again is OK.

No holidays as can’t afford them in one lump sum of holiday plus spends.

Regular fun activities.

Couldn’t go a year of doing nothing to save for a 2 week holiday. Life’s too short for that.

Just lots of camping here

The thing I like most about a holiday is being able to step away from the house, the usual routines and do something different. Doesn't need to be a trip abroad or blow the bank. My DCs are older now so can pack all their own cases etc.

If we just had a staycation, I would end up getting sucked into day to day admin. Going away lets us focus on each other more. Its nice if we can afford it to include a couple of nights in a hotel, if only for the pleasure of not having to cook and clean up.

We got away three weeks a year and some short breaks. We don't do loads of activities, for me it's staying somewhere luxurious for a week or so, as opposed to activities so I would choose holidays though I am very boring.