The shine has come off going abroad for me, has it for you?

[cornplant]

I've read a few posts on here and I've been feeling the same way, that going abroad really isn't all that enjoyable.

People complain of being too hot, mosquito bites, spots from sun cream, fizzy hair etc.

Since I've had my son I've been abroad twice and have mostly hated it.

Maybe I should just go to Cornwall every year instead!

Well, of course "abroad" can be harder work, what with it being "foreign" and all. DD and I did a 3 city European roadtrip this summer and I was fecking knackered at the end of it.
Haven't stopped talking about it though and am already looking for next year.

No. The world is a fairly huge place with all different climates and conditions.

I love the light and the sunshine when I'm abroad. It makes such a huge difference to my mood and how I feel.

I'm not bothered about sunbathing but I like to sit outside in the shade, with a cold drink and read. It gives me an opportunity to properly switch off and I find my MH improves massively as a result.

Your issue is that your DC is 3.5. So regardless of where you go , you are still basically parenting a young child.
A 3.5 (and younger) year old is happy with the beach and a decent playpark and would actually prefer it not to be so hot. So Cornwall is perfect.

When your DC get older, it's more interesting to explore the wider range of places you get with "abroad."

We self-drive to France and Holland. Have had some great family holidays.

No, I went to Barcelona this year for Primavera Sound and loved it. I was in a bad place mentally as I was going through a change of meds and I did have a bit of a wobble on the last night, but other than that, it was great. I'd love to go there again in the autumn and stay in the same place - it was a hostal on Placa de Catalunya.

We had the same thing. Found airports frustrating and annoying and didn't really enjoy ourselves enough at the other end to justify the hassle of the journey. After a year when the budget week camping in Suffolk was massively more fun than the "proper" holiday abroad and cost about a fifth of the price, we decided that we just weren't going to bother any more. We've never regretted it.

The shine has gone off the whole of the rest of the world? You do know that travelling overseas does not have to include hot weather, mosquitos and 'frizzy hair' (people in other countries have hair too, and seem to manage ok).

I don't object to the word 'abroad', but it is very weird that to some Brits, 'abroad' only means a hot, sunny place with beaches and lots of hotels. There's a whole world out there. If I had the money, I'd be visiting a lot more of it, not less!

I love holidays but couldn’t travel abroad for three years as my health condition meant I really didn’t fancy being abroad. It’s under control now though my holiday insurance as I obviously declare my condition is really high now.

I holidayed in North Wales and went on a canal boat holiday in Warwickshire for two of those years. We we’re lucky for those two weeks in total it rained a total of one day. We then went on cruises for two years which were great and as at sea a lot not one bite did I get and the second was a Mediterranean cruise.

We can get free accommodation in Majorca but I have never gone when it’s really at its hottest. Just investigate temperature averages when your going.

I do city breaks not hot places/beach hotels type holidays. We do one a year and one uk break a year too. Best of both. Iceland was one of my fave holidays defo no mosquitoes! It was cold and snowy and almost an adventure.

Im trying to do my bit for the environment, less meat, recycling/less waste/plastic reductions where possible and have had no children. Until big business and governments make massive changes. Why are people still flying to London or further afield long haul to meetings weekly/daily when we have skype and such internet tech? Celebs in private jets etc.My 2 short haul flights are not unreasonable.

This comes across very strongly as you looking for evidence to support your own view, OP. Not all 'abroad' is hot or has mosquitos, does it? Do you not use sun cream in the UK?

So what's the real reason you don't want to go away?

CSharpLemon - Ha Ha! The definition of 'abroad' is 'in or to a foreign country' - what is xenophobic about that?

I have to say I don't warm to holidays in the UK - apart from the weather being unreliable, what is the point of self-catering from the nearest Tesco which sells exactly the same produce as at home, and pubs/restaurants which serve the same repetitive 'dishes' which you can get at your local pub? I'd rather stay at home. I love going abroad for the culture, sights, food, supermarkets and people.

I do feel like this OP. I like going away and enjoying a different sort of lifestyle. But you can do that in this country too (and it doesn't have to be Cornwall!) or go somewhere like the Channel Islands to feel like you are going away but without having to go too far.

A big thing for me is language, I find it very stressful when I can't speak the local language (or I am somewhere like Copenhagen where really everyone speaks English) so eg wouldn't go to Spain (though ds is now doing A level Spanish so I'll have someone to be my interpreter soon - I actually really want to go to Valencia as it looks lovely!) and I don't like standing out as a foreigner.

Mass air travel isn't a good thing. Though there was an article in yesterday's Times by a Swedish lady who's lived in the UK for many years but decided to travel to Stockholm by rail to visit family. It wasn't a very pleasant experience, their trains kept getting cancelled so they missed connections and reservations. Trains aren't that much more reliable overseas. The article didn't' say, but I assume they flew back. If the rail companies both here and overseas could sort out pricing and reliability (probably a contradiction in terms) it would be an alternative.

Sometimes I compromise and get the train one way and fly the other.

I live both UK and holidays abroad.

Have had some lovely breaks in Wales this year but equally am currently on the Algarve and it's lovely. In fact having flown here on Saturday with Thomas Cook we are anticipating we may get to enjoy a few more days than originally booked!

We went to Spain this year and it was my daughter's first time abroad - she was 4.5 at the time. She loved it - everything from the food to the lovely weather to the theme park and water park to the hotel kid's club - and is desperate to go back. It was a very happy week, far better than any family holiday we've had in the UK.

When she's old enough to enjoy a city break there are loads of places I can't wait to take her.

I haven't been abroad in a long time. The uk has just so much history, so many fascinating places, culture etc that even after years of 'exploring' we have barely touched the surface.

The idea of sharing recycled air (and germs) with a plane full of people turns my stomach bit too.

I think you really can’t beat holidays in the Uk!! Just as much fun, less hassle, cheaper (usually!) And much better for the environment!

Growing up we always had holidays within the UK. I loved each and every one of them! Cornwall is so lovely :) The only reason I go abroad for my summer holidays now is because I emigrated and want to see my family (so travel 'home' back to them for a couple of weeks a year).

Oh and I'm too wimpy to drive on the "wrong" side of the road, so self-drive holidays are only an option in Ireland (or Australia/New Zealand) for us.

We usually go abroad, but this year because of confusion over passports ect we decided to go on holiday in Somerset, it rained everyday and winds from hell was pretty miserable

I agree that staying in the UK is far easier. And Scotland is much cooler in the summer than most of the rest of the world.
Much much better for the environment too.

Love going abroad.
We went through a few years of doing Centreparcs. I think when kids are small going abroad is rarely worth it and neither are long drives to holiday places.

I don’t like Cornwall. Never understood the obsession with it! It’s overcrowded, expensive, with nowhere to park. I really dislike the Lake District as well. Got to be one of the dullest places i’ve ever been to. These two holiday destinations seems to be really popular though. Good job we’re all different😀

The opposite here. The most miserable holidays I've ever had have been UK ones, cooped up in musty smelling, poky, dark cottages while rain buckets down, haemorrhaging money at local 'attractions' (honey museum in Dorset that cost £40 and took DC 5 mins to run through its dreary dusty old-fashioned-contraptions-behind-glass-exhibits.) I had to bully DH to start leaving UK. It's the only major row we've ever had. Since then we've had the most memorable, blissful holidays all over the world, nearly all for the same price as staying put apart from a couple of long haul ones.

And Scotland is much cooler in the summer than most of the rest of the world. This is true, but if one of the OPs main complaints about 'abroad' is that you get bitten by mozzies, I wouldn't suggest Scottish summers. You get eaten alive.