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!

[ArcheryAnnie]

With climate change, we're all going to have to realise, sooner than later, that unless we can get somewhere by train, we are going to have to holiday closer to home.

...which is fine! I am continually surprised by people who spend money jetting off to a resort somewhere but who know next to nothing about the country they actually live in, beyond their own neighbourhood. There's so much to discover and enjoy.

[Rollercoaster1920]

I get that going abroad seems more hassle now than it used to be. I hate the whole airport hassle. Parking or trying to get public transport / cabs, check in queues and getting half naked to go through security. it is horrible.

But on the flip side the queues of traffic an hoards of people at UK tourist places can be horrible too!


I think I'm realising that I need to avoid people! A trip to a very underpopulated place needed......

[BossAssBitch]

lazylinguist

I really dislike the Lake District as well. Got to be one of the dullest places i’ve ever been to

Presumably you hate beautiful scenery and don't like walking then. In which case why would you go to the Lake District? What was lacking there that you expected to find?

probably because there are no shopping malls or Maccy D's at the summit of Scafell Pike. How anyone can go to say, Ullswater, and not be stunned by its beauty I don't know

[AgeLikeWine]

I love travelling. Always have, always will.

We tend to avoid places with lots of British tourists, not because of any snobbishness but because we enjoy seeing the ‘real’ country, eating the local food and drinking the local wine / beer / whatever with the locals. The last thing we want is a full English breakfast and a mug of PG. Between us, we manage to get by in French, Spanish & German, which helps when off the beaten track.

The current exchange rate is a deterrent to visiting foreign countries however. I look back very fondly on the days of $2 / €1.5 to the £...

[tillytrotter1]

Loved Vegas and I don't gamble

Me too, we have three days in LV then move on, we love the old LV, Fremont Street. I don't think that the majority of people who go gamble much.

[ravenmum]

Another one here who presumed OP meant that they didn't fancy going abroad any more now we all know how much it damages the environment. Not complaints that when you're jetted off to the Caribbean you might get stung by a mosquito.

[Oliversmumsarmy]

With climate change, we're all going to have to realise, sooner than later, that unless we can get somewhere by train, we are going to have to holiday closer to home

I think I will be moving countries rather than stay in agonising pain in the UK

Ulswater might be beautiful but when there are grey skies and rain lashing down forgive me for not appreciating it

[LaVieilleHarpie]

Try Mazury in Poland for breathtaking lakes.

[Ated]

The best thing that I ever did was throw my passport away and now I cannot go overseas even if I want to.

[ErrolTheDragon]

I think I will be moving countries rather than stay in agonising pain in the UK

Ulswater might be beautiful but when there are grey skies and rain lashing down forgive me for not appreciating it

Agonising pain? unless you've got some sort of rheumatic/arthritis condition exacerbated by damp, that sounds a tad hyperbolic.

Holidaying happily in the U.K. requires adequate Goretex, wetsuits and a good attitude.

[SunshineAngel]

When I was growing up, we had a tourer caravan, and went away in that a few times a year. We mostly stayed in the UK, though we did drive over to France a few times.

The reason for this was that my mum had a flying phobia (she has since addressed this, but only when I was in my late teens), so I knew nothing better. I don't feel I ever missed out. There are beautiful places in the UK to see, and fun things to do. I made friends on every campsite I stayed on, and wrote to them for months after getting home. Most of these friendships petered out, but some did not.

So while I wouldn't knock going abroad for those who want to, I would also assure those who don't that kids don't feel that this is missing out. I had a fantastic childhood so far as holidays were concerned.

The only issue is that my mum has now very much passed this fear of flying onto me. I asked once why we didn't go to other countries (out of curiosity rather than because I was gutted we didn't) and she said because she was scared of planes, so I asked her why.. and she told me in graphic detail. She should never have done that, I won't type here what she said as I wouldn't want to trigger anyone else, but I've only ever been on two trips abroad since, as the thought of flying terrifies me. So it somewhat annoys me that she's no longer afraid yet she's happily passed it onto me.

[teta]

No. We have family and friends who live in Canada, Malaysia, China and HK. DH works internationally so is often travelling and the kids have friends who live in Europe, Asia and Russia. So our travelling will continue through necessity. I think post Brexit this feeling will become more prevalent. There is already a move towards increased insularity and an increase in racial abuse.

[Justaboy]

So what is wrong with Bognor then, anyone;?..

[EmrysAtticus]

For the sake of the environment I have decided I will no longer fly. However I am looking forward to making good use of the Eurostar and other trains once DS is school age. I definitely avoid the summer holidays though as I do find most European countries too hot then.

[lazylinguist]

Ulswater might be beautiful but when there are grey skies and rain lashing down forgive me for not appreciating it.

Nope. Still beautiful in the rain. What's wrong with grey skies? I quite like the colour grey.

Brits (although I am one) are really pretty hilarious about the weather. Complain if it rains, wax lyrical about snow but complain almost immediately and panic about travelling if they actually get any, drone on about how they can't wait for summer, put shorts and strappy tops on when they see a glimpse of the sun in April, then complain bitterly about heat, sun cream and mosquitos if it gets above about 26 degrees when the actual summer arrives, but still sit in the full sun and go gammon-coloured. Why on earth would grey skies stop you thinking a lake was beautiful?

[emmamehimandthem]

We went to Turkey for 2 weeks in July(with Thomas Cook) with our three children aged 15, 10 and little one who turned 4 over there and we honestly couldn't fault it. Yes it was hot, so we jumped in the pool but we loved soaking up all the different sites, culture and activities and are looking forward to our next holiday abroad in April

[JingsMahBucket]

I think a lot of possibly narrow minded people are using climate change and Brexit as an excuse to finally say, “Great! Now I don’t have to leave Old Blighty and pretend to like being somewhere forrin.”

This is what previous posters are referring to when saying “abroad” can be used in a xenophobic or pejorative manner. It’s subtle but it’s there. It’s the attitude of “This is home and everywhere and everyone else aren’t worth bothering with.”

[ExecutiveFiat]

You’ve hit the nail on the head Jings(sorry don’t know how to do bold) Brexit,and also climate change is not going to stop me travelling abroad! Oh and I particularly disliked Ullswater. Full of people in anoraks reading maps looking very earnest😫

[alwayscrashinginthesamecar1]

Justaboy, as someone who worked a season In Bognor Butlins, Id say pretty much everything!

And there’s nothing wrong with choosing to holiday in the U.K. if that’s what you like. but most U.K. holidays I ever had were pretty shit, usually because of the weather. And the world is a great big beautiful place! I want to see as much of it as I can.

[Jem55]

My passport expired 17yrs ago and I have absolutely no desire to get another one. I prefer to holiday in the UK and put my hard earned pennies into our own economy.

[Ticklemeelmo]

You're the polar opposite of me OP. I live for travel abroad, have been to loads of amazing far flung places and i couldn't think of anything worse than being stuck in the UK the whole time, how depressing. I also actively avoid package type holidays that are likely to be full of Brits abroad expecting the same food they get at home.

I find it so bizarre to write off the entire rest of the world like that, there are hundreds of diverse countries out there with different climates and plenty without mozzies.

[ItIsWhatItIsInnit]

I've had a totally shit UK holiday where it rained all week but then I've had totally shit abroad holidays that weren't worth it. Really, a lot of holidays are just stressful and not all that great. After all, if I went somewhere that I genuinely thought was better than where I live now, I would move there. But I haven't. I've been to 30 countries and most were "cool" and super interesting to see but none had the quality of life and things that I enjoy about where I live - reasonable temperature all year round, no mosquitoes, reasonable working hours, don't need to live in the capital to have a good job, clean air, green spaces, people aren't rude but no-one harasses you either. That's why by the end of every holiday I just want to go home and enjoy all of the above.

[ForalltheSaints]

I'm lucky that I can go abroad by train and hardly ever fly. What I now try and avoid is British people abroad because of the behaviour of some of them.