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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To wonder why people go on the same holiday every year?

138 replies

malificent7 · 02/10/2019 10:51

Like my dad...bless him. Same holiday, hotel, tours, same experiences. I am fully prepared to get flamed as i know that people find what works for them but it is a vast world out there and isn't is nice to explore?. Hard hat on.
For eg...dad always goes to Rome....amazing...lucky him... but when i suggest Paris he sounds very uncertain. He goes to Rome for the art...but there is tons in Paris. I just feel like he's missing out on experiences before he gets too old to do them.

OP posts:
Original poster
malificent7 · 02/10/2019 12:52

Im not sneery but i do think hes missing out..

OP posts:
SisterSistine · 02/10/2019 12:53

We go to the same place because we have two autistic children and it makes it far easier for them. We love the area. We love the hotel. There is lots to do so we can do some new things as well as old favourites. And we don't even fly there, although it is abroad.

Given days out to new places take days of prep for our kids, I like to holiday somewhere where I get a holiday too.

JacquesHammer · 02/10/2019 12:55

but i do think hes missing out

Shouldn’t he be the one to decide that?

Bellringer · 02/10/2019 12:55

It's a home away from home. There is history with the location. I love the familiarity and convenience. We have one week every year, it's a tradition, sometimes with friends or family. Also have another week or weekends other places or visiting people. Would have holiday home if funds allowed

Original poster
malificent7 · 02/10/2019 12:57

I understand if you have young kids but he has bags of disposable income...and time. He's retired. Every time him and his dp consider sonething different they put themselves off. He wanted to go to rhe Grand Canyon but his sp saw a shooting in Las Vegas...the nearest airport so they won't go to the Grand Canyon because there are lots of shootings in Las Vegas....they will be mostly in the airport! ( his dp dosn't want to go to India either but that's another thread.)

OP posts:
Original poster
malificent7 · 02/10/2019 12:57

Dp sorry

OP posts:
paddlingwhenIshouldbeworking · 02/10/2019 12:58

I would choose Rome over Paris every time!

Woe betide my kids if they start telling me I'm 'missing out' because I make my own choices.

SmoothLawAbider · 02/10/2019 13:08

He wanted to go to rhe Grand Canyon but his sp saw a shooting in Las Vegas...the nearest airport so they won't go to the Grand Canyon because there are lots of shootings in Las Vegas....they will be mostly in the airport! ( his dp dosn't want to go to India either but that's another thread

So you've kind of answered your own question then haven't you? One or both of them clearly get anxious about visiting new places, safety, etc. So they feel safe going to the same place that they know.

Pistols69 · 02/10/2019 13:10

For me it’s all about keeping the little one happy currently. The travel can come later in life

PerfectPeony2 · 02/10/2019 13:14

I thought this until I had DD.

We did Portugal last what and plan to for the next few years. It has everything we need. Lovely weather, great hotel and food. Home from home. I love being somewhere familiar.

The idea of going backpacking and exploring the world honestly just fills me with anxiety.

babybunny123 · 02/10/2019 13:15

My Aunt has been going to Benidorm for the past 25 years, same week in June and same week in December, same hotel. She goes on the same route every day, just a big circle really, never eats out but moans about the hotel food. She did this with her husband and has continued to do this after he passed away. We tell her to try a different hotel with better food but she will not even give it a go, argh !!!

Annasgirl · 02/10/2019 13:18

We always went to different places but we have now found the perfect location for our family and will go back there for the foreseeable future - why? 3 kids and very hard work life, we want a rest on holiday so not spending the first 3 days finding a good shop / beach / hiking trail etc. Also kids like the pool and we love the area - secluded rental villa on a cliff overlooking the ocean - really what more can you ask for?

However, we try to go to different places if we go on a weekend city break.

TravelDreamLife · 02/10/2019 13:20

Growing up we went to the same beach unit, same routine, etc. My father had his own business so that one week was his only break. He rested & my mother loved the comfort of knowing where everything she needed was located. Once they retired they travelled.

Although we enjoyed it, it drove my brother & I nuts with boredom. It made us both crave travel & new experiences.

Now I have young kids though, DH & I have learned a short, simple beach break is a nice change of pace because DH is working crazy hours & needs a real break. If we stay home we either end up doing stuff around the house or being asked to help out with stuff by family & friends.
We've discovered a nice place that's very cheap & away from school holiday crowds so might add that in once a year for a few days, but still take a bigger holiday somewhere new.

I envy people who have found their happy holiday place - it's much easier, cheaper and they seem so relaxed!

verticality · 02/10/2019 13:24

"Are you suggesting you should be the arbiter of what is “worthwhile”?"

I'm suggesting that someone who spends 5/7 days on holiday looking at art is doing something more worthwhile than someone who spends that time lying on a beach. I think most people would probably agree that there is a qualitative difference?

MyRaGaiaStarFishPieA · 02/10/2019 13:24

I used to be of the opinion that I would never go to the same place twice. But then I had kids. We have been to quite a few countries but seem to gravitate back to the same places when we are after a cheap and easy holiday with the kids. Why? because we know exactly what we are getting for our £££ and it removes the worry and uncertainty. Plus the kids just love going back. We have gone back to Sidari 3 times, El Kantoui 4 times, Iceland twice and are returning to Italy next year with the same chain but in a different place. Works for us.

OhTheRoses · 02/10/2019 13:27

Because we found our little piece of heaven so bought a house there. DH works unspeakably hard under enormous stress and it's where he unwinds and recalibrates. He ski's at the same resort every year as well.

JacquesHammer · 02/10/2019 13:27

I'm suggesting that someone who spends 5/7 days on holiday looking at art is doing something more worthwhile than someone who spends that time lying on a beach. I think most people would probably agree that there is a qualitative difference?

How are you defining “worthwhile” though? What if the person lying on a beach for a week needs just that to recharge?

I mean, if you’re going to be a crashing snob at least own it.

I don’t pretend for a moment to think what is worthwhile for me, is worthwhile for others. I wouldn’t presume to be that arrogant.

Grimbles · 02/10/2019 13:28

You can look at art on the internet. No need to fly anywhere for that...

SooticaTheWitchesCat · 02/10/2019 13:28

My parents went to the same place every year once they got older, it was on a Greek island and it was not to far from the airport, a nice resort and they got to know people there. They spent years going to different places and finally found somewhere they felt comfortable when they were older.

I have been to lots of places too and still love travelling to new places but we have now bought a house in Turkey so will be visiting there a lot :) We will still go to new places though sometimes

NoIDontWatchLoveIsland · 02/10/2019 13:30

Because I am not bothered about adventure/excitement/exploring new places for my annual summer holiday in particular. I don't particularly want to travel. I want to go on holiday. For me that means relaxing in a special place I love, doing my favourite activities and enjoying being somewhere that i have many happy memories of.

NoIDontWatchLoveIsland · 02/10/2019 13:34

I think OP you have to realise that it is absolutely ok that plenty of people have other interests than travel (in the sense of exploring culture etc), and choose to deploy their time and money on those instead. It does not make those interests any less valuable or worthwhile than travel, just different

Johnjoeseph · 02/10/2019 13:43

I travelled all over the globe in my twenties but kind of became fatigued with it all so while I would have shared your view a decade ago OP, now I can understand why people return to the same spot. The thing is a lot of the world is the same once you scratch the surface so you may as well stick to somewhere you know is nice/convenient etc. this is particularly so if you're talking about European holidays. There's really not much difference where you go they'll all have the same things more or less.

AMAM8916 · 02/10/2019 13:44

We go to the same apartment complex (not always the same exact apartment) in Albuferia in Portugal every year. Either for a week or 10 days.

The reasons for this is it's a nice place, the weather is guaranteed, it's a big place with an old town, new town, strip and various other areas and 3 or 4 beaches so it would take A LOT of holidays to do everything it has to offer. We know it will be good as we've been plenty of times before so we can just relax.

I'm really not touristy at all. I don't have a bucket list to see various different boring buildings or whatever. My idea of a holiday is to go somewhere and relax, eat out and have fun

TheNoodlesIncident · 02/10/2019 13:44

I think most people would probably agree that there is a qualitative difference?

Most people would probably think "Well, if that works for you, fill your boots!"

An uncaring minority might think "I don't think your proposal to get the relaxing holiday you need is worthy enough, so you should stay at home. Because I say so."

So many posters with clear, eloquent explanations of how and why their holidays work for them, and you ride roughshod over that because it isn't what you like to do. That seems very arrogant and self-centred to me.

Johnjoeseph · 02/10/2019 13:55

I do wish posters who have found these great, family friendly spots would say where they are! I'm planning our first holiday with our 3 and 2 year old next easter and would love some recommendations Grin

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