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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:
Bourbonbiccy · 02/10/2019 13:56

One of our holidays is always to the same place, it's relaxing, we know where everywhere is, we know everyone there, it isn't commercialised and my hubby loves it so why wouldn't we ?

My brothers simply cannot fathom why we would do that (and have done it for near on 13 years) he said we could have our choice of destination for what we pay for it, we have seen it all before, it must be boring, we are wasting time as we could use this holiday to see another place....simply...we don't want to.

TomHagenMakesMyBosomTremble · 02/10/2019 14:00

My parents own an apartment in Portugal, so they go back because they like the place and because it would be a waste, otherwise! DM also travels about with her DSis on many mini breaks and packs in quite a lot but Portugal is a rest. DM & DF know where stuff is, they know people, they don't have to think too much. I haven't been for a few years but would go again- it's easy & relaxing.

My DF also occasionally joins mum on her travels but Portugal is his main holiday destination. They have an age gap; he's 85 & whilst he will do some new things, the familiarity, relaxed pace and sunshine along with a break from the responsibility of daily life really suits him. It is also an ideal holiday spot for children- I'd love the option to go there with small DC if I'm so lucky; hope they keep it a few more years! Having not been for a few years I'd quite like to reacquaint myself as the area has changed, and have a different holiday experience to previous trips as a child & teen. DM views it as home as much as their UK house is.

Maryann1975 · 02/10/2019 14:02

We go to different places each year, to experience new places and see new things. But, from when I book, to when we arrive, I worry that there will be a problem, that the pool will be tiny/room dirty/not enough sun beds/other massive problem with the accommodation, so I can see the appeal with going to the same place each time.

Knickerbockergloryonthebeach · 02/10/2019 14:04

@verticality

But why? Mental health is at an all time low. If someone is able to rest, relax and go home feeling better than they went away, then what does it matter how they did it? Saying that only people who are 'cultured' enough to enjoy art, etc, should be allowed to have an overseas holiday is a bit snobby no? Fwiw we also have lovely art galleries and museums across the UK, so really why should people be allowed to travel abroad, surely better to be patriotic and support our own destinations?

Annasgirl · 02/10/2019 14:10

@Johnjoeseph,

Depending on your budget, at that age I would recommend a place with a kids club. The best we found in terms of it being adult and child perfect was Martinhal Resort in Sagres in Portugal - so fab but also expensive. We had a 2 bed house. It really is superb.

We also did Cascais in Portugal with the kids at about that age and the location is fab but you may struggle unless you can have a hotel room for all of you - perhaps a suite?

Now we go to Spain (Costa Tropical) and rent a fab house with own pool - but that is because the DC are 15, 12 and 7 so we do not need kids clubs (thank God!!!) - but a kids club can save your marriage on holiday with toddlers so do not diss it.

My advice would be wherever you go (we also did holidays in Ireland at that age) rent a house or apartment attached to a very high end hotel and make sure there is a huge pool, spa and kids club.

Breathlessness · 02/10/2019 14:20

If it makes him happy then I suppose that’s all that matters. If he wants to try something else I’d suggest a side trip to Florence. If he loves Italy and art...

lilabet2 · 02/10/2019 14:26

I prefer visiting different places but do tend to go back to the same place every couple of years because it's beautiful there, the surf is brilliant and I feel at home/relaxed there.

EntropyRising · 02/10/2019 14:30

The older I get, the more I embrace 'different strokes for different folks'.

crosspelican · 02/10/2019 14:30

I was going to say that HE was being unreasonable until you said Rome. My father and I go to Rome at least once every 2 years, and I would absolutely go every year if I could. I love it so much, and would live there in a heartbeat. It is a city that gives so much, every time. It's perfect.

Equally, I have lived in Paris, and would gladly go there every year for a week if that was my Dad's preference!

We have a home in a hot country and go there for a couple of months every year as it is, but the way our lives are structured, it makes a lot of sense, and we couldn't afford to do anywhere else quite as well.

For other trips we go to different places, but I find that with the children being the age they are now (not really relevant to your Dad!) familiarity works for us very well.

shearwater · 02/10/2019 14:52

Because it's easy and instantly relaxing. Because it's cheaper. When the kids were little we repeatedly went to UK seaside resorts - to PIL's place or to stay with my DPs, because we had free accommodation and the kids didn't care where we were.

Because they have a second home there- it's an area they really like and they want to spend a lot of time there for part of the year.

I'm lucky to have been to tons of different places on holiday, but in a new place it does take me a few days to chill out, get my bearings and feel comfortable, and by that time it's often nearly time to go home. So I get it, holidays can be about travel, curiosity and exploration but they can also be about sheer relaxation and laziness, and comfort, like putting on an old pair of flip flops.

Also when I've had a stressful and bust time at work, I've really craved holidays where we do very little at all.

dottiedodah · 02/10/2019 14:56

We had friends who always visited the same seaside town every year! really liked it ,no worries about what it would be like ,took all the stress out of planning and so on .If it works well why change it?

FishCanFly · 02/10/2019 15:29

Not every year, but my parents have a time-share property in an exotic location. So basically we have free accommodation.

KittyKel · 02/10/2019 15:34

We go to the same place every year. We do other trips away too to explore and experience new things, but for total relaxation we crave the familiarity of our regular haunt. No stress, it’s a home from home.

wlucy · 02/10/2019 15:51

For us it was down to money.
We would rather go somewhere we know we will like and have a good time at, instead of take the risk.
Sounds boring I know but we could only afford holidays abroad every 2 to 3 years so the risk of a rubbish experience would have affected us a lot more than a family who could just go on another holiday in a few months time.

Userzzzzz · 02/10/2019 16:05

I’ve done a mix. When I was younger, I wanted to explore and see different things. My last exploring holiday was to China. I was bloody knackered by the end of it. It was amazing but not relaxing. There is still a part of me that wants to do that but I like familiarity with my small children. For the next few years we want to relax and chill. I don’t need to be exploring and I just want a holiday to be as easy as possible. I’d quite happily go back to the same villa we’ve been to before and sit by the pool and go out to dinner without pressure to see certain sights. Once the children are older (and can appreciate things more) did like a bit more variety.

ravenshope · 02/10/2019 20:49

If you like somewhere, why wouldn't you keep going there?

transformandriseup · 02/10/2019 20:53

My MIL has a holiday timeshare. Three holidays per year every year to the same place. It’s her home away from home and she loves it.

Abouttimemum · 02/10/2019 21:42

I agree entirely OP. I don’t understand it, but each to their own. It’s a big wide world.
What really really irks me is people slagging off parts of the world they’ve never even been to. My FIL is terrible for this, and he’s never even left his home region which I find absolutely baffling.

WelcomeToShootingStars · 02/10/2019 21:47

The very fact that there's such a broad spectrum of holiday types is testament to the fact that we all want different things from a holiday.

For me, the very best thing is the excitement of exploring somewhere new. My best friend would be incredibly stressed by that. We went on holiday with him and his wife once and they had everything planned to the nth degree as its what gave them the holiday they enjoyed.

Each to their own.

Purpleartichoke · 02/10/2019 21:48

I just booked a holiday for next year that is basically a repeat of one we took 2 years ago. Our goal is relaxation and family time. Repeating trips increases the relaxation factor by leaps and bounds.

Writersblock2 · 02/10/2019 21:52

@crosspelican - snap! I started reading the op nodding my head - I love to travel. Then I saw it was Rome. My goodness, what a special place. I feel sorry for the people who do it in a weekend, go on the open top your bus, quickly run through a couple of the main sites and say they’ve “done Rome.”

There is so much to do in Rome, so much to learn. It’s incredible and I could wax lyrical about it to anyone who would listen.

Until Rome I didn’t get why anybody would go to the same place twice. I can’t wait to keep going back. It’s spoiled me!

DoubleFunMum · 02/10/2019 21:56

We go to a family-owned villa in Spain every year. Love it! Idyllic location, facilities that would cost us ££££ if we didn't have this access. Every year we do different things, go different places and, partly because our children are older every year, we have very different experiences. We sometimes invite people to join us too. We do other holidays too, half-term stay-cations etc, so we don't feel we're missing out. My DH and I have both travelled extensively pre-children and we will do again when they are older but atm we enjoy the relaxation of self-catering, private pool, guaranteed weather for family holiday etc.

Amanduh · 02/10/2019 22:08

The weather, the fact it’s amazing, the great location, the short flight, the fact it’s family friendly, could go for a week for the next ten years and still never have a day the same or be able to explore everywhere nearby. Just because it’s the same base doesn’t mean it’s the same experience.
Also as other people have said.. time, money, anxiety, absolutely anything else.
You ARE sneery. It’s stupid to think people can’t go to the same place more than once tbh. It’s like saying why would anyone go to cornwall/london/edinburgh/dublin/new york more than once? Obviously no trips are the same.

corythatwas · 02/10/2019 22:17

I would have thought there is enough in Rome to occupy a lifetime.

lalafafa · 02/10/2019 22:28

We have 6 weeks in 3 different countries every year, explore different areas within though. Then a 2-3 week adventure somewhere new. The kids invariably love the most familiar ones.

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