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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Am I that unusual?

420 replies

Greysparkles · 22/02/2020 18:26

To have never had a passport and never travelled to another country?

Was talking about holidays with friends recently, and got talking about airports etc and i mentioned I'd no idea what they were on about as I've never flown.
Well the looks I got! Like I'd grown an extra head!
Is it that unusual?! Am I the only one?! Grin

OP posts:
june2007 · 22/02/2020 18:27

CErtainly not unusual in the lower economic communities or older communities.

Insaneinthemembury · 22/02/2020 18:29

You would unusual in my social circle... we're all mid 30s tho. Are you young?

recklessgran · 22/02/2020 18:31

Yes, I think it would be quite unusual these days but I certainly wouldn't judge you for it OP!

BIWI · 22/02/2020 18:32

Yes I'd say that was very unusual! Any particular reason? Obviously if it's related to finances that's understandable. Also if you're particularly young, I suppose!

mynameiscalypso · 22/02/2020 18:33

Are you in the UK? I know it's more prevalent in the US but I would have thought you were relatively unusual in the UK.

ADJ1151 · 22/02/2020 18:33

I’m 28 and the same. I went to in Spain when I was a kid and Disneyland Paris but not been anywhere.

It doesn’t really appeal to me. I find the thought of airports, flying, going on foreign holidays stressful!

There’s so many places I want to visit in the uk!

It helps I live in a beautiful part of the uk (Cornwall)

Greysparkles · 22/02/2020 18:37

Yup in the UK, and heading rapidly towards my "mid 30's"
We were poor growing up so only had 3 caravan holidays I remember. We could afford it now though

OP posts:
UnaCorda · 22/02/2020 18:37

Fairly to very unusual, depending on your demographic. Assuming there isn't some obvious reason (income/age/disability) I'd be wondering why you apparently aren't interested in seeing any other part of the world.

Totally up to you, and there's nothing wrong with it if it's your preference, but you might get some looks if you treat it as something to be proud of.

honeyloops · 22/02/2020 18:41

I think it's quite unusual, but I wouldn't think much of it!

lazylinguist · 22/02/2020 18:43

Pretty unusual I should think.

RhodaCamel · 22/02/2020 18:43

I haven’t been abroad for over 23 years and I no longer have a passport. All my friends think it’s weird but I am happy to be weird. I will travel at some point but I find crowded airports, sitting on planes full of people etc quite stressful so for the time being we are happy pootling around the U.K. in our touring caravan at a leisurely pace, relaxing and meeting lots of very nice people on the various sites we stay at.

Shadowboy · 22/02/2020 18:45

I would say it’s unusual. I would say you were in the minority, mainly because cheap and cheerful Spanish holidays were all the rage in the 90’s and early 2000s. I remember when you could fly to Spain for £1

maddiemookins16mum · 22/02/2020 18:46

You’d be quite unusual in most of my friend groups ranging from late teens to 70s.

Vulpine · 22/02/2020 18:47

Its not a bad thing to expand ones horizons

Lipperfromchipper · 22/02/2020 18:50

I’m mid 30’s and I would say it’s very unusual! Most ppl I know have taken a year or two out after university to travel the world.

Elouera · 22/02/2020 18:53

Yes, it is unusual in terms of being in the minority, but I can understand if your family didn't have the money.

Any reason you haven't travelled in your 20's though?

WalkingDeadTrainee · 22/02/2020 18:53

You would be very unusual in my circles. But we are all luckily smart enough to understand that everyone has different preferences and reasons. So no one would laugh or anything like that.
I would maybe wonder why wouldn't person want to see it all since it is very affordable nowadays if you don't have children. But wouldn't think less of the person.
Only reason I wouldn't just nod to is "I just don't like them foreign things"

ThatFriendsReunion · 22/02/2020 18:54

It would be very unusual around me. I honestly don't think I know one person - regardless of their age - who hasn't at least driven or flew over the borders even if it's to stop in Spain, France or Italy (which are really close, nothing wrong with these countries).

With so many fascinating places in the world, I would find that very weird that you have never been tempted by something, somewhere.

SinglePringle · 22/02/2020 18:54

Get a passport.

Go see the world! It’s INCREDIBLE out there!

ThatFriendsReunion · 22/02/2020 18:55

the sad thing is, it's now cheaper to go on a package holiday in a cheap foreign resorts than it is to holiday in the UK.

So the lack of funds is not even a valid reason.

Homemadearmy · 22/02/2020 18:56

I'm in my mid 40s and I've only been abroad 3 times. I went twice in my early 20s and then not for 20 years.

Homemadearmy · 22/02/2020 18:57

Mine is through lack of funds

BoswellsBollocks · 22/02/2020 18:57

I’m 39 and never been abroad either OP.

Same as you we were poor growing up.

My parents could finally afford a trip to Spain when I was 16 but as I would have cost the same as an adult they left me behind 😂

I then started my family in my early 20s and we couldn’t really afford a holiday without a struggle or debt. There are loads of places I’d like to go but the cost is crazy.

We are planning a European city break for my 40th, fingers crossed 🤞🏻.

Greysparkles · 22/02/2020 18:58

Any reason you haven't travelled in your 20's though?

I had my first child at 21 and another a few years after.
I'd say it's never been a top priority to go anywhere, I'm not saying I never will. Maybe I will, maybe I won't 🤷‍♂️

Also the poster saying not to treat it as something to be proud of? I don't really understand that statement. Why would you be proud of a holiday?? Or not in my case Confused

OP posts:
CarolinaPink · 22/02/2020 18:59

Pretty unusual, but nothing to worry about.

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