Am I that unusual?

[Greysparkles]

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?!

I know quite a few people who class travelling as going to another country and doing nothing but sit on a sunbed next to a swimming pool , they never see any places of interest, never venture further than the local bars. I wouldn’t class them as any more ‘travelled’ as someone who has explored lots of places in the UK but have never been abroad.

Each to their own I guess.

I don't know a single person under 50 that hasn't been abroad. But weirdly lots that haven't been to Scotland or travelled around the UK. Myself included. It is just that it is very expensive to travel around in the UK unless you want to stay in a caravan park. I don't enjoy being cold so usually end up heading to Europe where even the camps are better and cheaper. But once the children go to university and we are not obliged to pay the absurd prices of travelling during school holidays in the UK we plan to explore the UK more. I love travelling. It can be relaxing, informative and fun. It is great for the children to see other cultures and understand how big and small the world really is. I've never stayed in all inclusive in my life (and never will). Experiencing different cultures first hand, different cuisines. Visiting museums and natural beauty spots. It is wonderfull.
Your position is definitely unusual and I don't quite understand your motivations. Are you afraid of travelling?
It's really difficult to believe that you really not interested at all since it seems that your friends are also happily going abroad.

TBH I find people who bang on about their holidays pretty boring
We have several holidays a year
Normally 2 at least abroad
But would never judge anyone who didn't

However, what really really baffles me (and I mean genuinely!) is that OP and some other posters don't have a passport! OK, I'm an EU citizen living here, so I probably don't know/understand some things. But how do you go about your life without a passport? Do Brits have some other acceptable form of ID? Driver's licence? But in order to get a driver's licence, you need a passport first, no

When I first got my driving licence back in 1989,I didn't need a passport to get it,just my birth certificate and my photo signed on the back. I use that for any id purpose,it's never been a problem. Yet.

You are very eco friendly, well done 😁
Do what makes you happy 🤗

Bluntness calm down dear! Weymouth was just a random place I thought of as an example.
I am not against travel. I would like to go to specific places in the world. But I also understand what the OP meant when she said she just wasn't overly bothered. There are loads of other experiences in life I would like to do but again they are 'nice but it doesn't matter if it ever happens' things.
I never said you mentioned wine (someone else did though) although I thought you mentioned Processco (apologies if that wasn't you) - isn't that wine?
Anyway I will be unlikely to be going to Weymouth any time soon as I have other life priorities. Shame. It's a nice place. I am hoping to make it to Brighton though this year. Wanted to go last year and the year before but it didn't happen unfortunately.

However, what really really baffles me (and I mean genuinely!) is that OP and some other posters don't have a passport

I rented my first flat with just my birth certificate. I got my driving licence in my early 20's, which only needs a birth cert.
Everything else you can use utility bills & birth cert. I've never been asked for a passport

We have 4 children.. the youngest (5) has never been abroad. It’s purely down to finances for us. I feel sad I can’t afford to take them at the moment. We moved to Wales 4 years ago so tend to holiday in... Wales!

@ShadowOnTheSun I am with you on that. Where I am from people would laugh at birth certificate since it's so easy to fake. But don't forget it is different for us non citizens. I get nothing without your national ID back there. Not even passport. The ID.
I have 3 ids. Basically one for each handbag.

I will never fully understand how country functions on birth certificates as proof of ID. I think there is some black magic involved 🤔

I think it's very unusual. I wouldn't judge, but would assume financial limitations.

If the reason was not financial but simply lack of interest/curiosity, I would find that quite weird tbh but each to their own.

*You can get across to France so cheaply and in 7 hours drive be at some of the best beaches on the planet

I think that depends on your starting location* 😂

Exactly - 7hrs drive for me would be Folkestone

@Veterinari
*There are so many incredible things to experience in the world:
Sights
Sounds
Smells (not always good!)
Culture
Language
Natural viewpoints
Man made wonders

Are you genuinely totally incurious?
*

I could write this about the UK! Such an interesting place, I've explored loads but still plenty to see.

I was 38 before I got a passport. The only non-UK country I'd been to was Ireland by car. I've only been abroad twice since then (I'm almost 46), both by plane.

I got married in 2003 and went to Crete for a holiday/honeymoon. My brother got married in Florida in 2006 and I went there. I have never been abroad other than that. My passport is well out of date!!

My parents are in their late 60s and didn't get passports until four years ago and they've only been abroad once by plane since then.

So what could you use in these cases instead of passport? Birth certificate? I'm not trying to be snarky here, I'm genuinely surprised.

Um photo driving licence?!

This thread couldn't get any more middle class if it tried

It is definitely unusual, but perhaps if more people shared your approach, climate change wouldn’t be at such a critical stage.
I love travelling and chose my job because I love discovering new places and other cultures, but I get that it isn’t a big deal for everyone. Doesn’t mean you aren’t interested in life!
And let’s face it, you probably learn more about the world watching a David Attenborough or Michael Palin documentary.

It would be better for the planet if more people stopped jetting off all the time. You can't be all virtuous about how people should see the wonderful planet whilst ignoring the fact that intensive travel is part of what is killing the planet.

I flew a fair amount in my late teens and twenties.

But now I understand more about how we are teetering on the edge of climate breakdown I have stopped flying. I need to be able to look my children in the eye and say I did my bit.

On the ID issue, I don't have a passport or driving licence and although I haven't had a problem yet, I imagine it will become more of a pain in the arse in future with no photo ID so I might need to buy a passport for that reason.

Millions of people in the USA have never seen the sea... No big deal!

I am the same. I don't think it is as unusual as some have said. And if you don't count the group who basically go to a nearby country, spend a week sozzled and come home (sometimes wonder if they'd notice if the place the plane went to was in the UK with Spanish employees).
Well them counted out then not unusual at all.

Hey
Save the planet!

I think it is extremely unusual these days and I feel so very sorry for you with the experiences you’ve missed out on. Both DH and I travel extensively for work (senior City roles) but we also ensure the DC get to broaden their horizons with plenty of holidays. We take several holidays a year, from five star luxury to a simple Center Parks weekend. While not everyone is as fortunate, I encourage you to apply for your passport and investigate what this wonderful world has to offer. flowers

^^ one of the most patronising things I've ever read on this site

Weymouth, London, no they are not comparable to Barcelona, or Rome, or Kenya, or Japan or the Maldives, they aren’t comparable to Paris or Barbados, to Prague or Croatia, or the myriad of other places to visit , explore and enjoy.

London is one of the greatest cities in the world with some of the best museums (filled with stuff we nicked from all round the world.) Of course it's comparable with other cities. It's just lots of people here take it for granted because it is on the doorstep for most of us.