AIBU to encourage people to holiday in the UK this year?

[BaliPebbles]

Growing up I did a few holidays in the Wales but as I got older we did the traditional Brit holiday of going to Spain (or Greece) for 2 weeks, lying on a deckchair everyday except one when we went out somewhere for a bit of culture (but became anxious of missing out on one tanning day), eating loads of creme caramel and then flying home and starting to peel before you left the arrivals lounge. As money improved, those hotels just got better and the destinations a bit more far away e.g. lying on a beach in Cancun.

I then lived overseas for nearly 20 years and went on some amazing holidays, still thinking that holidaying in the UK is just for the unenlightened.

Then we moved back to the UK with primary age children and we ventured to do a UK holiday. We were actually astonished at how great a time we had and how much happier the DC were and how much less stress it was. Mine don't actually want to be dragged through an airport and spend a whole day travelling, they don't want to go too far and away for too long. They like being in the car and stopping off. They like British things. Our UK holidays now consist of great food, interesting and off the beaten track excursions, somewhere nice to stay, history, culture and some activities.

Anyway, the reason why I am bleating on about this is because I just received a survey about using airlines once the lockdown is over. I filled it in and I realised that I don't actually want to go on a plane now for a long time. I don't want to add to climate change, I don't want to end up somewhere where coronavirus ramps up during my holiday, I do not want to be in a 5 hour queue either end of my plane journey and I don't want to listen to people coughing round me on a plane.

So, AIBU to remind people that we need to boost our own economy quite urgently and that actually, if you sit down and spend a couple of hours on the internet, you can make yourself a brilliant itinerary for a holiday in the UK because actually holidaying in Britain is great!

SkaLaLand - that's personal choice! Having spent some holidays on a typical UK park, I can honestly say: never again! They are cramped and feel overcrowded. I always think they are very expensive for what it is.
But if you want to know... I can get a lovely holiday let for €900 -1000.- week.

No. Too many memories of mean, dismal accommodation, stupidly long traffic jams, grudging locals and rationed ice in drinks (have they forgotten the recipe?).

If I'm spending my ££ it will be where a place where people at least have the grace to pretend to tolerate my touristy ways, able to provide a spacious room with decent bedding and a shower that doesn't dribble, lavishly iced drinks and seafood that doesn't originate from a Ross bag even though the harbour is right there.

I’ve no idea why people are not more discerning with where they rent! My house is modern, beautiful and has en suites for every bedroom. Views to die for and a Michelin starred restaurant just steps away! However you have to pay for such luxury! But it’s worth it.

I can’t wait to do U.K. holidays!

I’ve always gone abroad but this horrible pandemic has really changed my mindset.

I’m so looking forward to renting a lovely house in Cornwall and taking the kids to the beach surfing.

I think it will be a few years after pandemic is over to get me abroad again!

Come to my house Maggie!

I’m hoping to still go abroad in November. Very concerned it will be postponed though!

@Rayn sounds like you're comparing self catering with AI. A more useful comparison would be £450 for a two bedroom apartment from a site like Spain-holiday and one way each way flights from Skyscanner, say £150 each so £1050 in total.

Obviously the flight prices vary and you don't usually get cheap outward and inward but ime either of those you will be able to get a good deal on if you set up a price alert on your phone. I've paid as little as £30 for kids' flights in the school holidays one way (Jet2 offers cheaper kids' flights, ie not just for infants).

When you're in southern Europe days out and meals out are way cheaper than in the UK so your spending money goes further. It only costs about a tenner to get into the bloody Alhambra for example and that's a UNESCO heritage site, life enhancing experience etc, galleries, castles and museums are free/cheap, you can do stuff like an afternoon on a boat snorkeling off the coast for really not very much money, all sorts of things that make for a memorable holiday that would be expensive (and cold) in the UK.

Yanbu, I've had lots of lovely UK holidays. I agree with PP you get what you pay for - a cheap caravan on a newspaper deal will never be luxury, whereas a lovely cottage with all mod cons will be great.

There is nothing wrong with any option though, choose what you can afford!

I was supposed to be in wales between Monday and Thursday this week. No dice.
I’d be surprised if I get my yorkshireholiday in July tbh

Aw that's nice, posters that have had the benefit of frequent foreign holidays encouraging us to holiday in the UK.

I love holidays- UK or abroad, DS 14 is easier to entice on a foreign trip and it's wonderful to see other countries.

Frankly this summer, I'll holiday anywhere I can - we have a couple of provisional bookings - week in the UK in holiday cottage mid July and flights to Jersey near end of August that can be changed. Unlikely either of them will go ahead, originally were meant to be going to Costa Rica.

We've stayed in Cornwall a couple of times as we do like it, but we had to fly anyway or do a 10-12 hr drive and holiday rentals are expensive. Really hope we get to Jersey as it looks gorgeous and hopefully a bit warmer than UK ( nb please don't tell me it's never happening this summer, there is a possibility).

YANBU. Our businesses will desperately need the support. I will be grateful to get away anywhere this year and there are plenty of beautiful places in the UK to visit.

We were going to France in August but I cancelled and booked a cottage in Cornwall.

Then Cornish people on here became quite voiciferous that I shouldn’t go there, either.

We’ve paid a deposit but we are waiting to see what Boris announces. Can’t decide if we should take the chance that it will be a nice holiday, regardless.

You do realise there is more to holidaying abroad than sitting on a beach in a deck chair for two weeks?
I love my holidays abroad but the vast majority of it is not spent in a deck chair.
Did you by any chance go all inclusive?
You talk about doing the off the beaten track in the UK but you do know that these things exist abroad as well?
One of the prettiest places I've been was a tiny Greek island where there aren't any cars.
Some of the most cultured places I've been have been Italian cities
Some of the nicest scenery I've seen is in rural France
Not everyone goes to all inclusive for two weeks and doesn't move

So after 30years if travel and international experience you've decided that no one else needs the same.... ok!

Why does anyone think that there is less infection risk in uk holidays than overseas holidays?
Are you suggesting that "furrinas" are dirty and not to be trusted.. that must be the Brexshit dividend continuing to pay out!

We have had some of our best hols in the UK when the weather was good but of course sadly it cannot be relied upon and once in a while I like to be WARM. That said I think travelling abroad is going to be impossible for the next few weeks and possibly months. Will probably try and holiday somewhere rural later this year if allowed and move our foreign Holiday due to take place at the beginning of June to next year

@fedup2017 Thu 07-May-20 14:49:04
A UK holiday never feels like a proper holiday.
There is no excitement, no adventure.

Of course it’s an a proper holiday and we’ve had plenty adventures travelling all over Scotland, England and Wales.

Anywhere away from home is a holiday!

We usually holiday in cottages or caravans spending approx £500 on that and then £100 spending money a day, so just over a grand. ANd we are normally really lucky with the weather.

This year we had booked to go to Spain £2100 and buy passports just short of £300 then we had budgeted £100 a day and not forgetting the clothes we need for a summer holiday, for 4. Eg bikinis, sun dresses , shorts etc. So talking about £4000 all in.

It’s certainly cheaper to stay in Britain, we have been in Greece and Spain and had rain for day since too so yeah the weather Ian mostly better but just depend s on your luck.

I'd love to holiday in the UK this year as we do every year but surely it's not gonna happen under the circumstances

I don't get how holidays abroad are cheaper.
For a family of 4 I am looking at 3k for a holiday in school holidays.
I can get a cottage for that around £700.
Am I missing something?

Same. Last 2 cottages we've had were between £600-700 school hols and were lovely, real homes from home. If you can even get accommodation for that money abroad it would likely be a tiny apartment. Then you have the cost of flights on top. Never found much for less than 3k, family of 4.

I must admit some of my best holidays have been in Scotland. Sometimes I have been abroad earlier in the year and then had a week in Scotland. Often the latter has been more enjoyable. However it is certainly not cheap in school holidays to rent somewhere nice.

Yabu, it’s not for you to tell people how to holiday .
Yes we’ve had some nice UK breaks but they’re long weekends rather than anything else .
All our best holiday memories are abroad bar one which was Cornwall last year .
If we all holiday here this year then places will be overwhelmed and bloody expensive!
If my holiday is cancelled in August or if I don’t feel it’s safe then we will move it to next year and not have a holiday this year.
The thought of rammed English beaches is just not appealing

Of course it’s an a proper holiday and we’ve had plenty adventures travelling all over Scotland, England and Wales.
To you maybe , but to some people it doesn’t feel like that !

We always holiday in the UK for several reasons. The problem is the shit weather. When the weather is lovely, UK holidays are fantastic. But the last two holidays have been totally ruined by chilly, grey, rainy weather... in August.

YANBU OP, we need more of this positivity.

@Holidayaddict apartments on the continent aren't "tiny"! All the apartments we've stayed in have been spacious and modern, had balconies/roof terraces, in complexes with several pools and beautiful landscaped gardens etc. One place we stayed in had an open pool on the sixth floor, it was amazing being in the pool looking over the coastline. They're not like pokey little flats in the UK. That apartment was quite expensive tbf - £500 for the week, but it was right next to the sea with a balcony overlooking. Back when the exchange rate was better before we started fucking around with Brexit it was even cheaper to rent these kinds of places.

We’ve been to Skye 6 times and tbh have had more bad weather than good (last year was the best weather we’ve ever had) but tbh we don’t care. The atmosphere is magical to us and the scenery is magnificent whatever the weather.