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!

@notchickenagain remember doing the same thing on our way to our annual summer holiday in Tenby when I was a child. That first glimpse of the sea was so exciting.

But the whole of the UK isn't the same!
no, but I am here most of the times, we have more than enough weekends and bank holidays to go on mini-breaks, I would feel stuck if I had to take my "holidays" here too

Ah, so you do go away in the UK! I class mini breaks/weekends as holidays too. Bit different to someone who never sers foot outside their home town, except when they go abroad!

I'm still struggling with the 'abroad' being cheaper idea.
if you go self-catering in a nice property abroad it is a lot cheaper than renting a semi-decent property in the UK.

Camping is not that cheap when you include all the equipment you need.

It might be cheaper to go camping cheaply in the UK than going to a luxury AI holiday in a top resort, but when you compare similar holidays, the UK is very expensive and more importantly, very poor value for money.

You can go on dirt cheap packaged holiday abroad - the accommodation will be basic, but if you are never in your room, it can makes sense.

Holidayaddict
I don't know many people who are stuck at home all year round and only leave the front door to go on holiday.

Of course we move around the UK, weekends with friends, weddings, parties... not a holiday in my book

A half decent cottage in Tuscany is similar if not more than a decent cottage in Cornwall and more expensive than a nice cottage in the lakes.
Then add flights and it’s been more expensive every time I’ve compared

That’s comparing nice cottages to nice cottages

I don’t fancy camping or AI so haven’t compared cost between those

Sometimes we do a cheaper glamping trip in Normandy travelling by car but that still comes out about the same as a nice cottage in the lakes once you factor in the crossing

OneandTwenty

Holiday house in the UK for us, generally vary between £600 and £900 for a week (usually nearer the lower) and I've seen similar abroad for a similar or slightly lesser price.) But then I have to get there. And flights/ferries/the tunnel cost a lot of money for 6 people.

Went to Belgium last year. (My DF basically paid for the accommodation as it was a massive family event) but we paid for the ferry, £200ish. Drive to Dover (cheaper than hull/harwich) so that was 7 hours of diesel,
Overnight accommodation in Dunkirk (got a youth hostel bargain £198 one night on the way there, on the way back). Diesel onwards for another 4 hours to our accommodation.

Altogether, that's the cost of out normal holiday accommodation.

I live travelling and would live to do more.
But I still can't make the finances work. PPs on this thread say it's possible. Just not sure how?

(We have full camping stuff anyway, but the kids and DH hate it.)

To be honest. I think we’ve got a moral obligation to inject our money into our own economy.

Agree with that

What if other countries don't want to let the 'dirty infected brits' in?

Will that be allowed my moms got a caravan I really want to go there in summer I'm so hoping

I think we’ve got a moral obligation to inject our money into our own economy.

i pay enough tax, and expect to pay a hell of lot more in the very near future, so I have no moral issue whatsoever to spend what little will be left elsewhere.

I'm not convinced uk hotels and holiday parks/national parks will even be able to open in the same way. I've got a week in the lakes booked for August. Not convinced the hotel will be open by then.

@Holidayaddict I can pm you with a link?

(Don't want to link to a place that's been all over my personal social media!)

@drinkveneer - course you can! Thank you x

I can do a long weekend in the UK - I love to travel to London on the train or drive over to the East Coast (Yorkshire). Mini break in York or Oxford - but I don't consider those my 'holiday'.

In recent years we've had at least a week in France every summer or into autumn. Sometimes three weeks - sometimes a week and then later in the year go again. If anything that is the place I will miss most. However it is the place Im most likely to be able to travel to i.e. by Eurotunnel or ferry. No flying required.

Also I have family in the US so have been visiting them annually. This year's trip is off - I hope I get the ticket money back for that as I can't see when I can possibly hope to reschedule it for.

In our winter I like/need some sun - fortunately thisyear I had booked cheap flights to the Canaries so we had a lovely long break in February. If that hadn't happened, or been so relaxing then I 'd be super pissed off by now.

In my mind holidaying in the UK is more of a family thing. i.e. taking young kids - staying on a holiday park or camping (i am never, ever camping) and running around a cold, windy beach. I would prefer to be somewhere with a warm, comfortable, reliable climate so where I can talk in a different language, eat 'foreign' foods, drink 'foreign' drinks and just 'be' elsewhere.

We have holidayed in the uk since 2007. Our kids have never been abroad. At first it was because I didn't want my young kids spoiling others holidays (had many a flight or holiday experience of young kids screaming, kicking and having a tantrum).

Then it was cost, we have holidayed with my i laws most years so they subsidise the cost of the accommodation- we could never go abroad in the school holidays for the cost of our uk holiday.

This year we have a cottage booked with my family and again I'm grateful as I can't see overseas holidays happening but I think our uk one is possible.

If you can guarantee wall to wall sunshine and warm seas, I'd happily never leave the country again.

Sent. x

@Daffodil101 yes it is. I was scrolling Booking.com inspired by the thread and that was top of my list. The next ones were in the 3-5k bracket but are into that swirly carpet in the bar territory that I loathe and KNOW will feature a lime scaled shower head that pisses water in every direction except at me.

I had the most marvellous 6 week road trip planned through Europe this summer. Pools, mountains, lakes, beaches. I am still a bit sad.

Last year we did Whitby/Yorkshire and it was very pleasant (damp). This year I wanted to swim in the sunshine and drink spritz in piazza. Maybe next year.

I live in a tourist area and we hope you will all come back. Ignore the angry daily mail readers.

All my best holidays have been abroad but they've been very expensive once in a lifetime type trips where we went out of our way to travel in small groups, with a local guide, see the local culture, real local food and avoid busy places.

A choice between a cheap, crowded Mediterranean resort and UK, UK everytime for me.

Will we even be able to travel in the uk?

I just hope a holiday in the UK might be possible this year. If it is I bet by the time it feels safe to book all the good places will be booked up.

YABU

If we are allowed, I’ll be going on my booked holidays in Greece and France. Neither are package holidays and those countries need their economies supporting too. Your kids hate flying, mine hate cars.

If we can only do a UK holiday we will do that. But not if I have the choice.

I have never taken my family abroad for a holiday. Dont see the attraction. Much prefer to stay in the uk