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!

We actually stayed in the UK last year (and had better weather in the Outer Hebrides than they did at home in the Midlands). We were looking forward to a holiday abroad this year but hadn't actually booked anything. DH and I will happily stay here until we feel safe travelling through an airport or on a plane. There are many places in this country that I've never been to so happy to explore. I fear it may be difficult to book accomodation though as many will have transferred bookings and more people will be replacing their foreign holidays with UK ones. May even resort to camping - I did that again 2 years ago after many years, and actually enjoyed it. We've got all the kit so it's an option for us - even though we're late 50's and like a bit of luxury!

Pukkatea I would go for city breaks if I were you - Edinburgh, Chester, Bristol are brilliant places to visit with lovely walks, restaurants, bars etc. We visit Caernarfon a lot too, great town and decent nightlife if you are into that sort of thing.

I think you can end up spending more when the weather is bad. We often go camping (both in uk and in France) . If the weather is good we go out cycling, go to nearby towns, beaches , play on the campsite, have BBQs etc.
If the weather is awful we end up eating out more, going to the cinema etc

but as I got older we did the traditional Brit holiday of going to Spain (or Greece) for 2 weeks
Isn’t a ‘traditional British holiday’ Blackpool or Great Yarmouth?

This year I doubt we'll be able to afford to go away at all in the summer. We have flights booked for a christmas holiday so will wait to see what happens with those.

It will be interesting to see how flexible UK cottage and hotel owners will be. One of the reasons we have been reluctant to book in the UK in the past is that terms can be restrictive, and in current circumstances there's no way of knowing if restrictions on travel within the UK will be reintroduced.

I think well be lucky to manage a holiday anywhere this year.

We are childless, not that keen on the 'seaside' or quaint little villages, and don't fancy camping either. Any ideas for where we might like?

What sort of stuff do you like?
Bournemouth has a good mixture.

There's going to be a massive tension between those who want to open the economy up, including the tourist sector in the UK, and regions that don't want a second wave coming anywhere near them (Cornwall and to a lesser extent Devon).

YANBU, OP. We have to learn to go without our exotic travel. The planet can't sustain endless foreign holidays.

Flying needs to be a very rare occurrence. We need huge investment in public transport, in trains, and a lot more action by the govt.

Covid is a fart in a hurricane compared to climate change.

Nope will be staying home and saving money until I'm allowed abroad again

Isn’t a ‘traditional British holiday’ Blackpool or Great Yarmouth?
Like this?

Personally after the abuse from the people in Cornwall and Devon not wanting people there from London in case the virus is spread further (understandable but very rudely done) I would rather not spend any of my money there.

So if I can I will support a country that appreciates tourism.

I encourage people to holiday in the UK every year and that's what we do. Almost entirely because I do not believe wanting a foreign holiday justifies air travel.

Pukkatea
Recommended
London, Edinburgh, Liverpool
Or
A holiday traveling around like island hopping in Scotland for history, scenery, food & drink, music
Or
Travel round Ireland or Wales
Or
One island like Isle of Man, Isle of Wight, Arran, Jersey, Sicily Isles, Shetlands
Or
Hire a boat Norfolk Broads
Or Hire a canal boat
Or Hire camper van

Plenty of choices

How do you know the hotels, camp sites etc will be back open?

Just read the threads about posters stuck in camping holidays in the UK when the weather is bad -which it tends to be! No, thank you. I can't think of many things worst than that.

Sicily are offering to pay half air fare and part of the hotel if you visit.
People will be tempted.

For the last 14 years we have been on holiday all over Scotland, England and Wales, the one year we decide to book an abroad holiday this bloody virus ruins everything. 😂😂 so going on holiday in Britain is the norm for us.

How do you know the hotels, camp sites etc will be back open?

because of the announcement from the government? When schools reopen end of May at the latest, there's no reason whatsoever to keep anything else closed... Lockdown is over.

If it's safe for my kids to go back in class, it's safe for everybody to go back to normal.

still thinking that holidaying in the UK is just for the unenlightened

Many of us never thought this.

I love interesting holidays in many places around the world including areas of the UK.

And am now dreading my beloved ‘great place to get away from it all’ basic woodland campsites will now be full of people moaning about the weather.

There are lots of threads dying please don’t come to UK holiday destinations this year, you will bring the virus to us and our rural hospitals can’t cope

This. Roadblocks on the A303 and ANPR on the Tamar Bridge to keep the virus carrying hordes out.

I don't agree that UK holidays are "dreary" though. If you choose to go away in August when the weather is often awful and everywhere massively overcrowded (and all the roadworks happen then because it's apparently not busy!) that's one thing. But May half term is usually a good bet and if you are not tied to school holidays you can go in June or September and pick your moment.

Personally after the abuse from the people in Cornwall and Devon not wanting people there from London in case the virus is spread further (understandable but very rudely done) I would rather not spend any of my money there.
Getting called "fucking Emmetts" (unprovoked, just walking along a quiet street, Mum and 2 kids) along with a string of similar abuse ended our hols in Cornwall some time back. And we aren't even from London.

I only holiday in the UK but I don't think we'll be able to this year.
No way are Devon and Cornwall going to be allowed to open up and let the masses enter and potentially bring the virus with them.