Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To really be missing travel?

51 replies

notdawn · 27/10/2020 13:05

I would like to clarify before anybody gets upset that of course this is insignificant compared to job losses and people who have had the virus.

But is anybody really missing travel?

Summer holiday I sort of didn’t miss, but was wedding anniversary last weekend and we are always away for that. Then usually go shopping with my daughters in New York early December while husband goes away with my son (usually to watch a sporting event)

Having a little moan - but COVID sucks doesn’t it?

OP posts:
WhereamI88 · 27/10/2020 18:12

YANBU. It think it's the combination with everything else. Nothing to distract you from shitty every day life. Can't travel, can't see family, can't socialize, can't go to any events, can't plan anything...all we do is eat, sleep and work.

Work and food is my life right now.

Ffsffsffsffsffs · 27/10/2020 19:23

Yanbu op.

I was >this< close to booking flights for our long-awaited and incredibly-long-saved-for holiday of a lifetime in March, had spent months tracking prices, had the page on 'proceed to check-out' but then got distracted and the page timed out.

I'm trying to spin it as we've saved even more, it'll be even more special, kids will be older and more appreciative (late teens) but it's still meh. I've had free accomodation holidays in Europe for the last couple of years, really missing the freedom to up and go, and hours and hours making plans, wishlists etc. I follow lots of these places on social media, it's awful seeing picture after picture of beautiful scenery, glistening beaches, exciting new cities.

They'll still be there when we can get to them again. I am extremely grateful to still have the option to go as my job is safe so far and I'm not using up my hard saved holiday fund on bills.

NatMoz · 27/10/2020 20:24

I don't have much interest in clothes/shoes/random purchases- for me it's about utilising annual leave on travelling experiences.

We were quite lucky as we were able to go skiing in January but we also planned a long weekend in Holland, a week in Ukraine (Kiev), a hen do in a chateau in Bordeaux, a UK music festival and a 2 week break on Lake Garda followed by a flight to Sardinia.

Instead we ended up camping in the UK. Not the same but we did make it to the Lake District, Yorkshire Dales, Devon, Wales and (near) Sherwood Forest. A tent on a wild and windy site is not quite the same as the Mediterranean beaches but it was better than nothing.

Now I'm in tier 3 and not allowed to leave the county! Doubt even my Cornwall trip between Xmas and NY will happen now.

Whitney168 · 27/10/2020 21:23

@TeamLucille

I've actually quite enjoyed the novelty of a year at home.

I admire your spirit, I really haven't! And we still took a couple of holidays this summer.

We are at home every day of the week, I need my holidays. I know a few people who have moved since the beginning of the lockdown to settle in a UK "holiday destination". Not the same as travelling, but not a bad idea now that commuting to work is no longer a requirement.

😆

I am also convincing myself that I am looking forward to a cosy winter at home, this strange year. The positive attitude on that one is a bit harder to carry off than a summer of mostly nice weather spent in the garden.

I have booked Canada flights for next September. Main holiday should have been New England this year, but rather than re-booking that we thought at the time Canada maybe a better chance. Now not convinced on either, but hey ho, I can cancel it ...

Meruem · 27/10/2020 21:28

You needed to slot it in quick when we were able. As summer approached I kept an eye on the scenario and managed to squeeze in 2 trips before it all fell apart again. I think a lot of people dithered as to whether it was a wise move and missed their chance.

SynchroSwimmer · 27/10/2020 22:01

I’m missing it too, but something I have found that helps - I have signed up to various Facebook newsfeed pages of the holiday places that I go to...to get daily uplifting cheerful photos as a reminder....

Not everyone would find that helpful, but works for me - Greece, Croatia, Canaries, Italy, Turkey....

Had recently been travelling for 10 months out of every 12....my friends joking that I was just coming home to change my knicks and mow the lawn 😂
(Bereaved and getting on my feet - so don’t shout at me)

CherryPavlova · 27/10/2020 22:12

Yes definitely. We’ve been fortunate and done a few U.K. trips, but it’s not the same.

VeryQuaintIrene · 27/10/2020 22:16

I really miss conferences and staying in hotels!

MayDayHelp · 27/10/2020 23:03

I’ve just gone for it anyway. I will be going abroad for my 4th holiday abroad this year in a couple of weeks, and am planning a longer further flung trip in February for my 40th.

Before anyone starts, I had the virus back in April and with the very limited/if any cases of people getting it twice I don’t think I’m losing a risk to anyone.

Planning has become a ballache - my trip away in the summer holidays ended up being moved 3 times to different countries due to air bridges closing and I lost money in the process.

It’s only been short trips each time and I can’t tell you how much it’s improved my mental health to get away. I love travelling, it’s one of the few things which make me truly happy. I’m also aware that soon it may become impossible due to companies going bust, rocketing prices, and immunity passports - I am not planning on having the rushed through jab so if that becomes an essential part of travel I’d rather not go.

paddyclampitt · 28/10/2020 00:00

I miss going overseas. The weather is a bit crap at the minute but it was great during lockdown. Even in August when we went away in the UK it was 37 degrees in the south east!

Saying all that though, it doesn't help at this time of year and the uncertainty about next year. And it's not even all about the weather tbh!

Shieldingending · 28/10/2020 07:10

I'm with you OP, really miss not having holidays. I hate not being able to plan anything

Goldencurtain · 28/10/2020 07:16

No wonder the environment is in trouble with all this air travel. Jesus, you know it was only in your parents lifetime that international travel became a thing apart from the very elite

babbi · 28/10/2020 07:19

As someone who travelled lots I’m very surprised at how contented I am to stay at home this year .
Though I did have a fortnight in California in February.
Possibly I am jaded and tired after so much travel last year , 8 trips for holidays and mini breaks which were fun of course ..
But business travel for me last year was ridiculous. 26 countries all in ...
spent a lot of time at LHR and AMS heading out to all continents..

DisgruntledGuineaPig · 28/10/2020 07:29

I've missed having things to look forward to.

I resented doing a post lockdown diet to lose the lockdown love handles, but normally dieting is something I do before an event or a holiday, or after an overindulgence holiday/event, lockdown wasn't a nice reason to have gained weight compared to a foodie week away!

Holidays are such happy memories for our family. The whole thing is sad.

FippertyGibbett · 28/10/2020 07:31

I am massively missing holidays.
We try and go away 3 times if we can.
My relationship with DH isn’t great and I’m sure getting away would help.

Ilikewinter · 28/10/2020 07:46

We had 2 long haul holidays cancelled, managed a week on the South coast which we really enjoyed. I was going to book Tenerife for a few weeks time but now with talk of needing covid test before you go im glad I didnt bother. Ive given up now and will plan on booking for the end of 2021.

carlywurly · 28/10/2020 07:48

Omg yes. I had to drive past our nearest airport last week and was so gutted that we should have been there to head off on a city break this week. We always have one in October.

It's the change of scene, the energy you get from exploring new places, researching etc. I always come back refreshed. Mostly, it's the having something to look forward to though. We had 2 11th hour cancellations this year and it was so miserable.

Next year could potentially be great if all our rescheduled trips happen. There is zero certainty of that though. Sad

Oblomov20 · 28/10/2020 08:03

I miss it very much. Also like you, I miss all the research. We go away as a group to Berlin, Krakow, Dubrovnik, and it the researching, finding 2 really posh restaurants that I enjoy the most. Eating food that I could never cook, often with ingredients I have barely heard of....

I miss it terribly.

Dontforgetyourbrolly · 28/10/2020 08:07

Yes totally. Not only is it my livelihood but my dad lives in italy and I dont know if he will ever see ds again .
I have never had less than 3 trips a year ever , some for work some for pleasure. Iove my job but it has no future. I love showing my son the world , hes been coming away with me since he was 8 weeks old .
It totally sucks. First world problem and all that .

Fluffybutter · 28/10/2020 08:20

I’m with you op .
We were supposed to be in Berlin for our wedding anniversary today but our flight was cancelled , no Disneyland Paris Christmas trip this year and can’t book anything for next year as fighting with virgin to get our money back for this years trip has put me off booking anything too far in advance now .

whiteroseredrose · 28/10/2020 08:37

Me too. We haven't done that much in the past due to finances but were hoping to get in a couple of nice trips before the DC no longer want to come with us.

Fortunately we did manage a lifetime ambition of mine and went to Iceland in August just when everything was opening up and things seemed to be improving.

I love the planning aspect and our trip to Sicily is ready to go - if we ever get a chance. But even my fantasy travel is impacted by concerns that the suppliers that I'd love to use may have to close down for ever due to the pandemic.

Greypurse · 28/10/2020 08:42

There are many places you can still go, and there’s nothing stopping you from the research still. So doom and gloom!

GreeboIsMySpiritAnimal · 28/10/2020 08:52

Yeah. I've not seen enough of the world, and now I'm trapped on a cold, damp island full of Tories.

TeamLucille · 28/10/2020 09:17

@Greypurse

There are many places you can still go, and there’s nothing stopping you from the research still. So doom and gloom!
Not that easy when you have children. Yes, it is possible, but after the months they had to spend stuck at home, you need to plan for a possible quarantine, which means missing more school and more friends.

Not everybody can take last-minute leave from work to leave the second a country comes back on the safe list either.

Many destinations won't welcome you either.

DougRossIsTheBoss · 28/10/2020 09:39

I miss it so much that I have been planning fantasy holidays in my head. I do that anyway to an extent as it's not like we can actually afford many of my fantasy hols but it's worse still with Covid. We went nowhere at all this year. Usually I can satisfy my urge to plan with a UK holiday but with DC in school and me unable to wfh getting quarantined would be a disaster for us.

I do have my heart set on a trip to Japan for DH 50th in 2022 and I have practically the whole itinerary down despite having no idea if we can really go.

Also have fantasy holidays to Italy, Morocco, Holland and Canada all planned out in my head and even an African Safari that is a total pipe dream and would require a lottery win.