Booking a staycation in UK

[cocowhite]

I know we can't book anything right now, we usually have a holiday abroad with the kids in Spain or Portugal, we actually have our summer holiday booked for the end of April to Spain (was booked for May last year but obviously cancelled so we postponed to this year)

Doesn't look likely at all that it will go ahead. We all desperately need a holiday - as I'm sure everyone does! I'm starting to think once restrictions are lifted it will be much easier to go on holiday in this country.

So I'm not really asking AIBU (or maybe you think I am for thinking about booking at all?!) and more that I need some recommendations on where we can go? We've never had a holiday in this country to be honest so I'm clueless!

We want something that allows pets and a hot tub would be ideal! I'm thinking a lodge or cottage or maybe even glamping?!

Any suggestions of where is nice and child/pet friendly?

@notanothertakeaway

Booking.com have lots of properties with 'free cancellation'. It's not free, you pay a bit extra for it, but it gives flexibility to cancel, sometimes up to just a week before departure

Air BnB do similar

Scottish school holidays are end June to mid August. Useful to know if you might visit Scotland

We live in north west England, sorry to sound stupid but I guess the weather in Scotland is similar to home? I mean roughly...

So, anyone up for a house swap instead?

@CountessFrog I wasn’t aware that only people who are parents with school-age children book holidays.

Besides which, being a teacher, I’m fairly certain that there are other holiday periods parents booking holidays can use instead.

Cornwall is better in spring for weather. If you book august and don’t expect rain, more fool you.

My Aug holiday was booked last summer, thankfully before the place upped their prices by an extra £400 a week.
Weirdly as soon as they upped their prices in the autumn they became completely booked out for this year. It’s not even in a tourist area.

No @SpiderinaWingMirror you would be fine. Honestly.

I disagree that Cornwall was the same last year as any year - it was considerably busier and had a different demographic of holiday maker - many more were anti social, rude, impatient and entitled, weren’t wearing masks or social distancing - for the first year ever as a resident of Cornwall I didn’t visit the beach or town once for the whole of the summer as it was so crowded. The traffic was utterly ridiculous and parking was impossible. I say this as a main resort resident, but even visiting my parents in a small village - their car park which is never full was overflowing. Prices of things like food and drinks was extortionate, and accommodation prices were hugely inflated - I don’t know how people with children afford a holiday in the U.K.

If you’ve only ever holidayed abroad then if I were you I’d not try and recreate the sun, sand and sea experience because Sod’s law says that the weather will let you down (it’s pretty heavily booked up and very expensive this year anyway). Go for a countryside experience, farms, castles, walks in the woods and up hills etc.

Depending on where you are already I’d look for somewhere rural and inland like Shropshire (very under-appreciated gem) or maybe city breaks somewhere beautiful like York or Edinburgh.

@SachaStark I agree, I have lived in Cornwall did many years and March/April/May are usually the best weather wise and aside from Easter not as crowded. I do feel sorry for people who are here on holiday in August as the weather isn’t the best and if you can’t go on the beaches, and the kids are bored it could cost £100+ to take them to a tourist attraction, before even considering food, drinks etc.

We were looking at southern Scotland last week of August. Really would we be unwelcome?

You would be very welcome. Honestly some fucking weird people on MN.

If anything, it's the Highlands that has been (slightly) less welcoming during the pandemic because of the influx of holidaymakers to very rural areas with few hospitals etc. Last summer Aviemore was asking people not to arrive en masse because they couldn't cope with an outbreak.

Tourism is a massive part of the Scottish economy and most Scots are welcoming and friendly to all.

We’ve got something booked in Lincolnshire for right at the end of August...we needed something to look forward to and can rebook it if needed at no extra cost if the situation is still similar to now. God help us if it is.

@SpiderinaWingMirror

We were looking at southern Scotland last week of August. Really would we be unwelcome?

Unwelcome by whom? Nicola Surgeon? Some people have very strange views about Scotland

I hate this creeping use of ‘staycation’ for a holiday in the U.K. By this definition I never had a holiday as a child, because we always went to our holiday cottage in Cornwall

A staycation is staying in your actual house.

I've booked a cottage in Devon for a week in August. Cant wait!

You’re very aggressive, Sasha.

More fool you? What a funny thing to say.

FWIW I had a lovely three weeks in Cornwall last august. I should have been in France. It was misty at times but we had some glorious sunshine and spent every day on the beach, literally.

More fool us!

I meant to add - it’s the midges in Scotland that would put me off in the summer. I was bitten to hell at Loch Lomond one year.

I’m older and wiser now. There would certainly my be a case for use of the phrase ‘more fool me’ if I tried that again without serious insect repellant, or better still, a full hazmat suit!

My three favourite uk holiday places:
North Wales
North Yorkshire
Somerset

I wanted to book a luxury cottage in Norfolk. My view was that I'd be happy to spend a bit more as this is our only holiday. But all the higher end cottages appear to be booked. I'm sure there are some that aren't, but not the ones I looked at.

A travel expert was quoted in the paper this week that a lot of people are choosing to spend a bit more and get the less budget stuff on the basis that they can't go overseas/are only getting one holiday/haven't done anything for a while. I'd add that with the luxury stuff you feel like it's more likely to be able to go ahead in that you're paying for the benefit of owners/managers who are spending as needed for Coronavirus-related things (from cleaning to PPE).

In the end we've booked at Centreparcs instead. I suspect there will be some limits to what we can do but if nothing else it will be nice accommodation, in a beautiful forest, with outdoor play areas etc.

We held our prices this year and I’m now turning away people every day as we’re all but fully booked from April to November.

Crazy number of enquiries this year. Holiday accommodation in the UK is going to be very busy this summer so if you are thinking of booking something you need to get on and do it.

A staycation is when you stay in your house and go on day trips.

This.

As for a holiday in the U.K... I think rental ‘cottage’ holidays will go ahead. They did last summer.
People just won’t be flying out to Ibiza, Barbados or Disney anytime soon that’s all.

I have taken a bet already and booked 4 budget holidays throughout the year with good covid cover as part of booking. They have increased just in a few weeks. We booked a week in a static caravan that has gone up by hundreds since.

I'm from Kent so also going to book some weekends back in Kent.

It's the weather in the UK. Wish you could book that too

I run a B&B on Chichester Harbour which is an absolutely beautiful part of the world - great for cycling, walking, bird-watching, museums, galleries and (before too long, I hope) pubs. There is not a huge amount of accommodation so, unless you insist on going to the Witterings, it is peaceful and relaxing.

We are filling up fast. We will also give a 100% refund of any cancellations due to Covid regualtions.

One thing I would say is: Book Direct. It is much easier for us to give a refund if you don't go through an on-line Travel Agent. Check the website and reviews carefully and pay by credit card if you need further reassurance, but all small businesses appreciate (and often give a discount) if you book direct.

ghostyslovesheets
Where do you recommend in Nth Yorkshire, Nth Wales?

can i be the 94th person to point out that a staycation is staying in your home and that what you describe is a holiday (and many thousands of people do it every year)

@Elphame

We held our prices this year and I’m now turning away people every day as we’re all but fully booked from April to November.

Crazy number of enquiries this year. Holiday accommodation in the UK is going to be very busy this summer so if you are thinking of booking something you need to get on and do it.

Whereabouts are you @Elphame?

Booked before Christmas as taking family and needed 3 hotel rooms during May half term guessed it was going to be busy but who knows if we will be able to go but good cancellation policy at this hotel
Rebooked Jersey as hotel holding a sizable deposit from last year and ferry incase booking went mad again will have to wait