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?

We have booked a cottage in Northumberland for July, only need to pay balance at end of May and can get a refund if we can't go. I would book now though, a lot of places are fully booked to the end of the year and prices are a lot higher than usual. We know that we might not be able to go and will follow any guidance and restrictions but it is nice having something to look forward too.

We will book our usual hotel in west London and explore the sights.
Won't book until about a week before. I can't see it being booked up. It was very quiet when we went last August.
I am doinful that our holiday from last year will be on..a week in Sorrento.

We've booked 2 houses in Devon, for 11 people in total for a week in July. 2.5k. So 230 quid each? I don't think that's extortionate. We own paddle boards and I plan on getting the kids surf lessons and we'll eat out most nights. Spend as much time on the beach as we can.
It isn't a staycation, it's a holiday

I own 2 cottages in the Lake District, both dog friendly. Both are completely full from May to end September. I suspect it'll be similar for others.

It also really depends on what type of holiday you want.

I'm going to Devon in July. I'm not staying anywhere near the touristy bits and if I go to a beach it's to walk the dog. We have our own grounds and pool, and we like to go walking so it makes no real difference to us.

I've booked 3 days in Cornwall as that's all we can afford. My in laws have a house in Wales so hopefully we can go there for a bit as well.

I booked last year for April this year on a Haven site with DH and 2 DC's however looks like that won't go ahead so get your skates on when you pick somewhere

We’ve just booked our first UK holiday in years which is a cottage in a quiet seaside town but it’s near lots of busier / historic/ fun places so we can do day trips, depending on restrictions.
We usually go abroad to fun/ adventure packed places (huge water parks, Disney, theme parks, lots of adventurous/ exploring day trips) that are really hot so it’s quite a change for us!
I’m not sure what my teenagers will think but last year we didn’t go anywhere and we just want to get away somewhere this year. We decided to avoid a haven style place because I’ve always found the time ve overcrowded and when we go abroad we pick larger 4/5 star places that are not crowded as I hate queuing!

I've been looking at fairly local cottages/lodges and most are fully booked for the summer and were extortionately priced anyway. I'm holding out for a last minute holiday abroad or else we'll do a stay cation.

We did the Highlands last summer and were very welcomed. We’ve been all over the world and that’s was by far one of our best holidays. The kids absolutely loved it so we’re booked to go back again this summer.

We live in a tourist area and can’t wait to see holiday makers back here. More than happy to ‘share’ our beautiful beaches and coast.

But I’d echo what others have said regarding availability- you might find your options limited if you do book soon. Especially if you want a hottub as those get booked first.

We've booked a week in Cornwall.... in August!!

Shit .... any suggestions for activities to do there whilst its raining??

Avoid the southern part of Scotland though if you happen to be English, you won't be very welcome

Absolute bollocks.

Maybe it's just you🤷‍♀️

@TakeTheCuntOutOfScunthorpe when you moved the cunt out of Scunthorpe why did you move to Scotland?

If everyone's trying to holiday in the UK, tourist areas will be rammed. I recommend going on a few short holidays away from obvious tourist areas.

How about a city break in a big city like Manchester or Leeds or Birmingham - museums, galleries, loads of restaurants, and the hotels won't all be rammed in summer?

Or stay in a cottage slightly off season in a lovely but less obvious part of the country like Lancashire (the Fylde coast or the Eden Valley), or parts of Derbyshire.

Or go camping in Northumberland in the summer - you can go at short notice when you know the weather forecast is good. There are MASSIVE beaches with loads of space, unlike the little coves in an area like Cornwall. Even when it's busy you can walk a few hundred metres and have literally acres of beach to yourself.

I think holidays in the UK are going to be a nightmare if they go ahead this summer and probably next year. Places overpriced and packed full of people. Maybe Scotland on the west coast is an idea or one of the islands like Mull? Beautiful beaches, wildlife and scenery and just may be a bit quieter?

Avoid the southern part of Scotland though if you happen to be English, you won't be very welcome
😂 The entire population in the south of Scotland? What did you do to upset them? 😂

I predict gridlock...

If you fancy Wales and love Alpaccas consider this hidden gem. It has self catering or B and B accommodation . We stayed last year and it’s reasonably priced , tranquil with loads of lovely walks / castles etc around. The Mill at Glynhir mailto:[email protected]

Weather as always in Wales is a bit hit and miss!

Dont use booking.com or any third party sites. Call the hotels direct and cut a deal. They'll be paying 16 per cent commission to big sites and will have to show parity but if you call and have a conversation they'll most likely cut the cost (if they have sense)

Look at bigger cities/towns in devon and cornwall that you wouldn't want to visit on their own but work as good base sites for visiting surrounding areas. They wont be booked up as much as beach side tourist spots yet.

The inflated prices and the dodgy weather would put me off. Sitting on the beach in my coat eating fish and chips or having a Aperol spritz overlooking a beautiful canal in Venice?

Let me think about it.......

@Moonstone1234

The inflated prices and the dodgy weather would put me off. Sitting on the beach in my coat eating fish and chips or having a Aperol spritz overlooking a beautiful canal in Venice?

Let me think about it.......

Go to Birmingham, it's got more canals

I've booked a week in Newquay for the first week of the summer holidays. I've never been to Cornwall so hold out hope that it will be a nice bucket & spade holiday for the kids.

We went to Whitby last summer and had a lovely time, although the local news sites were full of people moaning about the tourists. In 2019 we hired a holiday cottage in the Peak District and that was one of our best holidays. There was another family staying next door and the kids ran off before breakfast each day to go paddling in the stream. The week after had torrential rain though so we got lucky!

BlowDryRat Where in Whitby and where in the Peak District?
I want to stay close to home but need ideas!

We went to Forest Holidays last year (before Covid struck) and loved t so we booked to go this year. Should be away from tomorrow but have shifted it until May. Lodge, middle of a forest and a hot tub. It’s away from most things and didn’t feel busy at all. I’d recommend it.

We booked for August a couple of weeks ago. We found a cottage on the Cumbrian coast on the edge of the South West lakes. The price was reasonable and I understand it's far less busy than the actual lakes. Personally, I'd stay away from more touristy places like Devon & Cornwall, they will be rammed. We did North Yorkshire coast last year and, although places like Whitby were busy, we found some much quieter, lesser known places, Skinningrove being one. Northumberland was lovely and quiet when we went in August a few years ago but I see it gets recommended a lot so perhaps less so now.

Personally, I love UK holidays and this is a great opportunity to see more of your own country. We need something to look forward to so book asap and make sure you're covered in the unlikely event even UK holidays can't happen.