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?

Yes, it does seem pricey.

I'm waiting till we can go abroad again.
British weather to unpredictable!.

And if it does rain and you have to pay out for attractions just to get out it can cost a fortune.

I always pack wellies, waterproofs and try to book somewhere nice enough that if we’re stuck in playing board games we don’t feel too short changed! With small children I find hot weather as challenging (trying to stop them getting too hot, sunburned etc) as rain.

I wouldn't be booking anything anywhere other than the country you live in. The different UK nations have different rules. Scotland for example has had much stricter rules than England throughout the pandemic. Travelling to another country even if it is within the UK is just stupid and selfish at the moment.

@Goodbye2020Helllo2021

Do people who live and work in tourist areas really dislike tourists? I’ve never understood this. The most popular destinations and the many many business owners rely on tourists to fill hotels, holiday cottages, restaurants, bars, cafes, shops surely? Why complain when it’s busy?

We live in a small Devon coastal village and no, most permanent residents don't dislike tourists. We accept it's the price to pay for living in such a beautiful part of the world.

What we do really dislike though is visitors who don't take their litter home, are rude and who don't obey the covid regulations. Think trying to sneak into a pub when they were already full etc.

Look at Hemera holidays in Northumberland for nice dog friendly lodges with hot tubs.

@TakeTheCuntOutOfScunthorpe

Northumberland is nice, so is Dorset. Scotland is nice once you get north of the Glasgow-Edinburgh belt - Perthshire and Highland are both good. Avoid the southern part of Scotland though if you happen to be English, you won't be very welcome.

Wherever you go, expect a different kind of holiday to one you'd get in Spain or Portugal, especially the weather.

Why southern Scotland and not Northern?

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

Rubbish.
We hate the English everywhere in Scotland.
Kidding!!
This is completely daft ^^

@ammary

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

A holiday in the UK is just that:

Yup. A staycation means staying at home, simple as.

@Goodbye2020Helllo2021

Do people who live and work in tourist areas really dislike tourists? I’ve never understood this. The most popular destinations and the many many business owners rely on tourists to fill hotels, holiday cottages, restaurants, bars, cafes, shops surely? Why complain when it’s busy?

I always find this attitude interesting.

It’s the same as any service industry - do all waiters/plumbers/doctors receptionists like every customer they deal with? Of course not, but it doesn’t matter if they’re still professional.

Am I perfectly pleasant and good at my job while working at a tourist attraction? Yes.

Do I still find it irritating that I have to get to a beach before 9.30am to get a parking spot and that the A30 is practically immobile for 6 weeks? Also yes!

I think it’s funny tourists need us to love them/be grateful even in our private musings on an anonymous Internet forum.

Personally I wouldn't book in Scotland for this summer if you live in England, not because it's not friendly but because we have had a travel ban in place since November between Scotland and England with absolutely no hint of it being lifted.
In addition the Scottish government has discouraged Scots booking places in other parts of Scotland so it's really unclear to what the rules will be. Going by the last year Scotland has always been stricter and slower at opening up.

@TakeTheCuntOutOfScunthorpevwhat a pile of shite. Nonsense. You however may not be welcome most places if that’s the attitude you bring with you.

OP lots of lovely places to visit in Scotland, it just depends what you enjoy. Remember that our holidays are different so school here go back before they do in England. Well. That’s the case in normal times. This year, who knows?

@Goodbye2020Helllo2021

Do people who live and work in tourist areas really dislike tourists? I’ve never understood this. The most popular destinations and the many many business owners rely on tourists to fill hotels, holiday cottages, restaurants, bars, cafes, shops surely? Why complain when it’s busy?

I don't dislike tourists as a whole but I do get fed up with ignoring signs (like don't park in front of footpaths to peoples houses), not taking rubbish home, parking which blocks farmers access and general selfish behaviour by some!

I do find it funny when overhearing tourists complaining about the weather in Scotland or the sea being way too cold! 😂

Not related to the main topic, but I've just got to say this as an English person -we've travelled and stayed all over Scotland in the last 30 years and without exception have had a warm welcome. My husband is black and in all honesty, we've had hostility in some places. Not Scotland - the Highlands, the islands, east or west coasts, always friendly, always kind, always helpful.

Devon and Cornwall are lovely but suspect they will be absolutely rammed this year (and that's just with MPs). They're bad enough in summer in a normal year (except for one of the quieter and less flashy parts of Devon I'm not going to mention as I don't want to see it over-run again just in case we're able to have a weekend away this year).

Even the Scottish Highlands were overcrowded last year, and that's somewhere that you can normally get moved easily, even in August. We're actually contemplating buying a tent and setting it up in the back garden for a night....I'm very, very grateful to live near the beach and a couple of nice parks.

A staycation is when you hire a hot tub, fake tan yourself, get some inflatable palm trees, inflatable flamingoes, loads of booze and fun things and have a holiday at home. Haven't tried it myself

Thursday: I think it’s funny tourists need us to love them/be grateful even in our private musings on an anonymous Internet forum.

That's an interesting spin on what I posted...
I don't think tourists need you to be anything other than decent human beings...

I agree with Scottish - Tourists who treat people/places disrespectfully (rubbish, inconsiderate behaviour) are the worst and I am not surprised they piss locals off.

My family in Cornwall refer to the 'Emmets/Grockles'. They lump every visitor together into one big stereotype!

Ah, well.. I'm sure they'll have fun this summer... If they want stereotypes, here's a thought! The 'Brits abroad' aren't in Lanzarote this year... They're staying home!!

Thevan: What we do really dislike though is visitors who don't take their litter home, are rude and who don't obey the covid regulations. Think trying to sneak into a pub when they were already full etc

Yes, I agree! I live in a popular 'visitor' area (not coastal) and some people can be unbelievably disrespectful.

@Goodbye2020Helllo2021

Thursday: I think it’s funny tourists need us to love them/be grateful even in our private musings on an anonymous Internet forum.

That's an interesting spin on what I posted...
I don't think tourists need you to be anything other than decent human beings...

I agree with Scottish - Tourists who treat people/places disrespectfully (rubbish, inconsiderate behaviour) are the worst and I am not surprised they piss locals off.

My family in Cornwall refer to the 'Emmets/Grockles'. They lump every visitor together into one big stereotype!

Ah, well.. I'm sure they'll have fun this summer... If they want stereotypes, here's a thought! The 'Brits abroad' aren't in Lanzarote this year... They're staying home!!

Oh well that’s ok then, I’m a very decent person to them. Both in work and out of it.

But that doesn’t mean I can’t find 'emmetts' as an entity kind of annoying!

@Squaddielife

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

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

Not the Eden project! We have learnt from experience that Every tourist in the area flocks to the Eden project On a rainy day. The whole thing was a nightmare, we couldn’t move in the domes and were overheating massively trying to shuffle about with everyone else who was trying to stay out of the rain!

Thursday
As I said, It works both ways...

Maryann
I agree! Horrible steaming, sweaty crowds!!

Ok then

I think the Highlands were so busy last year as everyone who had been saying for years they wanted to visit Scotland decided to do so.

Would say though our rules are stricter also as said up the thread Scottish govt so far has said for Scots not to book holidays in Scotland so far..... 🙄

If you do decide on Scotland and thinking August then also buy a midge head net for certain areas of highlands and Islands its prime midge season! Those feckers are small but evil and not like mosquitos where its a few they come in large groups!