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AIBU?

To be surprised by the number of holidays?

272 replies

brondary · 19/05/2021 20:22

I have been really surprised by the number of holidays some people on MN go on. I would not have the money or the annual leave to go on that many.
Last Summer people were commenting saying how since the first lockdown in March, they had already had to cancel three holidays. Various people talking about how they normally go on five or six holidays a year and are really missing them.
I must mix in different circles as I did not realise any except the super-rich went on this many holidays.

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Smarshian · 19/05/2021 20:26

We are not mega wealthy and go on several holidays usually. Usually a cheap caravan holiday for a week, a bigger foreign holiday (7-10 days) and then DH and I often have a long weekend each with our friends.
This year we have already done a caravan holiday (last week), have 10 days in Lanzarote (which may be cancelled), a week in Devon, a long weekend each and 2 weeks in Thailand at Christmas. We have more planned due to moving some from last year. We have a joint income of around 70k and 2 DC in nursery but we prioritise holidays!

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Overthebow · 19/05/2021 20:28

Depends if it’s whole weeks or long weekends. In a normal year we go away for a couple of week long breaks plus a few long weekends, and this is normal in my circle.

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carlywurly · 19/05/2021 20:28

We normally have 3 or 4 a year and have missed 6 so far since last March. Couple of city breaks plus a beach and a sightseeing one. They're not 5 star Caribbean cruises.

We're ok for money, not minted, but holidays and travel are a real priority over other things we could spend our money on. Done lots to the house now we're not travelling for a while.

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PeteWicksSexyPirate · 19/05/2021 20:30

I saw someone on the holiday addict thread say they went on 8 or 9 holidays in 2019 and I wondered how much AL she must get! I want whatever job she’s got

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brondary · 19/05/2021 20:31

@Smarshian how much annual leave do you get? And when you say weekends do you go after work on Friday till Sunday night, or do you mean a long weekend?

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HelpMeh · 19/05/2021 20:32

I don't think it's that surprising is it? I don't think it's 6x 2 week holidays. There's usually a few weekend breaks in there. I'm not in the UK at the moment but if I was and I earned reasonable money I'd definitely take advantage of Eurostar and cheap flights to Europe. It doesn't have to cost a fortune, especially if you aren't tied to school holidays.

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Toilenstripes · 19/05/2021 20:32

We go for 4 days in January and then 4/5 days in July, but I’m planning on increasing this next year. Between lockdown and the crap weather in England, I need to spend time on the beach.

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SavingsQuestions · 19/05/2021 20:34

Smashian I think you are illustrating OPs point perfectly!!

And no irl I dont know many (any?) who would have 2 foreign holidays and 2 uk holidays a year . We have a much lower income now but even without that we wouldn't have the holiday allowance!

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Babysharkdododont · 19/05/2021 20:34

I call every break away a holiday, so I have about 6 a year...but they are mostly weekends in caravans . Some people I'm sure would call it a "caravan weekend", maybe your idea of holiday is 2 weeks somewhere a plane ride away, where others will label everything a holiday.

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bert3400 · 19/05/2021 20:34

We are very comfortable. Normally have 4-5 (long haul) holidays a year plus weekends away. We have our own business so as long as we have access to WiFi we work while on holiday. We are very very lucky and our business has given an incredible privileged lifestyle but we have worked very hard for it for 12 years and we used to have camping holidays in the uk for many years before the business took off .

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SavingsQuestions · 19/05/2021 20:35

Absoluteluy great that those with money and holiday entitlement do it though. Why not!? But yes mn not representative of my real life.

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Tequilamockinbird · 19/05/2021 20:35

We go to America twice a year (well we did, pre-covid 😫) for 10/11 days each time.

BUT, we don't spend hardly anything on other luxuries. Our holidays are our luxuries. We both get 7 weeks A/L a year and use it mostly for these trips.

We aren't rich by any means, but save everything for our trips. That's the way we like it.

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WrongWayApricot · 19/05/2021 20:35

I was also surprised but I think I'm at the other end. Last time I went for a holiday abroad was 20+ years ago. Last holiday in UK was about 15 years ago. I've never really been able to afford holidays and come from a family that could hardly afford them. I want to save for one a year now I have a DS though, so that he can have what I may have missed. It didn't bother me when it was just me.

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brondary · 19/05/2021 20:37

@Tequilamockinbird 7 weeks annual leave is a lot.

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DinosaurDiana · 19/05/2021 20:38

We normally go away for 4 holidays a year but we get flight and hotel separately, we book the hotel direct and can usually get a deal.
You can do it cheaper than a package.

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ImInStealthMode · 19/05/2021 20:38

In normal times I'd probably have 2 holidays of a week each (or 1 for two weeks) and then 2-3 weekend breaks in the UK or Europe. Usually at least one trip to visit family in the Uk too.

I also usually travel for work 2-4 times a year but because I travel to holiday destinations rather than offices in cities it's largely assumed by friends and family I'm 'on holiday' and in fairness sometimes it feels like I am.

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SavingsQuestions · 19/05/2021 20:39

Cue those on mn with multiple holidays coming onto the thread to tell us about them 😁

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FartleBarfle · 19/05/2021 20:40

Combined income of 90k, 2 kids and mortgage and pre Covid would always try to have a main holiday (somewhere like Greece), a trip somewhere in the UK around Easter, and maybe a city break or something like Disneyland for a couple of days. Or camping if we are on a tighter budget.

We also have friends and family with holiday homes we can use for next to nothing which we have taken advantage of.

We would also consider going away with family or friends, which can work out pretty cheap if you share the cost and self cater.

I look for deals, book in advance, used places like the Premier Inn which can be extremely affordable. It's a lifestyle choice. It's doesn't have to be expensive.

That being said, since I have not been able to go away, we have saved thousands, got the garden done, bought new furniture for the first time in our life (was all second hand and hand me down before), and now have a small nest egg for our future holidays or emergencies. I think slowing down and having this taken away has made me rethink a few things. I will be more appreciative of the chance to go away when it comes, but I also am not desperate to escape out home which we have made comfortable and homely.

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Curiosity101 · 19/05/2021 20:40

I have a friend who has a camper van type thing and they're off somewhere most weekends. They only had to pay for petrol and a pitch at a campsite though. Not sure if she refers to them as 'holidays' or not.

Personally we normally have 1 holiday a year where we go away somewhere long haul for a couple of weeks. But if we were to stick to Europe or UK I reckon we'd have a few shorter (long weekend) holidays instead. It doesn't have to cost a lot and each one would only take a couple of days leave.

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NatMoz · 19/05/2021 20:40

I mean, I'm going away for a weekend camping in a few weeks and it'll cost £30. We do several of those in a year.

We also stayed in a holiday cottage over bank holiday just gone and have a week away in June and 2 weeks in September (UK this year).

So out of 6 trips away, 3 weeks come out of annual leave where I get 28 and husband 25

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PremierSmeage · 19/05/2021 20:41

We get 28 days annual leave, earn about UK average and we go abroad 2-3 times a year. Maybe 1 7-10 day sunny holiday and a couple of 3-4 day city breaks in Europe.

But, we drive an old car, have a small house, and don't really buy much stuff or have expensive hobbies (reading/board games). So the rest of the year we live very modestly.

It's the thing we love to do in life and we live for our trips.

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brondary · 19/05/2021 20:42

@FartleBarfle sounds lovely, but in fairness someone with a household income of £90k, when the average is about £25k, I suspect does not have a great idea of what is an inexpensive holiday.

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SavingsQuestions · 19/05/2021 20:46

Brondary exactly! And the comments about "lifestyle choice " are a bit too close to those that think we can all afford private scjool if we stop drinking cappuchinos.

I couldn't make the lifestyle choice to have that many holidays as the "neednt be expensive " would be expensive for us.

The "and maybe a city break like disneyland" as an extra to the main holiday etc woild be the main holiday for many many people. For us we're hoping to go next year and are very excited. Certainly not an "extra" but the holiday!

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SavingsQuestions · 19/05/2021 20:47

If I was on 90k I wouls probably do similar though 😁

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trilbydoll · 19/05/2021 20:51

We go camping x2 (usually France for one but obvs UK atm) and self catering in the UK each year, total spend £1k-£2k depending on exactly what we do. So 3 holidays sounds very luxurious but the reality is a lot of rain, wind and mud

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