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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think the reason UK holidays can be shit is not the weather but the traffic?

398 replies

MrsBede · 20/08/2021 21:51

....and it's much worse this year?

I went from the Midlands to North Wales a couple of weeks ago and it took twice as long as it should have both there and back. Just got back from London and it took about 90 minutes longer than it should have. For both these trips it wasn't just one delay, but several unrelated ones - for the former every step of the journey pretty much had long delays. For London it's just the M1 - that was slow going there for a long stretch and on the way back my SAtnav recommended a detour and that had delays too.

As well as this, my city is being dug up here there and everywhere - I can think of about 5 different local routes that all have roadworks on them and ensuing delays - one was the bloody slip road when I finally got off the motorway today!

It just spoils everything - we're going to Hampshire for a few days next week and the thought that the 3.5 hour trip is likely to be more like 6 is really putting me off and I half feel like cancelling, which is very unlike me indeed. I certainly expect some delays when going longish distances but AIBU to think this year has been worse than ever, and it's not fair! (Yes, I'm tired and very pissed off...)

OP posts:
lannistunut · 21/08/2021 06:47

I'm an environmentally conscious person, but when driving is less than a third of the cost why would I choose the train? To prioritise the environment over money.

LongBlobson · 21/08/2021 06:51

We always holiday in the UK.

  • Yes the traffic is noticeably worse this year.
  • The weather is normally fine, we quite like it when we don't have to suncream up the whole family.
  • It's not a Staycation! It's a holiday. A staycation is when you stay where you are, in your own home. And do day trips and stuff.
  • I'll be ok to holiday in my own county if we get the chance to move out of the bloody Midlands before this rule comes in please. I rather like the sea.
Porridgeislife · 21/08/2021 06:52

@lannistunut

I'm an environmentally conscious person, but when driving is less than a third of the cost why would I choose the train? To prioritise the environment over money.
And that’s why people don’t engage with climate change and sustainability. You can’t blame people for making rational individual choices about cost.
Sirzy · 21/08/2021 06:54

@lannistunut

I'm an environmentally conscious person, but when driving is less than a third of the cost why would I choose the train? To prioritise the environment over money.
Not everyone has that luxury though. Certainly not while the public transport system is as shit as it is now
TreaslakeandBack · 21/08/2021 06:55

We have done 2 uk holidays this year, we normally go abroad 2-3 times a year so surely staying in the UK was a bit greener?
There is no way on earth we would have managed those holidays on the train- we had a boot full of stuff! Body boards, wetsuits, beach tent, camping chairs. Plus we wouldn’t have been able to do anything when we got there- complete middle of nowhere- no public transport.
We did Yorkshire to Devon in 5 hours - 4am to 9am. Yorkshire to Norfolk took 7 hours- 12noon to 7pm.
Going to Norfolk again for the bank holiday and planning to leave at 6am.
Next year we will definitely we getting on a plane! So much easier.

Hercisback · 21/08/2021 06:55

@lannistunut

I go on UK holidays because I can't afford to travel abroad. Trains are more expensive than planes.

eekbumbler · 21/08/2021 06:57

Have a short break in your own county.

Mmm I love the Midlands in summer. We are as far from the coast as is possible. No seaside this year kids, it's ruining the planet. Who fancies popping to Coventry?

LongBlobson · 21/08/2021 06:57

If I was travelling as a single person or couple I would certainly look at getting the train on holiday, but since having kids it is just too expensive and inconvenient to even consider.

Also we are still in a pandemic, which I imagine is putting a lot of people off public transport at the moment. I'm certainly avoiding it.

MostlyNormalSometimesOdd · 21/08/2021 06:59

The Scottish Highlands are a nightmare during the holiday season, people have no idea how to drive on rural roads, cars and hired campervans parked in passing places and on blind corners and it seems city folk just don’t know how to behave responsibly. A journey from the mainland to Portree in Skye that used to take an hour and a half now takes over three, people who rely on these roads to travel to work and make a living are beyond their wits end

Sirzy · 21/08/2021 06:59

Also the other issues with trains is they are on the whole rediculously inaccessible. Ds is disabled and given some of our experiences on local train trips I certainly wouldn’t be rushing to do a long distance one with him (also I couldn’t physically carry all he needs even for one night and sort his wheelchair!)

lannistunut · 21/08/2021 07:00

Yes, the government chooses to subsidised lights. I personally still don't fly even though it is cheaper.

lannistunut · 21/08/2021 07:00

Should be 'subsidise flights'

lannistunut · 21/08/2021 07:01

@Sirzy

Also the other issues with trains is they are on the whole rediculously inaccessible. Ds is disabled and given some of our experiences on local train trips I certainly wouldn’t be rushing to do a long distance one with him (also I couldn’t physically carry all he needs even for one night and sort his wheelchair!)
Think this a whole other extremely valid issue Angry
lannistunut · 21/08/2021 07:04

@LongBlobson

If I was travelling as a single person or couple I would certainly look at getting the train on holiday, but since having kids it is just too expensive and inconvenient to even consider.

Also we are still in a pandemic, which I imagine is putting a lot of people off public transport at the moment. I'm certainly avoiding it.

I thought it was cheaper with family Railcard: two full price adults, Vs two adults at 67% and two kids at 40% of a half fare?
Binnaggy · 21/08/2021 07:05

This reply has been deleted

Withdrawn at the user's request

WorriedMillie · 21/08/2021 07:06

We just set off ridiculously early now, it’s a ball ache, but I’d rather that, than sit in traffic for hours (mutually decided after a 6543h trip to Cornwall)

HollyGrail · 21/08/2021 07:06

You time it to arrive at hotspots before 7am. Or possibly after 7pm.

I'd much rather do that than sit in a queue.

RockingMyFiftiesNot · 21/08/2021 07:10

*No I officially don't live in a county. Forms that have county as a required field are very annoying.

(Middlesbrough, Redcar and Cleveland, Hartlepool, Stockton Borough, are not counties*

You do, and very lovely ones.
Hartlepool and Stockton are in County Durham: Redcar and Middlesbrough are in North Yorkshire.

herculesoffline · 21/08/2021 07:13

@AfternoonToffee

You don’t live in a county?

No I officially don't live in a county. Forms that have county as a required field are very annoying.

(Middlesbrough, Redcar and Cleveland, Hartlepool, Stockton Borough, are not counties as they are individual authorities in their own rights, any titles such as Teesside, Tees Valley, Cleveland etc are not related to a county)

But geographically Middlesbrough and Redcar and Cleveland are in N Yorkshire, and Hartlepool is in County Durham. Stockton Borough is across both. Yes for local authority purposes they are their own unitary authorities but that doesn't mean they aren't inside a county.

I live in the South where Milton Keynes is a unitary authority but its still geographically in Buckinghamshire.

Lockheart · 21/08/2021 07:13

So you don't want to take the train, you don't want to have to set off early or late, you don't want to get a hotel overnight anywhere, you don't want to stay closer to home, and taking the car is convenient.

Looks like you'll just have to put up with all the other people having the exact same thought process as you.

As another poster said - you're not sitting in traffic, you are the traffic.

herculesoffline · 21/08/2021 07:15

@Lockheart

So you don't want to take the train, you don't want to have to set off early or late, you don't want to get a hotel overnight anywhere, you don't want to stay closer to home, and taking the car is convenient.

Looks like you'll just have to put up with all the other people having the exact same thought process as you.

As another poster said - you're not sitting in traffic, you are the traffic.

👏
habibihabibi · 21/08/2021 07:16

The UK has not invested in the infrastructure to support such a large population.
Elsewhere in the world roads are fit for purpose and haulage is done by rail or at night.
Single lane roads between two major cities are not designed to be clogged with lorries and cars.

randomsabreuse · 21/08/2021 07:16

Devon to London by train is quiet because in large parts of Devon you're 40+ minutes from the train station by car... And public transport is rubbish so coming in by train ties you to a very few options!

ArabellaPilkington · 21/08/2021 07:16

Yep it's shit this year especially

Add to that roadworks for all of August and crap weather, plus heavily discounted breaks abroad and as long as you're not overly anxious and can get past the gvmt propaganda machine making you scared to leave the country ( numerous falsehoods and scaremongering abound, I've done it twice the last two months and it's fine ) then it's best to leave IMO

And massive PMSL @ pp suggesting staying in your own county. Love where I live but OMG after two solid years I'm sick to the back teeth of it

Strictly1 · 21/08/2021 07:19

Trains are constantly cancelled and delayed at the moment. Having paid a fortune to travel and then be delayed by an hour or more is not the best alternative.

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