To not understand why people go abroad on holiday in the summer?

[Dogscanteatonions]

My social media is full of people on holiday abroad at the moment. It's glorious here and I've got a few days off work so I've just been for a walk round my village and will spend the afternoon in the garden reading in the sun with a couple of glasses of something.

Britain is lovely in the summer - I'd far rather go abroad later or earlier in the year when the weather is not so good here and make the most of the weather here while we have it.

I've never really understood the desire to go abroad while it's nice here. Anyone else with me?

Britain can be lovely but after an overpriced week in Cornwall in summer with one dry day 2 years ago we will always go abroad.

It’s lovely here. It was nicer in Greece.

And never underestimate the joys of mooching around an unfamiliar foreign supermarket.

Get some wellies, coats and waterproofs and go anyway! We love a rainy day, less people! Also board games and books are free! I suppose it depends what you like doesn’t it

Oh please that's an average day here at the weekend, its not a holiday. If I want rain I don't need to pay to go away to get it!!

Of course there are - I was replying to someone who couldnt fathom why I don’t want to go to the Caribbean

It might be nice here now, but a lot of us actually have to work. So we're not off now, in this lovely weather (and the weekend forecast is wet and cold, yay!) So we have to save our AL to use in school holidays when the weather will be invariably shite. That's why I go abroad. I don't want to pay £££ to stay somewhere just as miserable as home.

What? No honey, there’s no culture in other countries xxx just lying on an all inclusive beach you know. Actually every other country is one big all inclusive resort. You can’t actually go sightseeing in any other country. Britain basically has history, other countries have bars and beaches. How silly of you. There’s nothing to see in Rome, or Greece, certainly not in Germany or Spain or any country except Britain basically. Actually Italy and Greece and Spain didn’t exist until we build resorts there.

@worriedatthistime nothing is ‘guaranteed’ but if you look at average temps for Feb vs June then it’s much more likely to be warmer in June. Rain never particularly bothers me anyway I just put a rain coat/trousers on and the green countryside is one of the most glorious things about the UK.

Kids have lengthy holidays (2 weeks) at other times of the year, unless you’re looking to go away for several weeks at a time.

Then again sun isn’t what I go on holiday for and if I do want it there’s somewhere I can find it in the other months of the year while I enjoy the (statistically) warmest months of the UK weather at home.

We recently had a city break in Amsterdam and right up there with the Anne Frank Huis, Rijksmuseum and wandering around the canals was the AMAZING Albery Heijn supermarket two doors down from the hotel.

I do love a foreign supermarket. Even better when you don't speak the language.

Invariably to be stressed out in a hot airport with ten thousand other stressed people. Why??!
This is getting ludicrous now. Ok the current airport situation isn’t typical but why would you be stressed out? Also there are other ways of travelling if an airport isn’t your style.

😂

Exactly. I could play board games and read books in my house. And I guarantee not everyone in your family ‘loves a rainy day.’ The reason there’s less people is because it’s cold and miserable paying hundreds of pounds trudging around in your annual leave in the rain. And I’m not scared of rain. Lovely walk in our wellies is an average Saturday here. But do I want to pay to walk in the rain if I have the choice to wander in the sun and swim in the sea? Erm, no.

I agree with the OP. And didn't think the original post was 'goady'.

Although it does seem to have brought out a lot of frothers and real anger.

Really? Go on your foreign holiday where you get your guaranteed sunshine. Others enjoy different things. Big deal.

I was replying specifically to why I don’t want to visit the Caribbean. I’ve been to Greece and Italy plenty of times, along with Spain, Croatia, France…what a strange way to reply to my post.

Having just got back from a week in Portugal I can honestly say we go away too get away from the chores of life. When away despite having a high needs toddler life is generally more relaxed, no cooking/cleaning/washing. No pressure of nursery runs or work. Having a few days off work in the UK is not the same.

What? No honey, there’s no culture in other countries xxx just lying on an all inclusive beach you know. Actually every other country is one big all inclusive resort. You can’t actually go sightseeing in any other country. Britain basically has history, other countries have bars and beaches. How silly of you. There’s nothing to see in Rome, or Greece, certainly not in Germany or Spain or any country except Britain basically. Actually Italy and Greece and Spain didn’t exist until we build resorts there

😂😂😂
Best get my tent and wellies and head over the border t’ Yorkshire for my hollibobs!

People really can’t stand others liking different things to them can they!

I love exploring new places, experiencing things that I can't experience in the UK. That involves travelling, so won't just be short break. I agree that in an ideal world I might explore the UK in the warm summer months, and other countries at other times. However, the combination of school holidays and my (University) holidays means that the only times we can go away as a family are 2 weeks Easter and 6 weeks summer. I guess in theory we could go over Xmas, but we like to spend that at home with extended family. So summer holidays abroad it is!

Now children are getting older, I'm very much looking forward to doing more travelling outside the school holidays and may well end up doing more UK stuff in the summer. Though tbh I think all but the more obscure places are probably best avoided late July-August.

It also has to be said that UK summer weather can be beautiful, but never reliable!

I mean read your last paragraph. If it is really as simple as we all like different things why did op need to post? Why couldn’t op figure out that maybe other people like going different places. Why the faux innocent ‘I just don’t understand?’ Why post at all? And why not then reply with ‘gosh I understand now! People like things I don’t actually like. People are different to me.’

we don't go abroad for various reasons but if we did, it would have to be term time. So 1 week in February, 2 over Easter, 1 in May, Summer Hols, one in Oct, Xmas. We wouldn't go away over Xmas, February, May and October you've got nine days to work with, depending on flight days so you might struggle to get a whole week. Easter is two weeks so easier but if you're competing for leave, its hard to get long enough off. At least in Summer there's more weeks to work with. DH can't even get a full week off the week we need (we are house sitting)so he's coming away, then back home for work, then back to us. Can't do that between home and the Bahamas.

People are fine with others liking different things.

What they don't like is the evangelising. You like sitting in a tent playing board games. Fine. But it is not your place to trying to convince anyone else that it is "genuine fun".

On the other hands, sweeping statements about the entire Med being one all-inclusive resort should be challenged for utter stupidity.

Do you think that there’s nothing to see or do in the Caribbean? Every country has wonderful things to see and people to meet and experiences.

Nobody is saying you need to visit - it’s the silliness of ‘I just don’t understand why anyone would ever visit’ that’s stupid. OP obviously understands exactly why people visit places she personally wouldn’t want to go. Same as I understand why people go camping. It’s because everyone likes what they like.

We did camping last year together with staycation at UK beach.

Despite weather not being great for a couple of days when near the sea, we made a point of ensuring we did as much as possible with children and they had a brilliant time. It was an adventure for them, they got to play in the sand, swim in the sea and sleep in a tent.

We had fun but it was also exhausting and expensive. It was worth all the stress but that is the point - the stress! I want a break too, this means escaping from the daily drudgery of cooking, cleaning and planning what we are doing. Like a PP, I want to stay somewhere that is similar standard or nicer than my own house. I don't care if I don't win the MN competition for finding the cheapest and simplest holiday in doing so

I’ve just spent the morning on the gorgeous beach a ten minute walk from my house, much nicer than the one on the holiday I’ve just got back from! I don’t just go away for the weather though, although going abroad in winter is sounding quite appealing.

I mean read your last paragraph

I don't need to read it thanks, as I wrote it 5 minutes ago. My memory is pretty bad, but not quite that bad.

Calm down a bit - this is a thread about holidays and relaxation.

This made me smile.
I like cooking and one of my favourite things to do in Spain is to go to Eroski on the first day of the holiday and stock up on ingredients for the week's meals. Eroski own brand gazpacho is the best...I've had fancy restaurant versions that aren't a patch on it. And when my kids were young, the fruit and veg aisle would occupy them for ages, (plus they would then actually eat bucketloads of the stuff they had chosen.) I really enjoy going into "normal" shops in other countries.