How are so many people booking holidays if they are struggling with the cost of living?

[Brinnyloowho]

This is definitely not meant in a snarky way but so many people around me are going on not one, but multiple holidays over the next year. Ordinary, not particularly well-off people. All the news of airports and travel being pushed to their capacity. All at the same time I'm seeing about the cost of living crisis. Yet, in reality I'm not seeing it.

Maybe all of these holidays were booked pre-crisis (I know ours was). Does this mean travel will slow down again after the summer?

It's almost like you want people to be struggling, OP. And yes, you sound really judgy.

For most people, the energy rises haven't kicked in yet. Most holidays will have been booked before the COP shot up, or have been rebookings.
And if you're seeing people shopping, you've no idea whether they're spending the same or less than before.

And of course the people who are struggling are not visible to you. Because they're not at the airport or at the restaurants. What do you want them to do? Step outside their front doors to let you know that, no, they can't afford to take the kids to McDonalds any more? Confess to you that they've had to cancel their holiday because they're poor?

This is like the posts about people on benefits not deserving to have anything nice. You seem to want to see people suffer.

I will always find money for a holiday. I think they're extremely important.

Some years that's been a cheap caravan break, some years it's been £29 a night premier inn, city type breaks (( Liverpool is a fab base with all the free museums, country parks and beaches )) some years we've been abroad.

I'd have to be on the bare bones of my arse to not have at least one small break away with my dc. At the risk of sounding dramatic I'd say it's vital in maintaining good mental health and I'd really struggle without that small thing to look forward to........as it is this summers break is.coming courtesy.lf.sticking a fiver a week in a jar, living off freezer surprise for a week before we go and premier inn !!

We're feeling the pinch month to month but are going on holiday next week to the Caribbean. Because we've been saving for this holiday for 12 years.

Oh ffs. There's always at least one!

If nobody ever "wondered" about anything or questioned anything we wouldn't have made any progress with anything

The extra at least £2000 a year on gas and electricity terrifies me tbh and is more than I'd spend on holidays pre retirement. Add in worries re health and feeling pretty anxious.
I know, logically, that I'm not going to be homeless or living without amenities. It would break my heart, but if push came to shove at least have no mortgage and a property to sell.
Would imagine many people are hanging on by a thread mentally and could have a last blow out approach. Could be worse to struggle on low wages, and includes public sector workers, than claim benefits. As they may know they will lose homes, rented or otherwise No one could have predicted this.
Can't understand why people are not taking to the streets and protesting.

Very true. It’s really going to bite in the winter.

No kids and spent years saving and paying off the mortgage. We made a lot of sacrifices years ago when we didn’t need to, to be living comfortably today.

We also still live very frugally so the cost of living crisis hasn’t really affected us too badly. Holidays are our main treat. There are no meals out, takeaways, cleaners or new cars.

I do know other people who are paying on a credit card as life is too short and they don’t want to risk missing out to another lockdown. They will worry about it later apparently.

@fingersg you should not be terrified of recession. I’ve been very rich and very poor, very rich is better but very poor isn’t the end of the world you will be fine.

There have been so many threads about cooking from scratch, batch cooking, Aldi/Lidl shopping , own brand/cheaper alternatives, what can I make with broad beans, jelly and sardines as well as endless fuel and energy poverty threads that you'd be really worried about the state of the nation.

Some people really love that stuff. Being extremely frugal and provident while knowing they are financially secure is rewarding to them.

Honestly, I'm not sure. Although tbf, we are going on a holiday we paid for in 2019 in September (cancelled and rescheduled THREE times) so there could be more people in the same situation. We couldn't afford to book the same holiday now (although we have had to add another child, and our child than was previously under 2 is now over 2 so there have been added expenses in that regard that we've had to find the money for)

I work in tourism, UK.
Bookings are definitely down on 2019's numbers (the most recent year worth comparing with).

A lot of smaller tourism businesses are really struggling.

Within the trade it is suspected that people are struggling to live normally, so luxuries like holidays and long evenings out at restaurants are being put aside.

It is not looking good.

Same with purchase of household appliances and home renovations. Many have saved a heap in the past two years. Reduced clothes shopping, transport, eating out etc. On the other hand those who work as locums were mostly sacked and don't qualify for furlough and no one spoke for them.

@Foxylass I would expect bookings to be down as more people try & get abroad.

@Nothappyatwork I guess I worry about interest rates & job losses.

Cutbacks (vs total cancellations) aren't visible in every metric!

e.g. if someone would in the past have booked a month-long luxury safari/beach break in Tanzania, but now they book a long weekend at a cheap seaside flat in Portugal, that's a huge "downgrade" but they still spend the same amount of time at Heathrow...

and energy bills

@Foxylass are bookings not down on the basis that there is no staff to service these bookings ?

The cost of living crisis has only been going for a few months, it will take a while to kick in. Plus most people prioritise their holiday.

Yanbu. I have thought the same, either a lot of people are unaffected by cost of loving crisis or they are spending very unwisely.

I would agree that a majority would be re-booked cancellations.

I know someone who had enough of scrimping and booked something for the summer on her credit card. She’s been hit badly by the cost of living increases and I’m concerned how she will pay it off but that’s none of my business.

I really want to go away soon but I really don’t like the look of the airports right now. I think I’ll wait until everything has calmed down a bit.

By accepting that everything else is lessened (dramatically) in order to be able to. Because going on holiday and finally seeing family again, was my priority and I made savings and cuts elsewhere because I needed it

I still have a mortgage, but like @Dashel prioritise travel. We share an 8-year-old car, don’t drink, smoke or have takeaways. We only eat out very occasionally. Travelling is our indulgence.

I’m struck by how snarky many responses are on this thread. The OP question and points seem reasonable to me. It’s just chatting FFS! How is she being judgey? I don’t see.

It's next year that it will hit. I'm going full time (from very nearly full time), for the first time in 13 years, just to try and absorb living increases. I think I will being home an extra 2000 over the year.

I do not think I will get the teacher payrise, as I'm pretty sure my school won't be able to afford to pay it.

This will be our last holiday for a while (all 3000 of it).

I know so many people who never go on holiday. I mean nothing ever. Or think a week in a mate's caravan at Yarmouth is a aspirational fantastic holiday and certainly the only holiday possible, £200 for 6 people. Maybe 5 days at Butlin's in term time (take all the kids out of school for it). We all live in Bubbles !!