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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To think a UK holiday is still a proper holiday?

259 replies

Driedpotatochip · 30/10/2022 10:43

I’m going to Argentina next week and a friend commented that it’s been ages since I had a proper holiday post covid.

I’ve managed to do long weekends away and a week away twice in the UK and also went to Spain for a long weekend from 2020 to now.

True I haven’t been to a destination that’s really far away since 2019 but I feel like i still had proper holidays. Aibu or does what I did not count as a holiday?

OP posts:

WhitethroughtheFright · 30/10/2022 11:00

I think it’s a holiday. The kids remember it as a holiday. Also coming from Sussex I find going up north to be different enough to be exciting. The houses and buildings look different, landscape is different, weathers different, accent is different etc.

However I still think a holiday abroad is better (yes absolutely a privilege). It’s everything from travelling there (driving down through France is a million times better than driving up north in the U.K.), nicer climate, change of language, change of expectations. I will go without food and clothes to be able to go away somewhere.

Rosenotred · 30/10/2022 11:01

In the UK I wouldn't say its a proper holiday as such. I go abroad for the hot weather and it makes the holiday. The people and the culture its the best.

Devoutspoken · 30/10/2022 11:01

I've had some amazing holidays in the uk

blebbleb · 30/10/2022 11:02

DorritLittle · 30/10/2022 11:00

It is quite sad to think going away in the UK isn't a holiday. Definitely a privileged view.

I agree! It's so expensive to go anywhere now. People don't seem to go on as many holidays anymore. I take a trip to visit the in laws as a holiday. It's nice to make the most out of these things.

theswoot · 30/10/2022 11:02

Gigihulu · 30/10/2022 10:48

One of my pet hates is calling a UK holiday a 'staycation'. A staycation is staying at home and doing day trips. A week in Bournemouth when you live elsewhere is a holiday, the same as if you went to benidorm for a week.

I agree with this! It’s probably up there with the pettiest hill I am willing to die on.

My view is that a week or more away for leisure anywhere is a holiday, anything less is a short break. But that “proper” holidays can happen anywhere.

Swissnotswiss · 30/10/2022 11:06

Of course! We once went on holiday to Birmingham. Still a holiday!

Mrsjayy · 30/10/2022 11:06

I'm glad you didn't say stay cation and said you had a holiday because of course you had a holiday.

AllThingsServeTheBeam · 30/10/2022 11:06

Of course you go on holiday in the UK. What a snobby attitude to think otherwise.

Snugglemonkey · 30/10/2022 11:07

My son regards anything a holiday if we have to travel there and stay overnight. I do regard our trips abroad as proper holidays as I don't have to do anything in terms of cooking or cleaning, whereas our holidays in the UK, or in Ireland tend to be very active and involve more work. Like camping, or boating, or staying with family and doing a lot of activities. They are all lovely, but in no way restful!

neighboursmustliveon · 30/10/2022 11:08

Well by your friends logic my kids have never been on 'holiday' and my husband and I haven't been on holiday for 11 years! Utter bollocks.

A holiday is going away and staying overnight somewhere else. I would probably say a holiday is 5+ nights and anything else is a break.

CryCeratops · 30/10/2022 11:13

I don’t think I’d view a long weekend away as a proper holiday, even if it was outside the U.K.

But I’d view a week (or longer) away in the U.K. as a proper holiday.

I agree with the pp’s who hate the term “staycation” being used for U.K. holidays. Staycation should only be used for when someone is staying at home and doing day trips.

Notwashingup · 30/10/2022 11:15

This reply has been withdrawn

This message has been withdrawn at the poster's request

AnApparitionQuipped · 30/10/2022 11:18

Yes, it is. I get really annoyed when people refer to it as a 'staycation'. A 'staycation' is when you spend a week's holiday in your own house and perhaps do daytrips. A 'staycation' is not travelling to somewhere else in the UK to spend a week or more in a hotel/tent/caravan etc. That is a holiday.

An overnight or weekend stay is a short break/mini-break.

PutinIsAWarCriminal · 30/10/2022 11:20

Its insulting and snobbish. Being away from home and work is a holiday, we just all have different budgets and preferences. I personally prefer a UK holiday, I can't be doing with crowds, busy airports, hotel buffets, Britis abroad drinking too much and eat restaurants whilst in swim wear. There isn't really a difference in price between an AI in Spain compared to our UK holidays, its just preference.

stopitstopitnow · 30/10/2022 11:20

The definition of "holiday" is
"an extended period of leisure and recreation, especially one spent away from home or in travelling".

So yes, it's a holiday wherever you spend it.

MirandaWest · 30/10/2022 11:21

Of course it’s a holiday if you stay in the UK. A holiday is when you go and stay somewhere else.

FrightfullyFreezy · 30/10/2022 11:22

I think there's a bit of snobbery around holidays and a lot of people think that to have a proper holiday you have to go abroad but I disagree. As a family we've never been abroad (can't afford to) but have had some lovely holidays in Britain. It's what you make of it.

roarfeckingroarr · 30/10/2022 11:25

I personally wouldn't count it as a proper holiday for me but if you do then it is

EwwSprouts · 30/10/2022 11:29

Our UK holiday this summer included sun bathing on the beach, seeing a huge pod of dolphins from the beach, snorkelling with seals, lots of ice-cream, visiting quaint villages and it was hot! Definitely a holiday.

LosingTheWill2022 · 30/10/2022 11:30

I agree with others like @DorritLittle and @Gigihulu that it's really sad that so many don't accept a holiday as being anything other than overseas travel.
It's perfectly fine to prefer a holiday abroad but to dismiss a UK destination s lesser, not even worthy of the term holiday is depressing.
I think it adds to the unhealthy level of expectation of what life is all about.

ErinAndTonic · 30/10/2022 11:31

I agree. But I'm a massive holiday snob and to me a 'proper holiday' is only long haul

CeeJay81 · 30/10/2022 11:31

You can tell mumsnet is full of Rich privileged people. We won't be able to afford a holiday abroad for a while, doesn't mean we won't have a holiday in the uk. Might be able to do a short city break in europe if cheap flights still exist but glad my kids are happy with something in the UK and still see it says a holiday and get excited about it.

Arayes · 30/10/2022 11:31

Depends on how you look at it. If its a proper holiday to you, it's a proper holiday. A UK holiday (if I lived there) would not be a proper holiday for me, and that's fine too.

Croque · 30/10/2022 11:36

It is too me but a lot of the UK is not geared towards catering for the holiday minded all year round. It stops around October and resumes the following April/May. Therefore, you can probably find a place to stay there but it will take away from the 'holiday' experience.

SwordToFlamethrower · 30/10/2022 11:38

Of course a UK holiday is a holiday... there are countless incredible places to visit in the UK, stunning, beautiful, historic... I wish people weren't such snobs

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