To think people are too obsessed with taking a holiday?

[Tepoi]

I don’t get the attraction of saving for months to go somewhere for 10ish days. Fine if you have money but hearing how people are spending the equivalent of 1 - 2 months take home pay on a holiday strikes me as very odd. Maybe because I don’t have the money to spare.
if you do go on holiday, and it takes 4-6 weeks’ take home pay, can I ask why you go?

Like anything these days part of it will be social media / peer pressure, keeping up with the Jones'.

I see the whole "you only have 18 summers..." thing been trotted out a lot lately as well 🙄

We are relatively comfortable financially and are in the very fortunate position of being able to afford holidays. We try to see a different part of the world each time but i it's all done on a budget. I agree that spending 4-6 weeks of your take home is a lot, or a lot of pressure for those on low incomes.

You don't have to go abroad to spend quality family time with your kids. But if you can afford to take them abroad and experience other cultures - great. But I do think there is too much pressure to do so.

I know a family, on one income (mother doesn't work). The dad works all the hours under the sun in a low paid job, and they then go on a weeks all inclusive holiday to Turkey. No expense spared. Food/drinks at the airport etc. then they get back and can't stop talking about how much they can't wait to go again next year, and the dads back out at work to pay for it.

I'm happy they enjoy it....but slaving away 51 weeks of the year, to splurge it all on 1 week like that just seems depressing to me.

(Also, it's the parents that talk non stop about it. The kids seem to enjoy it, but I can't help but think they'd enjoy anything, and in particular, they'd probably love two less extravagant holidays, rather than just 7 days of excess).

The holidays I had as a child are my favourite memories too.

Me too. European camping holidays, so not fancy, but so many memories. Only time my dad relaxed too.

To have lovely memories and spend time doing things with your family that you would NEVER normally do at home. Also to get a change of perspective (often people make big decisions about a new step to take in their life whilst on holiday) and you need a change from your routine in order to sometimes see what changes are needed. It is also very important to have things to look forward to and goals to aim for whilst in your routine (studies have shown this increases your happiness levels). And a break from routine is almost always good for you, on many levels.

I love holidays & travelling
I love exploring somewhere new, the history, the culture, the people, the surprises

I've been on wet walking holidays
Boat holidays
Exotic destinations
Multiple destinations

I have been to some amazing places & I never tire of wanting to see & do more !

However, I don't spend on other things like beauty, new cars, gadgets, pets, fashion etc

My dream is to retire & travel full time !

Because I want new experiences. I’ve seen Pompeii, the rain forest and the reef in Australia, road trip in America, had the most wonderful food in Saudi, learnt dog sledging and seen the northern lights in the very north, patted reindeers and kangaroos (both smell), experienced the culture in northern Africa, celebrated Hogmanay at the castle in Edinburgh and seen the fireworks at the castle in Disney World, walked around Jerusalem…and lots, lots more. All great memories with my family.

I love being at home (in UK), so I don't like going on holiday. I find them too much hassle.

I would much rather do days out or go to a concert etc.

As previous posters have said, everyone is different and enjoy different things. But for what it's worth, I don't really get enough out of holidays to make the cost feel worth it. Even though we can actually more than comfortably afford to go on more holidays than we do.
There's a lot of admin and packing. I don't like researching places to stay, it feels too much like "work".
I really enjoy my day to day life. I live in a beautiful part of the country in a lovely town. I work 3 days a week and love my job. I don't feel the need to get away from it all.
I know I'm incredibly lucky and don't mean to come across as smug. Just my opinion!

I lived in quite an affluent area growing up and my friends always went on very luxurious holidays. Italy, skiing, safaris. We could never afford anything like that and didn't even go away in the UK.

For me, I love those few weeks in the year where I can get away and spend that time with my family without day to day distractions. The tv stays off, phones are unused for the majority of the day. The kids can explore and can swim as much of the day as they want to.

We're on our second holiday to Florida this year and we love it here. We always have a holiday savings account on the go so what we don't spend rolls over for next time. We never exchange money back to pounds and have found that by doing it this way, every second or third holiday doesn't require us to save up any spending money at all.

Speaking as someone who doesn't even like the heat or travelling that much - being unable to afford summer holidays makes me feel like I am missing out on life. They are a great opportunity to "reset" and experience new things. At this point in time I can't afford them but as soon as I can, I will be hugely looking forward to it.

Well we’ve just got caught in a torrential rain storm whilst

Can you really not see why people would want to see the world? I’ve seen the Great Wall of China, Great Barrier Reef, coliseum, Table Mountain, safari, etc. All experiences I’ll never forget.

Because I love travelling and I want to see the world we live in. I want my children to broaden their minds beyond the village we live in.
It's nice to have almost guaranteed good weather.
I love my home but love a change of scenery a few times each year.
I want my family to experience things they wouldn't by staying at home.

I forgot to add that I never drink alcohol and probably has a beer at the pub less than 10 times a year. He will often just get a soft drink out if meeting friends. We rarely order takeaways and rarely go out to a coffee shop. We would never get a drink out on the way to work for example. We don't necessarily cut back on those things as such, rather we don't feel the need to spend money on those things.

Also love UK holidays- the Eden project, Giant’s Causeway, Hadrian’s Wall, etc

It's literally my motivation to go to work everyday. Considering how you feel about it you'd be shocked at the % of my income that goes towards travel. I love to travel my children are getting older and I want to show them the world. Going to Japan soon and I've enjoyed every minute of the planning my children have been learning the language and it's already had a massive impact on their mental health.

I'm one of these people. I'm a single parent, work full time on minimum wage, have a large mortgage and some debt. I have no social life and rarely do anything for myself throughout the year.

There is one simple reason why I go. I need something to look forward to! The escape from reality is more than worth the money for me.

Soon dd will be at an age where she doesn't want to come with me and I'll have to decide whether I'm brave enough for solo holidays but while she wants to come I'm going to go!

I think the short answer is because, for many people, it provides something in life to hope for and look forward to. Physical and mental rest, new scenery, a break from routine, engaging in activities that broaden perspectives, time with family… for most people, those are things that lift the spirit and bring joy, and they are worth spending a bit of money on. Clearly it’s not a great idea to overspend, but I think there are deals to be had for most budgets.

Some people spend their discretionary income on takeaways or clothing or beauty treatments or spa days. I choose to spend mine on travel.
I don't need another dominoes. I'd rather see places that are unusual.

The excitement, the tan, the food, the beautiful views and scenery, the weather, the blue skies, the music, the different language the escapism, the sea, the pools, the plane, the photos, visiting family I have abroad, something to look forward to. Holidays are better than Christmas and if you can afford to go but choose to stay in the wet UK I don"t understand it, only so many greasy chips you can eat

Everyone is different though. Travelling doesn’t mean that you don’t love your home though. Or being smug. I also don’t work full time and I love my job, live in a lovely big house by the beach in Sweden, and I really love being at home with my pets and am content with daily life. Fresh air, cycle to work, enjoying the different seasons very much. I still like to travel. My now grown children are not afraid of different cultures and are quite happy they’ve been to places most people only see on tv. They know they are privileged and are extremely thankful for their experiences good and bad.

Its just like Xmas or anything else, some people can afford it out of their normal wage, some people save through the year, some out it on credit and others do without. We all have different priorities.

I do prioritise holidays. I need something fun on the horizon to get me through a shot day at work.

Having something to look forward to, a break from monotony of every day life, a change of scene, seeing the world, meeting people. There are so many benefits to getting away whether it's camping up the road or 5stars in the Maldives.

I love travelling. I am a actually in the South of France at this moment on a solo trip
I have travelled all over the world and it brings great joy to me.
I don’t drink , smoke and I don’t have much of a social life. My money goes on travelling .

Me neither,we have had a couple of days away, just to visit places that are too far away for a day trip
Last holidays was almost 15 years ago. I don't miss the packing, waiting at airport, getting someone to look after the animals,water the garden. I actually don't enjoy traveling, there are places I want to "be", but after being involved in 3 vehicle entrapment situation (none my fault,) I can't enjoy car journeys,I get travel sick. As for the weather,we decided 12 years ago to move near the coast and country,all be it,it involved a longer commute,we do live in the warmest,sunniest corner of the UK. As for experiencing other culture/countries,my DKs were just as happy on day trips here. My oldest DD, went abroad for the first time,5 star hotel,was not a bit impressed,loads of problems. My DH mother married someone from another country,so he had been abroad a lot, when I met him. When I was a child my late father had a boat,we went camping then caravanning every weekend in the fishing season., but in the 50s even that was very rare. I worked FT nights 4 kids, arranged a week off every month to be with them, just picnics and the like

Holidays are a top priority for us. We work extremely hard and love to have time spent as a family away from home in a completely different environment. We also love to travel and see different parts of the world/country.