Friend said our holidays are boring

[SusanandMidge]

My friend and her husband love travelling and go on about 4 holidays a year. This year they've been to Egypt, India and Japan and are planning a trip to Croatia next month,
We prefer to holiday in the UK. Just throw everything into the car, no airport security, worrying about losing passports, delayed flights etc. We genuinely enjoy driving around places like the Lake District, Devon, Wales etc., stopping off at nice villages, chilling out in the garden of rented cottages with a glass of wine and a book, pottering up to the local pub for dinner and all that.

Last night, after a couple of drinks, my friend asked me why we go on such 'boring' holidays. I just said I wouldn't really enjoy the holidays she goes on but each to their own. She started persisting, saying 'don't you want to see the world' and so on. I pointed out that when we were younger we went to the States, Australia and lots of European countries. Then she said yeah but that was years ago, and we should 'treat ourselves' to a few nice holidays.

We're about to head down to Cornwall for a week, but her comments have kind of ruined it. I really don't want to go on long haul holidays and was content with our UK holidays but now just feel like everyone thinks we're boring and unadventurous. AIBU.

I didn’t say that’s all you did, I said I would find it boring to only do that.

You picked up my comment and yet didn’t answer my question about what you would be worried about. Have you mentioned to your friend that you find travelling abroad stressful?

@Gingerlygreen I do get that. Thing is I guess I'm greedy- I can enjoy that too -but love a week in say Majorca and I love airports!!lol I always say- there's something for everyone

I kind of agree with this.
When you're used to the scenery in the west of Scotland, Devon seems tame.
Having said that, I think the weather in Devon is much better then the frequent rain of the West Coast (which is where we live) and the beaches are lovely.
Lord Byron said that England's beauty was "tame and domestic" and I think he was right.

Next year we're going over to Ireland for a change.

Yes, but OP wasn't criticising her friend. She accepts that her friend has different tastes to her.

OP would be unreasonable if she had started the conversation asking her friend why she bothered to go through all the stress and expense of travelling abroad when UK holidays are more relaxing - but she didn't.

@TheShellBeach I certainly struggle to see why people rush to Cornwall over say Dorset- similar scenery but far more of a fag to get to for most. I do like st ives and polperro etc but in my opinion can get a similar vibe by going to Christchurch, Weymouth, Lyme or swanage with much less fag

Your holidays sound infinitely preferable to hers 💛

There are some right bores on this thread droning on about how they’re so superior with their low carbon footprints, like the OP’s pal in reverse.

I think the world is made for exploring and I love a long haul flight/holiday. Give me a five star Indian Ocean beach. Gorgeous. I was lucky enough to go to Kenya and the Masaai Mara blew my mind. I also think the UK is exceptionally beautiful. London is the best city in the world, and the south west coast is one of the most beautiful places in the world. I just had a camping holiday in the uk and I saw so much beauty. The world is there for the exploring! One isn’t better than the other.

I try not to drone on about anything, but I am worried about climate change, and so I try not to fly.

I do miss travelling, I used to love it. The world is indeed a big and wonderful and beautiful place, and some people are lucky enough to see more of it than others.

Why the need to sneer at those who can't/don't travel?

This is so true.
Personally I wouldn't like your kind of holiday but that doesn't make it a poor choice.
Each to their own.
And cream teas in the south west are wonderful.

I find most people’s idea of a holiday interminably dull. I have no desire to lie on a beach or by a pool, drink heavily or slow roast myself in the sun. I also have no desire to “do” destination holidays like a checklist of fashionable places to have been.

My interests are in the history of places, or rather, specific places which are of interest to me historically, and in various niche sports. That means I’m as likely to find somewhere I want to be in the UK as anywhere else.

The sort of holidays I enjoy would be appallingly dull for someone who didn’t share those interests. That’s why they’re not obliged to come with me, or vice versa.

People who are narrow minded enough to think they have a monopoly on the concept of fun aren’t worth a second thought.

I like to do exactly what I please on my holidays and I wouldn't let any 'see the world', 'fuck the environment', 'one time when I was travelling ...', 'I'm exciting, me' types ruin it for me.

I didn’t sneer at anyone, other than the people boring on about how their uk holidays were superior. Like I said, beauty is found everywhere. The UK is a fantastic country. The world is brilliant. Explore all of it if you want, but one is not better than the other.

There are some people who just don't seem to understand that others think differently and enjoy different things - seem very rooted in their own opinions on life in general.

Your friend sounds like this. Their way of doing life is the right way - others haven't realised this yet and need to be educated/enlightened.

I think we all know people like this. It comes across as very judgemental but I am not sure it is intended to be. They just seem to lack perspective and understanding that what works for them doesn't necessarily work for others.

Your holidays sound lovely. Everyone has different tastes and enjoys life in different ways.

suckrifice · Yesterday 17:06
MitchellMummy · Yesterday 16:19

There's much more to do in the UK if the weather is bad. No airports. No flights. You can do as much sport, culture, lazing around or whatever. I love UK holidays. Many people who go abroad do it for the 'Insta' rather than because they want to go. A tick list - how many countries you've visited. Enjoy your holiday! Do not give a thought about what your 'friend' thinks!
@MitchellMummy I’m dying to know what you mean by this

There's much more to do in the UK if the weather is bad.

I don’t live in the UK and I’d love to hear more about how there is more to do. 😂

Sorry, should have been more specific, more to do in the UK than many beach resorts abroad. In cities abroad of course there is plenty to do.

@MitchellMummy ok fair enough

Comparison is the thief of joy... Or something like that? I love Marmite but many of my friends don't but each to their own. You carry on doing what you enjoy and ignore your " friends " comments/ put downs.

So what do you care what other people think. Holidays are supposed to be relaxing and calming according to taste.

Take pictures which show why you don't need to travel far to have a great time. Cornwall is absolutely beautiful. I hate the long journey but it's so worth it once you get there.

Your holidays sound chill and interesting OP. Far more relaxing than international travel which is exciting, but also stressful and tedious at times. My husband has been just about everywhere and I E been a few places abroad, but not many. We have also found that there are amazing places here at home if only you go out and look. Screw your “friends”. Your holiday is not their holiday and they are, frankly, bloody rude to compare.

I think you need to own it. If you prefer an easy relaxing trip that’s fine. Personally i agree id find it boring and I think the question is fine if it’s a good friend and coming from a place of curiosity.

I voted YABU because you can’t let what someone else thinks ruin your good time!

You know what you enjoy. Sounds like she was drunk and being tiresome.

Personally, I love both kinds of holiday that you describe - UK based as well as locations abroad. However, I do increasingly question whether flying to overseas destinations is morally justifiable in the current global climate crisis

Personally I would hate your holidays but we are all different and we all like different things. If you are both happy doing what you do then that’s amazing! I love my holidays and we go all over doing loads of activities and sightseeing but I know most people would hate that and just want to relax but sitting by a pool all day is not for me.Sod your mate and enjoy your holiday🤗

We go to Devon every year and bloody love it!
4 days at a music festival, then 6 days in a cottage & day trips out. Our 21 year old, 19 year old and his boyfriend opt to come with us, so it's safe to say they don't find it boring.
I hate flying, airports are a hassle.
Some friend who go abroad just seem to sit in bars all day getting pissed - and that's great, if that's what they enjoy. It'd be so much cheaper for them to stay in this country & do it in Wetherspoons.

She's one of those small minded people that can't understand that not everyone has the same opinion as them.