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 love travelling abroad but I also love travelling in this country. Can’t be doing with ppl like her who make ppl feel lesser because they don’t do everything their way!

She can’t be having that much fun deep down if she feels the need to criticise. Must be hard work keeping all those appearances up. Perhaps she’s jealous you’re happier with less.

Each to their own OP. We love the sort of holidays you go on. We travel around the UK, love Cornwall and Devon. Next year we will go to Scotland. I don't care with the weather. Still have a good time.
We have been abroad lots of times when younger but just love driving around the UK. Not everyone is the same and don't take to heart with your friends comments. Enjoy Cornwall.

No YABU. I bet some of the ppl stranded in Europe this week are wishing they had taken the car and driven in the UK.

I like seeing places but find the whole airport thing strsssy. And I wouldn’t go to Egypt if you paid me.

This is so personal: why on earth would you judge people for this?

I have a good friend who has never left the UK apart from a wedding in Ireland and whose idea of heaven is a wet weekend on a campsite with food brought from home. She has deliberately (ie not through cost) never gone on holiday outside the UK and can't understand my penchant for city breaks in Europe. I struggle to think of anything worse, but I would never tell her this because she loves it.

Each to their own.

Each to their own but personally I would find it boring to just hang around a cottage and go to the pub. We sometimes holiday in the U.K. but if we do we are out walking, visiting historic sites etc.

Why do you worry around flights and passports etc? Perhaps your friend was concerned that undue anxiety was holding you back from experiencing things?

I meant YANBU obvs

After living somewhere which required a flight or ferry to get anywhere at all, my ultimate treat is a holiday by train or car (and trains are obviously slightly edgy at the moment). We’ve had some great European holidays by train and also thoroughly enjoyed time in the UK. I do not miss flights at all, and I’m trying to reduce our carbon footprint so that helps.

But I’m not sure why so many posters on here are equating foreign holidays with just lying around? Surely many people go away all over the world and explore rather than lie on a sun lounger?

OP, your holidays sound lovely to me, but I’m not sure why posters on here need to link overseas holidays with total inertia!

I'm going on holiday abroad tomorrow for the first time since 2019. Honestly UK holidays are so much easier. We have the packing list down to a fine art and it all goes in the car. Just finished packing just now and I'm shattered and nearly divorced trying to get what we want in the suitcase! Looking forward to my wee break in the Scottish Highlands in November....and I've got to get to the airport for 4.45 tomorrow and husband wants to go to bed early but I won't sleep...he will.....oh to get through security 🤣

I like your kind of holiday too, mainly because we can bring the dog with us. It doesn't feel like a holiday without her!

Out of interest what do you do on holiday that makes it more interesting than OP's?

Absolutely. And they don't half bang on about it .

Why is it bothering you, are you taking it as meaning YOU are boring?

Each to their own. I couldn’t not go abroad and would never holiday in the UK.

however I’d never tell someone their choice of holiday is boring.

You've got a few YABU's on here, but I suspect that is because many people are saying that you are being unreasonable to doubt yourself. Your holidays sound lovely. Many people need to de-stress on holiday and yours sounds like just that.

Your friend is a cow for saying that (I know, she's your friend and you like her and all that).

Who knows? She might be jealous that you and your dh just have a nice time together and are content in each other's company. She may be deliberately wanting to throw a spanner in the works.

Why do you care what she thinks? I wouldn’t let someone else’s opinion spoil my enjoyment.

YABU for giving a fuck what your friends think. Enjoy your life on your own terms, not theirs.

She’s very rude. I think your holidays sound perfect. Lucky you. Enjoy Cornwall.

"I've been on a lot more than 8 flights - yes I gathered this from "last 8" which is why I suspect you're a frequent flyer to far-flung destinations, hence hitting the nerve"

I fly frequently. I also holiday in the UK. You haven't hit any nerves. I know you wanted to but someone saying "can you justify your carbon footprint" is hardly upsetting 😅 not where I come from anyway. You're just not as offensive as you think you are!

The reason I prefer to go further afield at the moment is because we like to swim. The photographs of beaches that people have posted are beautiful, but had you swam in those waters today you'd be sharing it with a load of human shit. Not for me 🤢

She is being extremely rude.
I dont understand this obcession with foreign holidays anyway.
You do what you like and perhaps keep this "friend" at a bit of a distance.

She is being extremely rude.
I dont understand this obcession with foreign holidays anyway.
You do what you like and perhaps keep this "friend" at a bit of a distance.

Holidays are about doing the things that you want to do! People can’t tell you what you can and can’t enjoy! I mix it up a bit and go abroad and holiday in the uk… we enjoy both equally for different reasons… it’s lovely not to have to worry about passports and flight delays. Keep doing whatever suits you! Enjoy Cornwall 😊

I like both types of holidays I'm so jealous of your holiday! Haven't been away for years . Honestly just enjoy your selves and remember how blessed you are to be somewhere so lovley having a break with the person you love

@FullFatPhil I live in Cornwall and find I can swim year round in plenty of sh&t free beaches. You just need to know where to look.

My friends have always called my holidays boring, and I calls theirs stupidly expensive- and then we all move on..