Should kids go on holiday abroad every year?

[TillyTooms]

To grow up well rounded or is it just a nice luxury to have?

Before having kids I imagined we'd be jetting off every year like I did pre kids however having a neurodivergent child has meant I'm not able to work as much as I could previously and our income has seen a reduction.

We have a comfortable income and can do days out and pay for my daughter's hobbies but not enough to jet away every year.

I know this sounds like a stupid question but I just feel like I've let them down somehow.

We took our two abroad on an expensive sun holiday.

Honestly? They preferred our annual uk camping trip. They went spent all week asking worriedly if the expensive holiday was instead.

I do think kids (or really more the whole family) get a lot from a holiday away from home but that can be an inexpensive uk trip. In my view a high proportion of brits don't do much on a holiday that involves experiencing authentic local culture etc.

If you've never left dull-on-sea but have a raft of top grades no one cares. You'll fall down at the interview.

This is balls.

I do think having had some enriching experiences is useful in life but it does not have to involve foreign travel. I've hired lots of people who's sole experience of going abroad was the school trip to germany age 13.

As we look to protect the environment we will need to expect travel abroad as a less common occurrence.

Quote honestly I think having a holiday either abroad or at home is a luxury, not everyone can afford either!
Our 3 DC are all adults and moved out now, but when they were young, we had four holidays in total; a week in Spain, a week in a B&B in Blackpool and two camping breaks. It would have been lovely to have been able to offer more, but it was enough to keep the bills paid.
Years down the line, they're all working hard and taking themselves on holidays to explore the UK and abroad.

I felt sad at not having been able to give more, but none of them feel hard done by and they're all more than happy and "well rounded" despite not having holidays!

You would be surprised. Many children still don't get a holiday at all.

Judging by your attitude I don't think you are particularly well rounded yourself.

How ridiculous.

I always feel a bit sorry for kids who have seen it all by the time they’re 18.

It’s going to be hard for them to replicate the life to which they’ve become accustomed unless they’re very high earners, and also leaves less for them to explore themselves.

It is healthy and exciting, in a different way, to go on adventures as an adult, using your own money to reward yourself for the work you’ve carried out, and see things for the first time with friends or a partner.

We have relatives who live in US so we have had some brilliant family holidays in US with them, visiting different places, Disney, Yellowstone, Washington.

We have also done Butlins, Haven and Travelodges in this country and had a brilliant time.

Going on holiday anywhere for some kids is a luxury. I feel very lucky that we have been able to have a holiday every year, either in this country or the US and I do not take that for granted.

It’s one of the many things that feeds into growing up with privilege. And privilege definitely plays a part in outcomes. There’s no denying it. In isolation however you could argue that foreign travel as a child in itself is critical.

Unless you are taking them completely off-piste, staying with locals, eating local food and happy with local entertainment, rather than an all inclusive or some other tourist package, then no, they are not missing out by not going abroad.
If you only want the chips with everything holiday, no point

Is NOT critical.

Not yet had the spare cash to holiday abroad. Oldest is 12 years old. She's lovely and well rounded.

Loved foreign travel before DD but with DD I found it a phaff and bloody expensive. Went to Greece with DD when she turned 13 and it’s still an expensive phaff but I enjoy exploring new places and sharing new places with her.

Yes it is a luxury that a lot of kids sadly never get, inside the UK or abroad. Definitely a nice to have.

I am one of those people who doesnt feel it's a holiday unless it is abroad, but there are plenty of great days out here in the UK.

We did a cheap and cheerful week in Devon last year. It was awful, weather crap, accom rubbish, not a lot to do. We came home early and I bitterly wish we had spent the £500 or so on days out instead.

I'll never do it again, if we cant afford an abroad holiday, likely next year as we are hoping to move, we will do a series of days out instead.

It's a luxury and many who take their children on holiday abroad make sacrifices elsewhere. My children don't do many activities but we went abroad twice last year (Italy and Spain). This year we will go on a bigger holiday outside of Europe plus a U.K. festival, but again, we make sacrifices elsewhere. Two years ago we couldn't afford to have luxuries including a holiday (U.K. or otherwise).

Of course it's a luxury- plenty of people don't go abroad but still have fulfilling lives.

We have been abroad with our son and are going again this year. We have also had plenty of years where we have had holidays in the UK and a year where we didn't go away. All have been lovely.

Absolutely not necessary, but if you want then to experience other cultures get the ferry/eurotunnel to Calais and drive - northern France, Belgium, Holland etc don't take long to get to, and are beautiful. Far cheaper than flying and potentially easier than doing airports with kids

If you live in the SE corner of England maybe!

I never left my country (Australia) until I was in my 20’s and had a ‘proper’ job. When I finally went I reaaaallly appreciated it because I’d waited so long.

Would the OP think I’m not well rounded?

Much better for children to go less often and really appreciate it than just expect a fancy trip abroad every year.

My husband has never been out of the UK...I wonder if he's okay?

I grew up dirt poor and my first trip abroad was to Germany on exchange when I was 18 and doing A-levels. It hasn't done me any harm.

Mine are 6 and 8 and have only been to France once and Spain once. We aren't going this year either. We have 3 camping trips organised and a week in a caravan. We do loads of little outings and weekends away throughout the year. My kids aren't deprived for not going abroad every year.

I have an 8 year old on oxygen, flying is a complication we just can't sort, and hours driving abroad doesn't work either. Not sure if that will ever change. I don't think I've let him and his brothers or ruined their life chances.

I grew up in the 1970’s and didn’t go overseas till I was 21. DH family were very wealthy so he did. Even his great grandparents toured Europe extensively before WWI. All his immediate family speak multiple European languages. I know with apps it’s all changed now but it’s still handy.

It is a luxury, DS has been lucky enough to go overseas with us every year, we went three times one year, apart from the 2 years of covid. He doesn’t remember it from before age 5 though. One of DS favourite was when we hired a canal boat for a week in Warwickshire when he was 13. that’s almost a decade ago, the price has now doubled and it’s 2k to hire a boat for a week so possibly cheaper to go overseas.

I was keen to take DS on a plane and a foreign holiday to give him the experience and take advantage of the 'cheap', 'out of school holiday' prices the year before he started school. I feel fortunate to have done this. He's coming to the end of primary now and we've still only done it once.

I know lots of people who go abroad every year. Im not super wealthy but due to mostly good luck I know I'm likely financially better off than most of them. But going abroad just isn't a priority for me so it doesnt represent value and that's my decision. It would annoy me that people might make assumptions about my finances based on this. Not because I'm that bothered myself but because people who simply cannot afford it might feel they are falling short when they really don't need to.

Honestly for an adult, I do find that a very small life yes. I’m not saying he’s traumatised by it, but it’s certainly unusual.

Grew up in the 60s and 70s. Never had a holiday abroad. My dad had served iin the war and had had enough of abroad. Don’t think it did me any harm. We had a seaside holiday in the UK every year. My first trip abroad was a sixth form trip to France. Certainly done my share of travelling as an adult.