I am glad I didn't have a holiday abroad this year...

[HullaBulla]

... but others don't understand why not! I used to take a couple of holidays abroad a year before Covid and since then, one a year. I don't have the travel bug at the moment and had no desire to go abroad this summer. I had a long weekend away, a couple of hours' drive away, really enjoyed it and this was enough for me. I really enjoyed the rest of my time off work, going on nice walks, meeting friends for lunch and lovely chilled days with good books.

Some friends can't believe I didn't have a 'proper' holiday and are wondering what's wrong with me!

Anyone else not have the travel bug at times?

Nope. I would love to be independently wealthy and travel constantly. Horses for courses.

Sounds like you needed a year of recharging, so glad to hear you got that. There are loads of places to explore nearer home no matter which country you live in.

We have just come back from a long weekend in Porthmadog. - visiting Portmerion, zip world (toboggan riding!) and taking the heritage railway. Well recommended, but you really need a week there.

Not strange at all, if that’s what you want to do, that’s what holidaying is all about

We were forced to holiday in UK in 2021 because of CV19.

We spent far more that year in sub-standard hotels, eating expensive meals etc, than if we'd had so-called "exotic" holidays.

UK is expensive.

“Some friends can't believe I didn't have a 'proper' holiday and are wondering what's wrong with me!”

Why are your so-called friends being so judgmental about your choices? If you were that kind of person, you could be equally critical of people who do choose to travel abroad - environmental impact, fear of missing out, wanting shit to post on social media, etc etc. Do your own thing and don’t worry about what anyone else thinks. I actually feel kind of sorry for people like your “friends” who put so much importance on keeping up appearances and don’t seem to have minds of their own. I’m not having a go at anyone who holidays abroad by the way, it’s the reaction of OP’s friends that annoys me, it sounds like they think they are superior for not having a holiday in the UK, which is just ridiculous!

I hate the way some people don't consider holidaying in the UK a real holiday and don't get me started on the word staycation.

While holidays abroad are wonderful, I do understand that they can actually be quite stressful in some ways, ie the prep, travelling, post sorting and coning back down to reality.

I'm still at the stage where I love travelling but can see how just having time to Potter about can be bliss. Xxx

@HullaBulla I’ve just finished a week off at home. My kitchen cupboards and drawers have been sorted and rearranged, I’ve had lovely dog walks, I’ve been to the gym five times, we went to a theatre matinee and we have had a couple of meals out. It’s been soooo nice. I’m already planning when I can do it with my 2026 leave!

We didn't this year because we moved house and I wanted to spend my holidays getting things how I want them...and to spend some money on it. A huge bonus has been the amazing weather we've had so I've not felt like I've missed out. I think if we'd had a dreary summer I might feel differently.

If we had parking, or good public transport I'd consider the UK more. Travelling does make you realise what a shit show our transport is, in this country, outside of London and Manchester.

I think its very much each to their own. We spent many years going on caravan holidays in the UK. Until a few years ago when we ventured abroad. The guaranteed weather and beautiful beaches, as well as the cost of living abroad will always win for me.
I priced up a caravan holiday for August next year in the UK, it was £1200 for a basic caravan. Factor in day trips and entertainment and it comes in more expensive than the week myself and my eldest had in Spain in August of this year. Prices are crazy in the UK, and if you hunt and not fussed about an all inclusive with all the bells and whistles you can still find good, cheap holidays abroad.

I haven't been as bothered to go away of late. Is this my age? (50+)

I have my own home and garden to look after, plus two cats. Its such a faff going away, I'm starting to resent it.

Lots of unexpected family illness and heartache over the past year so im not sure if that has had a bearing.

I love going abroad. I don't find any of it stressful. None of us mind the airport part. Our DS is and has always been a good traveller and a fine holiday campanion. We don't find it too hot to do stuff. We don't fall out over anything and all muck in to do any "chores". (The only slightly less agreeable holidays were the two covid years, 2020 and 2021. Not keen on wearing masks in supermarkets etc, but needs must)

We do sometimes do weekend breaks in the UK but they are expensive and the weather is unreliable, we still have a good time though.

Each to their own. It's rude to suggest that someone else's holiday is below par.

It was a lovely summer here for a change! We did go away a couple of times but only as it’s dh’s quiet time at work, I’d have been very happy sitting in my garden.

I am astonished that so many people are still flying in the midst of the now irreversible climate emergency; really gobsmacked, especially as you have children.

@OldMam i have flown this year, but I have also travelled to France by train and Chunnel. Having been to the south of France by train (and used e-bikes as transport when there) I’d highly recommend it. I suppose my point is that if you want to go abroad you don’t have to fly. I was talking to friends last night who will be taking the train (as family of 5) in their next holiday precisely because they are concerned about sustainability. It is however not cheap.

There’s nothing reasonable or unreasonable about your OP. Each to their own.

I’m not really interested in travel and do feel a bit embarrassed about it. It wasn’t financially viable for me to have any sort of holiday as a young adult, and once I got out of the habit of going away, I just stopped thinking about it.

I go abroad several times a year and since I have two cats to accommodate at the cattery I'm not prepared to disrupt them for a UK holiday I'm not too fussed about anyway. The only times I'm away overnight in the UK are for professional training, football or gigs. I wouldn't spend money on a UK holiday but I spend a lot of my disposable income on holidays overseas. It's one of the reasons I'm still working past pension age.

However people enjoy different things and I think the OP's friends are very rude.

We are just back from a month in the UK and Ireland, visiting family and friends. I am glad to be home and looking forward to Aussie summer. I don’t want to get on a long haul plane again for a very very long time! We did have a ball though 5 star in Fiji would probably have been cheaper.

IME holidays are frequently a horrifically expensive disappointment. I wouldn't mind them if they were guaranteed to be lovely, but not otherwise. I'd say 2/3 of my hols have been disappointing and I now begrudge paying for them.

Same here and quite honestly I have total JOMO (JOY of missing out!)

Me! We were invited to join family at an Aegean beach holiday resort, but given the heat here (SE UK) at the time, I couldn’t face anywhere likely to be even hotter.

But it’s partly an age thing. I always used to have very itchy feet, would go anywhere, but have come to hate all the faff and hassle of airports and planes, especially if more than a very few hours of jet lag will be involved.

I also think foreign holidays with toddlers are overrated and from my friends tales more likely than not to be awful.

I think different lifestyle contributes to this as well.

In Prior years, we were renting a small house with tiny garden and I was in a hell-ish job and I couldn't wait to leave the country to get away from it all. I'd be on a constant countdown to the next holiday.

Now, we own a bigger house with big garden. My new job is a lot more enjoyable. I'm now happy to be at home/around home.