Why don't people take their kids on holiday?

[Micnerhss]

Just to be clear, I don’t mean people who genuinely can’t afford holidays... I’m talking about people who can but still don’t.

In my close friendship group, I’m literally the only one who takes my kids away. We love seeing the world, exploring new places, different cultures, and just getting out of the UK for a bit. I honestly think holidays are so important, its proper family time away from the constant busyness of life.

But none of my really close friends ever take their kids away, not even for a little UK break, and I just can’t get my head around it.

The excuses are things like “I don’t know how airports work” or “I wouldn’t know where to go”… but there’s a whole world out there!

If you can afford it, why wouldn’t you treat your kids to a holiday?! They are missing out on so much by never leaving the UK!

Really? I literally can’t think of anyone at work (we employ 18 year olds to 60 year olds, low paid), in my friendship circle or my family / extended family that don’t love an interesting holiday.
I’m one of the few that does package holidays because they are cheap and I can get more away time.
I don’t know anyone that’s not been abroad.

fair enough

In primary they're friends with pretty much everyone apart from the class bully, so that wasn't an issue.

We did the reptile chaps, but you're brave, I have NEVER hosted a party at home and never will 😂. I admire people who do!

in fairness, I know of people who expect to find everything UK abroad, just more sun, down to their supermarket teabags and baked beans (or worst, who take them with them abroad 😂😂)

I’d love to go travelling with my children, but we can’t afford it. I suspect all my friends imagine that we can though, as I’m very good at making do and we appear much better off than we are. If my friends asked why I didn’t travel, I’m sure I’d make up some inane excuse like your friends’ one.

I also think there’s a matter of priorities - I would have to be in a much better position financially before I’d consider dropping thousands on a holiday. On the other hand, I have friends who value holidays and experiences more than financial security and they spend accordingly. We’re all different.

Yes, exceedingly dim.

I don't think this is common. I travel with DS every year and I'm a single parent.I imagine either people don't have the money or are happy with centre parcs.

Really?
Why should someone who lives in ( random place example) Sunderland and has never been to London in their life have any knowledge of what an Oyster Card is, how they work, what "Zone 2" means, what the difference between the Windrush line and the Jubilee Line is....etc.
Such odd thinking.
(and rude)

We can't afford foreign holidays but we go camping or possibly a cheap caravan trip if we've saved up. I love our trips away and we try to do fun things while there too.

I agree with you totally OP. My husband & I live to travel and i think I benefit my toddler so much by allowing him to experience different cultures and cuisines. We’d been on several trips to Asia by aged 2. I can’t understand why people worry so much about travelling . I’ve literally had the look of utter disbelief when I say where I’ve travelled - ‘how do you do the airport/plane?!’.
i think it’s just not a priority for a lot of people. When we couldn’t go abroad some time ago we went on a trip in the uk and we still had a great time. I think people overthink travelling on a plane for a few hours with kids.
none of my friends travel at all anymore even though some did extensively before children. I miss chatting about holidays a lot!

Why are you being mean about all this? It’s a really odd thread to start. Strange thing to be smug about. Do you like the attention?

I also don’t believe that none of your friends want to go on holiday with their kids. It is vanishingly unusual to have that attitude.

we have always holidayed with our kids, but I give it no thought at all as to why others don’t, as the reason reasons may be multifactorial and do not affect me at all.

Sounds like you need to broaden your horizons!

I was really surprised when I moved to my small sleepy village in scotland that 90% of the kids (nursery to high school) had never been outside of.scotland, let alone have a passport. There's a farmer here....mid 70s.....has never crossed the border, never been on a plane.

Then there was my kids who have travelled extensively in Europe and some of Africa.

Blew my mind tbh. Then I realised the village mentality and saw why .

Everyone i know takes their kids on holiday. You have an unusual circle.

Well obviously travelling is your thing and you want to expose your kids to it. But another person might prioritise spending their time and money on something else. Like hobbies or culture. They might say that they don’t understand why people don’t introduce their children to the joys of artistic performance or museums or whatever.

Having said that, I don’t know a single family who never ever goes on holiday. Even my poorest friends will occasionally do a week in a caravan.

I think we are all different. I’ve enjoyed holidays and travelling but never quite with the same level of enthusiasm some of my friends had. My best friend lives for travelling and holidays and had taken her 9 month old on 5 holidays already since he was born. However, she has deliberately chosen a cheap house in a fairly crap location so she could continue to prioritise these experiences. I’m the complete opposite and would rather spend my money on my home where I spend the majority of my time.

I think a lot is to do with personalities because I’ve been away a few times with my travel mad friend and she absolutely raves about some of the places we’ve been to and I have no idea why!

We can't afford to go abroad but even if we could I don't think we would at the moment with such young children. I'm surrounded by families who do and lots of them just seem to complain about how awful and difficult x y z part of it was and it's just put me right off. I'd definitely want to take them abroad as they get older though if we could afford it but I can't see that happening sadly. It's the outside of term time prices we just can't afford. We always do at least one small UK break a year though and always enjoy that.

Also some people are just happy with a simple life. Some of the happiest people I know never go anywhere and have rich inner lives.

We tried it, didn't enjoy it with young kids so knocked it on the head for a few years and will start again soon. We have been camping and to Disneyland Paris in the interim 6 years though.

I just don't enjoy holidays with toddlers.

I’ve seen several threads where theOP has said they don’t enjoy holidays with children. Reasons given vary. Self catering holidays are the same work in a different, less well equipped kitchen. Young children are unsettled by the change of routine and become more hardwork. Ditto for over excited. Teenagers continue being non communicative, even wanting to remain in their room. It feels the family are corralled together with no outlets like regular clubs, school, work, the gym and that can get stifling.

All that and having to pay a cart load of money for it. I can see why many opt out

What a grown up response.

Same. My whole life used
to be travel.
Not how
I expected life with kids to be.
Also it’s priorities l.

You know actual farmers really struggle to leave the farm. There is jobs 24/7. You can’t easily leave livestock ( think of the huge industry around dog sitting and then imagine 200 cows). Those tractor protests have come at a huge cost to the drivers.

Can you give me some tips op please?

My 5 year old is good on transport but so far hates swimming. And also has meltdowns generally.

My 2 year old doesn’t sit still and doesn’t sleep.

Any tips for me managing these 2 on a holiday abroad?

They don't want to.

They are environmentally conscious.

They don't think things further away are necessarily better than things that are close so instead use their time on more nearby things..

They don't sleep well in strange places.

They don't poop well in strange places.

They want to spend the money on other things like fancy cars.

They have kids in dance/horseback riding/hockey.

They have special expenses like a parent they support or a medical condition that is expensive to deal with.

Actually it's a royal pain to travel with a young person aged 11-15 around London. You have to apply for a Zip Oyster before you go. At least it was a few years ago, maybe you can get the card immediately online now.

Most cities allow youths to travel cheaply with a form of ID.
I am not dim, but don't tend to plan a day out in London with my kids weeks in advance.