No holidays abroad will affect poorer people more

[ohhmyholidays]

I haven't been on holiday abroad or in the Uk since 2008, this year we were finally due to go to away to Greece with my 2 young children. Now cost of passports is a barrier for the poorer family like us, but I can't see I can afford a Uk holiday now I just feel sad, another year we won't go anywhere. We've paid so it will have to be moved, they won't refund.

Has Boris said when Zoos and farms will open ? I've no idea what we will do. We live a long way from the beach petrol wise.

Everything has a greater effect on those who are poor. Money is insulation. Zoos and theme parks, etc are open on April 12th, with all the usual caveats around the relaxations.

Oh ok we have a zoo pass my parents paid for for my two kids joint birthday gift, so maybe we can go there a few times at least. Might have to camp in my parents garden, they don't have space for us indoors

I've never been on holiday, anywhere, ever. Me and DH were planning to go abroad last year but thankfully we didn't book anything. Not sure when we'll get to go anywhere now - booking anything is impossible if there's a chance we'll lose money.

You’ve never been on holiday @TheVampiresWife ?!

We had no money when I was a child but we did have a tent & camping stove lent to us each year by friends. We’d pack up, go two hours to Llandudno & camp for the week! I have fond memories (& indeed some not so fond 😂). We lived off sandwiches & fish and chips mostly.. but it was lovely to be by the beach & be somewhere different!

I probably wouldn’t camp now.. I like a bed that’s not on the floor 😂 but it’d be better than nothing! Not everywhere is charging through the roof.. airBnB still seems reasonable in many places..

I think a lot of people will be priced out of U.K. holidays this year. We are lucky that we can go away during term time and I’ve booked a few days away in September but anyone with children in school will have to spend a fair amount to go away anywhere.

Of course it will. The cost of UK holidays is apparently increasing hugely now.

Yep. We booked uk for 2nd April which was cancelled. We've looked at UK for June and the best price for sc cottage hot tub is 1600 a week. Er nope. My 3 bed detached is just 600 month....
So fucked off. Want foreign travel to resume just to take the weight off UK breaks so
a. We may get one
B. We may afford one.
Haven't been abroad since 2018, due to child's health, not affordability. Then covid yada yada.

Agreed. I’m financially OK but our usual UK break has gone up by at least a third (and it was already a crazy price for a week in a caravan in Cornwall), and I’m not prepared to pay as much as is needed.

On the other hand, I think it's possible people with less money will actually benefit if the aim is to get life as normal as possible within the UK, rather than think about overseas travel.

Many people can't afford a holiday in the UK or abroad, but lots of people can afford a pub meal, a zoo trip, will benefit from being able to socialise with their friends freely, and I think many people would rather those things return than an overseas holiday.

"I probably wouldn’t camp now.. I like a bed that’s not on the floor 😂"

You can take ai air bed.
I would think the weather in Llandudno isn't reliable enough though - you'd be better off in a caravan.

We've always needed a passport to go abroad.
The few holidays we have been on have been abroad because to stay in the UK has always been ridiculously expensive. To stay in the UK I wouldn't book a package and never did abroad.
As pp pointed out 1500 for a week in the UK but go on any of the villa sites and get a pool and guaranteed sun for less than a grand a week.

I agree. The cost of UK holidays will be £stupid this year and just the thought of going abroad with the hassle and threat of vaccine passports, lockdoens, having to isolate on return etc etc... no thank you.

Might as well stay at home.

I agree. The cost of UK holidays will be £stupid this year

Fortunately we booked a UK holiday in 2019 for last year, which was then rolled over to this year when it became clear it couldn’t happen. So we’re still paying last year’s prices and I expect a lot of people will be the same.

Holidays will be expensive for those booking now, but all these people holidaying in the UK will give a much needed boost to our tourism industry and economy in general, which can only be a good thing.

I'm just sad jealous that some people had the funds to go away last summer and we didn't. And we won't be again, school holidays with be very lonnnnnng once again. My DS loves school, I think he gets bored at home, we do walks all year around and picnics when it's warm.

I dread people asking me about holidays, I always say we'll probably do something last minute, if. Purse we won't.

Purse we won't

So true my purse won't allow it, it's empty

I was hoping for one last holiday with DP but am very doubtful we will have that chance now and that makes me feel really sad.

The passport is a sore point here
We were due to go away the day after ds turned 16 last summer. So I had to get him a 5 year passport. Which he now won't use for a few years and may even expire without ever being used!

But we were lucky to get a full refund on our holiday and I have a secure job so it's a minor sore point.

However totally agree about holidays in UK. I always went abroad because a weeks HB in Spain inclusive of flights and airport parking, transfers etc is (was?) cheaper for ds and I than a weeks SC in UK in caravan or hotel.

Camping in a place that had same facilities and eating out to avoid the cooking was also equivalent price without guaranteed weather.

I always paid £1500 for my weekly summer holiday including spends and meals etc and camping for a week is £40 a night usually or a caravan £700-1000) and that's SC.

Probably could camp cheaper than abroad but it's not quite the same and so I don't see it as equivalent price - but I love camping!

Why are you surprised that some people have never gone away on holiday.

My siblings and I (four of us) never went anywhere, UK or abroad, on holiday with our single mother. No visits anywhere at all.

My sister and I were sent to a holiday camp once, for poor children. I remember we had to change out of our own clothes before getting on the coach. I hated that 'holiday' so much.

Years later, first proper holiday was a school skiing trip. Again not with any of my family. I've always wondered how my mum could afford that trip for me.

So, it's just to say why I have never been too bothered with holidays and haven't been abroad for 10 years. So I don't see going on holiday as an automatic right for anyone.

It is going to impact everyone but I do think international travel will happen at some point in the summer with a traffic light system already being discussed, Boris hosting the G7 in Cornwall in June, and the industry on its knees it’s all pointing towards it being allowed, maybe not as early as May but definitely by July/Aug Europe just need to catch up with the vaccinations.

UK holidays are overpriced and you can never rely on the weather to justify the cost. Travel is a huge part of mine and DH lives and we are desperate to take our baby on the first holiday abroad, I might be too optimistic but I can see it happening this year. We usually go away abroad 4-5 times a year and have really missed it. I also feel awful for people with family and friends abroad and it disgusts me that it is illegal for us to leave the country.

I just looked up a dive in Blackpool that we had a family room in 2 years ago for £17 a night. Now £120 a night. Holy crap. Wild camping anyone?

Hi, I understand how you feel. We're going to camp for 4 nights in the summer holidays. Plus away for another 1 night. That way we can say we've been away. Will still be happy memories hopefully. This is our usual "summer holiday". When I was younger I used to stay in my aunt's house when she went on holiday, loved it! We do usually try and have more of a holiday in October in terms of accommodation, but then usually don't have the weather. We still have a lovely time though. Hope you get something sorted. Really sorry about your arranged holiday having to postponed X

Many people can't afford a holiday in the UK or abroad, but lots of people can afford a pub meal, a zoo trip, will benefit from being able to socialise with their friends freely, and I think many people would rather those things return than an overseas holiday.

This 100%. And it's not illegal to leave the country, it's allowed for legitimate reasons. Holidays are just not one of those reasons.

@itsgettingwierd
A child's passport (about £50) costs less than and adult passport (about £75).

Then again I am not sure how they justify 5 years being more than half of the 10 years, probably "admin".

Would you think about a house swap with someone you know?

I wouldn't swap with strangers, but this summer we're swapping with friends who live in Broadstairs. We only live in London but once DS has been in the car for an hour he thinks we've been driving forever, so he won't know we're not on the Riviera.