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Original poster

I see now why people want to go Abroad

100 replies

likeamillpond · 18/04/2021 15:27

Reading the Sunday papers this morning and am flabbergasted.

2 weeks cruising round the Carribean
1st week island hopping
2nd week staying in Barbados.
Small intimate ship
balcony
Fantastic food all inclusive and entertainment
Guaranteed sunshine
£2800 pp

1 week in Scotland
Staying one night in a castle
Visiting a loch
Campfire with stories
Visit to a distillery
Basically generic stuff you could do anywhere in the UK) except maybe the loch
Possibly crap weather.
£3700 op

I appreciate Scotland has it's own charms
But Really?
Simeones having a laugh!

OP posts:

Twofurrycatsagain · 19/04/2021 00:51

20 years ago I wanted to go to the Isle of Skye for 4 nights in half term. It was cheaper to go to Paris. And I don't mean the hotel was cheaper, I mean airport parking + flight + hotel was cheaper than a B & B on Skye.
Still never been to Skye.
TBH I'd settle for the damp caravan I once stayed in at Great Yarmouth at the moment.

Torvean · 19/04/2021 00:52

A Loch isn't a lake.

Firstly only the Scottish can say Loch. We can say both Loch and lake. We have a monster in our Loch. Your lakes do not.

Our Scottish scenery is some of the best in the world.

But the price issue yeah.

BTW Noone is allowed in Scotland yet. If NS has her way she'd keep it that way.

Pyewackect · 19/04/2021 00:55

Supply and demand.

Kokeshi123 · 19/04/2021 01:56

I am guessing that when people in each country are "locked in" and can only holiday within their own country, prices will soar during peak season due to the impact of so many people rushing to the same places at the same time, and because holiday resorts etc. will need to make as much money as possible during those times because they will suffer from very low occupancy at non-peak times, creating losses that have to be recouped.

Conversely, when people are moving about from country to country to go on holiday, I suppose it blunts the "peak season" effect, because people go on holiday at different times. Like, kids in various countries take school holidays at somewhat different times, we have Easter breaks and bank holidays but other countries probably have something quite different and so on. So holiday resorts and hotels can rely on a steadier flow of holidaymakers that is more "even" throughout the year.

From a long-term perspective, if (for environmental reason) we want to try to "encourage"people to fly less for their holidays, we are going to have to think of ways round this problem. For example, staggering school holidays region by region, and embracing systems where workers can more easily choose when to take time off and have more flexibility.

lavenderlou · 19/04/2021 02:12

UK holiday cottage prices were ridiculous before Covid so doubtless they are even more ridiculous this year. That's why I usually go to France. Even including the cost of the ferry and driving, a gite holiday is generally cheaper than staying in the UK.

I am a little aggrieved that I am paying £500 this year for a 10-day holiday to the Isle of Wight in my own touring caravan! Luckily I like the Isle of Wight.

TravelDreamLife · 19/04/2021 02:25

Australia has the exact same problem. The prices are extortionate. It is possible to holiday on a budget, though. You've just got to be careful where/when you go & book it yourself. No resorts!! Travel bubbles are opening, unfortunately to everywhere we've already been but I'll happily go to NZ next year if possible.

Imo cruising here is horrible. It takes forever to get anywhere & you get a few hours in a couple of places, some with nothing to do unless you pay for a tour. You have to travel in an overcrowded ship where entitled people put their book/towel on a chair to 'save' it all week so there's nowhere to sit & the same groups hog the spa, pools etc. Did it once. Never, ever again.

Barbie222 · 19/04/2021 06:45

You're only paying that as you're staying in a castle. It's more affordable in a lodge or similar. That said we're paying about 500 more than normal for a week in Wales.

110APiccadilly · 19/04/2021 06:51

I'm very keen for other people to go back to going abroad so that the prices within the UK calm down a bit! In all seriousness, supply isn't going to meet demand in the UK this year so they can basically charge what they like.

blameitonthecaffeine · 19/04/2021 07:12

Could it be a typo for £370 per person?

Or is it a trip aimed at, e.g, Americans and includes a BA flight or something? That could be £1000 on its own. Americans love the idea of fairy tale Scotland.

If neither of the above are possible then yes, that's an insane price. But hardly representative of UK holidays. It's a bit of an outlier.

midnightstar66 · 19/04/2021 07:16

To be honest I'd pay £3700 not to be stuck on a floating Petrie dish in the middle of a pandemic, the holiday would be a bonus extra. I image also that the castle is unique/high end. If you replaced that accommodation with a tent on a campsite it would probably be a couple of hundred quid!

jgw1 · 19/04/2021 07:19

I have had a good idea. Lets compare the cheapest Scottish holiday one can find (less than £100pp for a week) with the most expensive Caribbean holiday that exists and be outraged that the Caribbean is so expensive.

Fleurchamp · 19/04/2021 07:43

Aarf at the person saying that they go abroad for the culture, maybe you do, but a package holiday to the majority of Med resorts is not my idea of "culture" and let's face it - that is what people are clamouring for.

My mum is DESPERATE to go abroad, to get a tan basically. She will still eat the same food and stay in resorts where they only speak English. She has had both vaccines and is all up in arms because she should be allowed to go.

Personally, I like a mixture of U.K. and overseas holidays. U.K. have been easier with smaller DC but now mine are getting older I would like to expand our horizons a bit. Typically Covid then happened!

The cost this year is ridiculous though. We moved a holiday from last May to this one - half term in Wales to some holiday cottages. A friend thought she might join us but the owners had jacked the cost up to £1,800 for a 3 bed for a week, we paid £950 for a two bed for a week.

If I were in charge I would open up borders for those with family abroad first, some of my friends haven't seen their families for 2 years now and they are complaining that once borders open they won't be able to afford the flights - one keeps booking and amending her ticket to keep a space open, she has been doing that for a year.

GoWalkabout · 19/04/2021 07:51

Well, we like walking and the UK climate suits my heat averse family. Cute cottage in the hills is my preferred option for July /August (though May and September are cheaper and the weather is often better) , though we travel abroad as well. Got one for £760 though before prices went up.

rookiemere · 19/04/2021 07:54

Ah it's holiday bingo. So what if your DM wants to go abroad for some heat and a tan @Fleurchamp? As far as I am aware Covid doesn't know why you want to travel to it only infects the unworthy.

And whilst I have great sympathy for those who haven't seen relatives for a long time, I don't think a system allowing only them to travel will work. There are enough loopholes in the existing system without adding more. Sadly I suspect costs of foreign travel will go up in the long run, but there we go.

B33Fr33 · 19/04/2021 07:57

You forgot if you're travelling in the UK you'll be as welcome as a fart in a lift with the locals and likely to end up getting harassed or your car vandalised.

rookiemere · 19/04/2021 07:57

@GoWalkabout I also booked our UK weeks away for the summer holidays at the end of February.
At that point there was pretty good availability and reasonable prices to be found, provided you were prepared to put in the time doing a bit of searching.
As they are cancellable I went to look over the weekend as thought I might change a week in Scotland to England, but now there is hardly anything and extortionate prices. Basic supply and demand, unsure why people are surprised and shocked by it.

Fleurchamp · 19/04/2021 08:00

@rookiemere I know it wouldn't be workable - it is just my opinion.

DM is CEV and is too scared to see her family but will get on a plane full of strangers so she can eat her bacon and eggs in 80 degree heat. I just don't understand her thinking. That's all.

I would love to go abroad but I just don't think mass tourism is the right thing to do this year.

minniemomo · 19/04/2021 08:02

The trick this year is to book the locations Americans and other tourists are fond of eg just booked a 4 star central London hotel with breakfast for £92 a room, theatre tickets for £25 (normally £70 for that area) etc - kids very excited. Also booked a weekend in Stratford again £ cheaper than normal.

rookiemere · 19/04/2021 08:07

Yes @minniemomo or if you want a trip to Edinburgh last time I looked you could get beautiful city centre apartments for a fraction of what you'd normally pay in summer holidays, although that might change now it's been announced that some of the festival may go ahead.

Porcupineintherough · 19/04/2021 08:16

We usually alternate holidays in the UK with holidays in Europe, with the occasional big holiday (US, SE Asia) chucked into the mix. This year we are having a week in Norfolk and one in London. I've not found costs inflated at all. I'm also a bit suspicious of the amazing cheap deals everyone seems to find in Europe. My experience is that you end up spending more to go abroad, no matter where you go or how you travel. And I've looked at deals for some quite grotty resorts.

wonderstuff · 19/04/2021 08:22

In 2019 we did cp in Belgium because it was still cheaper than the UK even including the extra travel.

Can't wait until we can get back to driving to the south of France, maybe next year.

bert3400 · 19/04/2021 08:27

I live in a holiday destination abroad and can't wait to get to Scotland, to get away from the heat of August . We booked it last year when the climate was slightly less hysterical...bloody glad we did too

TuvoknotSpock · 19/04/2021 08:37

I've had loads of amazing holidays from an African safari to Devon. They were all great in their own ways (apart from an awful hotel in Rhodes)

I've got small kids now and have only flown once which was a pita and then DS got too hot so will day UK for a couple of years (esp with the threat of isolating) but cant wait to be back on a Greek Island!

Scotland is AMAZING but the weather is always a bit crap and I wouldn't pay that much. Cruising is ok, not my fave but that does seem a good deal.

I've been dreaming of going back to my fave hotel in koh samui, but know that will be a long time!

m0therofdragons · 19/04/2021 08:45

Haha, last time I looked at a week at cp it inspired me to to book flights to Canada for the 5 of us (it was cheaper with some Airbnb and some staying with family).

Releasethebreak · 19/04/2021 08:48

@RoseAndRose

TBH, as we've all,seen what happens on a cruse ship when you have an infected passenger, I'm surprised they can even give away places.

Yes I was just going to post the same thing. We know how noro spreads like wildfire on a ship, and we all saw the news reports last year of passengers being stuck in port for months when Covid-19 struck, why would any sane person risk it?

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