Tui holiday - scared of going abroad

[Username0308]

I've had a fear of flying for years so haven't been abroad since childhood.

I recently got over my fear of flying by going on a domestic flight to Ireland.

So now I want to go abroad, I'm thinking a package holiday to somewhere like Spain or Greece via Tui as I feel safer if it's all booked as a package.

Now I'm probably overthinking this but I'm terrified of booking anything as I don't speak either language. Like what do I do when I land? Where do I go? Will I need to speak Spanish/Greek at hotel, restaurants etc?

I know LOTS of Brits go abroad every year and I'm definitely overthinking this. Someone please reassure me. Really want a sunny holiday abroad.

If you’re doing a package holiday then the need to speak the local language is next to none. Resorts are used to the visitors being predominantly/ all British and English is much more widely spoken than we speak any other language. Airport signs are often multi lingual or you can work out why to go from symbols on them.

Everywhere touristy especially hotels will have staff that speak English. Don't even worry.

I'm in Mallorca on a TUi holiday and all the staff have at least passable English

If you venture out of the resort you might not be quite this lucky but I found bus drivers, taxi drivers, shop staff all pretty helpful with clueless tourists.

You'll be fine. We've just come back from Madeira and all the waiters and hotel staff spoke very good English. All the shops and cafes etc were manageable too.

TBH I've found I've muddled through pretty much everywhere Egypt, Spain, Balearics, Canaries, Turkey, Greece etc. France was the toughest though for some reason.

You won’t need to speak the language. When you land, follow the crowd. Then once you gave your bags look for a rep from the company you’re with, and they’ll sort everything else out for you. It’s easy. Enjoy!

Airport signs will be in English as well so you'll know where to go for luggage reclaim, the exit etc. When you book a package you'll also detailed emailed instructions on where to go once you've gone through customs/security at arrival to catch your transfer bus and what time and where to pick up your transfer bus back to the airport.

Do you seriously think that every time people go abroad they learn the language of the country? If so I’d speak over 50 languages.

When you land, you will follow all signs at the airport to take you through passport control and then to baggage area. You will wait until you see your own bag, take it then head to the exit.

You will then see Tui reps ( might even have their own little desk outside) and they will ask where you are staying. They will then find you on the list on their clipboard and direct you to a coach. You will then have the fun of sitting on the coach and watching fellow travellers get dropped off at their hotels while you wait to see the sign for hours.

When you arrive, your bags will be taken to your room. You will be given a little map and probably a cold drink. In most resorts that are popular with British people you will find at least some staff who speak English.

That’s it - you just enjoy your holiday after that! If you go all inclusive then it will probably be more stress free for you as you won’t be worrying about ordering food and planning when or where to eat.

Lots of staff is resorts speak English but you can always learn a few key phrases as well in the language of the place you're visiting.

*wait to see the sign for yours, hopefully not for hours 😂

The airport in Mallorca for example will have signs in Spanish, Catalan and English. Follow signs through to passport control and baggage reclaim. After that you’d find your TUI rep who will definitely speak English and will guide you to the correct bus.

Once at the hotel most staff will speak or at least understand English. It’s always a good idea to learn a few basic phrases in the local language (please, thank you, sorry, may I have […], how much is […], where are the toilets) but you’ll manage OP don’t worry. Remember there is the google translate app you can point at signs, or speak into and it translates it into Greek / Spanish / whatever.

When you land, if you've booked with a well known travel agent, then there are usually easily identifiable reps in the airport that will direct you to your transfer bus. That makes it a lot easier.

Package holidays take the stress out of it, you’ll have clear instructions for everything. Both Spain and Greece have loads of British tourists so most of the staff you encounter will speak English. I hope you manage to book and enjoy a great holiday.

If you go with Tui to a popular tourist resort, most people you come across will speak English. The hotels they use will cater to Brits, all the customer facing staff will speak English, and you’ll find a lot of your fellow guests will be Brits.

Tui packages include coach transfers so when you land (and have been through passport control and baggage reclaim with all the other people off your flight), you’ll get on a coach with some of the other people off your flight and get taken to your hotel. There’ll be an area outside the airport for all the Tui coaches and staff will be there to tell you which coach to get onto. The coach will drop off at 6-8 hotels near to each other and it’s highly likely that there will be other people going to the same hotel as you.

If you download the Tui app, it will even tell you which exit to use at the airport, the number of your coach, and the order of hotel drop offs.

I've travelled to many countries, for business and pleasure. The only place where not speaking the native language could have been a problem was China. Anywhere touristy you will be able to get by in English. I always try to learn at least "thank you" in the language of where I am visiting though, to be polite.

What everyone else has said -
but also, you need to check out Google Translate. It can translate notices in the picture when you point the camera at them, it can translate written and spoken language and it can speak for you.
And you can download the dictionary for whatever language to your phone before you go.

Similarly - Google maps lets you download "offline" maps for areas.

Last year I went somewhere I spoke not one word - and less touristy than Spain - only actually needed Google Translate for asking about contact lens fluid!

All the signs in all the airports everywhere are in the country's language and English. Everywhere. With tui al the staff / reps etc will speak English a lot better than some of the native speakers I know even if not English.

In the last 20-30 years English became the standard international language. People from different parts of the world use it as a common language to communicate among themselves. In this respect things have changed a lot since you last went abroad. So as others have said, do not worry in this account.

ive also found both Spanish and Greek people to be extremely kind and friendly so I think these are great choices for your first foray abroad.