Anyone else come home and think what a waste of money

[diegothedaigo]

Just did a 10 day trip to a group of islands that I’ve always dreamt about going to. Over 10 hours flying.

Had a nice time, and nothing majorly wrong with it, but just sort of think, hmm? I kinda wished I’d saved the money. I’ve come home feeling knackered despite spending at least 5 days laying on a tropical beach. Is this a normal feeling?

Not me. I usually come home dying to book another one. You can't take it with you as they say!

Yeah, I do. It's the reason I only have a holiday like that every few years - despite most my family thinking I'm mad not go several times a year. I just cannot stomach spending hundreds (thousands) of pounds every year on something that doesn't give me anything tangible.

But appreciate lots of people love them and feel they are a great use of money.

I only feel this way if I stay in UK (shit weather and overpriced) OR if I get sick abroad eg selfish bastards coughing all over the plane infecting everyone.

I relate. I always underestimate how draining I find nearly every aspect of holidays abroad. From airport busyness, being restricted sitting on a plane, anxiety about accommodation, food issues triggering bowel disease... It's everything I don't ejnjoy!!! Heat, unfamiliarity, anxiety. This summer I've relaxed in my gorgeous tropical gardens with sun cottage and all my home comforts and honestly it was fantastic!!

This sounds like heavan to me. I hardly get time to go to the loo at home with busy job, kids, teens, house etc. I cant think of anything nicer than long lazy days in a beautiful tropical location, lying by the pool, catching up on all the reading i never have time for, supping cocktails, having lovely snacks.

Tbf id do a few days of that but id also do some snorkelling /diving, a boat trip, trip to local town and market etc. People watching at the docks etc. Literally my idea of heaven.

Doesn't mean its for everyone and your feelings aren't vamid though.

The only wasted money holidays I've had have been damp overpriced cottages in Wales and Devon with rain pouring down outside.

I'd definitely advise against the greek islands at the moment. I've been thinking "god I can't wait to get out of here'"

No - not once. But then we don't do crazy expensive holidays so they always feel like good value for money (we love going different places in the UK so it's normally a log cabin with a hot tub).

I think our most expensive holiday was snowboarding in Ruka, Finland in 2019 for about 5k - worth every penny.

None of us could stand a beach/island holiday. What do you do all day?

@Abbylikeswine I love Greece but even I found Hydra incredibly hot in July this year and I love warm weather- around 40 ish every day- cooled down when back in Athens to around 38!

Only once and that was because we spent £800 on a crappy lodge at centreparks.

So this is a bit of a zombie thread .

But I tend to think it can be a mistake going on the really pricey 'holiday of a lifetime' trips where people have to save up for a couple of years, there is a very heavy weight of expectations.

Also I think if you are able to take a break outside of the August school holiday things are a lot less busy and the weather abroad tends to be kinder too . Easter, May and October half terms can all be nice if people are confined to school holidays.

10 hours flying and 5 days lying on a beach sounds like my idea of hell.
So I quite understand your 'was it worth it' feeling

@Abbylikeswine
I hope you manage to get your flight home tomorrow safely with no further hassles. It does sound though, that you could benefit from a bit more in-depth planning next year. Obviously we have no control over the weather but things like the terrain and transport can all be researched before you go .

I did research the public transport before I came, as I dont drive.

Online, it said that buses were running between my hotel and the airport at this time of year.

But when I got here, they said that the bus is not running.

They said that they can change transport routes and times a lot, so it's hard to know.

And I then hate having to pay a huge amount for a taxi, as the taxi drivers just totally rip you off. They charge you treble what they should.

I have realised that small island holidays are not for me. I am going to stick to mainland Greece next year.

I'm sure the greek islands are fabulous to other people

At least the storm seems to be stopping a bit now here

Ask the driver for a price before you get in and you can check on line what the fare is supposed to be.

We usually book on line in Greece, or text the driver to agree a price.

If its any consolation I'm on my favourite island where I have had amazing holidays and it's absolutely shit because of the storms. I came to lie on the beautiful beaches and swim in the sea. A total.waste of a lot of money.

Relax, play games, build sand castles, walk the promenade, go for a swim...

Meanwhile the idea of spending 5K to go somewhere cold sounds absolutely atrocious to me 😄

Given the last few grey days in the UK, absolutely not. Waking up in Spain, opening the blinds to blue sky, every day, is enough.

Would fly back tomorrow if I could.

If the place you go doesn't live up to expectations, or is poorly planned, then, yes, it can be a waste of money.

We plan trips carefully & on a tight budget. Tbh I'd never fly anywhere to sit by a pool. We:re off to the coast Sunday with the DC, where most people lie on the beach, shop, eat. We're off to national parks, quirky places, etc. and self cater. It's going to be raining (after months of dry 😭), next week but we have ideas for that, too. It's what you make it. (Not UK, obviously).

I don't relate to this. We've just spent a fortune travelling around a country in Asia. I was concerned about the expense but have no regrets. It was an amazing experience that we'll remember forever. I feel so grateful that we can give our kids these experiences. It's so educational to see very different places and cultures.
Yes we could have saved many thousands of pounds and had the money sitting in a bank account. I don't think that would have been better. You only live once. Both DH and I value experiences and living life to the full.

Have had one 2 week holiday in 27 years so only really short breaks here. Still always enjoyed it. Its the change of scene that counts.

When the travel has involved delayed trains and me carrying heavy bags with a miserable child on and off trains and buses with horribly heavy luggage like last time, by the time we get up the stairs in our building and back in the flat I feel like never doing it again so yes, in that respect I can totally agree.

Bad weather on holiday is disappointing, especially if you go somewhere that is totally beach focussed. However I am always amused by people that think the UK is unique in having unpredicable weather and somehow Southern Europe is a perfect bubble of 26 - 36 degree sunshine all summer.

I’ve learnt now to only go on holiday where I know I will enjoy myself. If that makes me sad, unadventurous or uncultured or whatever I don’t care.

Ah I see this thread is from 2023

Ah I had my last bit of stress leaving kefalonia today.!

The storm raged all last night. The storm stopped this morning. Flight not cancelled. Great stuff.

Online check in for some reason wouldn't work, it told me to check in at the airport.

I went to the check in counter.

I have the irish passport card. It's the size of a credit card. Its the same as a full passport, except it can only be used for travel in Europe.

I've used it to travel around Europe before. No problems anywhere else. I went to the check in desk at kefalonia and gave her the passport card. She said "I need your passport". I said "that is my passport, see it says passport on the card".

She talked about bags. Then she said again "I need your passport". I said again "that is my passport". She looked totally confused. How can she not have seen one before? There are a lot of irish people here.

Then one of her colleagues at another desk said to her "ireland have the passport card". And she let me check in.

Then I went through security, and there was another queue for passport control to leave kefalonia.

I handed her the passport card and again she said "do you have your passport with you?" I said " that is my passport it's the passport card" and she stared at it. Then again one of her colleagues said something to her, then she did let me through. But it was stressful!

When I got the card I was told, i can use it exactly the same as a passport book around the EU,

but it looks like some of the smaller islands haven't seen it. So I think I will bring the passport book next time to save stress.

I have to laugh really. Everything that could have gone wrong went wrong on this trip.
I hadnt even wrote about the rest of it.

The other things that happened: is my flight was cancelled on the way over to kefalonia. We flew out 24 hours later. Then when we arrived in kefalonia, Some one actually took my luggage aswell off the belt ! As it looked the same as mine.

Then the tui rep had to sort it the next day. She found the guest that took my luggage and I got my luggage back the next day

Travel gods I deserve a good holiday next time please let me have one haha. Im finally at my gate!