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Holidays

Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

Original poster

Go on holiday every 12 weeks

101 replies

fangia · 31/08/2024 09:23

DP and I have a plan to help us get through a stressful year at work. It is to go on a one week holiday every 12 weeks. Nothing fancy. £400 each for b&b with flights and a car for example.

Does anyone else go away this frequently? Does it help keep stress down?

OP posts:
Hoppinggreen · 01/09/2024 17:37

crewsocks · 01/09/2024 10:25

I find these replies fascinating.

I'm curious what type of careers and financial situation people are in to be able to afford so many holidays / weekend breaks a year.

Reading this has made me wonder how the public would feel if the government decided to impose a 20% tax on those who take multiple holidays a year.

What's the difference between people choosing to spend their spare income on private school fees (thus not being able to afford multiple holidays a year) and spending on multiple holidays a year (so unable to afford private school fees)?

Both seem extravagant, the people spending their hard earned money on each of these would view them as a priority over the other and would be choosing how to spend their income.

But why is one criticised and the other not?

I do both
nobody elses business

Dancingqueen90 · 01/09/2024 18:02

This sounds amazing, would love to do this. How do people manage it over the holiday entitlement? I have 25 days but we close for Xmas and they take 3 days off us so in reality 22 days. Plus school age kids.

Share your tips please!

BG2015 · 01/09/2024 18:35

crewsocks · 01/09/2024 10:25

I find these replies fascinating.

I'm curious what type of careers and financial situation people are in to be able to afford so many holidays / weekend breaks a year.

Reading this has made me wonder how the public would feel if the government decided to impose a 20% tax on those who take multiple holidays a year.

What's the difference between people choosing to spend their spare income on private school fees (thus not being able to afford multiple holidays a year) and spending on multiple holidays a year (so unable to afford private school fees)?

Both seem extravagant, the people spending their hard earned money on each of these would view them as a priority over the other and would be choosing how to spend their income.

But why is one criticised and the other not?

My DP had cancer in 2020, I then had cancer in 2021. Puts a slant on life!

We don't eat take aways, go to the pub, buy daily expensive coffees. Don't buy expensive clothes.

Downsized,so mortgage is now paid. DC all adults and work.

I'm a teacher and my DP is a contractor so can have time off whenever (without pay though which is a pain) so we pretty much try and do something most holidays.

We can afford it. Life is for living and we are nearing retirement age. I wouldn't begrudge anyone who wants to travel.

LipstickOnHisGuitar · 01/09/2024 18:39

We do this but only usually 1 break abroad. The rest are U.K. as well have dogs and like them to come with us. It breaks up the year.

whiteorchids44 · 01/09/2024 18:52

Yes. Every year, we go on a European holiday during Easter break and a UK holiday during May half term. During the summer holidays we go away for 2 weeks to the US where we try to visit my family and friends in NY as well as a new state. Then during October half term, we go away for a week-long holiday to a new country that we have never been to.

DH and I love traveling and we really appreciate the time we spend together as a family. We tend to focus our time and money on experiences and traveling rather than things. We're quite simple and minimalist at home when it comes to car, clothes, toys, home furnishings etc.

TheChosenTwo · 01/09/2024 18:57

Not sure how it works out but we have a week away over new year, a week somewhere abroad at Easter, a week in May half term, 2 weeks abroad in the summer hols, dh and I try for an adults only week abroad in October.
i usually have a long weekend away with friends once or twice a year too.
Just nice having things to look forward to. Not sure how much of an effect any of it has on stress but it’s just nice to have these things to look forward to.

Sunnnybunny72 · 01/09/2024 19:01

crewsocks · 01/09/2024 10:25

I find these replies fascinating.

I'm curious what type of careers and financial situation people are in to be able to afford so many holidays / weekend breaks a year.

Reading this has made me wonder how the public would feel if the government decided to impose a 20% tax on those who take multiple holidays a year.

What's the difference between people choosing to spend their spare income on private school fees (thus not being able to afford multiple holidays a year) and spending on multiple holidays a year (so unable to afford private school fees)?

Both seem extravagant, the people spending their hard earned money on each of these would view them as a priority over the other and would be choosing how to spend their income.

But why is one criticised and the other not?

By the time I was 44 my parents were dead so I inherited. That was eight years ago. Mortgage free since. DH is an accountant and I am a nurse. One DC through uni and one has two years to go.
Extravagant maybe but so what? Life is for living and as I learnt in tragic circumstances, tomorrow is not guaranteed.
We're retiring at 55 and will probably spend many more weeks holidaying.

Twilightstarbright · 01/09/2024 19:04

@crewsocks our household income is between £350-400k. We give generously to charity, support various family members but travel is the main thing we spend money on- couldn’t care less about cars and drive an unexciting 10 year old 206!

Also all of DHs family live abroad so we have to travel to see them and combine it into a holiday.

MinervaMcGonagallsCat · 01/09/2024 19:19

We will have 5 holidays this year. 3 overseas and 2 Uk.

It's what we enjoy and what we spend our money on.

HoHoHoliday · 01/09/2024 19:23

For the past couple of years and still now I go away averagely every month. Sometimes in the UK, sometimes abroad. Sometimes a Friday night after work until Sunday night weekend trip. Sometimes a little longer, and I sometimes tag on some remote working to reduce the annual leave taken. Sometimes up to a week, or longer.
I've explored a lot of places! I love to travel, I love a change of scenery, seeing new places or revisiting places I've enjoyed before. I have a well-paying job and sadly no children so I treat myself to what I enjoy.

MinervaMcGonagallsCat · 01/09/2024 19:28

@crewsocks

Reading this has made me wonder how the public would feel if the government decided to impose a 20% tax on those who take multiple holidays a year.

You do know that people already pay VAT on holidays.

What's the difference between people choosing to spend their spare income on private school fees (thus not being able to afford multiple holidays a year) and spending on multiple holidays a year (so unable to afford private school fees)?

Both holidays and private schools are luxury purchases of choice.

The difference currently is that you do pay VAT on holidays but not on private schools. Obviously that is going to change. So then there will be no difference.

Everyone has to cut their cloth to fit their own budgets.

Musiclover234 · 01/09/2024 19:34

I imagine op earns more than we do but…

We aren’t huge earners but much prefer to do little and more… last minute couple of nights in the countryside or lakes, quick UK city break close to home. We always do a Euro city break and a longer uk break too.

I prefer having more things to do look forward to through than just a week or two In the summer. We aren’t holiday resorts/AI/summer kind of people. Give me a city any day.

I don’t mind 4/5 night breaks, feel like we’ve been away but still have some leave at home the same week.

Doyouthinktheyknow · 01/09/2024 20:28

Life is definitely for living. We have really pushed the boat out with holidays the last 2 years due to my incredibly stressful job and DH being retired. As he is older, it is essential we enjoy life whilst he is fit and able and the recent loss of a close family member far too young has only compounded my desire to make the most of life and travelling is a big part of that.

We’ve had plenty of years of no holidays or holidaying cheaply in the UK.

catscarestars · 01/09/2024 21:18

As said up thread we go away at least 4 times a year but tend not to eat out/do to the pub in the uk or have takeaways as it's under whelming and costly!
That's how we fund it.

GoodVibesHere · 01/09/2024 21:34

Wow, I'm very surprised at so many people having multiple breaks each year! I can't imagine the money you'd need. I thought there was a cost of living crisis?

We don't have the money to holiday even though we only run one (old) car, don't drink, don't eat out etc.

I wouldn't do it even if I could afford it though. Thankfully I absolutely love being at home. I love relaxing and pottering at home and have zero interest in travelling.

GoodVibesHere · 01/09/2024 21:38

Ah I've just realised this is in the 'holidays' topic. It came up on active and I didn't realise. I guess you're all holiday people!

Ineffable23 · 01/09/2024 21:40

I usually do march, something in the autumn for a last burst of sunshine and something in the summer. Christmas doesn't usually involve going away but does me nicely as a break and a distraction.

Peakpeakpeak · 01/09/2024 21:47

GoodVibesHere · 01/09/2024 21:34

Wow, I'm very surprised at so many people having multiple breaks each year! I can't imagine the money you'd need. I thought there was a cost of living crisis?

We don't have the money to holiday even though we only run one (old) car, don't drink, don't eat out etc.

I wouldn't do it even if I could afford it though. Thankfully I absolutely love being at home. I love relaxing and pottering at home and have zero interest in travelling.

The COL crisis doesn't affect everyone equally, and lots of people still have disposable income. I've certainly noticed the increase in my food bill, but it hasn't taken away all the money left over at the end of the month. It's also possible to travel for cheaper than you'd think.

Portfun24 · 01/09/2024 21:50

My mum died last year and I decided I was going to get through this first year by always having a holiday booked to look forward to, went away December, March, July and got one in October and it has really helped me. Hope you have lots of lovely, stress reducing holidays.

Portfun24 · 01/09/2024 21:56

Dancingqueen90 · 01/09/2024 18:02

This sounds amazing, would love to do this. How do people manage it over the holiday entitlement? I have 25 days but we close for Xmas and they take 3 days off us so in reality 22 days. Plus school age kids.

Share your tips please!

I get four weeks holiday to use when I like after the three Xmas days and two bank hols are deducted and I can buy two extra weeks. Otherwise, wouldn't manage it.

Sallysoup · 01/09/2024 22:09

People asking how this is possible with normal annual leave:

7 nights over Christmas, office is closed so that AL is already taken from allowance.

AL reset 1st April

April 5 nights inc weekend, 3 days AL

May 4 nights inc weekend, 2 days AL

August 7 nights Sat-Sat inv bank hol, 4 days AL

November 5 nights inc weekend, 3 days AL

Total used since April: 12
Nights abroad: 21

Musiclover234 · 01/09/2024 22:11

GoodVibesHere · 01/09/2024 21:34

Wow, I'm very surprised at so many people having multiple breaks each year! I can't imagine the money you'd need. I thought there was a cost of living crisis?

We don't have the money to holiday even though we only run one (old) car, don't drink, don't eat out etc.

I wouldn't do it even if I could afford it though. Thankfully I absolutely love being at home. I love relaxing and pottering at home and have zero interest in travelling.

I’m only on 25k! Partner is on 10k+ more but we have seperate finances apart from
bills etc

We don’t have kids and have a lower mortgage.Live in north west. Saving money for house reno and breaks away is a priority although we manage to have the odd meal and drinks out as well as a takeaway now and again.

Anyway our trips aren’t luxury, bargain hunting, cheap b&bs/hotels Easyjet city breaks packages booked ages in advance. Spending money saved up. Spending money is mostly food, a bit of sightseeing and a couple of drinks.

snowballsintheoven · 01/09/2024 22:15

Yeah, we're away 5 times a year

I don't like going too long without a break.. we aren't extravagant day to day but we have well paid jobs and would prefer to see the world while we can Grin

40somethingme · 01/09/2024 22:30

For those who think frequent holidays must be extravagant in terms of £… British Airways sale has just started - 1 week in Dubrovnik including continental breakfast, 4 star hotel and return flights from London, first week of April next year £290 pp.
It’s mostly the school holiday season that costs £££.

Berlinlover · 01/09/2024 22:33

Yes, I went away every 10 to 12 weeks before my cancer diagnosis.