Why doesn't it feel like a proper holiday unless it's long haul?

[IncaMaid]

Growing up we used to holiday in France and Spain. Sometimes Greece if lucky. Never ever flew long haul. My friends were jetting off all sorts of exotic places and I was very jealous.

Now that I am an adult and earning adult money, whenever I go to book a holiday, I can only think in terms of long haul. Don't get me wrong, I love Greece and Italy and visit most years. But in my (silly) mind, these are not classed as "proper holidays". DH jokes it's not a holiday for me unless it's long haul and in business class (very rarely then!).

Because you’re obviously doing really well and have become expectant!
Pride comes before a fall …..

I find it strange to be honest.

Sounds like you had a pretty privileged upbringing and some of your friends even more so.

If you’re not at home doing your every day routine then it’s a holiday - whether you’re camping an hour down the road or jetting off across the world

Once I caught the travel bug, I never holidayed in Europe, I would always pick somewhere more off the beaten track. I o my really started exploring Europe when I married an Australian and became tied to school holidays. I would continue going every holiday whilst you are able.

This. It’s all relative. To me a weekend away from home is a proper holiday.

You are missing out then. We go on long haul holidays, but also short haul flying, road trips and even, yes even uk based holidays. You are missing gems if you limit yourself by flight length. I’m in Lisbon currently which is fun for a couple of days then heading to a hotel in a historic building with a spa … amazing food here.

i also highly recommend Italy, north eg the lakes and don’t miss Sicily.

You go a step further than me, I have to leave the main isle of the U.K. to feel like I’ve had a ‘proper holiday’ and that doesn’t include the Isle of Wight!
weve had lovely trips Cornwall, wales, Devon, Scotland, York, Norfolk and so on but they don’t feel like a ‘holiday’ to me as I haven’t boarded and plane (or got on the Eurostar or a ferry!). I don’t know what it is, I just don’t call it a holiday!
im desperate to go back to Scotland though.

Long haul is a lot of effort, I liked it when I was in my 20s and 30s but now I enjoy shorter trips more. I like it best if there are no airports at all involved.

We’re the opposite. I fly long haul semi-regularly for work and now a big journey doesn’t feel like a holiday. Holidays should be relaxing which for us means either short haul (normally Italy) or UK-based.

Oh good for you.
I love our 5 night UK holidays.

I don’t go long haul. It seems like a waste of time to spend so long sitting bored on a plane when there are so many beautiful and interesting places a few hours away.

When I was growing up, family holidays were always in the UK. I only visited mainland Europe on school exchanges.

Now, my favourite parts of the world are a long haul flight away but I also see holidays in Europe as proper holidays. It seems very odd to think that only long haul holidays are proper holidays.

🙄🙄

Because they are definitely more exciting and you get to experience a different culture from your home continent or hemisphere ie from European to Asian for example. They provide a sense of real exploratory travel.

The thing is, I've been to lots of exotic far flung places and I can hand on heart say that Europe beats them all hands down. There are no beaches and turquoise seas better than Greece in my opinion. Spain is also very beautiful- obviously not talking about Benidorm- but there are so many gorgeous and interesting places in Europe that I no longer get the urge to go far. Also long-haul flying is awful. I don't know why you feel the need to go far for it to be a holiday. You need to reframe your thinking.

Spoilt.

I think this is true. But with this comes the risk of danger and illness and as I've got older, I just can't be arsed with it. It's too stressful. 😁

Because you’re odd and have created a pretty materialistic definition of holiday for yourself?

West coast of Scotland, Northern Isle, highlands. All feel like proper holidays. I struggle with the holiday feel if we actually stay at home, but otherwise all good.

Humble brag?

Same for me. Long haul = work. Holiday = load the car up with DP and the dogs and head off somewhere in the UK. Bliss!

Humble brag

Minus the humble bit. Don’t forget the business class bit as well 🙄

Sounds ridiculous to me. I spent 3 nights in a hotel 30 minutes away this year. Disabled child with bad mental health issues meant that was it. Best holiday I have had in a long time and I felt totally refreshed. It is indeed your silly mind.

Blimey 😅 a weekend at Center Parcs an hour down the road feels like a holiday to me!

Check you out.

Try a sunny day in the Hebrides, that ends with taking fish suppers to a 6 mile beach with scarcely another person in sight, then the kids run into the sea. Life feels exceptionally good at that point.

I understand this … I think it is the feeling of somewhere being new and different. I love exploring unfamiliar cultures and getting off the beaten track. I have travelled very extensively in Europe and the UK so while lovely and relaxing they don’t feel novel any more and I feel comfortable there.