Can’t be bothered with long haul when European Summer wins

[luchluch]

I always used to think that long haul = better. We’d get to stay in much nicer hotels, experience something “different” to what we were used to, and it all be an adventure.

After a good number of years of going long haul for all of our hols, I can truly say I can’t be bothered anymore. It’s mainly due to work that we haven’t been able to take holidays in June, July, August, September but now that we can more easily again, I’m thinking we’ll stick to Europe.

I’ve started to realise you can’t beat Italy or the Greek Islands during the European summer. The flights are short and accommodation is easy is booked ahead.

Just bumping this for you, OP.

I’m finding southern Europe too hot in the summer now.

I’m looking forward to being able to book holidays outside of school holidays as these days 2 weeks in Italy and Greece in July is unbearable.

Short flights is a win, but there is so much to see that's not in Europe and it would be really sad never to leave. You've probably seen the big hitters like Angkor Watt, Borobudur, Machu Picchu, if you've been going long haul for years. But outside those big hitters there are so many amazing places to see, this summer we went to Namibia and the kids were watching sunrise at the top of sand dunes, sand boarding in the Namib naukluft, watching lions, giraffes, leopards in Etosha. You can't get those experiences in Europe, so for me some trips have to be long haul and it's totally worth the effort.

I'm with you a hundred percent. Do not see the appeal in man made places like Dubai and the far east is just too far with kids. You do get a LOT more value for money in those places but still, id rather pay more and be in an old world place full of beauty and culture and within a four hour flight!

I think there is benefits to travelling to many places, I like to see the world and I like a lot of the culture in the Caribbean islands, Indian Ocean etc, so much to see, Europe is great but there is a big wide world out there and Europe gets unbearably hot now in the summer months, I’ve no desire for 40 plus temps.

I’m not guided by the distance, it what I was to see and experience. The awe of standing looking at the Terracotta Army, the thrill of seeing giant bats flying from caves for what seemed an age, the history of self defence in Vietnam, the artic pack ice, the beaches of Normandy. Near or far, it’s not the point for me.

I think it depends what you like, I agree Greece and Italy are beautiful. My kids are very into nature and so going to south africa, Thailand, Borneo, Mexico etc, enables them to see wildlife in the wild that you can only see in zoos here, likewise we all love diving and snorkeling and the sea life in the rest of the world is incredible, Europe has no tropical reef unfortunately.
Each to their own - I love exploring whether it's near or far, and it really depends what type of holiday you fancy. I agree Europe has an absolutely amazing offering, stunning coast, food, historical cities and lovely scenery, but it doesn't completely provide what the rest of the world has.

Pros and cons

Pro with cost of living increases in the UK having snuck up on us, Europe feels remarkably affordable now! I was in the Amalfi coast recently (which I remembered from years back as being £££) and even in posh restaurants me and the kids would be eating for a similar price to a few pizzas in Franco Manca back home. Chuck in the fact that flights are cheaper, and the cost of time in not losing days to jet lag, there is a massive case for Europe.

Con is southern Europe is increasingly unbearable and plagued with wildfires in July / August. I personally would be heading to Greece or Southern Italy for May half term or October.

Pro - For a European summer break, I 'discovered' (lol) going to Sweden in the summers about 5 years ago and keep going back. These last 2 years I've noticed more and more British tourists. Weather tends to be beautiful, not too hot, the locals are lovely, there is good food, beautiful scenery. Scandinavia used to be wildly expensive but these days it's cheaper for eating out etc than UK, though of course not as cheap as Asia (but you are saving on flights).

OMG I'd never considered taking my kids to see the terracotta army, what an utterly fabulous idea. On the list.

I can't do the Summer in southern Europe, even Italy late August/beginning of September was 33-35 degrees.
I love exploring, I can't do this if it's too hot for it.

We love long haul, I am not going for beaches only, I go for temples, churches, ruins, nature, animals.

But I also love Europe, Germany, Netherland, Belgium, northern France, Scandinavia - all done and thoroughly enjoyed.
Baltic states are on the list as well.

As DD is at uni, DH and I try to go for more southern countries in May or October now.

It's an individual thing I reckon. For me it's the length of the flight that puts me off now, I'm not good at whiling away the time and I am knackered for a day or two after a 9+ hour flight, there's no getting around that, it's torture, Business or Economy!

I don't have to travel in Summer (or any school breaks) so it's easier for me to go all over Europe up to end of May and after mid September, often in deepest January too - no crowds in Pompeii and the like for sure.

Each to their own.

Prices of decent hotels in Europe are stupidly high though - we went to Mexico this year for less money than Greece

Do it! I haven't taken my kids, but I have been to see them before my kids were even thought about and my husband has also seen them without me. They are fabulous and can be combined with lots of other fab things in China.

I love Greece, Spain, Italy etc but after this summer, I’ve decided that Europe during the summer holidays is just too packed and the prices are extortionate. £5k per week for a pretty average villa, average dinner out costing €200 for a family of 4 every night, lunch out costing over €100. I’m not doing it any more. So have booked a South American trip for next summer.

i live in the UK but wasn’t born here. Genuinely can’t understand the obsession amongst my friends with long haul holidays when amazing places are practically on the doorstep! Italy! France! Greece! Switzerland! And so many others I haven’t been to yet…

This is quite an odd post, surely you holiday in whatever location suits you and your family. I certainly would not want to limit myself to Europe when they are so many fantastic places to visit the world over. Nor would i say i would never visit Europe.