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What is this obsession with holiday?

(221 Posts)
kittylester Mon 29-Jun-20 09:33:39

Watching the news it is obvious that people can't wait to go abroad on holiday.

We have been on lots of lovely holidays, both abroad and at home, but I can't understand this current determination to rush off. We have had 2 trips cancelled this year.

Are you raring to go away?

Esmerelda Tue 30-Jun-20 10:19:30

@MawB I hear you. I'm not bothered about rushing to have a holiday, either here or abroad, as I'm more than happy to stay home and enjoy my time in isolation.
I too am on my own but found a wonderful family-run travel company aimed at the mature single traveller and have had several great holidays with them. I've had to cancel two trips this year (July and October) but no problems with refunds if I wanted, although I chose to transfer my deposits to next year, and am hoping! I have to leave my pet (Maggie the Magnificent Moggie) when I go but am fortunate enough to have family living close by who come in to feed and make a fuss of her twice a day.
Once we are back to anything like safe travel I'd recommend you to look them up - they are called One Traveller and can be found on line - in case there are any special places you have always wanted to visit. I can guarantee the group you travel with will be great, the attention to detail superb, and the holiday thoroughly enjoyable.

Theoddbird Tue 30-Jun-20 10:20:54

Absolutely not. I don't do holidays. The odd weekend away maybe. Not had a passport for 6 years now...

Coconut Tue 30-Jun-20 10:21:05

No .... I have no desire to travel at present despite being a constant globetrotter since retirement. I was disappointed to miss out on a Cuba holiday in May, but I accepted this. I’d also booked a flight to see an old school friend in Spain this Sept but at present I’ve no desire to go anywhere. I’m inundated with emails from all the holiday firms, offering all sorts of reductions, but I won’t be tempted for a long while now.

Flakesdayout Tue 30-Jun-20 10:31:05

Im happy with my home and garden. We have had some lovely weather so why would I want the stress of making sure everything was packed and waiting around at the airport, sitting on a cramped plane, not sure what my accommodation will be like, will the bed be comfortable. Then I will have every night of disturbed sleep with my partner as he snores terribly. He likes the heat and to sit around all day soaking it up whereas I like to be out walking and exploring. So for now and for the distant future I will be happy at home. And hopefully Safe. For those who do go away I hope they all have a happy and enjoyable time.

Sys2ad2 Tue 30-Jun-20 10:38:33

I really hope they all go on holiday abroad then our local beaches can be returned to the local people, haven't been able to go to the beach since lockdown. Let Europe have the pandemic. I would also tax anyone flying out as they have probably saved their furlough money and should be given back to the taxpayers. Say 10% airport tax payable to the government

TrendyNannie6 Tue 30-Jun-20 10:44:20

No

polnan Tue 30-Jun-20 10:44:53

I don`t understand how so few people, (I am being judgmental) actually realise that life is NOT going to be the same anymore..

but that is easy for me, that I haven`t been on "holiday" for years,,, not just holidays,, life has changed.... we need to change now.

Craftycat Tue 30-Jun-20 10:52:23

I love our fortnight on Rhodes every year. If we get another break then great but that is the holiday I really love. We have friends there & it is wonderful.
However I have no desire at all to go this year. I think we are better staying at home & getting over all this madness.
I do feel so very sorry for the tavernas & bars - not to mention the apartment owners who rely on their summer jobs to live on for the whole year.
It is going to be a bleak winter for them- probably for us as well.
I just hope that by next year we can all get back to normal but I do wonder!

TanaMa Tue 30-Jun-20 10:55:30

Having read that so many people will not have a job when this is all over and those who complain of dire financial circumstances, I find it odd to then read of so many 1000s trying to book foreign holidays! How has the money suddenly appeared when yesterday there was none?

T56ers Tue 30-Jun-20 11:12:07

In the current health climate, who could go anywhere in the world and actually enjoy it. Holidays used to be taken as a luxury; now they are seen as an entitlement.

GrannyGravy13 Tue 30-Jun-20 11:24:06

I wish I was confident enough to visit AC and family, but I honestly do not think I could cope with a nine hour flight anytime soon.

Covid-19 has really rocked my confidence much more than I can admit to my nearest and dearest.

I am not sure that I could holiday in the U.K. either, which is so silly of me. Travel has been such a huge part of our life. I know that DH will want to be out and about as soon as possible, I see some interesting discussions in the coming weeks/months.

Lancslass1 Tue 30-Jun-20 11:28:38

I can understand people who have been cooped up in high rise flats wanting to get away but for anyone with a garden I can't see the need to go on holiday.

Houndi Tue 30-Jun-20 11:31:27

We have had to cancel 3 holidays abroad this year Dubai Austria andLas Vegas.Have booked a cottagecin Wales late July which god willing we will have

Lancslass1 Tue 30-Jun-20 11:36:35

Houndi
I bet you will have a better time in Wakes than in Dubai (too hot ,humid dusty ,and expensive )
it was like a large building site when we went a few years ago.
and I don't think it has changed.
I don't know why people go there .
Perhaps somebody will tell me .
Perhaps I am wrong .

harrigran Tue 30-Jun-20 11:40:06

I have no desire to jet off anywhere. Illness and medication make it difficult to sit in the sun anyway so I will content myself sitting under a parasol in the garden.
I really do feel it is foolhardy to fly abroad at present.

Keeper1 Tue 30-Jun-20 11:41:28

We both work hard through the year and our quite luxurious holiday was what we looked forward to, utter relaxation, Caribbean sunshine etc. Last year due to DH illness we postponed to this one I was going to postpone again as he is still too poorly for any kind of travel. I may have to postpone next year as well. When he is well enough to travel (hoping he will be but....) we will be off with bells on. If he is well enough to travel it means his treatment has been a success.

Kim19 Tue 30-Jun-20 11:44:05

Though being a regular and enthusiastic traveller, I have currently lost my desire. My problem is not the destination but how I would get to 'wherever'. Furthermore, I read that only one insurance company is covering Covid and the price is prohibitive. Surprise, surprise. There are exclusions to this depending on when one bought annual insurance, I believe. Also, the risk of an instant lockdown whilst away or the prospect of any difficulty on return is another turn-off for me. Disappointingly I'll stay nearer home and follow the rules (if I can understand them!) as they relax. Totally agree there are beautiful places in UK. Somehow abroad seemed a bit more of an adventure with the chance of better weather thrown in. Also, I never go to the same place twice, but, being both ancient and fortunate, I've been to most of our lovely island. Yep, fortunate indeed. Must try to remember this when I start to hanker!!

GrannyGravy13 Tue 30-Jun-20 11:44:19

Keeper1

We both work hard through the year and our quite luxurious holiday was what we looked forward to, utter relaxation, Caribbean sunshine etc. Last year due to DH illness we postponed to this one I was going to postpone again as he is still too poorly for any kind of travel. I may have to postpone next year as well. When he is well enough to travel (hoping he will be but....) we will be off with bells on. If he is well enough to travel it means his treatment has been a success.

I do hope that you can return to the Caribbean with your DH

GrannySomerset Tue 30-Jun-20 11:48:48

DH was always the holiday planner and used to complain that I was the only person he knew who grew more cheerful as the holiday progressed and going home got closer. Now his health means that going anywhere, even to stay with AC, is too difficult so we just have to relive past glories. Despite my reluctance I am very glad we did make the effort when we were fit and able, and very glad not to face another airport.

I do understand how important and necessary holidays are to many people and sympathise with the frustrated. Just don’t think it worth the risk this year.

Chardy Tue 30-Jun-20 11:54:12

I let my passport lapse last year. And I certainly don't fancy getting on a plane anytime soon

Gill61 Tue 30-Jun-20 12:09:42

Yes would love to be sitting on a beach in the sun or visiting my daughter in Australia

Hebdenali Tue 30-Jun-20 12:10:48

I can’t wait to be on the first flight out to the Canary Islands where my partner has become stranded since March. They are much stricter about wearing face masks etc and there has not been any cases on the island for a while. Just to be together again will be wonderful and in a place where we can go out for a meal or glass of wine and go shopping without all of the hassle that will be in the UK and start to enjoy life again.

ALANaV Tue 30-Jun-20 12:16:21

Well I have booked two holidays and am looking for another for the autumn ,,,November ish ,,,,,,had three long haul cancelled this year, and four short breaks ! After four years of looking after my late husband who was ill, and sorting out all my late brother's affairs (in a different country) and selling a house in France and one in the UK ...flying back and forth every 6 weeks or less......doing all the tedious admin involved with both countries I DESERVE a break ….booked those three holidays as this was going to be MY year to travel as I never had the opportunity before (lived in Europe for 21 years which was like being on holiday anyway !) there was an EXCELLENT article in the DM on Sunday entitled Resist the march of the muzzle zealots...and I can't agree more ...with the attitude of some people we are NEVER going to get back to life as we know it ….time to move on ! (oh, and I used to work for the NHS prior to moving to Europe …...the Nurses, doctors, associated workers do a wonderful job BUT it is the bureaucracy that spoils the NHS !) so thankyou all the NHS workers ……(my caravan in a holiday park in the UK was let out to key workers free of charge when they needed it if there were reasons they could not go home)……...

Toadinthehole Tue 30-Jun-20 12:26:14

I think it’s all this travelling that has caused the problem in the first place. People ‘ popping’ to New York for the day from the U.K., to shop! Endless stag and hen do’s abroad. Incessant holidaying...3 or 4 times a year. Commuting vast distances just to go to work. I appreciate it’s nice to see places, but I think it’s just gone mad the last twenty years or so.

Stella14 Tue 30-Jun-20 12:28:44

We have lost money on the cancellation of one trip (internal non-refundable flights in South Africa). We deferred it until the end of October. I fully expect to lose the same money again, plus several hundred pounds as 20% cancellation fee on a safari lodge and £120 deposit on a week in Lanzarote in January (as I expect they will be flying, but who knows). I am not happy about this of course, but neither myself or my husband are willing to travel through airports or on flights until the virus has gone (wouldn’t that be wonderful) or there is an effective vaccine available.