I don’t like going on holiday

Calipso

It's such a relief to read the responses on this thread as I too have lost all interest in going on holiday. We've had some wonderful holidays in the past but since I've retired, I feel so happy at home with lots of interests and projects, not to mention the blessed company of my cats. I shall no longer feel apologetic so thank you LaCrepescule

👏👏👏

I love travelling, and am happy to travel alone or with a select few others - I even met my husband whilst we were both travelling alone.

But I would not feel in the least defensive to tell people if it wasn’t something that appealed to me. I’d just say that. It’s no different to not being interested in music, or gatdening, or knitting, or crafts, or a hundred other things some people enjoy.

I am always made to feel bad by a friend of my own age, 80, who loves travel - flying is her favourite way to go and can't wait to jet off to annual winter sunshine, coming back after six weeks with a golden tan in February. The funny thing is she has no real interest in home or garden which I do; is this what makes the difference?
However, with my OH whose eyesight is failing, and my reluctance to drive long-distance, is it fair to expect car hols. anymore. He would love it I we booked a winter sunshine break - a flight with taxis either end would suit him.

Why can’t you say that you prefer to stay at home, there is nothing wrong with that.

Always enjoyed holidays and coming home.
A few years ago after Dh retired we went on a world cruise to all the places we’d dreamed of going. We were away for 4 months and we loved every second.

Now, we are happy with our seaside house where we escape to when can. Dh isn’t as agile as he was and is happy to potter . It’s lovely to have a change of scene and we’re lucky to have options of where we want to be.

I have conflicting thoughts. Part of me says I should stay at home, my comfort zone, but the other part of me scoffs and, like the OH, believes travel broadens the mind and such activities keep you young. For our ages, we are fit and active and my state of mind is the real impediment.

LaCrepescule in answer to your request for what to say,
my dad just used to say, “I’ve done all the travelling I want to. I enjoyed it all at the time but no more, thanks.” Though he was still happy for Mum to go away with us or my sisters.

I have started to say that I dont get as much out of holidays as some people.
Which is perfectly true I think.
I am happy to go a bit. I wouldnt do 4 long trips per year for example.

Trouble is with me, once home again, I go back to normal quickly.

I went abroad once, during Jan, to a very hot country. I had always wanted to do that. Always thought it would break up the winter.
But as soon as I got back, I just slipped back into normality.
At the end of the winter, I just more or less felt like I had still had winter, but with 1 week of sunshine in the middle of it.

so pleased to see this thread... my husband, now dead, never liked going on holiday, certainly not abroad, said he had done that when in the Army, not that he went that far! but for our two boys we went on hols, in this country... day 3 all of us ready to be back in our home and doing our home things! contentment!!!!

I went to 3 or 4 different places abroad, with gf`s , work colleagues,, so have that benefit,, and again, both hubby and I always felt we saw more on tv/films of places, especially abroad, than an actual visit to the places
it doesn`t bother me that my friends like to go abroad or English hols,, I tell them, I like my home, and I can live vicariously if they send me pics,,, they like sharing like that.. I am well into my 80`s now!

I’m in a similar situation why do people assume you like being away from your home.

To me a holiday is free time. I don’t have any great desire to spend it somewhere else just for the sake of it. So I don’t. I haven’t ’gone on holiday’ for 50 years.

I'm with you, broadly. We sank most of our retirement money into a home that suits us perfectly, and I love being here.
I got fed up with one particular friend (old and dear) who loves going to new places, and kept asking us about where we wanted to go. I was quite firm with her, really just saying 'to each their own'.
We do go away - we have family and friends around the UK, France & Ireland, and we mostly go away to visit them. I enjoy the odd stay for a night or two somewhere nice - last time was one night in Bath to enjoy the Spa.
When the children were young, we did camp so they could see some of Europe & the British seaside.
When I think of the wonderful experiences I have had in my life, they have often been 'accidental' - sometimes whilst away, often at home. I think keeping your eyes, ears & mind open and appreciating wht is around you is the key to being content.

I love travelling my DH not so much so. And of course is so expensive these days.
So we make sure we take a few days away every 6 months or so, the rest of the time we are at home. Though this year we will probs just leave it at one holiday. I also like my home comforts but the itch to see new places can be quite strong sometimes.

Oh dear ! Seems I'm in the minority here. Will be 75 soon and this year visited the Pyramids, southern Italy, Norwegian fjords and heading back to Italy before the Winter. Yes, I'm aware of the hassle at airports, the lonely feeling and the dangers of travelling alone. I also have mobility issues but the excitement of seeing new places and meeting new people far outweighs these issues. I wonder La Crepescule how your 'sense of adventure' manifests itself. Do you bungee jump, paraglide, abseil.......in your spare time ?

I completely agree with you, having traveled all my life, even a round the world ticket, I now have no desire at all. We did move to the seaside for our retirement and feel content and happy at home. For some retirement means busy busy but for others it’s time to spend time quietly. It’s a modern phenomenon that busy equals happiness, but not for everyone. Be confident to enjoy your time in reflection if you prefer.

Due to mobility issues I no longer want to be too far from home.
The occasional coach holiday in uk 4/5 is enough. I find I don't sleep well in a strange bed, hate a shower over the bath in hotel rooms as I'm afraid of slipping. So a few days is enough, in fact 2/3 days would do me. Such a shame as so much of this lovely country I'd like to explore.

I've done a fair bit of travelling in my lifetime so far (including living abroad) am enjoying just having short breaks with DH and DDog in my homeland for now. I hate all the faffing around at airports and my mobility is not so great now so just driving to beautiful places within the country is suiting me just fine.

Tuskanini I thought I would hold the record of not going on holiday for 30 years, but you beat me hands down.

Suddenly I am faced with a serious health issue, so it looks as if going abroad isn't going to be possible for a while.
I so loved going to the continent (am a languages wonk) so that's a disappointment.
Long-haul travel no longer interests me, so I'm grateful for the travel programmes on tv.
I am happy at home, too.

Grandmabatty

I can empathise with you. I've never liked going away for long. A week is as much as I can put up with. I definitely won't go on holiday on my own because I like the- talking- about- things-with-a-companion part of the holiday.

Me too. Had to make a huge effort when I was a mum to take sure that DS had travel experiences. Just say, "I'm a home bird".

I'm a real home bird, love my home and garden and live in a lovely part of the country near a coast. I've been to the countries I wanted to visit in the past and am now content staying the UK.

I'm on my own now and though I have holidayed on my own I don't really enjoy it with no one to share the experience with so haven't been away from home for a while. But I've plenty of interests and pastimes so busy when I want to be, then relaxed and happy at home or out in the countryside.

I find arrangements, bookings, schedules, timetables, queues, sleeping in different beds, traffic, airports, searching/waiting for loos or refreshments, changing money etc. etc. all very tedious and happy to do without it all.

I've never been fussed about going away.
Nothing whatsoever wrong with enjoying your own home, in fact, I'd recommend it.

i used to travel a lot up until this year.If you look at the age group of travellers at any airport, they are not mostly over 60. there are probably stats somewhere? I used to travel to northern ireland to see my grandchildren and son.on my last visit ,i thought i need a holiday away from this! ive got tired of the whole travel thing, the stresses of being in a family with a difficult DIL I need a proper holiday that doesnt involve booking flights over the internet, travelling to and from a nightmare of the airport chaos. enough said!

I will never say never, but travel abroad doesn’t hold the same appeal that it once did, particularly as there seem to be so many delays and hold ups now, whether flying, sailing or using the euro tunnel. I particularly dislike airports now - such a hassle, needing to turn up hours before the flight in order to go through check in, customs, etc. The actual flying doesn’t frighten me, I just find the whole airport procedure so tedious.
We last went abroad 2 years ago, to a wedding. Since then, we’ve holidayed in the UK, which I enjoy, but I’m also quite content to be at home, pottering, and having occasional days out.

I'd like a flying sofa, so that when somewhere takes my fancy, I can fly off and take a look.

That would be enough for me.