Are you going abroad this year ?

My now 16 year old dog does not travel well these days. Last time we went abroad, in 2017, we took her through the Channel Tunnel and were very impressed. I had previously dreaded having to travel that distance underground. Plenty of lovely areas in the UK. We love anywhere coastal, being stuck in the Midlands with breathing problems. I certainly want to give flying a miss in the future.

We’re just back from Cyprus, had a lovely time. Never been before so can’t compare prices.
Meal for two harbour side inc wine 80€.

JenniferEccles

Not this year but we hope to have a cruise next year.
They are the most wonderful way to see the world and are practically hassle free.
It’s important to pick the right cruise line though as after watching a channel 5 series on Sunday evenings, filmed on board a Virgin ship, I quickly decided I would pay good money NOT to go with that particular cruise line! You would definitely have to score very highly on the extroversion scale to cope with that one.

We sometimes fly to join the ship, but we’re only about an hour’s drive from Southampton, so that’s very convenient.

So great to read about all your planned holidays. It’s what retirement is all about isn’t it?

Gosh yes! That programme about virgin cruises would put anyone off. Luckily me and you know how peaceful and enjoyable a cruise can be, as long as it's not with virgin! We have dipped our toes in once more and are cruising in October, really looking forward to it ?

Yes, I’ve come to sunny Manchester ??

It’s our children who have had the opportunity to travel the world with gap years and breaks. We have rarely been out of Europe travelling (mostly by train) over the years.

It’s only latterly that we have been a bit more adventurous and had a couple of long haul holidays and have to say these destinations have been really enjoyable because of the difference in culture.

There are still so many places I havnt and want to see. Our carbon footprint is small, so hope it’s not too late for us.

We both enjoy travelling but for financial reasons, no. We've had a few long weekends with family in the UK and when the schools are back we'll have a week in the North East before it gets really cold. We started cutting back on our expenditure two years ago, as did our family, and holidays abroad are something we can live without for a time. Our DS1 stayed in a UK cottage after lock down with his family and had such a good time he's decided not to go abroad again until the children are older.

Brittany Ferries seem to be making a real effort to reduce their emissions.
I don't think they had any choice because new laws were introduced for shipping? I think their new boats come into service in 2024.

Not for us, as you say Whitewave we need to think about our carbon footprint, evidence is in front of us with the current drought.
We may go to Europe next year, Brittany Ferries seem to be making a real effort to reduce their emissions.

If it wasn't for DS1 living in USA I wouldn't fly at all. We are going to visit him and family in September but we haven't seen them since they came here in 2019 and the last time we went there was 2016. I still feel guilty about our carbon footprint.

We are more and more worrying about climate change and are changing our behaviour as a result.

We are the lucky generation I think and there are really no areas of the world that we haven’t visited and would like to.

So at the moment we have decided to avoid flying and this will mean no long haul, but we will endeavour to travel by rail where possible going to mainland Europe and car in U.K. we have at the moment a hybrid, and our next car will be fully electric.

Already been on a cruise to Norwegian Fjords last month, just back from a five day U.K. break with DD and two GC it would have been cheaper to go abroad, but we couldn’t rely on youngest GC passport arriving in time. Fortunately the weather was glorious and we spent our days on the beach, but we really noticed the prices for drinks and meals out higher than at home and we live a couple of miles from the beach and a popular day trip destination.

Hopefully Cyprus in September and then DH wants to go to West Indies in November.

Looks like too much hassle and uncertainty as well as too much expense now we have to pay more for almost everything including energy, not to mention Andrew's security and Boris's pension, car and security.

We had a wonderful fortnight on the Ceredigion coast in May, nothing else planned but hopefully will get away in late September. Not abroad, I can’t be bothered with doing all the arrangements anymore, DH does nothing to help or contribute ?
I had a five day painting holiday recently which was wonderful so I might just carry on going solo!

Urmstongran has been helpful regarding paperwork, I’m just nervous as you can only complete it online 72 hours before you go. I like all my ducks in a row plenty of time before we go away!

No way. Haven't been on a plane for years now and no plans to do so. Plenty of places to go in the UK. Travelling is a hassle we can do without. DH gets very anxious about missing connections, standing in queues, coping with luggage, hot weather, not that we need to go abroad for that.

We went to Majorca in April - to join a widowed friend who has a house there - to. BiL’s place in France in June (we drove) and are going in September to a sister in Cape Cod. That visit should have taken place last September but the Yanks wouldn’t let us in because of COVID.

Like a couple of pps, I loathe all the faff of airports and flying nowadays, though. I look back fondly to the days when it was just exciting! It’s now just something to be borne for the sake of getting there.

Since originally booking in 2019 my DD & I finally went off for our mum & daughter week to Majorca in late June after it being cancelled for June 2020 due to Covid,I was expecting long queues at security & checkin but it was painfree,I had my information on my phone and all went smoothly.
I have just booked for LVegas with my friend for next year and hope things go well for that trip.
We looked at holidays in UK and the cost was ridiculous just a couple of hundred £s more to go to USA.

At the moment we haven’t been away since pre covid and the reports we have heard from friends re coming back with covid and airport delays have put us off. This year we’ve decided to go for Airbnb in Devon. Fingers crossed the weather stays good but not quite as hot as today!

Not this year but we hope to have a cruise next year.
They are the most wonderful way to see the world and are practically hassle free.
It’s important to pick the right cruise line though as after watching a channel 5 series on Sunday evenings, filmed on board a Virgin ship, I quickly decided I would pay good money NOT to go with that particular cruise line! You would definitely have to score very highly on the extroversion scale to cope with that one.

We sometimes fly to join the ship, but we’re only about an hour’s drive from Southampton, so that’s very convenient.

So great to read about all your planned holidays. It’s what retirement is all about isn’t it?

I have been to Canada and Wales and going to Malta in September.

In all honesty, apart from wearing a mask on the flight to canada, it was as if nothing had changed with travelling abroad.

It didn't seem surreal and I wasn't nervous whatsoever.

We all need something to look forward to and a holiday be it abroad or here in the UK will do you good, but, but saying that... circumstances alter cases and not everyone has the money to be tripping off all over the place.

I have no inclination to - yet. Having not had Covid (as far as I know) I simply don't want to risk being ill - so far from home

Not been abroad fir over 3 years, but would love to get away September or October.

No. Just not interested any more.

No, can’t get travel insurance anymore.

Fleurpepper

GagaJo

Nope. I hate flying anyway, and the thought of all that airport chaos has put me right off.

I'm not a huge fan of holidays anyway, but would like to go back to the island my DGS was born on, to show him the beaches and where he lived as a baby.

Plenty of places in France, Holland, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, Northern Italy, Austria, and more, easily reachable with very comfortable trains. So no need to fly. And it is fabulous with grand-children, who can move around, and even find other kids to play with. Recently travelled to 4 countries, inter-railing (1st class lol) - and it was magical and so easy. And so many families having a great time.

I'd love to do inter-rail, but definitely not with my DGS. He finds it hard to sit still on a 15 minute bus journey!