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Reluctant to go abroad!

(111 Posts)
Cid24 Sun 05-May-24 16:34:22

DH wants us to go abroad. I’m really ambivalent about going anywhere as I hate the hassle of flying. I’ve tried to persuade him to go alone but he would prefer us to go together. Now I’m feeling guilty because I don’t want to do what he wants. BUT I’m sticking to my guns , and I’m not averse to train or ferry travel ( just makes it dearer).
Does anyone else feel like this?
I guess I e just reached this grand age (67) and am not prepared to put up with s—t!

Cid24 Mon 06-May-24 18:15:51

Bless you Gin, I feel your frustration!

Tenko Mon 06-May-24 20:20:20

OP I second a cruise or rail journey if you don’t want to fly . And I think it’s lovely that your dh doesn’t want to go without you .
Personally I don’t have a problem with flying and love travelling and seeing different places .

Dickens Mon 06-May-24 21:04:56

petra

I was going to suggest a ferry to Santander ( with car) and then take it from there.
But as you don’t seem to like your husband very much maybe that’s too much time together.

... I did the ferry to Santander (with car) and just 'ad-libbed' it from there. Ending up in Cambrils.

It was a very relaxing holiday. If one hotel didn't suit, we just drove on to the next.

Probably slightly more expensive than a 'package' deal, but definitely more leisurely - and interesting, as we diverted off the beaten track into more remote villages.

In fact, I vowed I'd never do another package holiday, and never did. Although circumstances prevented us from repeating the trip.

But I'd recommend it. And the ferry trip (Brittany Ferries) was quite nice, too.

Grantanow Tue 07-May-24 11:56:17

Flying is a hassle but sometimes necessary. We went to Athens by train this year calling at Paris and Milan on the way. Booking required quite a bit of work and there were hiccups on the way but solvable ones. It is much more expensive though which the Greenies don't mention.

knspol Tue 07-May-24 12:16:48

Surely there should be a bit of give and take here. Your DH wants a holiday abroad and you don't. He's not bullying you just telling you what he'd like to do. Presumably other holidays have been in this country? Why not just agree to go, you might enjoy it but above all be glad he doesn't take you up on the offer to go on holiday alone!

Foxglove77 Tue 07-May-24 12:18:59

We don't enjoy flying, uncomfortable for my dear H. We now cruise from Southampton. I love going as a couple, I'm not surprised he doesn't want to go on his own.

Spec1alk Tue 07-May-24 12:20:47

I’m reluctant to fly anywhere since the lockdown. My husband is now suffering from bladder cancer and encephalitis so I think our flying days are over.

NotSpaghetti Tue 07-May-24 12:22:48

The trouble with a cruise is that you don't have enough tome in one place it seems to me. If you are interested in churches and antiquities then you may need longer than a cruise-stop will allow.

Knittypamela Tue 07-May-24 12:25:31

DH and I are both 71. He was diagnosed with a heart condition a few years ago. I cant bring myself to go abroad but I'm terrified of him getting sick.

DeeAitch56 Tue 07-May-24 12:34:43

What about a cruise? All the benefits of a foreign holiday in several countries but only one bought of packing and unpacking

Georgesgran Tue 07-May-24 12:44:24

Bump

Harris27 Tue 07-May-24 12:46:37

Feel exactly the same don’t like the hassle of flying. Hubby and I were late to the game of foreign holidays only taking them as the children grew up never bothered me as I hate too much sun and can’t sit in it. But we’re going again this month and I dread the whole thing but do it for him. I’m fine when we get there most of the time😂 health problems this year have forced me to realise that we’ve got to make the most of the hols so I’ll smile sweetly and go!

Juicylucy Tue 07-May-24 12:54:23

I agree with casdon gosh 67 is not grand old age. I understand flying is not for everyone but once you’re at your destination it’s totally worth it. I’m 68 and my bucket list gets bigger by the week. Hope you find happy solution.

Purplepixie Tue 07-May-24 13:02:06

I love travelling and don’t see any of it as being a hassle but we are not all the same. Ask you husband if he would fancy a cruise or maybe get about the UK on the trains? My husband wants to tour around Norway but I don’t fancy the driving at all so we are going to fly there and have some trips about in a hire car. I hope you can come to some compromise.

Barbadosbelle Tue 07-May-24 13:03:47

..

No-fly cruises from Southampton are glorious.

And, as you say, only one bout of unpacking.

Would suggest a medium-sized ship such as P&O’s ‘Aurora’ or ‘Arcadia’ as these are also Adults Only - so you don’t have to limit yourself to term-only choices for some peace and quiet!

If finances will stretch Cunard Princess Grill is fabulous especially on the m.s. Queen Elizabeth and m.s. Queen Victoria. Like the luxury cruising you see in the old films (NOT ‘The Poseidon Adventure’ more ‘An Affair to Remember’!!).

And remember, the second you step on board you don’t have to lift a finger to do anything’s - all you have to do is relax and enjoy yourself. Could you do that Cid24?

(P&O and Cunard (and Princess Cruises) also offer coach transfers from 50 U.K. cities to Southampton via CruiseConnect coach transfer services)

..

southwestgran Tue 07-May-24 13:18:56

My dad always wanted to travel but my mum wouldn’t go. Now that they’ve passed I feel so sorry that he didn’t see the world as he would have liked. Grit your teeth and go for his sake - you’ll enjoy it when you’re there.

Cid24 Tue 07-May-24 13:44:14

Thank you for your comments. We’ve done a Baltic cruise and a river cruise and neither were my cup of tea tbh. I think we are getting towards a compromise however !!!

Charly Tue 07-May-24 13:49:21

I do understand much of your quandary, and I do hope you manage to find a decent compromise. (Goodness, why do they need us along with them?! In a way it’s ‘nice’, BUT…!)

petra Tue 07-May-24 13:57:03

Dickens
The name Cambrils rung a bell. We parked overnight there.
We had spent 2 months in Spain in the motohome. From there it was the long slog back to our house in Bulgaria.

Harris27 Tue 07-May-24 14:09:36

Cruising from Southampton wonderful trip done a few and all hassle free.

Cambia Tue 07-May-24 14:25:44

Go with him. There will be a time when you can’t and it’s not at 67. I hate airports too but it is literally just a few hours out of your life and worth it for the enjoyment you can take together seeing and doing new things.

NotSpaghetti Tue 07-May-24 15:28:51

it is literally just a few hours out of your life and worth it for the enjoyment you can take together seeing and doing new things.

So true Cambia
I have "wasted" longer than journey in the last couple of weeks!

4allweknow Tue 07-May-24 16:18:33

I have to fly to visit family. No way would I contemplate trains, ferries, car. Haven't looked at tthe cost of using anything other than a plane fir quite a while as last time I did it was a lot more expensive, I would be lugging a suitcase everywhere and would take a lot longer. For foreign holidays I arrive at airport early and usually have no bother. Same on the plane. An airport can be busy, but goodness, it's only for a few hours in your life.

Bazza Tue 07-May-24 16:42:46

I’m surprised that no one has mentioned travel insurance. We could easily have taken another person for the price we were quoted. Good luck when you reach 80!

Boolya Tue 07-May-24 16:52:22

Some cruises depart from the UK. Southampton, Portsmouth, Dover, Tilbury. Saga, for example, picks you up from home to the port and back again. A cruise is great for my disabled husband as he can go all over the place easily.