Reluctant to go abroad!

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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 .

Bless you Gin, I feel your frustration!

We have not flown for the last four years because the lust flight from Standstead was so horrendous. All tickets were e-tickets and it was a stampede to get a whole plane load through one gate which declined half the tickets. I am small and was nearly trampled underfoot by a crowd of Spanish schoolgirls. I ended up crushed and distressed with no one seeming to think this was unacceptable. All the waiting, long queues at immigration. Eye contact passport control did not work as I am very short of stature. Being told to jump at aged eighty was not met with acceptance! No never again. Next trip will be back to my favourite country The Netherlands by train. We are all different and accept different levels of behaviour from our fellow passengers. People behave badly on planes and you cannot escape!

I thought the same too Aveline, LOUISA1523 and others.

Just for the record, I do love my DH v much but I guess in the 40 years we’ve been married it’s mostly been me compromising. I hated the flying experience so much last time we went away I swore ‘ never again’ . I’m not frightened of flying, it’s the agro that goes with it. I’m v tall too so am always squished.
Thank you for all you comments and tips, we are trying to find something suitable , but also DH isn’t keen on spending too much so taxi , four star hotel , upgrade seats on plane are non starters.
Just looking at Railtrails to Austria at the moment. Wish me luck and thank you for taking the trouble to reply 💃🏻

It was a tongue in cheek “ grand old age” 🌻

Big Louis, yup!

I'll go with him! I love going abroad. I love everything about flying, even waiting in the airport. I prefer it to going by train or car.

Did all my travelling when I was fitter and more mobile and visited many places its difficult to go to now (Afghanistan, Syria, Lebanon, Iran etc) and which do not cater to the disabled. I planned all my expeditions like a military operation because I travelled independently. I never enjoyed flying - it was only ever a means to an end and have come close to punching people at airports. I wish they would invent teleportation.

A man once put his hand on my knee on a flight to Casablanca. I dug him in so hard in the stomach with my elbow that it took him ten minutes to stop coughing. I wont repeat what I snarled in his ear but he moved quickly to another seat.

petra

Being so happy must keep you going, Astitchintime 😂

🤭

Being so happy must keep you going, Astitchintime 😂

Marriage is a compromise, could you not cruise or go on a ferry?

Romola we have stopped flying since 2018 mainly for environmental reasons, apart from Mr J to Belfast once a year to see his family.

JenniferEccles

Had you thought about a cruise?

There are plenty of cruise lines which leave from Southampton and some depart from regional ports up and down the country too.

My sister and BiL have taken several cruises (probably Saga) where they pick you up from home - and take you back - by car.
And they live in the Yorkshire Dales, so it’s quite a way to Southampton.
Not cheap, but they just don’t feel up to driving that sort of distance now - BIL has long term health issues anyway - and there’s no railway station nearby.

I can think of nothing worse than being on an aeroplane, having the back of my seat kicked for hours on end by some uncontrollable brat, being elbowed in the ribs by the passenger sitting next to me, having some entitled moron request that I swap seats because they simply HAVE to sit next to their long lost cousin who will otherwise have a complete meltdown, paying exorbitant prices for dreadful meals, being bashed on the head by the idiots trying to put their hand luggage in the overhead lockers and woe betide you if yo comment or complain because you just get labelled "karen"!
Cruise or rail holidays for me every time now, might pay a little more but it is so worth it.

Flying is rather stressful, I find, and in any case I am conscious of the damage flying does to the environment. I am a bit surprised that no-one on this thread has mentioned that.
One short-haul flight per year is my self-imposed limit now.

Must say I’ve really come to dislike all the hassle of airports and flying. (Odd how I once loved it!)
We do still go away together once or twice a year, but dh has permanently itchy feet and is happy to take shortish trips on his own, or with an elder brother, or to meet up with an old friend somewhere. Since last summer he’s done 4 such trips.
Suits us both fine.

I used to have equally itchy feet and would happily go almost anywhere, but nowadays P&Q at home is rather more enticing. I dare say it’s partly down to age (75) but if so I don’t care.

I don’t feel in the least that I’ve missed (or am missing) out - in the past, besides living abroad for 13 years, we’ve done loads of travelling, inc. quite a lot of very off-the-beaten-track long haul.