Reluctant to go abroad!

eazybee my friend is the same. She is currently on a cruise around the scottish islands with a friend. Her husband tells me it has been overcast and under 10c so she won’t be happy. She went to Northumberland in April and it was bitterly cold with loads of rain. Then she comes home and moans about it. These holidays are expensive too. Can’t see the point!

I wonder if you are an acquaintance of mine? She flatly refuses to fly and her long suffering husband has put up with a series of cruises from England (the sea was too rough and the journey too long), train and coach holidays (too much hassle changing and boring landscapes), holidays in Britain (the weather was poor). Now she claims to be incapacitated due to a minor injury some time ago and refuses to leave the house, and doesn't like him doing so either.
I should examine closely the reasons behind your refusal to fly; there may well be mental health issues, and as has been said, you don't appear to have much sympathy or interest in your husband.

DH has never wanted to go on holiday abroad but I am very grateful that for 45 years he has gone along with it because it's what I want. I'm 66 and he's 74.
In the spirit of compromise I do the following
Fly from the nearest airport
Flight at a civilised time
No more than 3 hour flight
Taxi at airport, no coach transfers.
Minimum 4* hotel
Half board (I hate this but he hates going out to restaurants).

It bumps the cost up but makes the day of travel more bearable.
I also do all the planning and packing, just basically give him the dates.

Wise words JackyB

Let him fly and you ferry and train. Enjoy your holiday together.

I don't think flying is a hassle. Leave yourself plenty of time, prepare for waits - bring a book or something to listen to. Inform yourself thoroughly about security procedures and baggage allowances.

Where possible, fly from a smaller airport. Less people, shorter distances, less chance of luggage getting lost.

As others have said, choose your seats carefully, choose a flight that is at a suitable time of day. Include an overnight stay on the way if necessary.

Check in as much luggage as possible. It's the walks across the airport with a heavy handbag or backpack AND a small suitcase which make it so stressful.

I love browsing the shops at the airport because I live in the sticks and don't see many shops.

Above all, consider the flight and the time at the airport (don't let delays get you down) as part of the holiday. Once you shut the front door behind you, you are on holiday and have the right to enjoy everything that happens.

Just leave yourself loads of time and listen out for announcements; be prepared but be relaxed.

Prepare yourself for your destination. Once you start reading up about a place you will find more and more fascinating details about things and will start to look forward to being there and seeing it all for real.

Flying no pleasure now, just hold. ups and delays and seats too close together with very large people over my very slim seat. Dread as well a coach tour, I got a bad back for the week as a very large, pleasant lady had me squashed against the window, 12 hours of it, she found it difficult to move so I was always last off. Same going back.

Aveline

Quite an aggressive response to the poor OH fancying a holiday.

I agree.

We take it in turns to make a choice. I hate flying as well, but it's a case of needs must. We just do our best to make the journey as hassle free as possible, even if it costs more.

Fairislecable

My Mother was 86 when she died and when she was given a terminal prognosis her first response was “Now I’ll never see the gorillas in the mist”!

We had no idea she wanted to!!

As I get older and my knees get worse my bucket list seems to get longer!

I hate motorway journeys as a passenger.
I love flying plus the whole airport experience. I find it stress free as Manchester airport is only 20 minutes away by taxi.
Each to their own however as one size doesn’t fit all.

OP, you seem rather surprised that your DH doesn't want to go alone and actually wants his wife on holiday with him. You said it as though it's a strange concept.

Are you afraid of flying? I am too but it is a necessary evil in many respects.

Getting ferries is all very well if someone doesn't mind driving for miles, which isn't very relaxing for that person.

I think you could alternate your holidays and have a compromise.

..

Crete is a wonderful island and the people are great.

And, who knows, he might meet someone at the hotel whose company he enjoys and who enjoys being with him.
They could then make it a regular thing whilst Cid24 enjoys herself without him.

Please say the name of the hotel and ask her to give Mr Cid24 the details - it would be such a pity for him not to know about it and miss the possible joy and happiness that someone who values his company could well bring him.

..

V3ra

I'd far rather fly than travel any distance by car!
We fly from one of our two local airports, half an hour from home.
We use Jet2 and if there's a choice opt for a civilised flight time.
We aim to arrive at the airport four hours before the flight time, just before Jet2 open their check-in desks. This means no need to queue and fewer people going through security.
We book the Escape lounge if we're flying from East Midlands and enjoy a nice meal, with plenty of food and drink in a calm environment.
We book two aisle seats on the plane so we're not hemmed in by anyone else, towards the front so we're not trapped by the trolley if we need the toilet.
We book a transfer to the resort so when we come out of the airport on arrival there is someone waiting for us.
And relax... 😎

Just what we do! We did the holidaying in this country with screaming toddlers and a dog and enough camping gear for an army when we were young. 10 hour car journeys are no fun.

My friend has a really bad back and painful hip and knee and is worn out all the next day after long car journeys.

There is no right or wrong here, you just want different things. Speak about it calmly Could he fly, you go by train and meet there?

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.

👌

Cid24
67 is not old per se , my Uncle went on a 3 week trip to Japan in October 23 & he is in Holland right now . Aged 97 a WW2 Veteran who was in Burma
The world is a big place & you are a long time 💀

It's so nice he doesn't want to go without you, and such a shame you don't want to go with him.
I know an excellent hotel in Crete for people travelling alone, he'll be extremely well looked after and enjoy the best company.

I prefer trains, especially in France and Spain but there are holdups on those as well.

I dislike airports. Can you perhaps persuade DH to take the train?
Look at the website the man in seat61
www.seat61.com

I completely understand how you feel about the hassle of flying, I'm kind of glad my long haul days are behind me, it's an experience I don't enjoy, all the palaver at the airport just adds to the stress as well. Having said that we recently came back from Jersey, the flight time was supposed to be an hour duration, I was ecstatic when the pilot announced it was actually only going to take 33 minutes (from Gatwick) but not really abroad though.

I’m years older than the OP and am just sorting out my case for Spain. Going on the 22nd with son and family. I write lists - the first one being medication : in case of tummy upset, headache, knee pain, sickness and vomiting, antibiotics for infection , plasters, you name it, I’ve got it and ofcourse, my inhalers. And I’m only going for a week 😂

My Mother was 86 when she died and when she was given a terminal prognosis her first response was “Now I’ll never see the gorillas in the mist”!

We had no idea she wanted to!!

I'd far rather fly than travel any distance by car!
We fly from one of our two local airports, half an hour from home.
We use Jet2 and if there's a choice opt for a civilised flight time.
We aim to arrive at the airport four hours before the flight time, just before Jet2 open their check-in desks. This means no need to queue and fewer people going through security.
We book the Escape lounge if we're flying from East Midlands and enjoy a nice meal, with plenty of food and drink in a calm environment.
We book two aisle seats on the plane so we're not hemmed in by anyone else, towards the front so we're not trapped by the trolley if we need the toilet.
We book a transfer to the resort so when we come out of the airport on arrival there is someone waiting for us.
And relax... 😎

My lovely father (73)refused to travel abroad ( he said he had seen enough in the war).

We rented a villa in Majorca and booked the flights told him there was no refund if he didn’t come.

He came and absolutely loved it, wished he had done it years before.

He didn’t have the opportunity to go again as he died the following year.

There is a great big world out there and we will not have enough time to see it all.

I would not want to travel by air again as the entire airport experience spoils the trip. I want to avoid any situation whene I get herded in with a bunch of people I dont know (and dont wish to know).