Reluctant to go abroad!

Could I suggest a cruise? Not with the big companies, but I have used Fred Olsen and find them very good. Staff very helpful and pleasant, food good, and opportunities to go ashore at the various places they visit. That way you can at least have a try out without flying, and they do do trips from Liverpool and Newcastle or Rosyth not just Southampton - which if you live further north would mean a hassle travelling down there. If you tried one of the shorter trips , you would be able to see quite quickly if you enjoyed this and might travel further in the future, or it would confirm that it is not for you both and then I think you make other plans. So if you are free to travel whenever , you might have a UK holiday with your husband and accept that he will want to go off abroad, maybe with a friend or on his own. Do you have any friends with a similar situation, where you might go on a trip that suits you whilst your husband goes abroad.

When my brother died his widdow told me that she really wished she had gone on more holidays with him. He was keen to travel and she was not ,

Austria by train sounds lovely and good you have found something you can both enjoy. Have a great time🥂

Airport transfer day is a hassle and I always say never again and then wake up the day after I arrive and think well it was worth it to enjoy some lovely new places and old favourites!! As you get older it can be harder with mobility problems as so much walking and standing about.

Cid24

Well!
We are going to Austria- bt train!! And travelling round the Tyrol- by train!! I’m v happy with this as is DH. Finally!
Thank you for all your comments gransnetters 💃🏻

Have a wonderful time!

I second a cruise , we drive to Southampton, as soon as you're on the ship you're holiday had begun. I did share a table with some solo travellers, they came by coach

I’m with those who hate the airport hassle. Loved travelling and we’ve been to some wonderful places . Last year we had a bad experience ,4hours between flights , same terminus but nearly didn’t make it because of queues. We’ve booked another trip from DH,s bucket list and he’s used a luxury tour company. So far they’ve forgotten to tell us that one of the flights has been cancelled so we are having a 3 hour drive to another airport. The flight was cancelled some time ago but they only told us on Thursday. The bucket list train journey they haven’t booked yet and there are no first class seats( DH has long legs) available. The cruise liner following that is in dock for maintenance. We are assured that it will have its elastic band replaced by the time we go. We’ve just come back from a cruise to Iceland ,taxi to port and back £100 odd,10 days all food and a suite. It was very easy. Met plenty of interesting people and wonderful scenery. Much prefer smaller ship cruising.

NannyCI
It sounds as if you and the ex were never going to walk off into the sunset if you divorced him because he didn’t want to fly 🤷‍♀️

Barbadosbelle

..

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.

..

He just might. My ex said he hated flying, so my daughter and I went to Morocco for a few days. We loved it. Hence why he is now my ex.

Well!
We are going to Austria- bt train!! And travelling round the Tyrol- by train!! I’m v happy with this as is DH. Finally!
Thank you for all your comments gransnetters 💃🏻

I can't stand airports,either. I just go there because I have to. They are foul and rude and just....don't get me started!! However, sometimes you just have to bite the bullet. Take a travel pill, they calm you and make you sleepy. Otherwise, as others have said, take a ferry. There are plenty around.

The last flight a few months ago was like a nightmare, crowds at the airport, few staff, , plane delayed 1 hr then when we were on, sitting for 1 1/2 hours until plane took off. Mayhem. On arrival, we waited another hour as the drivers had done their shift and we had to wait for other drivers, it took all day to get to Canary Islands, the hotel, people, food was excellent but that journey
has put me off for a while.

I so love flying but only short distances these days. I’m off to Sicily with a carer in September and I’m 75 yrs young, put your big pants on Cid24 enjoy life with your husband while you can, who knows what’s round the corner ?

Oh, and for all those who are OK with suffering the hassle of airports, hanging about, the scanner thing ("that noise is my hip, not a gun to get Ryanair's pilot to go somewhere closer to our destination"), the boredom of flying, having to suffer someone's screamng kids while they demo that they have zero parenting skills (etc), and claiming that it's cheaper (even WITH that taxi to and from the airport?!) -- then do at least consider how you're polluting the planet?!!!

For Primrose53, and that "My friend went to Somerset last year and Northumberland this year and both were 10-12 hours inc toilet breaks etc.". 10 to 12 hours? Were they on a push bike, or coming from Shetland, or Ireland?

For all those considering trains, as Gramaretto says, see the fantastic Seat61 website for all things train, masses of terrific advice, pictures, where to sit, suggestions re eating and hotels, ticketing, sage advice re Paris & Brussels (etc), just a wonderful site.

I have a real fear of flying. Hate everything about it. I feel such a sense of total relief once the door is open and i can get off. I then spend all the “holiday” fretting about the return journey. I enjoy the holiday once I'm back home. Best holiday over recent years was a cruise from uk to Orkney, Iceland and Fjords and also a Baltic Cruise.

How about the Channel Islands? They feel like abroad but you can easily get there by boat. It would be a compromise and I'm sure you would both love it there. Both Guernsey and Jersey are wonderful but, if you've never been, Guernsey would be a good option as you can take short boat trips from there to other nearby islands such as Sark, Herm and Alderney.

Thisismyname1953

I understand your frustration with airports etc . I’ve been flying to far flung countries for the past 30 years but after Covid I’ve only gone on one holiday and found it such a bother .
This year I’m going on a cruise to France , Spain and Portugal. No flights and the best thing about it it leaves from and returns to Liverpool Pier Head which is only a 30 minute drive from here .

I’ve just got back from a Fred Olsen cruise from Liverpool- so easy for me as I live on The Wirral- I am now addicted!

I’d also suggest a cruise leaving from UK. The last time I went abroad was with family, but I found the airport nonsense far too stressful and made my mind up only to travel by train or boat. Depends where you live, but there are loads of options for cruises or rail journeys abroad from UK!

Whew! There’s nothing sh!++y about traveling - you just feel that way because he’s not doing what you want.

There are lots of people who hate planes and don’t want to fly, but it really is very safe and gets you places in hours instead days. Even the haters end up admitting it was all okay. 👍🏼

How about compromising? One year you do what he wants, next year you go where you want. Otherwise don’t be surprised if he goes off on a merry jaunt without you.

I understand your frustration with airports etc . I’ve been flying to far flung countries for the past 30 years but after Covid I’ve only gone on one holiday and found it such a bother .
This year I’m going on a cruise to France , Spain and Portugal. No flights and the best thing about it it leaves from and returns to Liverpool Pier Head which is only a 30 minute drive from here .

Im starting to feel all faff of travel at the min which inc a fear of flying ..
We live 10 mins from Liverpool airport and will only go from hear choice is enough for us Portugal Mallorca or Lanzarote (winter only) only fly of a day times are very important, try and go with family or friends .. stick with Adult Only hotels the peace & quiet around the pool and at meal times are the best 🏖

You make yourself sound old...grand age of 67???? Im 68and would never say grand old age of..I get what you're saying..if you don't want to go on a plane pay the extra by train or boat..or don't go...

Why not suggest a cruise leaving from Southampton, no flying involved and DH still gets to holiday abroad. Win-win! 😁

henetha 🤣