How many holidays do you have a year?

BTW never been to Cyprus- but have you read Victoria Hislop's new book- the Sunrise, about the civil war and partition of Cyprus. Incredible to think it was so recent, in the early 70s.

Marmight- just as my comment to Pompa- please don't take as criticism. But would like to sound you out. We are planning to go to OZ for the first time as soon as my knee is better and when we are dog free (little Slinky has been on his last legs, diabetic and blind- and we know he won't be with us till much much longer)- but I just can't imagine going all that way for just 2 weeks. It must be absolutely exhausting- which route did you take?

We intend to take about 2 months- to do Sydney, Great Barrier Reef then down to Melbourne area and Tasmania (visiting both areas and relatives too). It seems such a loooong way to go for 2 weeks.

About driving to France- perhaps some of us could host you for a few days and/or advise of some nice Hôtels to stay en route- to give you courage to try to drive over again. I would certainly be happy to do so- I can imagine it is daunting on your own for the first time flowers]

We have in the past had one or two holidays abroad and perhaps a couple of weekends here. We are now reluctant to make our usual arrangement for our dog because he had a shoulder operation and the neighbour that he used to go to has more than one dog and they all play quite boisterously in the garden. We're nervous of a recurrence of our dog's injury so we tend to have a few days away in this country now and take the dog with us. We also help out with our grandchildren so, to some extent, we have to fit in with that.

It was mostly the guarantee of good weather that enticed us abroad when we were both working. There's nothing more depressing than having 2 weeks' of precious holiday with several days or more wondering what to do in the pouring rain. Now that we've retired we can watch out for a for a spell of good weather and go for long weekends on the spur of the moment. This is a lovely country - but especially so when it's sunny.

I like the small islands like Kefalonia, Thassos and Menorca. I would like to go back again sometime. Gozo sounds nice too.

In January, 2 months in Oz with DD2. Next week, 4 days each with other DD's. 2 weeks in Cyprus in June staying with friends and to France for a week in September to stay with more friends, interspersed with more DD visits. Late DH and I used to drive to France for 2/3 weeks most years but I haven't had the courage or desire to do it on my own yet. I try to go away every 6 weeks or so even if just for a few days. Can't stand being on my own for any longer!

Bellasnana

Gozo is so beautiful- so hope you get back there again, with the family or a friend.

But you are so right to cherish those wonderful times you had together x

When our children were growing up we were running a busy restaurant so holidays were just a few days in Gozo, a 20minute ferry ride away from here. Nothing fancy, but we all had fun.

When we retired, two of our girls had married Americans so we had some lovely holidays with them, plus a lot of trips to Italy and Sicily which are very close to Malta. We also visited family in the UK whenever possible.

DH, bless him, was a bit frugal and used to worry about all the money we were spending on going abroad.

As I sit here alone , without him, I am so, so glad we had those happy times together. I miss him like crazy and always will, but oh how grateful I am for so many happy memories we made

We are lucky to have friends and family in nice places to visit. Off next week to
Italy to visit brother, Scotland in May/ June To visit DD in laws , France in July to visit DS in laws to be , Norfolk in September to visit sister. Looking forward to all of them.

Having spent a good chunk of my later working life in airports and on planes, the thought of flying puts me off any holiday abroad. We have a lot of the UK to visit yet, trouble is, we have a few favourite that we visit most years.

Thanks Pompa - I'm with you then. We do the same here, re-discovering my native land (as I was only a kid when I left and been away all my adult life in the UK)- but also local France and Northern Italy- that's great.

It's just that we know so many youngsters who are always going on short breaks for long week-ends- and it seems such a palaver for so little time there.

Last year we had 2 weeks in the Caribbean in May, a week in Greece at the end of September with my old mum and 5 days at Center Parcs in December with mum, DD, SIL and DGD.
This year we have 2 weeks in Mexico booked next month, nothing else yet.
We are limited by our babysitting duties so unable to just swan off if we spot a good deal, Sigh, sigh ...

All our short breaks are in the UK and usually within a couple of hours drive of home or one of our children, which does cover a good part of England. Don't often go abroad, if we do, it is Italy.

Hi Pompa- each to their own- but personally I just don't 'get' the short breaks- unless they are fairly local. How far do you fly, for instance, for a 'short break'?.

This year, exceptionally, we went to Sicily for 1 week only- to celebrate DH's 70th with sil and bil- but we never go away normally for less than 2 weeks. Can't see the point of all the hassle of getting ready, getting to airport, parking, waiting, getting there, getting to location, etc, etc- losing 1 day at each end to travel (and yes, i know I sound like a broken record- but hate the idea of fuel/pollution issues unless you take at least 2 weeks to sort of 'justify' it, sort of...).

We usually go to UK about 3 times a year- which we don't really count as a holiday, but a home from back home- have a couple of local short breaks (a couple of hours' drive or train ride)- and always go to the non touristy part of Tuscany in September - and then 1 main holiday of 2 to 3 weeks, usually somewhere in Europe (Sicily last 2 years).

Short breaks, as many as we can fit in, usually 4/5 each year. Usually at least 1 week somewhere, possibly 2 if we can find time. Most of the time we decide at the very last moment when and where.

We saved hard before we retired so that we could become 'professional holidaymakers'. The only trouble is that, now that we are no longer working, we are not stressed and don't really feel we need a holiday.
I like to get away in February as I have a dodgy chest. Three weeks in South Goa is a firm favourite.

3 years with no holidays for us but you do come to accept it , well there is no alternative, but I look back on the holidays we did have with great pleasure.

It is 4 years since we have had a holiday together, and other than that I have visited daughter twice (to look after the gc whilst she was away).

The problem is not money (well could be) but dogs. Just cannot find someone to look after them. No kennels, they are used to being with us all day. Thought we had found someone who had a licence for three dogs (we had three then) and kept them in the house with them all the time. The second time we went to pick them up and found 2 other dogs there and our three had been shut in our car crates which we had left there. So no holidays. Still we live in The Highlands so don't need to go away.

I do have a friend who is for ever away, mainly to USA. Think they would like to move there.

I know a couple who are rarely at home and even if they have a few weeks at home they end up having a break in a hotel about 20 miles from where they live. They have a lovely house- why not enjoy it? Even when they do go away like now, it is to Poland but not even for a week.

Haven't had a holiday in 3 years apart from Christmas in a lodge in Somerset, due to DH 's health issues. Sometimes quite hard to take when everybody around us seems to be cruising/weekending/short breaking all of the time

A fortnight in Madeira this year so far. Maybe another break later in the year but DH is still working (and own boss so hates to be away from the business). Maybe next year when he's retired we'll be away more often.

Last year we had a few days with our daughter and her family. (caravan)
A holiday in Greece with our youngest son and his girlfriend. (hotel)
A holiday in Cornwall with our eldest son. (cottage)
I had a month in NZ visiting our daughter and granddaughter. (her house)
For the first time in thirty years we didn't holiday with my parents in law, but they did come to live with us in the summer for a few weeks.

A holiday for just the two of us is a luxury, but we do get away now and again for a night or two. We're off to Norway soon. (friends/airbandb)

I'm flying out with the Wonderful Man, but he's cycling home.

We're still governed by school holidays, have been all our lives, so it's five holidays a year for us to recharge the batteries. France, Germany, UK.

My S's partner's parents spent 6 weeks in Lanzarote from the middle of Jan until early Mar and now have gone to Tenerife for 7 weeks. They will do more during the year and most years get to Las Vegas. They are very welcome to it. Is there a snob emoticon? ?

Three or four long weekends throughout the year. I'd love to go on another cruise but we've spent quiet a bit since H retired and what's left hopefully will have to last another 25 yrs or so

We usually get a week or so by the coast in the UK and then a few days here and there to visit family again in the UK , OH won't fly so if I want to go abroad its either alone to my sons in Gibraltar or with one of my daughters if they feel like spending a week somewhere hot with their old Mum. I don't mind holidaying in the UK as long as we get some decent weather.

As often as we can to be honest . A long weekend here a 4/5 day break there, and in 2 weeks we're off to Florida for 5 weeks.

If you can, you have your health and can afford it why not? I'm going to be a long time dead so my husband reliably assures me . {smile]

I've lived to work and now its my time in the sun ( wherever that might be )