The I'm Going on Holiday!! Thread

[wakka]

I'd honestly give shorter trips a try. I did just three days in Helsinki and Tallinn in February and it was great, really memorable, saw plenty and now I have a flavour of what both Finland and Estonia are like. I didn't feel like I was on a countdown at all.

For me when I look back on a particular year it's always my trips away that stick in my mind the strongest, even if they were just for a weekend. I find your brain kind of writes them to permanent storage whereas a 'normal' weekend or week just goes to RAM and gets wiped.

[Neon Ignition]

It's definitely something we'll be looking at more once that first big hol with the kids is out of the way. My passport expired years ago and a few weeks back I finally got a new one, definitely getting more than 2 stamps in this one

[wakka]

You will get plenty these days - if you've not travelled in twelve years you might be surprised how long immigration into Europe can now take, and you'll get a stamp every time.

[dataDave]

It’s total bollocks. It puts me off of going back. The ferry is probably the least painful option there.

[Brad]

Brexit was stupid but apart from getting a stamp in my passport I have been unaffected traveling to Europe (France, Italy, Spain, Austria) via Air or tunnel.

[wakka]

It's not the end of the world and I wouldn't go as far as Dave. Just a difference you might notice if you haven't travelled since pre-Brexit.

[fuse]

Bit behind on the convo here, but chalk me up as another that's a fan of solo travel. Fully appreciate if you're used to one dynamic and that goes away then it can be one hell of an adjustment, but providing you're thoughtful about destination and activities that suit then I find it prompts you to step outside your comfort zone a bit more often, try a bit harder to integrate, actually talk to people you meet, and so on.

One of my favourite holidays was as a solo traveller to Reykjavik. One evening I went for dinner in this tiny little super-casual fish shack, had probably the best lobster soup I've had in my life, and got chatting with this German guy who was similarly visiting by himself. Went for a few beers after, had the kind of weirdly deep and meaningful, life-affirming conversation that only works when you've had a few, know you're never going to see the person again in your life, and there is no hint of your usual routine and environment to prompt you to keep your cards close to your chest.

I know before she met me, my partner did some amazing-sounding solo holidays with tour groups that focused on spending time cooking with locals. Sri Lanka and Thailand were two that sounded great in particular. I got a flavour for that with her when we did something similar in Cape Town, and had a great time.

... and then to contrast all of that positivity, holidays are currently a major source of stress for me. I got (very) sick when I last travelled and between that and my health still being a concern, I'm now plagued with anxiety about the whole thing. Cancelled a cruise we had planned for later this year, backed out of even a simple weekend break to Paris. I'm working on getting better both mentally and physically, as it'd be nice to be carefree about these things again.

[wakka]

Sorry to hear that you've got those health challenges man. Well done for working on it. I'm sure you'll get there.

[QualityChimp]

Just got back from another UK break.
As a family, we did it as a one-off in 2012, but ended up loving it and going almost every year (lockdown messed up the one year, but we went Christmas instead).
There's been up to 15 of us, I think, but number fluctuate (deaths, births etc) and we had 11 this year.
Amazing property in the middle of nowhere about 30 mins from Skegness/Mablethorpe.

You should consider something like this Neon as I think having something to look forward to really helps with your mental health.

I've not been on holiday alone, but do loads of stuff solo (concerts, cinema etc), so would consider going somewhere others wouldn't want to visit (Korea?).

Me and 3 or 4 mates have been saving for our 50th birthdays.
We were thinking of a West Coast US road trip, but if Trump gets in, we might go inter-railing in Europe instead.

[Neon Ignition]

I know how this will sound but I literally can't do UK breaks or holidays. There are some nice places to visit, some scenic but there isn't a square inch of this rotted isle that I would feel felt like a holiday or even a break away. It's a sense that extends abroad in some instances, years back I went for a few days to Cologne via Dusseldorf. Lovely place... could also pass for Manchester in many ways. Never went back
I need the impact on the mental system that going somewhere where you step out the airport doors and are hit by the difference brings.

[QualityChimp]

I think you need to take a step back and just think about what the kids would get from it, rather than worry about your hangups.
I still love thinking back to my holidays as a kid. We stayed in a caravan so old, it had gas lights and no electricity.
However, I still look back fondly to that time with my family.

Your kids won't care if you're in Florida or Clacton if they have some sun and a bucket and spade on the beach.
A seaside place with some rides and arcades and trips out and they'll be made up, mate.

It really sounds like a mental barrier you need to get past.
Like, I said the place we've just stayed at was on the site of an old barn in a field about 20 minutes from the nearest shops, so it felt like a break from the hustle and bustle, but a short car trip and we were burying the kids on Mablethorpe beach (up to their necks, officer!) or they were swimming in the sea, then off for fish and chips after.
That's a lot cheaper than flying to the Florida parks and kids still had a blast.

When you're on holiday somewhere, you're exploring and visiting new places, rather than being there for a specific reason like grocery shopping or something.

I think both you and your family deserve a holiday, mate, and having something to look forward to helps you from going insane.

[wakka]

I have to say I massively agree. I get that going to the British seaside is not as exciting as Orlando, but if you've not been away in twelve years it sounds like you've not given it much of a bash. You can't really tell me that the somewhere like the Isle of Skye is insufficiently different from Manchester, either!

On a separate but related note, the thing for me about travel and other 'newness' generally is that it helps to slow the sensation of the passage of time in my life. I think of time as the measurement of the rate of change. The more change I can introduce into my life, the more memorable a given day, week, or month becomes and the less another year gone by feels like a meaningless blur.

This isn't me saying 'look at me and how great I am' by the way. I've actually been really poor at putting this into action. The last four years have been a big plate of samey mashed potatoes frankly, and consequently the time has passed uncomfortably quickly. 'Pre-COVID' still feels very recent to me because I've basically done **** all since that kicked off, except (and here we return somewhat on topic) go on a few trips away which have been the memorable bits.

It's something I'm actively trying to correct right now.

Anyway that's only semi-related but it's just in my head atm.

[QualityChimp]

Not having a go, to clarify. We're egging you on to treat yourself and the family.

Have a look at Butlin's, too.
Yeah, it's a bit chavvy, but the kids don't care, they're having a blast in the waterpark, funfair, kids clubs, shows etc.
A lot of the entertainment in included, unlike CenterParks.

[wakka]

Yes indeed not intending to have a go at all.

[randombs]

Temp ban request for Neon cos clearly he’s spending every waking hour posting and updating his countless lovely threads with no time for holidays.

Two weeks should do it. That’s more than enough time to go to Butlins AND CenterParks.

We love you, mate. Leave your trepidations at the door and have some IRL fun with your progeny in Scunthorpe