Well it’s that time of year again where the papers are full of cheap deals for holidays abroad and everyone's sifting through brochures; call me parochial but why would you want to go abroad when there’s so much to see and do in Britain?

Ask this question of most people and inevitably they’ll say something about the weather and that if they go to, say, the Mediterranean, they’re guaranteed sunshine. That may be so, but surely the same weather day after day would become tedious, and if all you want is a tan you might as well spend your cash on a sunbed instead? Likewise there’s only so much sitting on a beach you can do before it gets boring.

Now it may sound like I’m reading from a UK tourist board brochure, but if, like me, you like outdoor activities such as walking, cycling, climbing or just sightseeing, there’s no place better than Britain. The scenery can be luscious, bleak, bucolic or wild, the history is more intriguing and fascinating than any other country and of course there’s no langauge barrier to exclude you from talking to the locals. Whilst it’s true that Britain hasn’t always had the best of reputations for its food and restaurants, this seems to be changing with the interest in local produce and farmers market, and in many towns and cities there’s a vast variety of restaurants covering food from pretty much any country you could mention.

So while most people spend a fortnight hanging around airports, suffering stomach upsets and frying your skin to a frazzle, I wonder if they ever stop and think that you don’t need to fly thousands of miles for a break when there’s so much on their doorstep?

Although i've never holidayed abroad myself, I can understand why people go.

Having just been looking for a short break for me and my lad, i've been shocked to find the end of March for Flamingoland in a static caravan is £850.

Butlins is not much cheaper for the two of us, febuary half term 2 nights being about £150, then theres paying for the entertainment as the weather won't be good enough to be outdoors all the time.

As less people holiday in the UK establishments seem to be putting their prices up to try and make a living which is understandable, but it's only pushing more people abroad.

Can't wait for the spring when we can get the camping gear out and be off galavanting!

I want to visit other countries & experience different cultures.

Well....I like snowboarding and since I don't want to skid into sheep, Scotland is out. I want to take my child snorkelling this year and find that SkegVegas has rather murky and bleak waters where she would have little joy in finding Nemo. We all have different reasons for our choice of holiday destination and you seem to be one of those with a slightly middle class disdain for the working class traveller who enjoys stripping off their clothes for a couple of weeks a year and basking in some well earned sun. I hate sunbathing but don't begrudge or judge those that do! On yer bike!

Well....I like snowboarding and since I don't want to skid into sheep, Scotland is out. I want to take my child snorkelling this year and find that SkegVegas has rather murky and bleak waters where she would have little joy in finding Nemo. We all have different reasons for our choice of holiday destination and you seem to be one of those with a slightly middle class disdain for the working class traveller who enjoys stripping off their clothes for a couple of weeks a year and basking in some well earned sun. I hate sunbathing but don't begrudge or judge those that do! On yer bike!

Well-said! :hihi:

Yeah, I'm really looking forward to my holiday this year in Mexico. I can't wait to see the Aztec pyramids! :thumbsup:

Well....I like snowboarding and since I don't want to skid into sheep, Scotland is out. I want to take my child snorkelling this year and find that SkegVegas has rather murky and bleak waters where she would have little joy in finding Nemo. We all have different reasons for our choice of holiday destination and you seem to be one of those with a slightly middle class disdain for the working class traveller who enjoys stripping off their clothes for a couple of weeks a year and basking in some well earned sun. I hate sunbathing but don't begrudge or judge those that do! On yer bike!

Once again you have misjudged the mood of my post and seem to have made the bizarre assumption it's class-related. Leaving that aside, I'm not condemning anyone for their choice of holiday, simply pointing out that there are opportunities to enjoy a holiday here in Britain that they may not have considered simply because the holiday industry is so desperate to push us all onto cheap package holidays. One of the best holidays I ever had was sailing on the Norfolk Broads as a teenager with a couple of mates. Were we the same age now, we'd probably bow to peer pressure and book on a 2-week Club 18-30 booze and casual sex fest, but if all you want is to get drunk and have sex, you might as well be up West St on a saturday night.

Perhaps it's the sense of elitism that pushes the likes of you to foreign climes more than a sense of enjoyment? Wouldn't it be terrible if you had to share your holiday resort with "poor people"?

I suspect your child would be just as happy exploring the rockpools of the Yorkshire coast rather than having you trying to foist your own interests onto him or her?

You might meet the same people each saturday up West St. Basil, so it wouldn't be much fun after a while:hihi:
My best holiday was in kenya on a safari, it was fantastic seeing wild animals without cages, I'll never forget it.
My fav. spot in the U:K: is the Peak district, as as I now live abroad, I would probably go there and have a week in Castleton or somewhere, if i could afford it.

Once again you have misjudged the mood of my post and seem to have made the bizarre assumption it's class-related. Leaving that aside, I'm not condemning anyone for their choice of holiday, simply pointing out that there are opportunities to enjoy a holiday here in Britain that they may not have considered simply because the holiday industry is so desperate to push us all onto cheap package holidays. One of the best holidays I ever had was sailing on the Norfolk Broads as a teenager with a couple of mates. Were we the same age now, we'd probably bow to peer pressure and book on a 2-week Club 18-30 booze and casual sex fest, but if all you want is to get drunk and have sex, you might as well be up West St on a saturday night.

Perhaps it's the sense of elitism that pushes the likes of you to foreign climes more than a sense of enjoyment? Wouldn't it be terrible if you had to share your holiday resort with "poor people"?

I suspect your child would be just as happy exploring the rockpools of the Yorkshire coast rather than having you trying to foist your own interests onto him or her?

"The likes of me" simply pick a spot and go and don't worry about who else is going where or why.

I'm with you on this one Basil, there are so many beautiful places to visit here without going abroad. However - I do agree that often it is cheaper to go abroad, and this surely is wrong, but then again - if everyone stayed here, then those of us who have no desire for foreign climes would find our favourite places too crowded. Horses for courses - as in most things.

Agreed, there is so much to see of world class beauty in Britain.

Cornwall, Pembrokeshire, the Scottish Isles and even the Yorkshire Coast (to name but a few) are wonderful.

I'll never regret going abroad though, it's not all beaches, bugs and bellyaches, far from it, "abroad" smells different, the food is different, the people act different, the architecture, plants, animals and even the stars are different, and mostly in a good way.

The last time I bothered with a holiday in this country it ****** it down for a week. Never again! Shame though, cos there are some beautiful places in this country. Fine when you are a student and have long holidays to spend in tents etc but these days are drawing to a close for me so I will begin to spend my holidays wisely!

All i remember from my sojourns on home soil is that Cornish Pasties become tiresome after the third day of having them for breakfast, dinner and tea and that all rooms in the lake District smell of dog. Not a good dog either.

We're going abroad because it was costing us £1,200 for a week in Butlins!!! Thats 2 adults a 5 year old and a new baby! We can go to Spain for a fortnight for that.

A holiday isnt a holiday without a trip on an aeroplane, and the UK holiday industry has priced itself way above its station. Us Brits cant afford to holiday here anymore unless its some scummy seaside resort

Also I possibly, if I'm lucky have 40 summers left. So that does not leave much time to see the world. I have toured England but have only briefly glimpsed the rest of the world if seen as a percentage. Are you suggesting I shouldn't yearn for Macchu Picchu or Rio De Janeiro because that somehow means I don't value my own Country.

Also I possibly, if I'm lucky have 40 summers left. So that does not leave much time to see the world. I have toured England but have only briefly glimpsed the rest of the world if seen as a percentage. Are you suggesting I shouldn't yearn for Macchu Picchu or Rio De Janeiro because that somehow means I don't value my own Country.

Even if you lived to be 200, there are lots of places in the world you'd never get to see. Unlike yourself, holidays for me aren't a question of ticking off exotic locations off a list so you can boast about them at dinner parties ("Oh, you only went round the Egyptian pyramids on a camel? How gauche! We spent the summer water-ski-ing through crocodiles down the Ganges!"). I simply enjoy lovely scenery, doing interesting activities and perhaps learning a little more about the country I live in and what made it what it is today.

Even if you lived to be 200, there are lots of places in the world you'd never get to see. Unlike yourself, holidays for me aren't a question of ticking off exotic locations off a list so you can boast about them at dinner parties ("Oh, you only went round the Egyptian pyramids on a camel? How gauche! We spent the summer water-ski-ing through crocodiles down the Ganges!"). I simply enjoy lovely scenery, doing interesting activities and perhaps learning a little more about the country I live in and what made it what it is today.

Again, I'll state. I enjoy my holidays for what they offer me not what others may think of me for going on them. Would it be okay if I go abroad but take a book with me on British History and read it the entire time? We are part of a wider world and a wider global community and it isn't wrong to learn a bit about that too.

because i want to expierence new cultures, new sounds and languages and new foods, all of which you can't do as much of if you stay in the UK.

Again, I'll state. I enjoy my holidays for what they offer me not what others may think of me for going on them. Would it be okay if I go abroad but take a book with me on British History and read it the entire time? We are part of a wider world and a wider global community and it isn't wrong to learn a bit about that too.

Where does it end? Would you want to be part of the first tourist space flight as we're part of a wider universe and you want to learn about it too?
If you were really concerned about the wider global community wouldn't you actually spend time amongst the people of whichever African country (for example) you choose to visit?
For too many Western tourists, visiting a country simply means shutting yourself off from the poverty-stricken locals in a big hotel with a high fence and only venturing out with a tour guide telling you what to do, where to go and what souvenirs to buy.

Don't get me wrong - I've been abroad myself (albeit only to France). There was much to commend it but I felt hampered by not feeling a sense of belonging, the language barrier and the fact I felt too much like a tourist, doomed to head for whatever attractions the guidebook told me to visit.

The Cotswolds would be a nice place for a hoilday, but the weather could ruin it all....anyhow you can see most of England in a few short holidays , in fact you can drive from one end of England to the other in a day, can't you ? but there's nothing better than the pub food over there.

Well a holiday is what you make it. It would be my idea of hell to sit in a fenced in hotel, you don't have to do that. Cheap flights mean you can off the beaten track easily now.

My dad had a simlar aversion to going abroad. Had brilliant holidays in this country but when we went twice to the picos region of Northern Spain and they were our favourite holidays by far. Experiencing a different culture and not being anywhere near a tourist region was great. Places like St Ives in Cornwall are pretty hideous for the exact reasons you mention - cornish pasties rammed down your throat, british sock-and-sandle wearing people and sticks of rock everywhere :hihi:

Well a holiday is what you make it. It would be my idea of hell to sit in a fenced in hotel, you don't have to do that. Cheap flights mean you can off the beaten track easily now.

hihi:

All inclusive holidays or places where you cant leave the hotel after dark, same sun bed all week and same table in the hotel bar.

:gag:

All inclusive holidays or places where you cant leave the hotel after dark, same sun bed all week and same table in the hotel bar.

:gag:

I'd like a hotel where I never actually left the bar. Fence me in!

I'd like a hotel where I never actually left the bar. Fence me in!

If that’s what you want, fine but why go abroad then.

If that’s what you want, fine but why go abroad then.

Perhaps, like most of us, she has a passion for tall dark swarthy-looking foreign men?

If that’s what you want, fine but why go abroad then.

I was joking! I have a 5 year old and it's just wishing for what I know I can't have nor would really want.

Much like the yearning for tall dark swarthy men. Actually scratch that, I could manage one or three of them. Before I went out to see the sights and absorb the culture....naturally.

Basil, let me shake your hand!

I haven't even got a passport, I hate the idea of going 'abroad' that much ;) I'd like to go to Iceland and one or two other places, but not enough to waste all my spare cash on it. When I want a holiday I want to look at nice scenery, eat nice food, visit historic sites etc and chill out and I can do all that in the UK.

To me, a foreign package holiday must be Hell. Why not just rent a dirty flat with a few cockroaches and intermittent plumbing in Park Hill for a week, hire a sunbed, it's the same thing.

Not even bothered that much about all this 'experiencing foreign cultures' malarkey. There's enough regional differences in the UK to make spending a week in another place interesting to me.

Who gives a damn about hot weather? Sitting in the sun only gives you cancer anyway. Do people go and spend a week smoking 60 cigs a day? No. Then why go and spend a week giving yourself skin cancer?

Plus god knows where people are going if it's that expensive to holiday in the UK when you can rent a holiday cottage to sleep a family somewhere like Whitby, in the middle of June, for just over £200 a week.

We had great holidays in this country, Cornwall being a particular favourite.

However we like to go abroad too, mainly so I can lie on a sunbed and read for a fortnight:) Hubby has his own business and being out of the country is the only sure way to ensure that he gets a complete break.

Basil, let me shake your hand!

I haven't even got a passport, I hate the idea of going 'abroad' that much ;) I'd like to go to Iceland and one or two other places, but not enough to waste all my spare cash on it. When I want a holiday I want to look at nice scenery, eat nice food, visit historic sites etc and chill out and I can do all that in the UK.

To me, a foreign package holiday must be Hell. Why not just rent a dirty flat with a few cockroaches and intermittent plumbing in Park Hill for a week, hire a sunbed, it's the same thing.

Not even bothered that much about all this 'experiencing foreign cultures' malarkey. There's enough regional differences in the UK to make spending a week in another place interesting to me.

Who gives a damn about hot weather? Sitting in the sun only gives you cancer anyway. Do people go and spend a week smoking 60 cigs a day? No. Then why go and spend a week giving yourself skin cancer?

Plus god knows where people are going if it's that expensive to holiday in the UK when you can rent a holiday cottage to sleep a family somewhere like Whitby, in the middle of June, for just over £200 a week.

That's the trouble, 'in the middle of june', try booking the same cottage in the 6 weeks holidays and they want 600+ for it! Britain outprices itself in the 6 weeks holidays. I love Britain, especially Cornwall but I'm a bit fed up of local prices v tourist prices, everywhere you go down there, even the council have cottonned on to it and are charging different prices for locals and tourists in the car parks - which is disgusting :rant: They simply don't deserve tourists hard-earned money.

Who needs to see different lands, when you can spend holidays in kagools eating eggs and bacon every morning?

I want to visit other countries & experience different cultures.

The vast majority of British holiday makers go abroad for different reasons, namely to sit in the sun, hang out with other English people, eat English food and do English things. As Peter Kay so famously said, "it's like being at home, only you've got the weather"

Holidaymakers like these make me ashamed to be English, which is why I avoid such detinations like the plague. In fact, I would rather go self catering at Guantanemo Bay, than spend a week holed up next to a group of chip eating, beer bellied sun burnt louts whose idea of fun is spewing Kebab into a hedge and shagging anything that moves. And that's just the women.

My holidays abroad ended once the kids arrived ...I now happily sit in a caravan on the East Coast, hearing the rain tapping on the roof...the gas blowing out just as your doing the morning fry up and never forgetting to pack the wellies...:hihi:

Once the kids can appreciate the cost :D we'll stretch to Newquay, Cornwall area ...and if their lucky and save up enough, we might take them to Disney one time.:hihi:

Being abroad isn't the B all and end all for me.
I got freckles and burn anyhow :blush:
So keep your airport que's, boarding passes and boots Soltan... gimme Viva Las England anyday :love:

We're going abroad because it was costing us £1,200 for a week in Butlins!!! Thats 2 adults a 5 year old and a new baby! We can go to Spain for a fortnight for that.I refuse to believe that. We've booked for a week and its cost us £250 in Gold standard accom with breakfast and dinner and thats for 3 of us

Going abroad when you have kids is a nightmare and unnecessary. Its too hot, too far, too risky, too stressful and theres too many what if's.

That and lets be fair the kids don't care. To them its going to be fun whatever you do. The only reason that people take(drag) their kids abroad is because they want to go. Don't come up with this "but the kids love it" rubbish because the kid has no choice. if the kid said he fancied a week in Sierra Leone you wouldn't go so don't pretend they love magaluf or whatever godforsaken tourist trap you force them to go to.

One other point that hasn't cropped up on this thread so far is that, if you believe in climate change, no-one will be able to go abroad within a few years anyway, because all consumer plane travel will be banned on account of the carbon footprint it leaves. On a brighter note, by then the earth with have warmed up so much that it'll be just as warm in Torquay in 2020 as it is in the Mediterranean now, so if all you want is the weather you won;t need to go abroad anyway.....;)

I agree with you Basil. You can go to the same place many times in this country but have completely different experiences each time - I'm mainly thinking of the weather with that one :D
I can't see the point of spending money to go through the stress of a flight just to get to a tourist resort where you spend all your time in the hotel/bar/on the beach and never leave the resort!
But then, I enjoy outdoor activities too, and I can't sit still for too long. My idea of a beach holiday is one where I can surf or make huge sandcastles/damn up a stream :)

I heard a rumour that abroad has no Radio 4, no pubs, no marmite and funny tea. Best stay here I think.

That's the trouble, 'in the middle of june', try booking the same cottage in the 6 weeks holidays and they want 600+ for it! Britain outprices itself in the 6 weeks holidays. I love Britain, especially Cornwall but I'm a bit fed up of local prices v tourist prices, everywhere you go down there, even the council have cottonned on to it and are charging different prices for locals and tourists in the car parks - which is disgusting :rant: They simply don't deserve tourists hard-earned money.

June gets the best weather anyway, plus longer days. It's almost always guaranteed to be mostly sunny in June whereas in July and August you risk it either being relentless rain or too hot to do anything. Just go outside the 6 weeks! Be quieter too. Cornwall has been a rip-off for years. Haven't been there in 17 years but it was already far too packed and far too expensive even then. The ONLY way to do Cornwall is to go in May/June or September! Anglesey is the other nightmare place in summer.

But really, all kids want is a big open space to run round in and shout as loud as they like so you don't even need resorts wwith amusements to keep them happy, just a few footballs, cricket set, buckets/spades, and some imagination and they'll have a laugh anywhere, whatever the weather. I spent many hours doing stupid things like throwing cow pats, damming up streams, exploring caves, jumping in nettle beds, etc. My main memory of being in Spain is tied up with having serious sunstroke and having to stay indoors for most of the holiday; my brothers found cockroaches in the rooms and then got into fights with other lads, dad had the trots, the Germans ate all the breakfast every day and mum had her money stolen - dad said it was like having been sent to live in Toxteth for the fortnight :(

We did not just go for a holiday we ended up living here, in Bulgaria. Main reason because we could not afford to live in UK anymore. Not on a pension and a wage, no regrets so far (1 year later)anyway.
Its an individual choice!

Who needs to see different lands, when you can spend holidays in kagools eating eggs and bacon every morning?

Forget the kagool and go to Spain you can still have all day breakfast with English sausage, HP sauce all washed down with a pint of John Smiths, aren’t the continentals more cultured than us, second thoughts go to Skeg- vagus and take a kagool. :rolleyes:

Well, now we're at the height of the holiday season, I wonder how many people did take my advice and decided to take their holidays in the UK? At the time this thread was started, no-one had heard of the credit crunch so perhaps the cost wasn't as big a factor as it is now.

Don't get me wrong - if you want to sit on a beach for a fortnight and get burned, then by all means go abroad. But if you prefer to see interesting things, get active, enjoy fine scenery or visit sites of great historical significance there's no need to get on a plane - it's all here!

Ok. Cycling is better than driving.
Holidaying in Britain is better than abroad.

Why don't you start a thread called "I'm poor and it makes me really cross and bitter":loopy:

But you have to look at it all through, mist, fog and drizzle Basil

I'm off to Scotland next week hopefully as I have a whole four days off - glorious scenery and gallons of rain justifying finding lovely cosy pubs. It's going to be brilliant - can't wait!

But you have to look at it all through, mist, fog and drizzle Basil

For some of us, the endless variety of weather is what makes Britain so infinitely fascinating. Imagine how dull it would be to go somewhere where the weather every day was so hot and sweaty that you'd got no energy to go anywhere or do anything?

For some of us, the endless variety of weather is what makes Britain so infinitely fascinating. Imagine how dull it would be to go somewhere where the weather every day was so hot and sweaty that you'd got no energy to go anywhere or do anything?

Except drink and get naked in the pool. Yes you'd hate it B.;)

For some of us, the endless variety of weather is what makes Britain so infinitely fascinating.

How many types of rain are there then ?

What are British kids going to have to look back on if they've never endured a wet day in the car at Knott End, eating warm meat paste butties and having a ration of tea out of a flask? ;)

Sitting in a Spanish resort that smells of faeces and eating Big Macs doesn't have the same character building effect does it? :thumbsup:

For some of us, the endless variety of weather is what makes Britain so infinitely fascinating.

And for some of us, weather is irrelevant to having a good time. I quite like going walking in the rain, it makes the post-walk trip to the pub all the more satisfying, if somewhat soggy.

Whether I prefer it to a fortnight in the sun or not is a different matter though - I like to do both rather than one or the other, although Mr Chopsie is a freaking nightmare in the heat, which is why UK holidays tend to suit us better...

Its simple, the weather and the cost. You can travel thousands of miles and be guaranteed good weather for the price of a musty room in a crappy rain soaked seaside town in the UK.

I can sit indoors and watch the rain for free, so why pay to do it somewhere else in the UK!

Sitting in a Spanish resort that smells of faeces and eating Big Macs doesn't have the same character building effect does it? :thumbsup:

I’ve travelled to many Spanish resorts and they may be lacking in character in a lot of cases but, fast food outlets are no where near as prevalent as in the UK. As for the smell, its rare and by far less smelly than the **** soaked streets of most UK cities of a Saturday or Sunday morning.

That’s all if you don’t go to the resorts under siege by Brits that is, then anything is possible and if it smells like crap, that probably means some ****** Brit has recently crimped one off nearby.

Its simple, the weather and the cost. You can travel thousands of miles and be guaranteed good weather for the price of a musty room in a crappy rain soaked seaside town in the UK.

I can sit indoors and watch the rain for free, so why pay to do it somewhere else in the UK!

I answered that point in the opening post when I said "Ask this question of most people and inevitably they’ll say something about the weather and that if they go to, say, the Mediterranean, they’re guaranteed sunshine. That may be so, but surely the same weather day after day would become tedious, and if all you want is a tan you might as well spend your cash on a sunbed instead? Likewise there’s only so much sitting on a beach you can do before it gets boring."

Each to their own and all that, but the point about the UK is that the weather needn't stop you having a good time as there's still plenty to do.
Whereas in a Spanish seaside resort you can sit on a beach, have a swim, get drunk and...er...well, that's it.

How many types of rain are there then ?

off the top of my head:

rain
heavy rain
light rain
showers
occasional showers
scattered showers
storm
stair rods
drizzle
mist
fog
lashing down
p*ssing down
cats and dogs

I spent most of the past 40 years holidaying in Sheffield for 3 weeks every year, always had good weather, just luck I suppose :)

I love going abroad, I love swimming in the sea knowing im not going to swim into an empty condom wrapper, I love the fact the weather is almost definately going to be good, I love the fact that when I go A.I I don't have to worry about cooking, and I can enjoy my holiday. Just because your staying all inclusive doesnt mean you have to stay inside the resort, my partner and I went on a safari through the Cypriot Akamas, explored many of the towns, went to see Aphrodite's baths and all sorts, ate Meze out several times, and it doesn't make us common not wanting to cook, or worry about anything for a fortnight!

If i knew the weather would be nice, I would go somewhere in England but as everyone has said with the prices they charge, tis nice to go abroad and have a change for two weeks.

Why would you want to go abroad when there’s so much to see and do in Britain?

It can often be cheaper than holidaying in the UK.

There may be a particular place/ places abroad that you've always had an interest, yearned to visit, or enjoyed so much you wish to return. People should try to appreciate Britain for sure but there is a whole world out there.

For me weather plays a very small part. Certainly, I'll try to go somewhere when it is not monsoon season or at the extreme end of the temperature scale but If I fancy the place and it's a bit hotter than I'd like, I'll just shower several times a day. I don't sit on beaches (boring!) and don't do tans.

All the good points you mention about Britain ... outdoor activities such as walking, cycling, climbing or just sightseeing, can be done in any of our weekend leisure time. The possibility of a few weeks off work will have many of us planning something more one-off / ambitious / challenging / exotic / memorable (tick where applicable).

You seem to present a very stereotypical image of the sunshine holiday abroad ...
So while most people spend a fortnight hanging around airports, suffering stomach upsets and frying your skin to a frazzle, I wonder if they ever stop and think that you don’t need to fly thousands of miles for a break when there’s so much on their doorstep?
Maybe it's precisely because they did stop and think, that they realise there is much, much more to see and experience than the British Isles! :rolleyes:
if, like me, you like outdoor activities such as walking, cycling, climbing or just sightseeing, there’s no place better than Britain. The scenery can be luscious, bleak, bucolic or wild, the history is more intriguing and fascinating than any other country and of course there’s no langauge barrier to exclude you from talking to the locals.

"there’s no place better than Britain." (for walking, cycling, climbing, sightseeing)

Why not???
(And didn't you say you'd gone no further than France? So it's not like you'd be any authority by any stretch of the imagination)

"the history (British) is more intriguing and fascinating than any other country"

Really???

There's no reason for anyone to believe this. :confused:

Who needs to see different lands, when you can spend holidays in kagools eating eggs and bacon every morning?

:hihi::hihi::hihi::hihi::hihi:

Each to their own and all that, but the point about the UK is that the weather needn't stop you having a good time as there's still plenty to do.
Whereas in a Spanish seaside resort you can sit on a beach, have a swim, get drunk and...er...well, that's it.

It all depends on your idea of a holiday.

Whereas in a Spanish seaside resort you can sit on a beach, have a swim, get drunk and...er...well, that's it.

In a Spanish seaside resort you can do everything you can do in the UK AND as sit on a beach, have a swin (in the sea even) and get drunk

Having travelled in England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland extensively both for work and pleasure, I agree there are some wonderful places and sites.

For me, however, you do not get the variety of experiences unless you travel abroad (and I dont just mean 2 weeks in Benidorm).

See some of the worlds best beaches, city skylines, historical monuments, wildlife in its own environment, meet different cultures, try tastes and smells etc etc....

I honestly believe travel does broaden the mind - my life has been so much better for it

I heard a rumour that abroad has no Radio 4, no pubs, no marmite and funny tea. Best stay here I think.

Indeed.

Abroad is also known for the nasty habit of cooking more than one vegetable in the same pan simultaneously and (this bit is beyond the pale) expecting us to assume the role of foreigners as we walk around pastily amongst the swarthy natives.

I go abroad for the wildlife, whales, penguins, tigers, gorillas, giant tortoises, rare birds.

Hard to find them in Britain unless I go to a zoo

I go abroad for the wildlife, whales, penguins, tigers, gorillas, giant tortoises, rare birds.

Hard to find them in Britain unless I go to a zoo

They're hard to find anywhere, that's why zoos are such a great idea - it's like having a filing cabinet for animals :)

I think this may answer your question from the thisiscornwall website ...
TOURISM industry leaders fear the dismal and soggy weather which has plagued the West Country for two summers in a row will drive holidaymakers abroad in their droves next year.

More than double the average amount of rain fell across the region last month and industry chiefs have warned that the washout summer, on top of last year's depressing season, could deter tourists from booking their next summer holiday in the region.

The tourism economy, which is worth an estimated £8.9 billion to the South West region, could be hit if visitors decide not to risk another wet and miserable holiday in Britain and take a foreign holiday instead.

Tourism in Devon and Cornwall has not suffered too badly this year, despite the relentless and miserable downpours, due to pre-booked trips. But the wet July and August weather has put many people off another West Country holiday and there are signs they are already looking to sunnier resorts abroad for next year.

Malcolm Bell, head of South West Tourism, said that prolonged periods of wet weather made it hard to persuade people to come back to the Westcountry.


He added: "There's a difference between a wet shower and what we've had, which is just rain, rain. If it pours down and then clears up, that's one thing. But if it blows out a whole day, it does do harm.

"People would love seven days of sunshine and they will settle for three or four good days, but at the moment we're struggling to get one or two good days."

He added that, while wet weather attractions may be benefiting this year, even they worried that the tourists might not return next year.

"We were hoping a good summer would persuade people to think of the South West next year, but this year will persuade them to think about going abroad."

Some meteorologists say this year's weather has not been particularly unusual for Britain and say it has been a "classic British summer".

But figures from the Exeter-based Met Office show that July was even wetter in the South West than it was during last year's downpours.

The figures show that 166mm of rain fell in Cornwall in July, 254 per cent of the long-term average, while in Devon, 158mm of rain fell, 250 per cent of the long-term average.

Figures for August are not yet available, but are expected to show that this summer has been as much of a washout as last year, if not more so.

John Hammond, forecaster at the Met Office, said that while June was "not a bad month", July was wet in both counties with double or more than double the average amount of rain.

He added: "With many people being off in July, and especially after last year's wet summer, there was an expectation that this year was going to be a big improvement.

"Unfortunately, this part of the world has seen some of the most unsettled weather through the past few weeks.

"It's unfortunate for holidaymakers and residents alike. For those expecting prolonged dry weather, this is not good news."

West Country travel companies are reaping the benefits of those who want to escape from the wet and windy weather by jetting off abroad.

Campsites and surf schools are seeing the normal influx of summer customers, but much of this comes from advance bookings.

William Giles, manager of the National Surfing Centre on Fistral beach, said that the beaches had been a lot quieter and this meant less walk-in trade.

Why do people let rain ruin a holiday? You don't have to choose between mindless sunbathing or going to an 'indoors attraction' to kill boredom. You can still go out, just put a bloody jacket on! If it's really bad then you can just tour round in the car and look at stuff.

Why do people let rain ruin a holiday? You don't have to choose between mindless sunbathing or going to an 'indoors attraction' to kill boredom. You can still go out, just put a bloody jacket on! If it's really bad then you can just tour round in the car and look at stuff.

Absolutely - either that or simply indulge in watersports so it doesn't matter how wet you get!

Absolutely - either that or simply indulge in watersports so it doesn't matter how wet you get!

And you can make use of that orange cagoule and a nice, warm flask too. You'd want to watch where you dunked your custard creams, like.

I guess I'm lucky in that I don't particularly like lazing around in hot sun, especially as I have recovered from a relatively mild form of skin cancer (once bitten, twice shy), so a hotter climate doesn't in itself appeal to me and doesn't have any bearing on where I go on holiday.

Having said that, I coped with temperatures of just over 100 degrees F in Alice Springs when I was in Australia in February, but also got soaked to the skin in Cairns, so it isn't only in Britain that you get heavy rain (the difference being that in Australia in February it's warm rain).

I have travelled to every continent except (so far) Africa but I have enjoyed (and still am enjoying) numerous holidays in the UK, whether it be out walking in our glorious countryside or exploring an interesting town or city I haven't been to before. There is hardly a holiday I have had abroad when at some point, while admiring a particular piece of landscape, I haven't thought to myself: 'Yes, that's pretty spectacular, but it's no better than you can get, say, in the Peak District or North York Moors, or North Wales, or the Scottish Highlands.' The view across Scarborough from the top of Oliver's Mount on a nice day, or the view along the coast to Robin Hood's Bay from Ravenscar are as good if not better than anything you will get in, say, Spain or Italy.

A lot of people tend to disregard places which are almost on their doorstep. Take a trip to somewhere like London or York at this time of the year - you will find foreign visitors from almost every corner of the globe. They're obviously happy to holiday in Britain.

It's horses for courses, and variety definitely is the spice of life.

PS: I've just thought of another good reason for staying in Britain. The beer's better.

I heard a rumour that abroad has no Radio 4, no pubs, no marmite and funny tea. Best stay here I think.
We have no Radio 4, thank the lord, We have a pub called the Shamrock, thank the lord, we have no marmite, thank the lord, and the tea is Barry's which comes from Ireland, praise be to god.

We have no Radio 4, thank the lord, We have a pub called the Shamrock, thank the lord, we have no marmite, thank the lord, and the tea is Barry's which comes from Ireland, praise be to god.

didnt realise god was in the import / export business :)

Well it’s that time of year again where the papers are full of cheap deals for holidays abroad and everyone's sifting through brochures; call me parochial but why would you want to go abroad when there’s so much to see and do in Britain?

Ask this question of most people and inevitably they’ll say something about the weather and that if they go to, say, the Mediterranean, they’re guaranteed sunshine. That may be so, but surely the same weather day after day would become tedious, and if all you want is a tan you might as well spend your cash on a sunbed instead? Likewise there’s only so much sitting on a beach you can do before it gets boring.

Now it may sound like I’m reading from a UK tourist board brochure, but if, like me, you like outdoor activities such as walking, cycling, climbing or just sightseeing, there’s no place better than Britain. The scenery can be luscious, bleak, bucolic or wild, the history is more intriguing and fascinating than any other country and of course there’s no langauge barrier to exclude you from talking to the locals. Whilst it’s true that Britain hasn’t always had the best of reputations for its food and restaurants, this seems to be changing with the interest in local produce and farmers market, and in many towns and cities there’s a vast variety of restaurants covering food from pretty much any country you could mention.

So while most people spend a fortnight hanging around airports, suffering stomach upsets and frying your skin to a frazzle, I wonder if they ever stop and think that you don’t need to fly thousands of miles for a break when there’s so much on their doorstep?

Most people go for the better weather, and even if it does pee it down there's something to do in the Hotels, in Butlins et al UK Holidays, if it's chucking it down you've pretty much blown it, cos the Pool and everything's shut.

The Cotswolds would be a nice place for a hoilday, but the weather could ruin it all....anyhow you can see most of England in a few short holidays , in fact you can drive from one end of England to the other in a day, can't you ? but there's nothing better than the pub food over there. My bold

Only if you adopt the American version of holidays in England - if it's Stratford it must be Thursday morning, if it's Warwick, it must be Thursday afternoon

I think it is nice to experience different ways of life, and staying in a warmer climate has the feel good factor. Going on a sun-bed doesn't compare because you don't have the scenery and different culture. It is nice to visit places in England as well, but it is shame not to visit different parts of the world if you get the chance. It is a shame when resorts abroad become too commercialized, as then it can become the same as England.

My bold

Only if you adopt the American version of holidays in England - if it's Stratford it must be Thursday morning, if it's Warwick, it must be Thursday afternoonIts a blessing, believe me. They arrive in coaches instead of endangering the entire population learning to drive stick shift on the wrong side of the road.

didnt realise god was in the import / export business :)And why not, Isn't Ireland after being God's country.

Whilst it may seem a tad egotistical to resurrect one of your own threads, the issue of where to go for your holidays is very topical once more.

Since this thread was started a year ago, the credit crunch has taken hold, many people are cutting back on luxuries like foreign holidays and the value of the pound against the euro has plummeted. As a result it would appear far more people now are looking at a holiday in the UK than they were doing this time last year.

Here's an article from The Telegraph that develops the idea and explains why more of us might be giving foreign climes a miss this year.....

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/travelnews/4140199/Surge-in-UK-holiday-enquiries.html

g and of course there’s no langauge barrier to exclude you from talking to the locals.

I take it you haven't holidayed in Glasgow:D

oops came to this thread a bit late!!!!!!!!!!

Since this thread was started a year ago, the credit crunch has taken hold, many people are cutting back on luxuries like foreign holidays and the value of the pound against the euro has plummeted. As a result it would appear far more people now are looking at a holiday in the UK than they were doing this time last year.

Oh no - is my British idyl going to be disturbed by people in excessively large vehicles who 'normally go to Mexico' or somewhere?

When we holiday in Britain, we are abroad!

Whilst it may seem a tad egotistical to resurrect one of your own threads, the issue of where to go for your holidays is very topical once more.

Since this thread was started a year ago, the credit crunch has taken hold, many people are cutting back on luxuries like foreign holidays and the value of the pound against the euro has plummeted. As a result it would appear far more people now are looking at a holiday in the UK than they were doing this time last year.

Here's an article from The Telegraph that develops the idea and explains why more of us might be giving foreign climes a miss this year.....

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/travelnews/4140199/Surge-in-UK-holiday-enquiries.html

How things have gone downhill Basil.... Just looking to book a winnebago for 2 weeks to explore Yosemite valley ..

I like to relax by reminiscing over 4 year old threads

I like to relax by reminiscing over 4 year old threads

Does it matter how old it is ??

Does it matter how old it is ??Not especially, I guess, but the person you responded to hasn't posted for over a year

Why go abroad for your holidays?
Because it's cheaper than in the UK! :o

Living in the Uk, I can see much of it whenever I want to and over weekends or the odd few days during a week. However, there are so many places, peoples, sights, foods, cultures and experiences in the rest of the world that I'd like to see and that is why I go abroad for all my holidays.

We like to have two weeks abroad each year to enjoy two weeks of sun, sea and all inclusive sangria. It helps recharge our batteries and we get to see a different little corner of the world.

We also love to have long weekends at the coast, Scarborough & Brid being two of our favourites. The weather isn't always great but who cares when you can get proper tea and fish & chips with a bit of bread and butter!

Both types of holidays have pro's and cons but a holiday is what you make it!

Depending on the age group will depend on the reason for going abroad. I personally go abroad, not just for the sun, but for the sea. The seas surrounding the U.K are disgusting to say the least, not to mention freezing even in 20+ degree weather. Sea sports and the sun, plus the gorgeous scenery makes abroad more appealing. Plus the flight. :D

I desperately want to leave the U.K so maybe in some twisted logic I'll holiday here if I ever manage to leave.

Attractions in Britain are best for day trips or a weekend break, not for a relaxing luxurious holiday.

We like to have two weeks abroad each year to enjoy two weeks of sun, sea and all inclusive sangria. It helps recharge our batteries and we get to see a different little corner of the world.

We also love to have long weekends at the coast, Scarborough & Brid being two of our favourites. The weather isn't always great but who cares when you can get proper tea and fish & chips with a bit of bread and butter!

Both types of holidays have pro's and cons but a holiday is what you make it!

ohh i have to agrree!!

I go abroad to experience different cultures but never go to coastal resorts unless it's somewhere like Norway, Sweden or maybe the West coast of France. I'm not keen on tourist places either because you tend to get ripped off, e.g. Rome, Paris, Madrid but I do like Berlin. I see little point in going to places like Ibiza and lying on the beach for two weeks and clubbing all through the night. It's just so plastic.

We have a touring caravan and we love to have a few days out and about here we have been to most of the cost and different parts of the country England truly is a beautiful country,that is when it does not start slashing it down and is not freezing cold,you just can not really enjoy your self when it is raining and cold and you can never rely on the sun coming out here we have had some fab times here before we like to stop on a bit longer if the weather is OK,but if you want to see a bit of life and see how other people live and get the guaranteed sun you have to go abroad, if the sun came out more here I personally would never go abroad.

I see little point in going to places like Ibiza and lying on the beach for two weeks and clubbing all through the night. It's just so plastic.

Not all beach resorts are like that. We went to Varadero a few years ago and yes we spent a lot of time on the stunning beach and drinking cocktails in the cheesy disco at night, but we also did lots of excursions.
We hired a driver to take us into the local villages and we saw some natural beauty spots which are way off the tourist trail, including an underground lagoon which we swam in. We bought fresh fruit from the farmers and we were treated to a massive lunch at a local family 'shack'. We also went to Havana and that was a real eye opener! So like I said before, holidays are what you make them!

I live here for approx 50 weeks of the year so why on earth would i want to holiday here as well?!
I love going abroad, love the airport, the flight, the lovely feeling of the warmth hitting you when you step off the plane, the clear blue sky- not a cloud in sight, the wonderfule food, the sea, the shops etc. Can't beat a foreign break in the sun for me.

I can't be doing with going abroad, buying suntan lotion and insect repellant, injections, getting to the airport, queues, passports, being rammed into a small seat on a stuffy plane. No thanks, give me the UK any day :thumbsup:

Cheap fags ???

I go abroad to experience different cultures but never go to coastal resorts unless it's somewhere like Norway, Sweden or maybe the West coast of France. I'm not keen on tourist places either because you tend to get ripped off, e.g. Rome, Paris, Madrid but I do like Berlin. I see little point in going to places like Ibiza and lying on the beach for two weeks and clubbing all through the night. It's just so plastic.

We go on cruises and see different cities and countries on each day,it's only a taster but we go back to places that take our eye and book a few days there later.
Warm weather is great, but we are more culture conscious these days and we never cease to be amazed at the beauty and the wonders there are to be seen around the world.
These days i am not as mobile as i was,but i can sit on a bench by the river in Rome for hours and be transported back 2000+years just by looking at the wonders that surround me.