Going on Holiday in the UK - WHY?
Discussion
theplayingmantis said:
otolith said:
Must admit, the grumbling about tourism and holiday lets from locals in tourist areas does inspire a slight feeling of “well f
k you then, I’ll go where they want my custom”.
most locals are fine, its only the stupid and jealous. usually of the left or far right.k you then, I’ll go where they want my custom”.We are friendly with some of the local businesses and many shut between November to February. They spend a month carrying out renovations and then go off to somewhere warm like Canary Islands or Thailand for a couple of months. They have no complaints, although many are seriously worried about this summer as it is looking very uncertain. Going to war with the tourists and second home owners is costing them their economy.
I can certainly see some sense in the OP’s post. We have holidayed extensively in the UK but even though where I am right now (for example) isn’t the most polished or beautiful of places, I’d take it over any UK coastal town or city every single time.
The quality of food and drink is excellent (even corner shops here have better fresh produce than we might find at home in a supermarket much of the time). It’s also very cheap/good value. The beaches & people are lovely. It’s a short flight from the UK (also drivable if you have the time/inclination) and has sunshine over 300 days per year. Even at Christmas, it’s warmer than an average summer day at home.
The quality of food and drink is excellent (even corner shops here have better fresh produce than we might find at home in a supermarket much of the time). It’s also very cheap/good value. The beaches & people are lovely. It’s a short flight from the UK (also drivable if you have the time/inclination) and has sunshine over 300 days per year. Even at Christmas, it’s warmer than an average summer day at home.
Prisoner 24601 said:
Go on...the big reveal please.....
Sorry - I wasn’t trying to turn it into a guessing game. Yes, Malaga. A fantastic city itself, but this whole area is a lovely holiday/break destination at any time of the year. Lovely restaurants, bars & beaches which aren’t crawling with chavs, dogs & sprogs.
Edited by MarkJS on Friday 31st May 17:37
MarkJS said:
Sorry - I wasn’t trying to turn it into a guessing game. Yes, Malaga. A fantastic city itself, but this whole area is a lovely holiday/break destination at any time of the year.
Went for a long weekend to Malaga a couple of years ago. Was pleasantly surprised at how nice it was. Roof top bars, families all out eating on Sunday, marina- and not expensivePurpleTurtle said:
Have you not considered a country where they speak English, or where you can get by in it?
I speak very basic (GCSE level, 30yrs ago) French and German but have holidayed in every major European country either solo or in groups, plus the USA, Canada, Mexico, Africa and India. Zero language difficulties, the most trying circumstances resolved with a phrase book.
Not speaking the lingo is a poor excuse to deny yourself the delights of international travel but each to their own I guess.
To be honest, nowhere abroad particularly appeals to me, and unfortunately it’s been so long since I went abroad that terrible anxiety would kick in….plus I hate flying….I’m best off sticking with what I’m comfortable with. I’m not an adventurous sort at the best of times.I speak very basic (GCSE level, 30yrs ago) French and German but have holidayed in every major European country either solo or in groups, plus the USA, Canada, Mexico, Africa and India. Zero language difficulties, the most trying circumstances resolved with a phrase book.
Not speaking the lingo is a poor excuse to deny yourself the delights of international travel but each to their own I guess.
Crap answer I know.
blueg33 said:
The French have a totally different approach to food I think that's a given. But Its just as easy to get a crap meal in France as it is in the UK, especially in tourist locations, and generally food in France is more expensive than here whether you are buying it at a supermarket or in a restaurant.
I can point you to restaurants in Devon that would match or beat any decent French restaurant and cost you no more and in many cases less.
Oh, and the French are rubbish at fish and chips
Yes but a decent French restaurant is Michelin and a Bistro/Brasserie about the same as our top notch.I can point you to restaurants in Devon that would match or beat any decent French restaurant and cost you no more and in many cases less.
Oh, and the French are rubbish at fish and chips
Can't say much of North Devon has ever given me a warm glowing feeling when we go down. Woolacombe poor, Braunton highstreet has a Fish and chip shop that has a queue out the door most weekends....because it's the only restaurant in braunton and it suits the local tourists.
One of the few places in the UK I do like is Dartmouth in Devon. Absolutely gorgeous mini harbour, harlyn bay beach is nice as far as UK beaches go ...but again the accommodation in Dartmouth is atrocious, overpriced, the restaurants are garbage and overpriced and there is nowhere to park.
simons123 said:
One of the few places in the UK I do like is Dartmouth in Devon. Absolutely gorgeous mini harbour, harlyn bay beach is nice as far as UK beaches go ...but again the accommodation in Dartmouth is atrocious, overpriced, the restaurants are garbage and overpriced and there is nowhere to park.
apart from that mind....bennno said:
simons123 said:
One of the few places in the UK I do like is Dartmouth in Devon. Absolutely gorgeous mini harbour, harlyn bay beach is nice as far as UK beaches go ...but again the accommodation in Dartmouth is atrocious, overpriced, the restaurants are garbage and overpriced and there is nowhere to park.
apart from that mind....fourstardan said:
Yes but a decent French restaurant is Michelin and a Bistro/Brasserie about the same as our top notch.
Can't say much of North Devon has ever given me a warm glowing feeling when we go down. Woolacombe poor, Braunton highstreet has a Fish and chip shop that has a queue out the door most weekends....because it's the only restaurant in braunton and it suits the local tourists.
Pattard Restaurant Can't say much of North Devon has ever given me a warm glowing feeling when we go down. Woolacombe poor, Braunton highstreet has a Fish and chip shop that has a queue out the door most weekends....because it's the only restaurant in braunton and it suits the local tourists.
Farmers Arms Woolsery
Flame Factory
Pier House
Royal George
Zaichik said:
Just back from a week in Devon. Some beautiful places but the weather was bad.
Overall a bit like going to a tattoo convention in an open prison
Haha.Overall a bit like going to a tattoo convention in an open prison
We have just been in Cornwall.
We must have been the only people without full sleeve/chest/leg tattoos. I suspect that people were looking on thinking.that we were a bit strange.
It was a great holiday, though.
I don't bother in the UK any longer. I have done in the past, and have done the usual Edinburgh, London, Glasgow, York trips ad nauseum. The only one I would return to is the lakes but it is too congested now and on the last trip it rained for 7 days incessantly. It's just boring. I also worked at Manchester and Gatwick airports for over 20 years and I will not travel to the usual sad 'British' hot spots abroad. Not my kind of people. I don't want to get on a flight full of gobste drunks and so many are.
I have taken my children on trips that are fun but I hope teach them something about the world outside of the parochial UK and its small mindedness. I've taken them to Riga, Madrid, Berlin, Paris, New York, Las Vegas (and Grand Canyon), Dubai, Milan, Barcelona, Carcassonne, Prague, off the top if my head.
The UK is an awfully self-obsessed, dreary, bad weathered and parochial place, it's good to get away from it.
te drunks and so many are.I have taken my children on trips that are fun but I hope teach them something about the world outside of the parochial UK and its small mindedness. I've taken them to Riga, Madrid, Berlin, Paris, New York, Las Vegas (and Grand Canyon), Dubai, Milan, Barcelona, Carcassonne, Prague, off the top if my head.
The UK is an awfully self-obsessed, dreary, bad weathered and parochial place, it's good to get away from it.
okgo said:
Can't believe it needs explaining.
It is VERY likely you will have st weather, curtailing any activity you can do/enjoy that isn't indoors, especially with children. For not a lot more, you can mitigate that risk, eat better (and probably vastly cheaper) food. That is why people do it.
I agree. Up until last year, twice a year for nearly 20 years we would go into Europe (mainly France, Spain, Italy and once Holland) and stay in a luxury mobile home. We would mostly drive and stay in Novotel’s or something similar if the trip required overnight stays. It is VERY likely you will have s
t weather, curtailing any activity you can do/enjoy that isn't indoors, especially with children. For not a lot more, you can mitigate that risk, eat better (and probably vastly cheaper) food. That is why people do it.The children often had aqua park’s or similar attractions on site. We would of course go out and see many places within the host country. Moreover the children made many friends often from different countries.
Alternatively if I said to them that we are staying in a cottage somewhere in Britain with no pool(s) and it’s probably going to be cold and wet, I can’t see it going down too well.
We’ve had some great long weekends in Britain and Ireland, but for a main holiday(s) absolutely no way.
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