Going on Holiday in the UK - WHY?
Discussion
xx99xx said:
Not sure you could even fly to France in less than 'hours' by the time you've travelled to an airport, gone through security, fly, then do passport control and local travel at the other end.
So there's another thing I don't get, the perception that travel within the UK takes too long. (Unless you're stuck on the M5 for hours then I'd agree).
I’m lucky that we’re south coast so can get to Cologne in around the same time as Edinburgh. I always drive to Edinburgh as factoring in everything you say, combined cost when there’s 2 or more and the extra luggage for longer stays it’s a no brainer. When I looked into it train, plane and car all are within an hour of each other total time door to door and all have just as much chance of a good run to a delayed run. So there's another thing I don't get, the perception that travel within the UK takes too long. (Unless you're stuck on the M5 for hours then I'd agree).
Antony Moxey said:
Perhaps the OP might like to ask the millions of visitors from overseas why they visit Britain for their holidays rather than staying in their own countries or visiting anywhere that’s not Britain. It’d also be interesting to know exactly how much of Britain and abroad the OP’s visited to be able to give us such well thought out view on holidaying in Britain compared to the rest of the world.
The vast majority visit London not BritainSP_ said:
Antony Moxey said:
Perhaps the OP might like to ask the millions of visitors from overseas why they visit Britain for their holidays rather than staying in their own countries or visiting anywhere that’s not Britain. It’d also be interesting to know exactly how much of Britain and abroad the OP’s visited to be able to give us such well thought out view on holidaying in Britain compared to the rest of the world.
The vast majority visit London not Britainsimons123 said:
Antony Moxey said:
Perhaps the OP might like to ask the millions of visitors from overseas why they visit Britain for their holidays rather than staying in their own countries or visiting anywhere that’s not Britain. It’d also be interesting to know exactly how much of Britain and abroad the OP’s visited to be able to give us such well thought out view on holidaying in Britain compared to the rest of the world.
Doubt there are millions of visitors from abroad going to Devon or Skeggie tbh....I'm pretty sure the vast majority of them would only be interested in London, Edinburgh or the Cotswold.Glorious scenery, amazing pubs and cafes, quirky points of interest, some super friendly people.
But then I read :
ecsrobin said:
paulrockliffe said:
All of this was said on the original thread, the post you're replying to is almost a copy-paste of what was on there too, so it's a bit odd that it merits another thread some weeks later.
Exactly, and a quick look at the posters previous travel destinations, Delhi, Agra and jaipur being hellholes
Croatia not in a rush to go back
Krakow just like any touristy place
San Francisco is an utter dump
LA is bad
He did like the Algarve though!
I cycled LEJoG 3 years ago….& it made me realise what a beautiful place we live in.
Try getting out more.
I go abroad on holiday to the UK 
As for travel time, I live less than an hour from an airport, but by the time I've got there early enough to ensure I'm through security/passports in time, spent an hour on a plane, disembarked and then got to my destination, it can easily be a 5 hour trip for a 1 hour flight time. For those living and holidaying the same country 5 hours driving gets you a pretty long way (or in my case one of 4 different countries).
As for travel time, I live less than an hour from an airport, but by the time I've got there early enough to ensure I'm through security/passports in time, spent an hour on a plane, disembarked and then got to my destination, it can easily be a 5 hour trip for a 1 hour flight time. For those living and holidaying the same country 5 hours driving gets you a pretty long way (or in my case one of 4 different countries).
PurpleTurtle said:
"OP in lack of imagination about his own country shocker"
The UK has an abundance of beautiful, interesting places, but just a random sample of UK people who take domestic holidays covers:
People who don't like flying
People who don't like ferries
People who don't like foreign food
People who don't like the heat
People who don't like the time it takes to get to <wherever> abroad
People who have dogs
People who like camping in the UK
People who like caravanning in the UK
People who like motorhoming in the UK
People who like coastal walking
People who like hill walking
People who like our abundant countryside
People who need to be close to home because of elderly relatives
People who cannot afford a foreign holiday (yes, I know the UK can be expensive in certain places)
.... all of them enjoy holidaying in the UK.
Not enough of these are booking cottages at the moment.The UK has an abundance of beautiful, interesting places, but just a random sample of UK people who take domestic holidays covers:
People who don't like flying
People who don't like ferries
People who don't like foreign food
People who don't like the heat
People who don't like the time it takes to get to <wherever> abroad
People who have dogs
People who like camping in the UK
People who like caravanning in the UK
People who like motorhoming in the UK
People who like coastal walking
People who like hill walking
People who like our abundant countryside
People who need to be close to home because of elderly relatives
People who cannot afford a foreign holiday (yes, I know the UK can be expensive in certain places)
.... all of them enjoy holidaying in the UK.
Our bookings in AONB in North Devon are well down and my wife works for a large holiday cottage company and they see bookings are down across the board.
simons123 said:
Doubt there are millions of visitors from abroad going to Devon or Skeggie tbh....I'm pretty sure the vast majority of them would only be interested in London, Edinburgh or the Cotswold.
I can only speak for our place in DevonBookings this year so far are about 30% people from abroad, Main places are USA, Australia and for some reason Switzerland.
Hoofy said:
blueg33 said:
Not enough of these are booking cottages at the moment.
Our bookings in AONB in North Devon are well down and my wife works for a large holiday cottage company and they see bookings are down across the board.
Is that for all cottages or just more expensive ones?Our bookings in AONB in North Devon are well down and my wife works for a large holiday cottage company and they see bookings are down across the board.
blueg33 said:
Not enough of these are booking cottages at the moment.
Our bookings in AONB in North Devon are well down and my wife works for a large holiday cottage company and they see bookings are down across the board.
I would agree with that.Our bookings in AONB in North Devon are well down and my wife works for a large holiday cottage company and they see bookings are down across the board.
We had poor occupancy rates since Covid. Didn’t pick up last year (& I know the IOW has suffered more widely with reduced numbers).
We reached a point this year where we decided to stop letting it.
Regulations getting daft (essentially taking lessons from Grenfell and applying them to small places that don’t resemble them in the slighted). Sure, some made sense, but many didn’t.
We will use our place more ourselves, & let family & friends stay for a much lower price to keep it ticking over.
In some ways, it feels like the Government want to remove as many as possible to turn them into homes….not realising that in holiday areas, without the holiday lets, the areas cannot sustain the attractions/pubs/cafes etc….
mikeiow said:
blueg33 said:
Not enough of these are booking cottages at the moment.
Our bookings in AONB in North Devon are well down and my wife works for a large holiday cottage company and they see bookings are down across the board.
I would agree with that.Our bookings in AONB in North Devon are well down and my wife works for a large holiday cottage company and they see bookings are down across the board.
We had poor occupancy rates since Covid. Didn’t pick up last year (& I know the IOW has suffered more widely with reduced numbers).
We reached a point this year where we decided to stop letting it.
Regulations getting daft (essentially taking lessons from Grenfell and applying them to small places that don’t resemble them in the slighted). Sure, some made sense, but many didn’t.
We will use our place more ourselves, & let family & friends stay for a much lower price to keep it ticking over.
In some ways, it feels like the Government want to remove as many as possible to turn them into homes….not realising that in holiday areas, without the holiday lets, the areas cannot sustain the attractions/pubs/cafes etc….
The fixed costs etc are becoming prohibitive and we are unlikely to hit the occupancy rates that HMRC and LA require. I am however thinking that as people exit the market occupancy for those left will increase.
blueg33 said:
Hoofy said:
blueg33 said:
Not enough of these are booking cottages at the moment.
Our bookings in AONB in North Devon are well down and my wife works for a large holiday cottage company and they see bookings are down across the board.
Is that for all cottages or just more expensive ones?Our bookings in AONB in North Devon are well down and my wife works for a large holiday cottage company and they see bookings are down across the board.
Cost of catering whilst there is far less and you have a much better guarantee of weather.
I'd rather do the latter for my summer holiday, much as I adore Devon and Cornwall. It's the weather gamble for me, primarily.
PurpleTurtle said:
blueg33 said:
Hoofy said:
blueg33 said:
Not enough of these are booking cottages at the moment.
Our bookings in AONB in North Devon are well down and my wife works for a large holiday cottage company and they see bookings are down across the board.
Is that for all cottages or just more expensive ones?Our bookings in AONB in North Devon are well down and my wife works for a large holiday cottage company and they see bookings are down across the board.
Cost of catering whilst there is far less and you have a much better guarantee of weather.
I'd rather do the latter for my summer holiday, much as I adore Devon and Cornwall. It's the weather gamble for me, primarily.
A quick search with Gites du France shows the equivalent in Brittany (where it rains) is about the same price if its inland or about £500 more if its near the sea (ours is near the sea). Then you have to add in the cost of channel crossing (if you live Midlands or west of UK the Channel Tunnel or the short crossings are a PITA) and the western routes more expensive.
I think you are doing some man maths or not comparing like with like. They also charge on top for cleaning.
borcy said:
I wonder why people aren't booking. I'm guessing two main reasons; they haven't the money or at least wary of spending it, or they think that type of accommodation is too expensive?
No doubt this is a factor. Air BnB because it shows daily prices looks cheaper (its usually not), but certainly Sykes have started comparing the cost per room with hotels like Premier Inn and publicising that the cottages are cheaper with more space, they just don't have a crappy restaurant attached.blueg33 said:
borcy said:
I wonder why people aren't booking. I'm guessing two main reasons; they haven't the money or at least wary of spending it, or they think that type of accommodation is too expensive?
No doubt this is a factor. Air BnB because it shows daily prices looks cheaper (its usually not), but certainly Sykes have started comparing the cost per room with hotels like Premier Inn and publicising that the cottages are cheaper with more space, they just don't have a crappy restaurant attached.No cooking or washing up and very close by.
Maybe the list rules that come with cottages, perhaps only a small part, put people off returning.
Perhaps when working out the cost if its only 500 more to go abroad then that feels about worth it?
Might just be they aren't fashionable/ they are off people's radars at the moment.
Edited by borcy on Wednesday 29th May 11:31
blueg33 said:
borcy said:
I wonder why people aren't booking. I'm guessing two main reasons; they haven't the money or at least wary of spending it, or they think that type of accommodation is too expensive?
No doubt this is a factor. Air BnB because it shows daily prices looks cheaper (its usually not), but certainly Sykes have started comparing the cost per room with hotels like Premier Inn and publicising that the cottages are cheaper with more space, they just don't have a crappy restaurant attached.We've booked Devon in July for a week for £1300. We can take pets, have tons of room and a large garden and free parking. No doubt the owners will leave us a 'care package' to welcome us and the cottage is beautifully appointed.
We'll take a cooler of food with us with basics and probably arrange a Tesco delivery if needed when not in the nearby pub or by the beach.
For £1300 what's not to like? Far cheaper than a week in Tenerife for a similar sized villa and no faff with airports, luggage restrictions or getting up at silly o'clock to make the 7am flight.
We like a holiday abroad but if you do it right, a holiday in this country can be just as special.
We used Sykes as well. Was painless booking with low deposits and a massive range to choose from. Wouldnt use Airbnb. Heard too many stories to put me off.
Can't believe it needs explaining.
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.
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.Gassing Station | Holidays & Travel | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff