Our plans haven't changed this year as 'the funds' are there. However I would have been quite happy to stay in the UK and quite fancied Cornwall or the Scottish Islands. We do like the sun and I have to say the luxury of not cooking for 2 weeks. If we were to stay here I'm sure I would end up cooking more than if we went self catering abroad. I do wonder if companies here will start moving towards the sort of 'meal' packages you get on a traditional package deal. Still doesn't guarantee the sun, but it is a beautiful country and there is still so much we haven't seen.

Pam

We havent holidayed in the UK for years. HOwever, we used to like just packing up the car and seeing where we ended up- no kids makes it a bit easier There are many great areas in the UK. I love the west coast in Scotland but also enjoyed places like York, Chester or Torquay.

One of the best holidays we ever had was in a cottage we rented near Polperro in Cornwall. We spent 2 weeks there and had perfect weather. The scenery and beaches are marvellous. There are plenty of lovely seaside holidays to be had in this country, without the typical Blackpool sort of things. North West Norfolk is anther great place to go. It has a combination of fabulous sandy beaches and lovely countryside just inland. There's all sorts of activities to do as well, so something for everyone.

As a child and for a number of years into adulthood, I/we have stayed in Cornwall. When we do get some sort of summer here, Cornwall is almost med-like. The beaches are beautiful and very clean and the sea blue. When the weather is rubbish, it is very boring with not a lot to do. I do however love Cornwall and the best beach is Carbis Bay.

We are fortunate that we have a holiday abroad booked for this year. We did look into staying in the UK, but to be honest, for the dates that we are able to go, the prices were not that different and given the choice of a week away here or a week away with almost guaranteed sunshine.....well no prizes for guessing which we chose.

Sarah

Sorry but the UK just doesn't do it for me. Resorst way past their sell by dates and often miserable staff in hotels, pubs and restaurants. Despite the exchange rate Britain is still a rip off regarding prices for often a poor service. The only way I would consider a holiday in this country is if I was going to do something where the weather would not be a factor and I was going to absorb some culture. But that would not be a holiday, more a short break.

weve stayed in England for the last couple of years now, due to money and the lack of it,
but hub says dont even look for a hol in uk this year cos things are tight,
and he wasnts a new car,,,,, but im on the look out for something,,,,,,,,,,,

We have taken many happy cottage style holidays here in the UK, mostly Devon and cornwall . We used to take a holiday abroad in the sun for lazing about at the end of May and then have a week in a cottage here over the summer holidays. 2 very dfferent styles of holiday . The lazing by the pool all day reading a book and being waited on and the self catering walking all day type of UK break .Plenty of walking etc also forces good old quality time and talking with teenagers which is very rare at home for us . both very enjoyable and I would have no problem doing a UK break if we had to .

Nowadays I have become greedy and want both but as the chldren are now older and at any one time I usually have one of them sitting exams etc we have to take our main holiday over the summer and then try and catch a weekend or week in a cottage here spring/autumn.

Its not cheap to holiday here over the summer . A decent cottage will set you back anything between £700 - £1500 just for 1 week over the 6 week break + your spending money but you can pick up plenty of bargains for Oct half term.

I've travelled around most of the UK now on short breaks Not sure if I am going away this year though

If like me you have to go on holidays during school breaks, then holidays in the country are over priced rip offs. Vastly inflated prices for mostly shoddy service. We do take breaks in this country but mostly just weekends fairly close to home, when you can pick up some bargains. With budget airlines operating form our local airports, its usually far cheaper to go abroad.

My eldest daughter lives 5 mins from the beach in Cornwall so we're lucky we can have a short break with her any time we like.You cannot better the scenery or beaches when the sun is shining.

Last year we decided to stay in the UK, went down the Suffolk area and fell in love with the place....found an out of this world farm cottage with many unexpected amenities and a reasonable price and fantastic scenery...So we are back there this year again....Sure the weather is mixed but a pound is still worth a pound, no hassles at an airport, load everything in the car and off you go....its great ...

I think that is one of the biggest plusses- you don't have to worry what to pack. If in doubt- you just take it

We have started to have a January holiday abroad because hotels tend to be very reasonable then and you can generally guarantee that the weather will be better than at home!! We also have a couple of UK cottage holidays - one in May and one in September/October. The standard of holiday cottages in the UK has improved no end.

Having just come back from a week in the Algarve I can honestly say that the days of things being much cheaper abroad (Eurozone particularly) have gone. The cost of a drink in a hotel bar is often higher than here - for 'cheap' drink you really have to hunt around. We actually found the smaller local minimarket was cheaper than a large supermarket!

People call us 'rip off Britain' but I have to disagree - in Faro airport they were charging 3.50 euros for a 500ml bottle of coke............and 1.80 euros for a small bottle of water. At Gatwick we got 2 750ml bottles of water in Boots for £1.60.

I enjoy my holidays in this country and as a previous poster said you can just shove everything in the car and go when you are ready - no waiting at airports, security checks etc. etc.

I did hear that Hoseasons booking were up considerably on last year. Good news for our tourism industry and out country in general.

We are having a family UK holiday this year for the first time in ages but only because my son and his wife don't want to go abroad because of the little one. The other grandson who is coming with us was a bit put out that we're not going to the Caribbean again this year.
We've booked a very well priced 3 bed bungalow virtually on the beach in Cornwall the expensive part is having to hire a 7 seater to get us all there.

I'm sort of excited, it will be lovely to spend some time with my family but I'm worried that the weather might let us down as we are only going for a week.

Mr Pixie thinks that's it for the year but if a very cheap last minute deal was to become available for the Caribbean just before Christmas it would be mad to turn it down wouldnt it. shhhhhhh don't tell him.

For the past 3 years we have been lucky enough to go to Orlando Florida for our hols....

This year we are heading to Weymouth or Bournemouth!!!

Im still looking forward to it - have many memories of family holidays there when i was a child
GG x

Has anyone ever thought of having a holiday at home? By that I mean just do as you would on holiday. So no fixing things about the house etc etc. Go on day trips to local places you haven't been to for a long time, go out for meals. Maybe even camp in the garden. Treat your home town as strangers would and visit the museums etc. It's really not as daft as it sounds.

madabouttravel wrote:

Has anyone ever thought of having a holiday at home? By that I mean just do as you would on holiday. So no fixing things about the house etc etc. Go on day trips to local places you haven't been to for a long time, go out for meals. Maybe even camp in the garden. Treat your home town as strangers would and visit the museums etc. It's really not as daft as it sounds.

I remember my parents doing something like this when I was a teenager in the "hard-up" 1980s. They had some time off work during my school holidays and we went out in the car every day to all sorts of places that were within a day's drive there and back - Wales, Lake District, Yorkshire etc.
I suppose I'll end up doing something like that in the next few years now that the kids don't want family holidays anymore, I don't drive but there's loads of places just a bus or train ride away that I'd like to visit but never got around to.

Glittergirl - I love the coast down that way. If the weather's good I don't think you can beat the beach at Sandbanks in Poole, if you haven't been I highly recommend you go...you can easily think you're in the med on a sunny day. Also recommend 'Summer Breeze' which is a free event held by Poole council either on Poole Quay or Sandbanks beach (depending on when you go). It's on a Thursday evening throughout the summer, they have street entertainers, bbq, etc and they finish off the evening with a fantastic firework display out over the sea...it's a great atmosphere and worth making the effort to go. You'll have a great time I'm sure... and if the sun's going to shine anywhere in the UK it's usually that coast...so fingers crossed.

nicJW - that sounds perfect! Its funny because when i think back to family holidays down there, it was always sunny....it never rains there, does it?! :)

I also have fond memories of fishing for crabs in the harbour in Weymouth with my dad....dont think ill be doing that again, but will be nice to go back and see all the old places again
I will definitely keep an eye out for the Summer Breeze event!
GG x