Holiday time is upon us

RoseR wrote:

getjim wrote:Well, I shall be holidaying in the UK. But then I'm lucky to live in Cornwall.
Money is certainly tighter this year with the economic slow down. Builders / developers who were building houses are now competing with the smaller guy like me and doing patios, decking, porches etc. Larger companies like Anglia & Everest are banging their prices right down and matching the little guy on quotes. Really hard at the minute to get the jobs in.
I'm putting what money I can away to ensure we go skiing. During our summer break we'll head to the beach (hopefully), take our boat out for a couple of days, go surfing, hire kayaks, take the bikes out. With the amazing countryside, beaches and visitor attractions we have in Cornwall and the UK I can see why people stay in this country. There's no such thing as bad weather, just people wearing the wrong clothes. Yes, it would be great to have some more sunshine but you cannot knock those who can't or don't want to go abroad.

Agree with you any small companies/building/windows etc the economic down turn is really affecting them. Two years ago my hubby was fitting a conservatory a month, 4 or 5 complete sets of windows and doors. Although he still gets a bit coming in he is mostly doing repairs and patching up, it gives him a job every day but not huge money. The bigger companys are definately dropping their prices.

My hubby is in the window industry (they manufacture and he sells to trade)and his business is booming. They've recently had some of the best months ever.

TH - I do agree with you about the deals going abroad etc, our 2 weeks camping are costing £450 which is a bargain, however we will probably spend around £1000 in those 2 weeks with the weather being crap and could probably have found a good deal abroad for the same amount. Saying that, we'd also have to put the dog in kennels (£150), park the car (£150) and have spending money on top, so scrap that.

With any luck this time next year I'll be packing my bikini instead of my wellies and jetting off to sunnier climes, I would rather spend a bit more on having a nice sunny two weeks than a soggy wet one. This year it's just not possible.

Anyway, it's 2 weeks off work and anything has to be better than that :D

Just came back from the Orkney Islands. We were camping for 10 days. 1 morning of heavy rain apart from that excellent weather.. sunny& blue skies..Not expensive...went to visit an ancient chambered cairn..no charge although in the care of Historic Scotland. Many beautiful sandy beaches. We went fishing as well this was also no charge.. Our dog came with us so no expensive kennels .There are many good deals in the uk & excellent places to visit etc. :D

AllyG wrote:

The advantage is that people can drive here, and bring all their stuff, which saves all the hassle of getting to airports and catching flights etc.

I used to drive to the south of France, Spain and Italy before I overcame my fear of flying, and we had fantastically cheap holidays. The extra fuel used for travelling, which in those days was around £100 for the return journey, was easily made up for in cheaper and better food and drink, lower priced fuel on the continent back then, and the difference between this




and this





Rose, you are absolutely right about finding Greece so reasonable and beautiful. I know a lot of people who religiously take or took summer holidays in Devon, Cornwall, Wales, Northumberland etc and said places like Greece and Italy were out of reach for them, without even looking at the cost comparison. Many of those people only went in the UK because it was a family trait, and something they had had instilled in them to do. Many of them now holiday abroad and never take a break in the UK. Not that I am saying thats a good thing, as tourism plays a part in our economy, but I really cant blame anyone who feels the same way as me, inasmuch as holidays in the UK really are unreliable and expensive.

Lovely photo of the beach in sun & Greece is beautiful. But I still maintain if you cannot actually afford a passport then a Sun (the newspaper) holiday will just have to do.
There really are people for whom a holiday abroad is just a dream.
I do agree, if you are going the whole hog on a UK holiday it can be expensive, but if you ain't got it you can't spend it here either.
And....No, I'm not holidaying in this country this summer, because like you I don't have to.

PrivateBryan wrote:Lovely photo of the beach in sun & Greece is beautiful. But I still maintain if you cannot actually afford a passport then a Sun (the newspaper) holiday will just have to do.
There really are people for whom a holiday abroad is just a dream.
I do agree, if you are going the whole hog on a UK holiday it can be expensive, but if you ain't got it you can't spend it here either.
And....No, I'm not holidaying in this country this summer, because like you I don't have to.

Fair point, although without sounding snobbish (not something I have ever been accused of), I wouldnt expect people who cant afford a holiday to be posting on this forum.

Tony_H wrote:

PrivateBryan wrote:Lovely photo of the beach in sun & Greece is beautiful. But I still maintain if you cannot actually afford a passport then a Sun (the newspaper) holiday will just have to do.
There really are people for whom a holiday abroad is just a dream.
I do agree, if you are going the whole hog on a UK holiday it can be expensive, but if you ain't got it you can't spend it here either.
And....No, I'm not holidaying in this country this summer, because like you I don't have to.

Fair point, although without sounding snobbish (not something I have ever been accused of), I wouldnt expect people who cant afford a holiday to be posting on this forum.

Crikey, Tony, you might have at least used a smiley. :wink:

On the other hand, I do agree with you. It is only poor people that can't afford to ski.