Holidays abroad versus UK
Can’t decide whether to stay at home or go abroad this year? Perhaps our travel scenarios will help you to choose the right destination and travel insurance.
Tom from Birmingham can’t wait to drink cocktails on a tropical beach...
‘My wife and I split our holiday allowance up into an annual two-week summer holiday, a break over Christmas and a few short trips through the year. So when it comes to taking time off over the summer, we want to get to sunnier climes as soon as possible, especially when the weather in Britain is so unpredictable!
Finding the summer sun
‘We took a break in Wales one year and it rained for the whole time. I’d much rather be drinking cocktails on the beach. This year we’re thinking the Caribbean but if our purse strings are a little tight, then we’ll just head to one of our usual haunts on the Costa del Sol or over on Majorca. We usually book into a hotel or apart-hotel that gives us board and all or most of our meals, plus a little luxury – it’s nice to be treated from time to time. That way we can fully relax and get on with enjoying our time by the sea, eating in the beach bars and maybe trying some of the watersports.
‘We also usually organise a few sightseeing trips too where we see a different side of life to what we’re used to back home. That’s what makes a holiday for us. Seeing something different, coming back with a tan and letting the sun, sea and sand take all our cares away. This year, we might do some sun-seeking over Christmas too. According to some of our friends, it’s the best way to break up the winter. Bring it on!’
Mary from Liverpool has a special place on the Devon coast...
‘I have been on holidays abroad, but none of them ever match the time we spend at our holiday home in Devon. Located down near Salcombe, we’ve been visiting the same spot as a family for 20 years. We part-share the cottage with another family and make a bit of money renting it out when we’re not using it. My husband and I go down there every August, sometimes for weekend breaks during the year, and we’ve been bringing the children ever since they were born. Now they have their own kids of their own, they come too and we can all pitch in and make it a special time.
Away from it all
‘The best thing for the children is so much green space to run around in outside. We have a garden that looks out over fields and the South West Coastal Path is just a short drive away. From Salcombe, we can walk for miles in either direction or simply picnic on the cliff tops or beach. You could definitely say this is our second home, as we have our favourite spots all over Devon, just like we do up near Liverpool. At night we can wander down to one of the local pubs or head into one of the nearby towns – Totnes or Plymouth for example.
‘Apart from the beautiful scenery and knowing the area so well, taking a break in the UK is also cheaper than heading abroad. We can drive down here from up North, cook all our own food, make picnics and have plenty of sightseeing opportunities on the coast and inland, plus the whole family can come. Hopefully, we’ll be holidaying in Devon for many more years to come.’