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[MSE Lawrence]

Poll between 16-23 March 2009.

Would you holiday in the UK?

The pound has plummeted against the Euro and the Dollar, and while holiday prices have come down, the cost of doing anything once you’re abroad has rocketed. Has this changed your attitude to holidaying in Britain?

For your MAIN annual holiday/trip only, which is closest to your/your family's situation?

A. I never take a main holiday - 9% (759 votes)
B. I always holiday in the UK - 13% (1141 votes)
C. I sometimes holiday in the UK and will this year - 18% (1548 votes)
D. This year it's the UK for cost reasons, normally we go abroad - 12% (984 votes)
E. I’d want to stay in the UK, but need guaranteed sun, so its abroad - 8% (665 votes)
F. The UK’s expensive anyway, I’m going abroad - 18% (1571 votes)
G. I usually stay in the UK, this year I’m going abroad - 3% (239 votes)
H. I always go abroad, and I’d never ‘compromise’, so we are this year too. - 13% (1142 votes)
I. Money’s no problem anyway, we’re going abroad. - 6% (478 votes)

Voting has now closed, but you can stilll click 'post reply' to discuss below. Thanks

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[Gavin83]

I'd go for H. To be totally honest, I wouldn't see a holiday in the UK as an actual holiday and I regularly wander around the country visitng friends. I'd only consider going abroad for my trips but I could see the advantage of UK holidays for families and those who are a little hard up.

[onetomany]

d this year

[kiwifruit]

B more specifically I usually go north towards Scotland

[Rikki]

I always have a couple of short breaks in the UK and every couple of years I manage to get a week or two abroad. Not a beach holiday more hiking and adventurous.

[Jennifer_Jane]

This year staying home (ie holidays in my own home!). The reason is not the recession, however, it's because I had work done on the house last year, so this is to make up for that, and also because I'm short of money as I'm madly saving for retirement in September.

Usually I go abroad, however, as the UK is expensive, so might as well see other places.

Jen
x

[tiff]

Usually go abroad but worried about the recession, so keeping costs down by taking a Sun holiday for 4 nights and also visiting family in Ireland for a week. Ferry cost paid for by Tesco vouchers.

[teddyco]

Traveling to Florida again this year and staying with family which reduces my costs. Won't stay here due to over-crowding and that always ruins it.

[supersavingsharon]

Before we had the children, we always holidayed abroad, now with two young children we enjoy UK holidays. Dorset is a lovely county and this year we are going to Cornwall as lots of people have recommended this to us. If you go abroad there is much more of a quarantee regarding the weather however we once had to cancel a holiday abroad as our daughter had an ear infection and couldn't fly- not a problem with UK holidays!

[Tarry]

Not sure what I am as I am planning to go to Ireland in the Summer.

[jackieb]

We only holiday about once every 3-4 years, and when we do it's always in the UK. I don't feel we miss out not going on holidays. We do go for days out. I like coming home to my own house.

[before hollywood]

i used to love foreign holidays with my family, however since leaving school/college etc i have only been abroad twice.

the jobs i had were mostly low paid and i have been ill both times, the last one was quite severe and only now am i close to being signed off by the hospital as recovered (2 units have to sign me off and i am waiting for the renal unit to contact me to do one final set of tests)

i was supposed to go away this year but had to cancel it, i needed the £600-odd extra for hopefully a cooker, fridge etc.

i dont see anything wrong with holidays in the uk, only problem is you have to go in season for it to feel like a holiday, i went to blackpool in december with my friend for a concert and it didnt feel very holiday like at all

[*Louise*]

We usually holiday in the UK, this year we are going abroad

Technically it's nothing to do with money though, it's our honeymoon.

[LouBlue]

Normally always go abroad, I like to see new places, new countries and get good weather. Its so disappointing booking a week in this country in the middle of summer then the weather is awful.

Trying to move house, so not going abroad this year. Might go to Centerparcs with sis and the kids as even if the weather is a bit duff, there is lots to do there indoors and its in lovely woodland.

[Westywoodpecker]

Not too sure this year. We would normally go abroad (Spain) but as it's 50% more this time are shying away a bit this year. I've no probs about a holiday in this country, just not sure what teenagers will say

[DKLS]

The UK is fine for a weekend city break but I couldn't do two weeks here.

[johncolescarr]

I usually go away every other year for a week in the sun with my partner and the alternate years in the lakes (or if were really lucky both!). This year, I've been really worried about the cost of going abroad (Canaries), but when I compared it to 2 years ago the cost was not that much more. Holiday itself was actually cheaper. Ok spending money is about 15% more, but this equates to about 70 quid. Overall, it probably about 40-50 quid different. However, holidays in this country can be really expensive. The cost of a cottage for a week in summer is huge!

I understand that the economics might be different for a family, but for me its really not that different

[W_s_n]

'D'

Usually we stay in the uk, but this year we are going to the south of france.


Had some really good and fun camping holidays in the uk in the last few years, but i'm really looking forward to some really hot weather this year.


Regards
W_s_n

[jeferey]

D for me - usually go in a caravan in Italy or France for Spring Bank and Jersey in Summer Hols but this year are going on a canal boat paid for by Tesco Clubcard Deals. France was expensive last year when the Euro was 1.26, now it's 1.03, it would be ridiculous. We are going back to Jersey again in July - Decent weather, British Pounds and no VAT.

[thelawnet]

How much more does it cost to shop abroad?

This is compared to December 31 2007.

The £ was US$1.98. It is now $1.40

So your spending will cost 41% more, e.g., £500 then is £700 now.

Euro:
£ was €1.36. Now €1.08. Prices up 26%

Turkey
£1 was 2.32 Now 2.39. Prices DOWN 3%

Egypt
£1 was 10.99. Now 7.88. Prices up 39%

Thailand

£1 was 58.95. Now 50.19. Prices up 17%

South Africa
£1 was 13.63. Now 13.98 Prices DOWN 3%

Indonesia:
£1 was 18,700. Now 16,800. Prices up 11%

India:
£1 was 78.2, now 72.0. Prices up 9%.

Iceland
£1 was 78.2. Now 315.1. Prices DOWN 75%

Morocco
was 15.31 now 11.97. Prices up 28%

Conclusion: Britain is no cheaper, but some countries are now expensive. +11% in Indonesia is +11% on a low base, so who cares, but in France it's very significant.

Holiday in Turkey, Iceland or many others for a cheap trip.