Why is there so much pressure to go on expensive holidays?

dinkylou

dudleyboy wrote:

So, Steve, do you holiday alone out of choice or.......

:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

dudleyboy

As for expensive holidays, if the reason I can't afford it is because I can't afford it then I just tell them "I can't afford it". There's no shame in that and there's no need to tell fibs (i'm afraid of flying) or making justifications / apologies for your decisions. It's your holiday, you go where you want, with whom you want (who... whom...?) and if pushed further just tell them you're saving up for it, as you say. The notion of "saving up for" will probably be a completely new concept to most people but when they start opening those credit card bills they've stuffed behind the bread bin they'll soon wish they followed your lead.

climbgirl

dudleyboy wrote:

The notion of "saving up for" will probably be a completely new concept to most people but when they start opening those credit card bills they've stuffed behind the bread bin they'll soon wish they followed your lead.

I was in France for work a few weeks back and I was talking to the woman who researchs the financial sector, so she knows it fairly well. She's british and has lived in paris for the last 4.5 years. She said when she first moved there she got a massive shock because they don't really do credit cards over there - at all! There's one or two Visa type products, but most people don't have them.

She couldn't believe it and asked her partner how they paid for holidays etc. He just said 'we save for it'. Totally foreign concept to her, :rotfl:

steve_cov

dudleyboy wrote:

So, Steve, do you holiday alone out of choice or.......

Most of my friends are married or in relationships, so the latter. I'm not embarrassed about it.

I don't see the point of holidaying with my single friends whose holiday interests generally aren't very compatible with mine: I like architecture, art, books and history, whilst they prefer partying.

In any sphere (look at your workplace), people will fall out if they feel forced to accept the other's wishes. I'm not embarrassed to admit the potential fragility of some of my friendships, either.

lynzpower

Completely with you steve. Ive only had a holiday with someone else ( A good mate) in the last 5 years. Every other time Ive gone alone, and loved it, the freedom, the fact no one knows where on earth you are, do what you want, dance with who you want, eat when you want etc. TO me, the only downer of having my OH is the fact that those solo hols are now history, I doubt he'd be too happy of me being elsewhere in the world sambaing the night away with a caprihna in one hand and latino in another

climbgirl

steve_cov wrote:

Most of my friends are married or in relationships, so the latter. I'm not embarrassed about it.

I don't see the point of holidaying with my single friends whose holiday interests generally aren't very compatible with mine: I like architecture, art, books and history, whilst they prefer partying.

hear hear! I'm a big fan of travelling alone, not always of course. I'm an art junkie too and there was no way I was going to convince any of my friends to spend 3 days going round the museums in Florence, so I went alone. That was my first solo trip and I haven't looked back

You have to push yourself so much more on your own, people are much more open and likely to talk to you if you're not in a pair/group. I've had some wonderful experiences on solo trips, thoroughly recommend it. Why would you not go somewhere you really want to go just because you can't convince anyone else to come with you?

ms_london

Totally agree with all of you in the "I prefer travelling alone" camp.

I have got to the point where if I waited for my friends to do the things I wanted to see/do, then I would be waiting a long time & not get round to doing it, so I just take myself off & do the things alone. Dont get me wrong, it would be nice to do these things with someone, but only if they were truly interested!! Nothing worse than feeling as though you are forcing someone to see/do X, Y, Z!!

I like going shopping on my own too & to the cinema after work.

I sound like a nerd now don't I? :0(

dinkylou

No you dont sound like a nerd.

I live alone and do alot of things alone, just not sure I'd be brave enough to go somewhere abroad completely alone.

I have travelled to places alone but have always met people I knew at the other side.

Maybe I'm being a bit of a chicken and should just get a guide book and a cheap flight? Just nervous, thats all.

climbgirl

ms_london wrote:

I have got to the point where if I waited for my friends to do the things I wanted to see/do, then I would be waiting a long time & not get round to doing it, so I just take myself off & do the things alone. Dont get me wrong, it would be nice to do these things with someone, but only if they were truly interested!! Nothing worse than feeling as though you are forcing someone to see/do X, Y, Z!!

Totally! And I've been on some holidays with good friends where I really wished I hadn't....there are certain people you can travel with and there are others you should avoid at all costs

climbgirl

dinkylou wrote:

Maybe I'm being a bit of a chicken and should just get a guide book and a cheap flight? Just nervous, thats all.

Do it, do it, do it! Don't worry about safety and things like that - choose a relatively safe destination to start off with and go from there. If you be smart about it, it doesn't make too much difference. Don't go to dodgy places at night on your own, stick to busy areas, that kind of thing.

My only tip would be to plan stuff to do and see each day, keep yourself busy so you're not feeling like you're at a loose end.

Stay in a place where it's going to be easy to meet others and talk to other people. Maybe a hostel if you can stand it (hotels can be a bit impersonal) or somewhere with a good bar or public area. Sometimes you have to make the effort, but you'll find that people will approach you more.