How essential are holidays?

lostinrates

PasturesNew wrote: »

I think the differences are that if I were driving for 17 hours I'd be:
- alone, in a small and uncomfortable car Yes, small car and discomfort, was the same, plus with all stuff packed in around us.
- nobody to talk to, can't look out of the windows as I'd be driving . No comment
- I wouldn't be stopping for lunch, certainly wouldn't be lunching with anybody if I did Need to stop to pee!
- I've never had a posh meal like that, any lunch I had would be a cheese sandwich from a petrol stationMe too usually, bourge en bresse is a place famous for gourmet chicken, the chicken was from a service station and we ate it with the cats in the car;)

I bet not many people would drive, alone, for 17 hours, without screaming with boredom. Yes, true. But I manage here too...

It's boring. Driving is boring. You sit there, looking ahead, watching the traffic .... and that's it. That is all you can do... look ahead and watch the traffic, keep an eye on the road, make sure you're not missing your turn off. Boring. 1.5 hours max and I'm bored of sitting there, staring straight ahead. I quite like driving, makes me feel free.I think If I were braver I'd like to have a motorbike. I also can sing along to the radio for a long time till I et hoarse. Its a talent.

I can sit on my own sofa for days/weeks/months not being bored because I have the PC, the telly, I can make a coffee or something to eat. I never get bored just being alone... but sitting behind a wheel with only the destination to focus on, in my own time ..... is boring. Watching that mileometer creak round... counting off the dull, monotonous miles....

Yes, horses for courses. What I love about the car, ususallly is that the destination isn't all, its possible to check somewhere out that sounds cool.

LydiaJ

For me, a holiday is essential, but a paid-for one isn't.

I was brought up in a family with no money for holidays. We went every summer to stay with my aunt and uncle for a day or two, and with a good friend of my parents' for rather longer. (He had a house in the middle of nowhere near the Lake District.)

As an adult, I used to pay for holidays when I was married, but now I'm a single parent, I have my holidays by taking my kids to stay with my brother & his family, and also with some friends from university. That way it's not just that we all get a break from the routine; also I get adult company during the holiday, and I make sure I keep up some important relationships with people who now live far too far away for me to see them during term time. All I pay for is the petrol. The friends and relations are happy to put us up and feed us while we're there because it means they can see us without having to travel all the way to where we live.

dave4545454

i wouldnt call holidays essential but i do enjoy one or two a year

treliac

lostinrates wrote: »

Through France, beautiful.

British plates help I think, people steer clear. I noticed in an Italian car I was less avoided.

Fabulous. We've driven south through France and Spain - to the Alicante area.

The route we took went through the Massive Central - Clermont Ferrand, over the Millau Viaduct. A fantastic experience.

Coming back chose the route through Toulouse, Limoges and the Loire Valley - not so dramatic or awe inspiring, but the chateaux area is very pretty. And the night in Limoges was enjoyable, no drunks spoiling the city centre there!

The motorway in Spain runs alongside the sea - turquoise blue on one side, mile upon mile of orange groves on the other.

My word of warning: the French police are very keen to catch a British driver out!

treliac

chucknorris wrote: »

The Brittany ferry to Santander uses a newish ship I think which has a lot of things to do on board (it's only for less than a day anyaway) so it might not be that bad.

The Pont Aven. Yes, I enjoyed that a couple of years ago and it gave me a taste for a 'proper' cruise (one day). The food was excellent and I didn't think it was that basic. It's only one overnight each way to and from Santander. (It was rough on the way over though - a fair amount of sickness was to be seen _pale_)

One thing we did experience re dogs. We took a walk around the whole ferry and went up to where they kennel the dogs to take a look. One had escaped :eek:. Poor thing. We called for assistance and managed to get it back into safety - were worried it might go overboard. So, do make sure that the kennel is securely locked!

chucknorris

treliac wrote: »

The Pont Aven. Yes, I enjoyed that a couple of years ago and it gave me a taste for a 'proper' cruise (one day). The food was excellent and I didn't think it was that basic. It's only one overnight each way to and from Santander. (It was rough on the way over though - a fair amount of sickness was to be seen _pale_)

One thing we did experience re dogs. We took a walk around the whole ferry and went up to where they kennel the dogs to take a look. One had escaped :eek:. Poor thing. We called for assistance and managed to get it back into safety - were worried it might go overboard. So, do make sure that the kennel is securely locked!

Great thanks, actual feedback about the ship itself, although I would be ok with sort of roughing it. My wife was hoping it would be a good experience after looking at photos and layouts of that ship on the internet as it seems to have decent enough restaurants, 2 cinemas, bars and cafes and live entertainment (not that I am expecting that to be much good). I was in the merchant navy for 6 months and I can't imagine it would be any more basic than that.

lostinrates here's a link to the ship if you want a look in greater detail plus a dog info link:

http://www.brittany-ferries.co.uk/fleet/pont-aven

http://www.brittany-ferries.co.uk/pet-friendly-holidays/large-kennels

thriftybabe

Very important to our family. As we are self employed the phone does not stop when we are here. Even though we are supposed to have time off it does not work like that. We always get people phoning about something. If we are away altogether we cannot deal with it. In addition when people here the ring tone and know we are abroad they hang up! It gives us quality time together as a couple and family.

MrsE_2

treliac wrote: »

Fabulous. We've driven south through France and Spain - to the Alicante area.

The route we took went through the Massive Central - Clermont Ferrand, over the Millau Viaduct. A fantastic experience.

I've skied there:D
Its very pretty. But was knee deep in snow (which is great for skiing) in April:eek: There was an awful blizzard one day:eek:

chucknorris

treliac wrote: »

The Pont Aven. Yes, I enjoyed that a couple of years ago and it gave me a taste for a 'proper' cruise (one day). The food was excellent and I didn't think it was that basic. It's only one overnight each way to and from Santander. (It was rough on the way over though - a fair amount of sickness was to be seen _pale_)

One thing we did experience re dogs. We took a walk around the whole ferry and went up to where they kennel the dogs to take a look. One had escaped :eek:. Poor thing. We called for assistance and managed to get it back into safety - were worried it might go overboard. So, do make sure that the kennel is securely locked!

What cabin did you get? Would you get the same one again?

The range of choice seems to be basic for £65/crossing, de-lux £110/crossing (incl £10 discount as only 2 of us) and the best with balcony £215/crossing.

I think we will go for the middle one as it has proper beds (not bunk beds) (bunk beds only for 3rd and 4th person, and only 2 of us) and has a satelite tv, dvd, and comes with breakfast in the cabin, complimentary bar etc well worth the extra £45 IMO. I would pay a lot more again if we could have our dog in the cabin

ninky_2

treliac wrote: »

A few weeks more and the adverts will start coming thick and fast for 2010 holidays.

How important is it to have a holiday (one at least a year)? With the economy in tatters are people going to be changing their habits, either through choice or force of finances?

Or do most of us consider an annual holiday an 'essential' to be funded either at the time or on credit?

Speaking personally, we usually have a summer holiday and have often decided where it's going to be by this point in the year before. Not sure about next year, though - I'm waiting to see how finances pan out before making a decision.

interesting question. what exactly do we mean by a holiday? someone once said we need prisons to know that we are free. maybe we need work to know when we are on holiday.

if we live in a society where we are less alienated, the product of our work is more 'real', working hours are less consuming and the border between work and leisure less harsh maybe we don't feel the need for holidays. people who live somewhere pleasant and who enjoy what they do for most of the day probably don't feel the urge to escape. i suspect the majority of people in the uk however do feel the need to escape. this is where holidays come in.