Having the same holiday every year.

Corelli

As a child my family used to return every year to the same guest house in Dorset. This was back in the late fifties and through the sixties. I took this for granted then and enjoyed the continuity.

Now we've discovered a lot of autism in the family I'm wondering if this might be another sign of it in my father? There are plenty of other things about him that suggest he was well and truly on the spectrum but I don't know about this. Was this 'normal' at the time?

getmore4less

I think it has been very common over the years and still is.

You find a place you like and keep going back.

I went skiing in the same resort at the same time every year for 15 years, met up with the same people knew the slopes and restaurants and bars, loved it, I know some are still doing it 10 years after I changed to other things, my OH hates the cold.

74jax

When I was young 35 years ago - every year, for about 3 times a year, we went to Blackpool. EVERY year from as young as I can remember until I was about 12. We did go to Southport one year, but mam couldn't have liked it as we returned to Blackpool...

Georgiegirl256

I don't think it's necessarily a sign of autism, as a lot of people go on the same holiday year in year out.

A women I used to work with used to go to Cyprus almost every year (sometimes twice) as her and her husband used to live there when he was in the army and at least one of her children was born there, so they just loved it. Every year though she'd say "oh we're not going to Cyprus this year" and we'd be like 'yeah yeah, course you're not! '

We went to Vegas 3 or 4 years in a row once and then left a gap of about 7 years and went again!

Corelli

Thanks, I really didn't know about other people's holiday habits.

BitterAndTwisted

Back in the Dark Ages when ordinary people could barely afford a holiday away from home (ours used to go and stay with family, we never stayed in a B&B at a resort or went anywhere abroad) most would have seen going to stay somewhere new as a potential risk, and would be more likely to go back to somewhere they liked and were familiar with. I don't think this is a signifier of autism or anything else.

Alikay

A lot of people still do it now, but I think it was even more common in the 60's when I was a child. We went to the same place every year, during the same week and met up with the same people also holidaying same-time-same-place each year.

Corelli

Thinking about it, we do it now, the same camps and festivals and meet up with some of the same people. The occasional visit to different parts of the UK but that is mainly to meet up with people than a holiday per se. I suppose I see more and more people going all over the world for holidays and wondered if people experimented more than is the pattern in my family through the generations. How nice to find other people do likewise.

maman

DH and I hit on a lovely resort in Turkey about 20 years ago and loved it. We went for three years running and then decided there was so much more world out there. As finances had improved by then, we started going to Turkey (same resort) for just a week in May and then a different holiday later in the year. Now we don't have to work we go for 2 weeks in May/June and then other places other times of the year. So we have the best of both worlds.


I don't think it's about autism necessarily but there is a certain comfort in returning to the same place. Many holidays you spend time settling in, finding your way round etc. With a familiar resort you don't need to so the holiday starts instantly. we also meet up with many of the same people, including hotel owners and staff so that's a bit like visiting friends.


Think about people who have holiday homes, they go to the same place over and over again.

arbroath_lass

Corelli wrote: »

As a child my family used to return every year to the same guest house in Dorset. This was back in the late fifties and through the sixties. I took this for granted then and enjoyed the continuity.

Now we've discovered a lot of autism in the family I'm wondering if this might be another sign of it in my father? There are plenty of other things about him that suggest he was well and truly on the spectrum but I don't know about this. Was this 'normal' at the time?

Sounds normal to me. You find a place you like and suits your family and you go back. It's not as if they had access to the same choices. Only a brochure to tell you what a place is like. No online website, photos, reviews, no lists and lists of alternative B&Bs.


Plus not everyone had a holiday every year - they were too expensive. If you were lucky enough to get one why take a chance on wasting money when there is somewhere you already know you love?

Horace

From 1987 to 2011 - I always holidayed in Dorset and from around 2003 to 2011, I always went to the same campsite on the outskirts of Swanage. When funds allow, I will be going back to Swanage and Dorset because I love the place.

I am not autistic - I just like that part of the country and never get bored with it.