Going somewhere nice?

I think your over thinking things , it's just a term most people would use .

I realise on rereading that my post was more in reply to the friendly hairdresser/taxi driver.
As for OP , I think it is just meant to be a less inquisitorial alternative to “Where?”

I think it is really picky to find fault with this.

“Are you going on holiday? “ Might be seen as a bit too general depending on the circumstances and “Where are you going? “ risks sounding nosey.
Let’s not choke off friendly attempts at conversation in our everyday life. You can always say No if you really want to end the conversation there , or have an alternative short answer ready if you value your privacy that much.

I have to laugh when I am in the UK, we have a house there, and whenever I am in a taxi going to the station to take me to the Airport the drivers always ask "going anywhere nice" my answer is I am going home, so I suppose it is nice.

I normally ask “are you going away?” But I think people say “going anywhere nice?” as in are you going away or staying home or are you visiting relatives/ doing something your OH wants to do but you don’t.

I'd be tempted to give them a beaming smile and say, "No, Wormwood Scrubbs" ... then watch their expression closely to see how long it took for the penny to drop.

I don't think it's snobbish - it's intended, I think, as a harmless conversation opener. Unlike some other Gransnetters, I think there is NO thought behind it!

I'm quite sure they just mean somewhere they would also find nice. And although I have always thought it was an unintentionally funny question, as I teach piano to children, I realise they don't always have a say in the matter. So I invent the dialogue for them.

So no offence meant to the city in question, but it's hardly a holiday resort and it's possible to say the name in a way to make it sound really grim:

"No, we're going to Birmingham. My parents have always wanted to go to Birmingham, so we're going to Birmingham"

Did this with a 4yo girl yesterday, who giggled a lot. They're actually going to Minorca, but I told her when they get off the plane to be sure to ask Mummy and Daddy "are we in Birmingham now?" (they said she had actually been to Brum once and quite enjoyed it). I look forward to next term asking her how Birmingham was!

I’ve mentioned my childhood holidays on grandparents farm on another thread and it is only recently that I realised how fortunate we were when you consider that people pay for farm holidays these days.

I have travelled a lot, not necessarily 5 star, and have really roughed it as well but less so now that we’re older. I think I need a bit of comfort.

I don’t really do other peoples holidays either. You know, when they say ‘what...you went to ???? and didn’t go to ???? You didn’t see the ????’ I’m happy to share any tips but ONLY if asked.

Oh I’m so very sorry downtoearth that must’ve been terrible for you .

We have lost a few holidays over the years we gave up bothering . So many booked and paid for and then “circumstances”
prevented us from going . Once we were even packed and ready to go the next day when our (then) biggest customer went bust owing us £1000’s I didn’t know how I would even pay the lads wages or even my mortgage so going on holiday was out if the question ! Another time DH took very poorly and was admitted to hospital and we cried together watching “our plane” fly over the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle .

I know jealousy is a horrible emotion but I can’t help but envy those who just choose a holiday and actually go without a worry .

I’ve given up now although I am trying to wangle a couple of days off next week to go down to the Tatton Park flower show . Not exactly a holiday but a change of scenery and away from “that god awful place” . We shall see .

Gilly I dont go on holiday either,my closest friend has several holidays a year always somewhere abroad...I feel so boring at my lack of travel,I hate the holiday question I havent had a holiday for 16 years through circumstances not of making ,to add insult to injury had a holiday booked and almost paid for a "dream" holiday for us, 3 weeks in Greece,then I found he was having an affair,spent all the money and left me after 16 years together,we should have been going this November....will never have the money to go now,cant afford even a day trip out

Oh yes EllanVannin the “one uppers”
Who have always have it bigger and better and for some strange reason have to tell you the cost too !

I haven't had any sort of hollier (as Terry Wogan used to say) since the 90's...apart from 2 spells in hospital this February. I suppose a change is as good as a rest. Hahaha!

Other silly things people say

If I can do it, anyone can.
I told my children they can be anything they want.
Don’t I know you?
She can’t be dead, I only saw her last week
Am I in the right place?
I know what you’re thinking
I know what you’re going to say

And many more.
I have a lot of fun thinking up replies.

I think it’s just a conversational opener.

Better than being asked ‘so, what do you think about Brexit?’
❗️

Years ago people went to stay in caravans by the sea and whoever you told were delighted to hear about your holiday and you were equally delighted to tell them.
The start of the caravan holidays led to those further afield as you motored to France and the holiday camps there, abroad ! And so it continued, Mrs Smith was going to Rhyl but Mrs Jones was off to France---again ( smirk ), we've all met them.

cabbie21 that would suit me down to the ground as well. No airport hassles, no arrangements to be made for animals apart from letting out the dogs. Perfick.

No disrespect KatyK but it’s so easy to say that when you have travelled . My sister was in Australia last year and enjoys telling me why I wouldn’t like it .

I always say little place I know in Staffordshire, that makes them think! Obviously I’m not going anywhere

Well we have been to many, many places but one of the most memorable holidays we had was when we took two weeks off work and stayed at home. We went out most days. Nowhere fancy or expensive. We went for fish and chips or got the bus or train to a different town, went to different shops etc. It was lovey.

I do feel though that today there seems to be more " one-upmanship " than there was years ago from the classless society we once were when everyone was in the same boat.

You shouldn't be made to feel like that gillybob. They probably wouldn't ask if they hadn't been away themselves

And now to add insult to injury I’m getting pop up ads for holidays ! Grrrrrr

I admit to feeling a bit embarrassed when asked about holidays as I think people must think “ oh god what a boring person you must be if you don’t go on holiday” when I really want to scream “ do you think I don’t want to go away ?” As I always say to DH (it annoys him) maybe in my next life I will travel . Wish it could have been in this one though . Sigh....

I think it's just one of those things that people say, like
"Are you wet?" when you come in out of the rain.
We all use these colloquialisms from time to time, don't we?

I assume people ask out of interest and because some may travel to areas they have not thought of.
My sister would never say where she was going, preferring to send a postcard from some exotic location. We think she kept quiet until the actual event in case any of us went before her. She was deluded because I had no interest in the places she visited.