Are you going abroad this year ?

What puts me off the Eurostar (esp. after doing Dijon to London on my own) is the ghastly Gare du Nord. Dijon station is a paradise by comparison. (Ditto St Pancras of course ?)
Still preferable to all the tedious faff of airports though, I suppose.

We flew to Faro the week after half term, loads of horror stories about awful queues at Gatwick where we flew from as well as other airports, but like Maggiemaybe up thread we were so lucky absolutely no hold ups, an hour or so delay coming back, but on balance nothing to moan about. Collection of baggage wasn't a problem either.

Going to Seville in October, hope we are lucky then too, sometimes the palaver surrounding plane travel is so off putting I could happily stay right here, we have had some great breaks in both Devon and Wales during the past two years before air travel really got going again.

My passport ran out in lockdown and I’ve not renewed it. My holidays are travelling up and down country to visit my grandkids lol

I made a vow not to fly a few years ago - a token gesture for my grandchildren's future. 'Not attempting to be a virtue signaller - my halo is already very badly tarnished. Also it wasn't much of an effort as I detest airports, the queues and the related waste of life involved with flying. Living in a lovely part of the country I have everything I want around me; perhaps I am becoming content with less, perhaps I'm a 'can't be bothered bore', but I'm a happy bore and offer my place in the check in queue to someone else. It will save them ten minutes at least.

No

The ferries were fine midweek last week when I came over. It seemed nearly empty considering other times. Didn’t travel P&O. There were no queues and no traffic to speak of from Versailles. I was pleasantly surprised.

Wouldlove to go ,but cost of travel insurance is almost prohibitive.
Does anyone have a good company for an 84 year old ,. I really would welcome some advice.

We had two holidays abroad booked in 2020 to celebrate our golden wedding, one to Majorca with best friends who married a couple of weeks after us. We went at the end of June, I was dreading the airport but going was ok but coming back was a farce. We did enjoy it while we were there.

The other holiday is to Menorca with our family, 10 of us in one big villa. It’s in a couple of weeks and I’m wondering how that will go! TBH if they hadn’t already been booked I really don’t think we would have gone. I feel we’ve become very set in our ways since lockdown. We also like our own bedrooms which of course makes it more expensive.

We’re fortunate to have travelled to just about everywhere we’ve wanted to. If I could be beamed up to one more destination it would be the pacific islands.

Yes, Eurostar to Paris is amazing- and then you can link up with fast (or slow) TGV trains to all over France, Switzerland, Germany, Belgium, Austria and Italy, and more. So easy and relaxing.

Only issue is the short journey between Gare du Nord and Gare de Lyon, in Paris- if not confident or mobility reduced, just take taxi. <3

I went to Normandy in May on a coach trip which worked out well especially as I got to practice French, first time for years.
Eurostar is another option if you don’t want to fly and once over in France French trains are comfy and spacious for legs and luggage.

Have never been abroad apart from day trips to France. I get so anxious about going on holiday in England that I really don't fancy going through all the worries with airports and everything else.

River cruise in November. We have also planted 100 beech saplings along the drive. Still more to go in. our contribution to offsetting.

No, staying in N.Ireland and heading up to the North Coast to a pet friendly holiday home so plenty of beach walks with the dogs, well weather permitting. The weather here in N.Ireland is so unpredictable, although hot this week.
The beautiful scenery and great food, I'm really looking forward to it, plus no queues at airport and cancelled flights either.

I’m going to Sardinia in a few weeks time, on my own and looking forward to it. I did go to Turkey last year for an op, couldn’t wait anymore than the 2.5 years I’d been waiting on the NHS. I will try to go abroad for medical in the future. I’ve worked for the NHS for 30 years and it’s become a disgraceful and shambolic mess… thank you government and senior NHS managers! ??

The airports put me of, so no, not going abroad this year.

Some interestingly responses, thanks everyone. We too have been away, once to Cyprus held over because of covid, once to Kos and back to Cyprus last year.

Lots of hoops to jump through re paperwork when we went which I found very stressful!

It’s just in the current economic climate and problems with flights, trains etc I was wondering if those issues were affecting decisions re holidays.

We had plans to go away in October but those have been shelved because of the operation and I’m advised not to fly for 3 months. Plus it’s another hip replacement so I would need to be sure I could manage stairs, distance in airports etc.

The same hotel from 3 years ago is now £250 more pp.

With increasing costs our friends we usually go with will find it a stretch I know. We will be fine I hope but the increase in cost of living is certainly food for thought.

The media are adept at hyping up the drama. I’m sure some people have hit problems at the airport, but we just walked through last month in 15 minutes as usual. DD2 and family flew from Manchester on the same day as the papers were carrying pictures of queues snaking round the building. They were so stressed beforehand, wondering whether to drive down and check in their luggage the night before, etc, etc. They booked FastTrack but didn’t need it as there were no hold ups at all - they were through security in no time and then had to entertain two lively boys for two and a half hours before their flight time.

I'm single (widowed), know myself well and have no interest in travelling abroad to spend my time reading, punctuated by reading while eating. I can do that with very little expense here at home. When my husband was alive we would go abroad and bicker at each other a fair bit. We could have done that at home too but he preferred to get right away from work. I disliked everything about being abroad and I couldn't wait to get home. I think I may be in a minority here! ?

It is a serious contributor to climate change - flights are damaging - we should not be doing it unless there is NO alternative. Flying for a holiday abroad is a destructive luxury. Sorry to rant. www.bbc.com/future/article/20200218-climate-change-how-to-cut-your-carbon-emissions-when-flying

Got back last week from a three week motorbike holiday (I was the pillion!)through France and Southern Spain. Absolutely no problems or delays going from Portsmouth and then coming back on the Euro. Mind you, being a bike means you don’t get stuck in traffic. It was sweltering though wearing bike gear in 44 degrees.

Croatia early october- can't wait. Never been yet.

I've a good few friends and family who've braved the holiday trip and not one has encountered the awfulness of airports as shown on the tv. I'm still staying in the UK.

We are going to Spain next Sunday after it has been delayed five times due to covid and then my father passing away earlier this year. Can’t wait to go. At home, I can never quite escape the need to do jobs - both work and for the house - whereas over there we keep things tidy and wash up etc but main meals are out or easy salads etc and can relax properly, finally read the books I have been planning to read, have a swim and the biggest decisions are pool or beach today and what restaurant do we fancy for dinner?

We have had a few breaks in the UK during the lockdown but I never manage to relax in the same way and it’s all about visiting places - what are we doing tomorrow rather than just “being”.

Thankfully we go to an apartment complex we know well so we don’t even have to worry about finding everything from scratch! Wondering what changes though have happened in the last 3 years! Another 8 years until retirement for me, and a dream would be to buy an apartment over there eventually so we can enjoy longer periods and family can use it too.

Wary about the airports - have purchased parking, fast track etc and did the horrid online check in and covid pass’ yesterday so good to go!!

We are going to Canada next year but only because our youngest son and family are there and an old school friend otherwise no why would you with delays at airports and this summers exceptional weather. We go to Scotland next week to see eldest son and family with a drop in at Newcastle to see family and Dronfield to see youngest daughter . After years as an army wife I am quite happy to stay home in Hampshire we have a hottub and a huge garden and only 15 mins in the car to the beach

Go! I lost the love of my life seven years ago. You never know what’s round the corner. I go abroad a lot with One Traveller. Holiday company for over 55s. Don’t worry about flights and airports