Staycation anyone?

Having a stay cation, literally, right here, chez nous. We're having a bit of a garden makeover including a brand new summerhouse so money is tight for a while. I don't mind though as travelling doesn't appeal at the moment. We are going to a nice hotel in Cambridge for a couple of nights for my 65th at the end of September and have a Christmas market hotel stay booked for December in Winchester so not totally deprived.

So far it seems to be Argate this year as we haven't booked anything, although we have enjoyed a couple of short trips in the UK so far this year.

Ha ha Mrsdof you sound like me! Just enjoy each day as if it is your last, as one day you will be right.

We don't see this as an either/or question. Both Home and Abroad have their advantages so we do both. We bought a touring caravan in 1987 and (although we are on our 5th one now) we have never looked back. Since retirement, we spend a month in France every year, and take as many shorter breaks in the UK as finances and grandchildren duty will allow - I am actually writing this while sat in the caravan on a site less than a mile from the Wildfowl Trust at Slimbridge. We're going home on Monday for a couple of days, then on Friday we're off to North Wales for two weeks.

And on the subject of fears about terrorism I just can't worry about it - life's too short! I have survived two MCI's and one DVT so I see every new day as a bonus.

We (for many years ) went to the Lake District several times a year. We then moved here 7 years ago and haven't been on holiday since. Ok we have the occasional night away and I visit my family for a week a few times a year but actually going away. Nope.

We have not been abroad for several years - stress is too much for OH with his PD. But this year we are spending a week in Dorset with our DD and family and then going with them from there to Brittany for a week with all my DDs and families plus a heap of friends - OH is going to be 70, and one DD 40, so it's a sort of celebration. We will have lots of support for OH, and I do not have to do any driving. But to be honest I am not greatly looking forward to it all - we have just moved home and are very tied up in getting settled.

To be honest I have never been a great traveller - I have always lived in beautiful places that fill me with joy and I do not greatly feel the need to travel afar.

We have lovely scenery here, and are just by S Wales with all the beaches and beauty; and we are near the Malverns and the Cotswolds, so lots of good things almost on the doorstep.

Don't think of Brittany as being abroad Luckygirl - it's just like Wales and if you like that, you'll enjoy yourself. Ideal for the children too.

We always have a staycation June to September - since we moved here. People can come to us, but we are going no-where.

There is only one month I hate here, and it is November- and that is when we choose to go to sunnier climes.

Having just seen the 14 hour car q at Dover on tv the poster that said 3 hours to France may be a tad out I love both but have to say travelling has got more and more difficult and tedious these latter few years maybe age, maybe heightened security, and uk is looking good at the moment

The secret for getting to Cornwall is leave early. I had to travel there from Hampshire at the end of May on a bank holiday. I left at 5 am and was in Bodmin by 9.30 and no problems getting through the road works. Travelling from further a field, break your journey with a night stay somewhere nice, maybe new forest or Dorset and then set off early.

I luckily had wonderful weather but when it is too hot I can't go out in it and would find rain easier.

One problem with UK weather is that you need to take clothes for all types of weather.

Thanks, granjura, I guess the risk in smaller German cities is not realistically an issue, and we do normally enjoy long train trips. Had a memorable journey to Vienna a couple of years ago via the Paris-Munich sleeper. Leaving aside the outside chance of a random axe attack, I think our main concern is long unpredictable delays for extra security checks and so on. I guess we'd really like to be in Angela1961's situation, but can't do that till DH retires in a couple of years time.

Have recently returned from France via the Chunnel. We had to queue for an hour to get through security etc. This was unusual since we usually get through in 15/20 mins. However, the four hour queues holiday makers are experiencing at the moment makes you wonder is it worth it? Looking forward to going to the Isle of Wight in September and a short Christmas break in a local hotel. Can't be doing with the hassle of flying any more.

When you actually live in Cornwall you have to make the long journey to go most places in the UK which is a real pain. We used to fly off to Spain and suchlike a couple of times a year, but haven't been able to for 3 years as OH has been ill and having treatment, it was so much easier. At the moment we are having short distance UK holidays, but not through choice.

EllenT- could you talk to the travel agents' and see if they can switch your journey via Lille perhaps, for your overnight.
I so hope you are not put off.

I love my overseas holidays but we had a staycation in the Isle of Man recently. Great cottage, lovely scenery, quiet roads (after the TT) good fish restaurants in Peel. Definitely recommend.

I'm going to Devon for a week and then 3 days in Cornwall. I'm not looking forward to the drive it's at least 8 hours, but I will break overnight on route.

I mived to Portugal 8 years ago so my staycatoons will now be in Portugal. My elderly Mum luved with us yntil 19 months ago so any trip had to be meticulously planned. When we have visited England for family reasons we have thought of adding a weeks holiday while are there but the cost of even guest houses so so high that we haven given up on that idea. We can stay at a 5star hotel in Porto with breakfast cheaper than we can stay in a Premier Inn without breakfast. This I know because have had 6 trips back to the UK in the last 5 months and stayed at several Premier Inns. Great hotels they are and cannot fault them

DH hates going away - me? I would fly away at least 6 times a year for a couple of weeks, no more - I would love to visit the Galapagos, Antarctica, the fjords, China....

Usually we have time with the GDs in Bristol, minding them while both parents work, so I suppose that is our staycation.
So probably we'll just go to Bristol again. [I've nothing against Bristol, but I do like visiting another country.

And - those of you who complain about the queues at Dover, think of what it does to us who live near/there???

Have to have my holiday when schools finishes because of our grandaughter who lives with us, but my daughter, our grandaughter aunt takes her on holiday abroad and we have family who have a holiday cottage in Suffolk so we stay there and can take our cat. Next year though my grandaughter will finish the end of May beginning of June because she would have done her GCSEs so now we will be able to choose when we all can go away. My h likes potters in Norfolk a family run holiday camp which caters for everyone but think gd and d will still go abroad

We'd never do the drive to Cornwall now from Yorkshire. We had a break there earlier this year by coach, which went very well - plenty of stops and at least you can read your book, snooze, or chat to your neighbours if you like! Our DD1 and friend fly down to Newquay from Manchester most years to surf, and she has recommended that to us. For a brief few months there was a direct cheap flight from Leeds to Newquay, but sadly by the time I got round to wanting to book, it had been whipped off the schedules

"Inishowen" - had 3 amazing holidays in Ireland recently. Belfast and Antrim Coast, Donegal and north west coast and then Killarney. Flown and ferried it and loved them all. Beautiful place and people so friendly.

Same as Luckygirl, OH has PD, and sometimes on the morning of a planned, fairly local outing he might decide to cancel. It would be difficult for him to be confronted by a journey to the airport, and all that's involved, followed by a flight. Better to stay in the UK, much though I'd love to go further. At least, if I drive, we can stop whenever. We have enjoyed a number of UK holidays in rented properties over the years, and not been too unlucky, weather wise.

I have lived in the Lakes for the last eighteen months and love it. Couldn't persuade DH to go anywhere for the first year we were here! Have recently had short trip to Barcelona and have second trip to Berlin planned.

The last time we drove from Yorkshire to Cornwall was a couple of years ago and it wasn't too bad. We stayed overnight in a Premier Inn in Bristol and it made a lot of difference. We only went as far as Crantock. We did the journey back in a day, but crossed the Severn Bridge to have lunch with DH's sister, so we had a few hours break. One year we booked a cottage on the Lizard and the last part of the journey seemed to take an absolute age. West Wales, where we are going this year, is not that much less a journey, but doesn't seem quite so onerous and we have done it so many times. Trouble is, this year DH wants to go "off piste" and drive down through mid Wales, instead of the motorway. Watch this space!

The last time we drove down, we crossed the Severn Bridge by accident I'm still not sure how that happened!