How do you justify holiday costs?
Discussion
I am ambivalent about the claimed benefits of travel. Is it fun? Yes. Is it really a great way to expand the mind? As the Pulp song says, "everybody hates a tourist." Why? Because they think they're understanding what they're seeing, but the locals know that really they aren't. A week or two wandering around tourist attractions, eating in some restaurants and some casual conversations with some strangers can be fun and give some impression of a place, but it's still pretty superficial. And there's nothing wrong with that at all. Entertainment for entertainment's sake is fine. Just don't claim it's much more than that. Truth be told, if learning were the real objective, we'd be better off going to the local library and reading some books.
Yetski said:
ATG said:
Jaguar steve said:
768 said:
How do you justify leaving the cash in the bank and not making the most of life? Do it, show us the pictures.
Easily justified. Leave cash in the bank to earn you a income so you can afford to make the most of life.What to do with your few weeks of freedom now, maybe have a daily check of your bank account in-between reading the financial times and pruning your begonias?
In my youth I lost too many friends to motorbikes (including a few near scrapes myself), in later life lost friends and family due to illness and the industry I have worked in.
I decided long ago to enjoy as much of my life as possible, no holds barred, and travel has been a massive part of that.
Admittedly sacrifices were made, and there's were times when I had nothing, but still managed to get away somewhere to create the memories.
The gambles luckily paid off eventually, but if it were all to end tomorrow there's enough in the memory bank to last 2 lifetimes with no regrets.
Horses for courses though I suppose.
ATG said:
Quite. Rather than buying yourselves a few weeks of "freedom" each year, you can pay off your debt, build up some assets and be free all year round.
How do assets make you 'free'? Assets require maintaince, cost, care. Even if your assets are shares which pay a dividend, they still have costs attached to them, and if those assets are physical things then even more so. Assets are the very opposite of freedom, IMO. If you prefer to spend time at work, paying off debts or building up assets, as opposed to being in a foreign country soaking up new experiences and seeing new places that is a very sad way of living.
Condi said:
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If you prefer to spend time at work, paying off debts or building up assets, as opposed to being in a foreign country soaking up new experiences and seeing new places that is a very sad way of living.
It seems that way to you, as it does to me, but we’re not all wired the same, let others be happy building up assets and paying off debts, at least they won’t be hogging a table on the deck of a bar overlooking the Gulf of Mexico, where we’re watching the sun go down, sipping a mint julep.If you prefer to spend time at work, paying off debts or building up assets, as opposed to being in a foreign country soaking up new experiences and seeing new places that is a very sad way of living.
Condi said:
ATG said:
Quite. Rather than buying yourselves a few weeks of "freedom" each year, you can pay off your debt, build up some assets and be free all year round.
How do assets make you 'free'? Assets require maintaince, cost, care. Even if your assets are shares which pay a dividend, they still have costs attached to them, and if those assets are physical things then even more so. Assets are the very opposite of freedom, IMO. If you prefer to spend time at work, paying off debts or building up assets, as opposed to being in a foreign country soaking up new experiences and seeing new places that is a very sad way of living.
Yes, any asset has potential to trap you and drain away happiness but on the other hand if there's no surplus cash to spend or assets to utilise you aren't going anywhere. Once you've acquired some if you need too pay somebody else to look after them and kick back and enjoy the freedom they bring.
ATG said:
"I decided to enjoy life as much as possible" ... who wouldn't? So rather than seeing work as time in purgatory that buys you a few weeks off a year, why not make the work bit more fulfilling and less stressful? Isn't that more likely to improve your quality of life?
This is true if you see travel as an escape from work. I have worked since the age of 11 and continue to do so. I love work and it has given me extraordinary and fulfilling experiences. So do hobbies like driving on a track. The experience of travel is a huge addition and not a substitute
At one point I had a lot of business in India. I Tom extra time to travel in it over a number of years. I went from being overwhelmed by the smell of Mumbai on my first visit to welcoming it. I was in the slums, slept in the desert with the camel tenders in Rajasthan and had camel milk chai in the morning straight from the camel. Stood among the burning funeral pyres in Varanasi.
You can learn a lot about people anywhere if you try and get out of the westernized bubble of lux hotels. Even simple stuff like Route 66- it took me about four years and multiple trips to the strangest towns you can imagine to absorb it.
Of course you learn a lot from books. Still, reading a book about steak is not the same as tasting it.
I often visit vineyards to buy certain wines. It is the strangest thing. Drinking the wine right beside the grapes tastes so much better even though there is nothing more than subjective pleasure.
So, I love work and travel. They are complementary and not substitutes in my view.
ATG said:
Yetski said:
ATG said:
Jaguar steve said:
768 said:
How do you justify leaving the cash in the bank and not making the most of life? Do it, show us the pictures.
Easily justified. Leave cash in the bank to earn you a income so you can afford to make the most of life.What to do with your few weeks of freedom now, maybe have a daily check of your bank account in-between reading the financial times and pruning your begonias?
In my youth I lost too many friends to motorbikes (including a few near scrapes myself), in later life lost friends and family due to illness and the industry I have worked in.
I decided long ago to enjoy as much of my life as possible, no holds barred, and travel has been a massive part of that.
Admittedly sacrifices were made, and there's were times when I had nothing, but still managed to get away somewhere to create the memories.
The gambles luckily paid off eventually, but if it were all to end tomorrow there's enough in the memory bank to last 2 lifetimes with no regrets.
Horses for courses though I suppose.
I work in the oil industry and would suggest reading "Don't Tell Mum I Work on the Rigs: (She Thinks I'm a Piano Player in a w
ehouse)" good easy read and a toned down version of reality, but gives you a perspective of fun to be had instead of leaving your cash in the bank and waiting to become incontinent. Nobody is talking about leaving their money in the bank until they turn incontinent. All that's being said is that making sure there's some cash in the bank gives you freedom. What I find nuts is the people who are in some financial hardship yet still blow a chunk they can't afford on a holiday. If they'd forgo blowing several grand for a couple of years right now they'd put themselves in a much better position to enjoy the next few decades including going on the same bleeding holidays. Deferring gratification for a couple of years isn't a big deal.
The only time to run up a mammoth pile of debt is once you've been diagnosed terminally ill. That increases the chances massively that at the time you die you'll have managed to spend more money than you've earned, and that means you've won!
The only time to run up a mammoth pile of debt is once you've been diagnosed terminally ill. That increases the chances massively that at the time you die you'll have managed to spend more money than you've earned, and that means you've won!
A few nights ago I spent the evening, TeT eve {NYE for Vietnamese, much like Xmas Eve for them) in a villagers home in Northern Vietnam. He couldn't speak English ,nor read or write on his own language.
We ate, then he got his happy water (home made rice saki style stuff) out and ladeled us shots. Then he got out a massive karaoke machine, much to our amazement, and we ended up singing and dancing, in the middle of nowhere, in a basic building with an open cooking fire, with his grandad and mum trying to sleep on the floor near us, along with his chickens all scrunched up in a bamboo cage for the night for safe keeping.
The only communication was through smiles, and him trying to use Google voice translate.
Absolutely priceless. You just can't put a value on it.
We ate, then he got his happy water (home made rice saki style stuff) out and ladeled us shots. Then he got out a massive karaoke machine, much to our amazement, and we ended up singing and dancing, in the middle of nowhere, in a basic building with an open cooking fire, with his grandad and mum trying to sleep on the floor near us, along with his chickens all scrunched up in a bamboo cage for the night for safe keeping.
The only communication was through smiles, and him trying to use Google voice translate.
Absolutely priceless. You just can't put a value on it.
Edited by anonymous-user on Wednesday 29th January 01:33
RogerDodger said:
A few nights ago I spent the evening, TeT eve {NYE for Vietnamese, much like Xmas Eve for them) in a villagers home in Northern Vietnam. He couldn't speak English ,nor read or write on his own language.
We ate, then he got his happy water (home made rice saki style stuff) out and ladeled us shots. Then he got out a massive karaoke machine, much to our amazement, and we ended up singing and dancing, in the middle of nowhere, in a basic building with an open cooking fire, with his grandad and mum trying to sleep on the floor near us, along with his chickens all scrunched up in a bamboo cage for the night for safe keeping.
The only communication was through smiles, and him trying to use Google voice translate.
Absolutely priceless. You just can't put a value on it.
100% agree, although I might be a little biased, my wife's family are from Northern Vietnam, they don't speak English either, but they don't need to.We ate, then he got his happy water (home made rice saki style stuff) out and ladeled us shots. Then he got out a massive karaoke machine, much to our amazement, and we ended up singing and dancing, in the middle of nowhere, in a basic building with an open cooking fire, with his grandad and mum trying to sleep on the floor near us, along with his chickens all scrunched up in a bamboo cage for the night for safe keeping.
The only communication was through smiles, and him trying to use Google voice translate.
Absolutely priceless. You just can't put a value on it.
Edited by RogerDodger on Wednesday 29th January 01:33
Back there in 9 weeks
Edited by Yetski on Wednesday 29th January 04:18
I definitely lean towards the more miserly end of things and there are always ways to reduce costs without skimping too much. It helps not to have a mind set that can comprehend why a £500 a night hotel makes sense if you spend most of your time there unconscious.
I also let the budget dictate the options sometimes. I noticed on a cheapskate site that flights to Newfoundland from Dublin were £150 for one freakish week. I set off a couple of days later and had a high old time that would otherwise have never occurred to me.
I also let the budget dictate the options sometimes. I noticed on a cheapskate site that flights to Newfoundland from Dublin were £150 for one freakish week. I set off a couple of days later and had a high old time that would otherwise have never occurred to me.
I justify by life is short and holidays make memories and we enjoy them. When I was younger I would save my money for nice cars and have no holidays. Now I am running around in a 12 year old diesel but try and go away as much as possible.
Thinking about a Kenya safari holiday later on in the year as that would be a brilliant experience. But we love America and fancy a California road trip. Not sure what to do!
Thinking about a Kenya safari holiday later on in the year as that would be a brilliant experience. But we love America and fancy a California road trip. Not sure what to do!
bloomen said:
I definitely lean towards the more miserly end of things and there are always ways to reduce costs without skimping too much. It helps not to have a mind set that can comprehend why a £500 a night hotel makes sense if you spend most of your time there unconscious.
I also let the budget dictate the options sometimes. I noticed on a cheapskate site that flights to Newfoundland from Dublin were £150 for one freakish week. I set off a couple of days later and had a high old time that would otherwise have never occurred to me.
I book good value accom but when a deal come up for 5 star quality at 3 star prices I jump on it. Usually a great experience and a nice change up when travelling.I also let the budget dictate the options sometimes. I noticed on a cheapskate site that flights to Newfoundland from Dublin were £150 for one freakish week. I set off a couple of days later and had a high old time that would otherwise have never occurred to me.
£500 a night rooms are for the very rich who want to be far from ... us .
Nickbrapp said:
There’s a saying I love. Travel is the only thing you spend money on that makes you richer.
It’s easy to justify, why do you need to justify it? What else are you going to do with the money just sitting there? Retire earlier? To do what? Sit around and not see the world?
I love to travel, I like to go away a few times a year, wether it’s £1000 or £10,000 you can always have a great time, do things you’ve never done before or just lay on the beach and eat food.
Travel is something to be treasured and enjoyed not justified like a ISA.
This!It’s easy to justify, why do you need to justify it? What else are you going to do with the money just sitting there? Retire earlier? To do what? Sit around and not see the world?
I love to travel, I like to go away a few times a year, wether it’s £1000 or £10,000 you can always have a great time, do things you’ve never done before or just lay on the beach and eat food.
Travel is something to be treasured and enjoyed not justified like a ISA.
We’ve been on holidays to Cornwall/Devon surfing with friends that have cost us almost nothing and they’ve been terrific.
We’ve also done holidays that have been in excess of £1500 a night that have been fantastic too.
As long as you have a great experience and it creates good memories does it really matter? We recently went to my parents for a The weekend and we had one of the most relaxing weekends we’ve had in years. Wasn’t a holiday but had the same effect!
We are a family of five and up until last August we went away every summer for a 2 week hols over seas and sometime another 1 week late July as well. In addition to Ski holidays.
Last year for a number of reasons - one being the amazing 2018 summer and 2019 was pretty good in the UK and we left it late deciding what to do so discounted overseas. Usually it’s £8-10k for 2 weeks in the summer (Majorca\Menorca Crete etc).
So we bought a tent a whopping big one - that cost £2.5k all in... anyway we used it for a week in July over the hottest day in the UK last year and then 2 solid weeks in the summer. Kids utterly loved it weather was fine beach bbqs pubs zoos sea farms embalms etc. All in the summer 2 week campsite pitch cost £120 ish and with all meals out booze days out etc (we used Tesco Clubcard vouchers for some days out which was great) but all up The spend was no different / than the norm of being at home possibly spent £800 ish all in.
The tent plus both trips last year was about a third of the cost of our usual one holiday but we’ve a tent we will continue to use ongoing.
Booking up Easter already 9 nights pitch with hookup this one is proxies than last summer but it’s £150.
We may camp in August too / I fancy France but wouldn’t have any issue in the South Wales or South West Cornwall etc.
Other benefit take as much as you like - no airport check in transfers etc. Also on some holidays I get a bit irked with the bloody sunbed towel brigade.
However as a kid I camped so much loved it - my kids love it too. It’s not a “cannot afford a proper holiday” instead it’s different it’s fun it’s actually really nice having no electric no tv no radio no smart phone etc instead card games football bbq sandcastles kites some lovely beers in a pub reading a book time together. Our kids went the entire time with no tablets iPads (we had them in the car they didn’t ask once).
OPs question it doesn’t matter what £ a holiday/experience does or didn’t cost. All that is important is you have a great time and that can cost nothing.
Last year for a number of reasons - one being the amazing 2018 summer and 2019 was pretty good in the UK and we left it late deciding what to do so discounted overseas. Usually it’s £8-10k for 2 weeks in the summer (Majorca\Menorca Crete etc).
So we bought a tent a whopping big one - that cost £2.5k all in... anyway we used it for a week in July over the hottest day in the UK last year and then 2 solid weeks in the summer. Kids utterly loved it weather was fine beach bbqs pubs zoos sea farms embalms etc. All in the summer 2 week campsite pitch cost £120 ish and with all meals out booze days out etc (we used Tesco Clubcard vouchers for some days out which was great) but all up The spend was no different / than the norm of being at home possibly spent £800 ish all in.
The tent plus both trips last year was about a third of the cost of our usual one holiday but we’ve a tent we will continue to use ongoing.
Booking up Easter already 9 nights pitch with hookup this one is proxies than last summer but it’s £150.
We may camp in August too / I fancy France but wouldn’t have any issue in the South Wales or South West Cornwall etc.
Other benefit take as much as you like - no airport check in transfers etc. Also on some holidays I get a bit irked with the bloody sunbed towel brigade.
However as a kid I camped so much loved it - my kids love it too. It’s not a “cannot afford a proper holiday” instead it’s different it’s fun it’s actually really nice having no electric no tv no radio no smart phone etc instead card games football bbq sandcastles kites some lovely beers in a pub reading a book time together. Our kids went the entire time with no tablets iPads (we had them in the car they didn’t ask once).
OPs question it doesn’t matter what £ a holiday/experience does or didn’t cost. All that is important is you have a great time and that can cost nothing.
Welshbeef said:
We are a family of five and up until last August we went away every summer for a 2 week hols over seas and sometime another 1 week late July as well. In addition to Ski holidays.
Last year for a number of reasons - one being the amazing 2018 summer and 2019 was pretty good in the UK and we left it late deciding what to do so discounted overseas. Usually it’s £8-10k for 2 weeks in the summer (Majorca\Menorca Crete etc).
So we bought a tent a whopping big one - that cost £2.5k all in... anyway we used it for a week in July over the hottest day in the UK last year and then 2 solid weeks in the summer. Kids utterly loved it weather was fine beach bbqs pubs zoos sea farms embalms etc. All in the summer 2 week campsite pitch cost £120 ish and with all meals out booze days out etc (we used Tesco Clubcard vouchers for some days out which was great) but all up The spend was no different / than the norm of being at home possibly spent £800 ish all in.
The tent plus both trips last year was about a third of the cost of our usual one holiday but we’ve a tent we will continue to use ongoing.
Booking up Easter already 9 nights pitch with hookup this one is proxies than last summer but it’s £150.
We may camp in August too / I fancy France but wouldn’t have any issue in the South Wales or South West Cornwall etc.
Other benefit take as much as you like - no airport check in transfers etc. Also on some holidays I get a bit irked with the bloody sunbed towel brigade.
However as a kid I camped so much loved it - my kids love it too. It’s not a “cannot afford a proper holiday” instead it’s different it’s fun it’s actually really nice having no electric no tv no radio no smart phone etc instead card games football bbq sandcastles kites some lovely beers in a pub reading a book time together. Our kids went the entire time with no tablets iPads (we had them in the car they didn’t ask once).
OPs question it doesn’t matter what £ a holiday/experience does or didn’t cost. All that is important is you have a great time and that can cost nothing.
Currently at a very nice hotel in Siem Reap. Came down to find towels on most of the loungers with only 2 people here. Removed towels, lay down :-). I'd love for someone to try and move me :--)Last year for a number of reasons - one being the amazing 2018 summer and 2019 was pretty good in the UK and we left it late deciding what to do so discounted overseas. Usually it’s £8-10k for 2 weeks in the summer (Majorca\Menorca Crete etc).
So we bought a tent a whopping big one - that cost £2.5k all in... anyway we used it for a week in July over the hottest day in the UK last year and then 2 solid weeks in the summer. Kids utterly loved it weather was fine beach bbqs pubs zoos sea farms embalms etc. All in the summer 2 week campsite pitch cost £120 ish and with all meals out booze days out etc (we used Tesco Clubcard vouchers for some days out which was great) but all up The spend was no different / than the norm of being at home possibly spent £800 ish all in.
The tent plus both trips last year was about a third of the cost of our usual one holiday but we’ve a tent we will continue to use ongoing.
Booking up Easter already 9 nights pitch with hookup this one is proxies than last summer but it’s £150.
We may camp in August too / I fancy France but wouldn’t have any issue in the South Wales or South West Cornwall etc.
Other benefit take as much as you like - no airport check in transfers etc. Also on some holidays I get a bit irked with the bloody sunbed towel brigade.
However as a kid I camped so much loved it - my kids love it too. It’s not a “cannot afford a proper holiday” instead it’s different it’s fun it’s actually really nice having no electric no tv no radio no smart phone etc instead card games football bbq sandcastles kites some lovely beers in a pub reading a book time together. Our kids went the entire time with no tablets iPads (we had them in the car they didn’t ask once).
OPs question it doesn’t matter what £ a holiday/experience does or didn’t cost. All that is important is you have a great time and that can cost nothing.
My brother goes to a hotel in Ibiza with his extended family every year. There, people literally run out at 6am and place their towels. Christ knows why he returns.
£2.5 k on a tent ? ! Does it have AC? 😂
RogerDodger said:
Currently at a very nice hotel in Siem Reap. Came down to find towels on most of the loungers with only 2 people here. Removed towels, lay down :-). I'd love for someone to try and move me :--)
My brother goes to a hotel in Ibiza with his extended family every year. There, people literally run out at 6am and place their towels. Christ knows why he returns.
£2.5 k on a tent ? ! Does it have AC? ??
What if you’ve removed towels and stuff of people who are physically in the swimming pool? Or what if they have just popped to the toilet? My brother goes to a hotel in Ibiza with his extended family every year. There, people literally run out at 6am and place their towels. Christ knows why he returns.
£2.5 k on a tent ? ! Does it have AC? ??
Re tent yes the fabric of the tent is breathable so yes it is a form of “A/C” it’s also 58m2 area which is bigger than many of the hotel rooms I’ve stayed in.
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