Holidays - are they really worthwhile?

[V8mate]

(Mods: Please don't move to the Holiday/Travel section; this is more of a psychological and philosophical question)


Got back from holiday yesterday. It was a good break, but I never feel that I go through the range of positive emotions others seem to: getting excited in the run-up, chilling out while I'm away, and coming come rested and ready to engage with work with renewed vigour.

I'm 'pathologically' honest. So I wonder whether I'm not that keen on holidays because for a week or two I'm kidding myself that my life is something different to what it really is for 46/47 weeks of the year? Hence I'd rather just continue with 'normal' life.

I've always thought that weekends were overrated; bad for you, in fact. On Saturday you confuse your body because your sleep regime changes. On Sunday, your body is ready for you in the morning but by the afternoon you're starting to wonder about work again. So 'rest' is curtailed. And then you're back to the 'school night' regime again. I reckon working 20 days on, 10 days off would be much more productive. People would probably make much more use of their time of then too. And holiday pay would be a thing of the past!

But I digress. How do you feel about holidays? Are they worth the huge sums we throw at them each year?

[Famous Graham]

I haven't been on a "traditional" sun holiday in years. Think the last time was 98 or so to Kos with my then girlfriend.

It doesn't really appeal to me either, to be honest. I love travelling, don't get me wrong (I spent 9 months gallivanting around the globe 3 years ago, after all), but I much prefer to be going somewhere for a reason, if you follow me.

Hence Le Mans, skiing, a few trips to Italy with another gf for family weddings, European hoons, Rugby World Cup etc.

In the last three years I've "only" taken long weekends (occasionally "longer" weekends, ie Thurs through Tues off) and take the time to do relax in my home town.

Hence voting for "Not that keen", as I'm taking it as the typical two week Costa Brava effort.

[sharpfocus]

I need them. Not to fool myself that life's better than it is. I don't get excited in the build up or feel better about work afterwards, but sometimes I need the time off and a few distractions.

[Shay HTFC]

For me, holidays are the purpose of work. Not some crappy 2 week getaway to Tenerife, but for the opportunity to get out and go on a little adventure away from the norm.

The way I see it is like back in the days of cavemen, the best bits were when you left the home patch and went on an adventure with your mates to kill next weeks food. Obviously things have change a bit now, but the principles are the same

[Cock Womble 7]

Another "Not that keen".

I'll happily chuck the tent into the boot of the car and ps off to North Norfolk for a long weekend, or set up base camp at my Mum and Dad's and go exploring Roman ruins in Northumberland, rather than jet off to Torremolinos or the like.

The last foreign holiday I had was a week away in Spain with "the lads" about three or four years ago.

Just not that fussed.

[soad]

Holidays are simply great! New places to see and relax

[Jasandjules]

As above, I like to have enough money to be able to afford a nice holiday - going somewhere where I can scuba dive with Manta Ray etc for example. That to me is a worthwhile holiday, doing something that I enjoy - which is what a holiday should be, it doesn't matter what you are doing, as long as it is something that you enjoy.

There is little point working and having no time to enjoy yourself.

[Penny-lope]

I get no choice with my work, I am forced to have 12 weeks off a year

Shame I can't afford to go anywhere!

[anonymous-user]

I like to have time to think, and read a lot, which could both be done at home, though sometimes you gain clarity of focus by going away somewhere where day-to-day worries are absent.

i also like seeing new places.

so i like going on holiday, but not sure if I like beach holidays. I agree - it's good to have a holiday to do stuff.

I've recently moved abroad and on Sundays here, everything is shut, and there are also a few social restrictions on the kind of activities you can do - nothing noisy, or messy, or whatever. Sundays are an ace day now - very relaxing etc.

[Bill]

Jasandjules said:

There is little point working and having no time to enjoy yourself.

I enjoy my job and I like where I live, but there is more to life than the daily grind IMO.

I don't do sitting by a pool though and need some form of cocking about to keep me entertained, but there are so many things I want to see and do.

[Nick3point2]

2 weeks on a beach in the Caribbean: what's not to absolutely love about it?

2 weeks skiing: what's not to love about it?

2 weeks on safari in kenya: what's not to love about it?

I'm not into 'travelling' in the sense of back packing and staying in hostels but there's a great big world out there that's a hell of a lot more interesting than the UK.

[Zwoelf]

Holidays are hateful things as they remind you what you'd be doing with life were it not for the other 95% of your time being taken up with work to pay for both that little bit of existential anguish and the mundane stuff of life.

I last went on holiday in October 2008 and aren't planning to go again for the forseeable future. At least working through, you don't get to be teased by an alternative reality of how things might be. But then I enjoy my work. A weekend at home or visiting friends is sufficiently alien a concept and rare an occurence so as to be considered all the holiday I actually need or desire.

If I want to travel and experience other places properly, then there'll come a chapter of life where work can be set aside for a year or two and the mind can be broadened. Not having any children nor planning to means there's no great rush to do it all early.

Edited by Zwoelf on Sunday 3rd July 14:27

[dxg]

I've *never* been on holiday. I've seen a fair bit of the world through work, with the odd day or two tacked onto the end of work trips, but I've just never seen the need.

Having said that, I'm thinking of spending a big chunk of time out in the States soon. There's just so many people I want to meet out there. I'm working on a "work" reason to get out there anyway

[HOGEPH]

Life is about holidays and toys. One day it will be too late to have either.

[ETOPS]

I live to travel. In fact, as big a reason as any, as to why I chose my profession was a) to travel, and b) ludicrously cheap flights.

I do like a relaxing holiday now and again, but only for a few days. It's nice to unwind and forget about everything, and drink out of a coconut on white beach, not that my life/work is particularly stressful.

What I prefer to do, however, is travel; to actually visit somewhere for the purpose of indulging in their culture, food, lifestyle, and to learn about the country and it's people. I'm very fortunate that my location allows me to do this all over Asia in short breaks. I visit somewhere recreationally, usually about once a month. It's a big part of my life.

That said, it's definitely for pleasure, and not a necessity - like those needing to unwind from a stressful city-job.

[iva cosworth]

My holiday time varies a lot.

Last year i took 2 european road trips

So far this year ,spent a week arsing around under the car with faulty gearboxes

No get away at all this year then

[anonymous-user]

I just took the whole of June off. It was great to just do what I wanted, when I wanted. Spent a few days away in the UK but most of the time was going to the gym, driving around, reading books, walking the dog. Basically re-charging the batteries and getting my body a little fitter.

In Sept I shall be driving to South of France for a couple of weeks with Mrs Garyhun - now that's my type of holiday, great driving, great food, great wine, lovely scenery.

Don't really need/enjoy long haul beach holidays anymore.

[Hysteria1983]

I love holidays!

We alternate one year in the UK, usually Newquay and then to 'the sun' the next year.

Two weeks in lanzarote last year with my parents, sister, fiancé and children was amazing. I wasn't looking forward to it at first as the children were 3 and 4 years old, so very inquisative. As it turned out it was the last holiday with my dad, and it was amazing, and left my children with very fond memories of their grandad.

I suppose some people who are coming back to the 24/7, 9-5 it might seem a bit less fun, but others can't wait to get away from it all.
I'm lucky that being a 'sahm' I don't really have the pressure of work comitments (at the moment), so for me it's a great time to just enjoy some sunshine, and as Mr P
might say ... Unchain myself from the kitchen sink!

Having the children means it's not really a sit by the pool and soak up the sun, type of holiday. But I feel I do more and get more out of my holidays with the children as we do more travelling and sightseeing, rather than just getting a sun tan.

[theboyrob]

I do like holidays, wouldn't say i get all that excited about going, but enjoy the time i am away on said trip. But when I think of how much I spend and what else I could do with that money depressed me, even on cheap do's!

But I think for me the main reason for holidays is good memories, I am very lucky and enjoy my day to day life and job but you don't get amazing memories from that, but you do from breaks away with friends, family and loved ones

[jmorgan]

Time to sit back and relax, turn the phone off and do what ever I want to. I do not live to go on holidays.