Do You Take A Vacation ??

I'm currently needing one away day somewhere anywhere that takes bus pass or train rail card and brings us back home the same day.

However, I'm too nervous, frustrated and irritated to go anywhere except relaxing pool, archery session or groceries shopping. LOL!

In the past, we had dogs so we found hotels that accepted them, so went to Liverpool and The Beatles Trek. London and the Royal Windsors and Edinburgh day trip. Last one was around 2010.

We've never needed to take long, fortnight type holidays, once married and with family as one work contract meant we were at the beach every day, except in the month of December, the water was too cold.

We had plenty weekend jaunts that were full of fun.

I can't call fully my 3 weeks holiday in 82 a vacation. Nope, it was more a conquest to see if I could live on my own. Completely look after myself. Get clothes (my largest suitcase was empty but I filled it a bit). Plan my meals, as well as getting to the touristy places.

Meeting new people and budgeting based on amount of money I had available for the whole month. Needless to say, it was a resounding success. It gave me the confidence I was missing...

Today, as it's just me and daughter plus kitty kat. All the lessons learned on that trip so long ago were extremely valuable as well as the wee commercial schooling certificate I received in accounting, things fall into place.

The desire to have a day off after all these trials and tribulations would be extremely welcome as I'm humbly grateful for what I've got just now. Blessed be!
 
Naturally said:
I do not. Already seen a good deal of the world and the most relaxing place to be is home.
That said, I may take a day trip to the beach for a change of scenery and that's enough.
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I feel the same. You're lucky, though, having a beach close enough that it can be a day trip; for me, it's a 5-hour drive in each direction, so not suited for a day trip, unfortunately since I really miss the coast.
 
Naturally said:
I do not. Already seen a good deal of the world and the most relaxing place to be is home.
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We used to visit my schoolfriend and her husband in Savannah GA regularly, they in turn, would come to the UK to visit us and other friends. We must have crossed the pond dozens of times.
When we were younger we were quite adventurous. Among other places, we have seen The Holy Land, walked the actual Stations of the Cross, we seen the great pyramids of Egypt. We have travelled on the famous Orient Express, taken more than one cruise around The Caribbean Islands and much more.

These days our travel amounts to no more than staying in the UK and getting all dressed up and going to vintage festivals.
 
I'm taking one this month and then a trip to Mexico in September. The problem is that I got spoiled having an RV for 10 years and I don't really enjoy staying in motels, etc. As we sold the RV, it's either motels/hotels/Air B&B's or staying at a relative's or friend's house.

I hate the checking in and out and the uncertainty of what you're going to get. It looks good, the reviews are OK and you get there and WOWZA! what a dump! And an expensive dump at that.

If I could afford to stay in 5-star hotels and resorts, it would be another matter.

So, not as many vacations as I used to take.
 
Yes...whenever I can. Just renewed my passport again for another 10 years. However since Covid, then the breakdown of my marriage.. I haven't been anywhere on holiday..either abroad or at home.. Just day trips...

I have a home in Southern Spain which is currently rented out... and I was hoping I'd get there this year ( there's still time ).. but I doubt that I'll make it there this year. This is the first year that Brits have been fully able to travel abroad since the pandemic without restrictions.. and so planes and accommodation is full to the Brim.. and expensive , they're making up for what they lost with no tourists ...so I will very likely not go abroad this year.

I used to live 45 minutes from the coast.. now with extended roads..etc.. it's become an hour and a half.. . ..in my 40's and 50's I thought nothing of that torturous drive ( British narrow overfilled roads)... and would be there every other weekend given the chance... Now driving a manual and an Arthritic knee which protests loudly after driving .. I've not been to the beach since last year..

I will make an attempt at it before the end of July before all the schools finish up for summer holidays... but otherwise.. it'll be after September..
 
My vacation is just ending. I have been here in Florida for 5 weeks and leaving on Sunday to return home. Me and my dog going up I-95. We did a lot and got a lot done. mostly volunteer work. My friend lives in an over 55 mobile home park, so we volunteered our time to do any chores anyone needed done. We did build a 77 year old lady a ramp for her scooter. Mowed lawns, fixed some plumbing issues, put in a few new toilets, installed 2 TV antennas, a lot of small jobs.

I come and go as I want and that suits me.
 
Most of my foreign travel was on business and when possible, Mrs.L came with me. Now that we're retired, most of our holidays are in GB, but we try to have 2 or 3 European city breaks every year. We'll be off to celebrate our 50th. anniversary in Lisbon in September and to Germany for the Christmas markets in December.

Our younger daughter and her OH travel to lots of concerts round the UK and Europe, while our elder girl speaks at international conferences pretty well round the world. She's off to Athens (Greece) in late August.
 
My vacation started in 2011 when I retired
The last time I went anywhere was last Oct to NYC, for weekend marriage of niece/god daughter ,Katie. Her husband Zach grew up in Buffalo suburb, Williamsville. It was a lovely time with entire family,saw my sister, Mary for the 1st time in 10 yrs{ she lives outside of London} met Zach's parents,his sister & their friends
I don't know if I'll be taking another vacation anytime soon
 
Other than staycations within a couple of hours of driving, we haven’t been anywhere since Dec, 2019. We travelled a lot before then. We‘ve a short trip planned, so we’ll see how well we deal with the airports. If it’s not too much of an ordeal, we’ll try to fit in another trip in the fall.
 
I love to vacation. I have been to Europe 6 times, went to Thailand, 6 cruises, have seen most of the states and many national parks.

My passport expires in 2028 and won’t renew it. My friend wants to go to France in 2025 and that will most likely be my last international vacation.
 
Speaking of passports, I'm getting mine renewed. The State Dept. has had my renewal application for 8 weeks now. Checking the status at the official website, it says: Processing. Furthermore, there was additional info that due to high summer demand, it will take up to 13 weeks. So, hopefully I will get it within the next 5 weeks! That works just fine to me since October is my next sailing.
 
I experience as much happiness as possible every day or at least value
and try to learn from adverse occurrences.
I like day trips or overnights.
I can enjoy the same if I'm camping in the mountains or at home
playing with my dog. Happiness is inside me.
Love travel but have no need to travel.
 
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I have been away on a vacation for 2 months. It was good but I find that as I get older, the glamour of travel is starting to pale.

First there are all those bad stories in the media about airports. The delayed flights, the canceled flights and all that "lovely" sleeping on the floor of the airport without knowing if and when you would fly. Feel like talking to a fellow passenger? You must be crazy! All the passengers are texting "loved ones" telling them what a wonderful holiday they are having.

Resorts can be very noisy places. Restaurants prices are going up and up and I really hate that compulsory tip on your final bill. Want to ask someone about their trip? It's pretty hard as everyone in the restaurant is texting someone somewhere.

You pay for a room and have to listen to your neighbour watching some soceer or other sports channel all evening. Often you get to "enjoy" your fat neighbour, sleeping on his back and snoring all nights. What a treat! Often drunks are walking past your door. If you face the street, you get to "enjoy" the roar of the traffic all night. My "favourite" is the loud roar of those motorcycles with the fancy mufflers.

Beggars seem to be all over the place. Some guy tries to sell you some sort of illegal drug. In many countries the police stop you and try to shake you down for some money. In Europe the little gypsy kids are a real danger to you.

Sometimes, it rains; sometimes the heat is unbelievable! You go out and your shirt is soaked due to the very high humidity. Foreign languages can be fun! I'm just kidding here! You were planning of using "Google Translate" for your foreign trip? Wonderful idea but too bad there is no internet around where you are.

If you are a single white male, the local prostitutes keep chasing you. If you are a single white female, then all the local males keep pestering you.

Tour prices are getting higher and higher. Go on a cruise and they want a tip every time, they pull back a chair for you. Want to leave the ship and you stand and stand in a lineup to get off the boat. Lots of great food on the cruise but unfortunately a lot of loud drunks shouting so everyone can hear them.

Try to change money and they almost always "rip" you off. No one seems to like you unless they see you as a source of income.

Go fly the "unfriendly" skies and you end up sitting beside some fat person, a screaming kid in front of you, the front seat is almost in your face and you end up "fine dining" on a tiny bag of prezels or peanuts. The coffee looks and smell like McAfee but it is unfortunately terribly watered down. Fly overnight from Canada to Europe. You were hoping for some warm food! Forget it if you are flying Westjet. No food but the jokes over the PA are good but only if you can understand them.

Airport check ins are always a hoot. They make you take your belt off and remove your shoes. Sometimes I wonder if they are going to soon ask you to remove your trousers and under shorts too!

All the above abuses sure makes staying at home a wonderful alternative to being a dumb tourist!
 

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