It's Official - Britain Needs Another Holiday!

So the chances are, if you’re British, you haven’t had a holiday in far too long. Yes, you have time off work – but it’s pretty likely that you rarely go anywhere, spending a good deal of your annual leave at home. And if you’re anything like me, being at home leads to all manner of unexciting things such as doing the washing and (kill me now) ironing. It’s not good. And now there’s a name for it. Vacationitis.

When was the last time you had the chance to jet off into the sunset?

A recent study by Hilton has found that, on average, us full time workers in the UK only spend 8 of our 24 day leave allowance actually enjoying ourselves. The other 16 days are when we tackle “domestic admin” (a phrase that’s making me feel itchy already). Worse still, half of us haven’t had a holiday in over a year, with a jaw-dropping 5% being holiday deprived for 10 years or more. Of course, there’ll always be times when we’re redecorating, or waiting for a new bed/wardrobe/fridge to be delivered. But 10 years without a holiday? Not good. Last year I posted about the findings from a study by the British Heart Foundation which showed that not travelling enough was the top regret among us Brits. Better to regret something you did do than something you didn't.  And it seems to be no fluke that the people who do travel don’t tend to ever regret it. So what are we waiting for?

The current climate of economic struggles and the need to cut back on our disposable spends can certainly mean we’re unable to do all the travelling we’d wish, but with commitment and savvy planning you can still go on holiday! And if you can, you should! I’m a firm believer that a change of scene is one of the best ways to forget about the worries of trudging life’s treadmill. 

If you physically take yourself away from your problems, you can learn to let them bother you less. And there’s no better distraction than a beautiful view, a new city to explore, or the feeling of the ocean supporting your work-weary bones. A trip away is chance for you to remember that you’re more than your full-time job (even if it’s a job you love).

Two weeks of this? Don't mind if I do!

And before you start to wonder how you’ll afford a two week break in the sun – well it won’t work for everyone. And if two weeks away seems like far too long for you to be away from your reality (or possibly just from family who rely on you), the odd overnight break or weekend away can truly work wonders. Look at budget airlines and consider European cities other than the usual suspects of Paris and Rome. These are beautiful places, but it’s entirely possible you’ll get a better bargain flying to somewhere like Lisbon in Portugal or Bilbao in Spain.  Both are on my radar for bargain flight prices, and in a few months I’ll be posting about just how far I can make my money go on an upcoming three night break to the Portuguese capital.

There are also your local travel options to explore. Have you been to the museums close to where you live? Have you ever stayed in a hotel in your own city? You might be surprised by what’s on offer – many city hotels do excellent deals, and if you take a Monday off work, there’s every possibility of a cheap Sunday overnight stay, with dinner often thrown in too.

You don't necessarily need to travel far to just take the time to enjoy the good things in life

So there you go!  You really don’t have to go far to make the most of a holiday (though if you can, good for you!). It’s much more about making the choice to do something, or go somewhere purely for the purpose of enjoyment, and then to make sure you stick by your decision.

Don’t be a vacationitis statistic!

And don’t stay home doing the ironing on your day off!

Have you ever felt like you wasted your time off? And where would you suggest is a good place to visit if you can only manage a few days off work? I'd love to hear your thoughts!