Nowadays, we take it for granted that we should go on holiday once, if not twice a year. It’s our right, we need a break, we need to get away … However, while there are a lot of places I’d like to visit, sometimes I think that holidays are a waste of precious time and money! Here’s why …
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The moment that you get back, it’s like you’ve never been away. As soon as you arrive at the airport for the return journey – maybe even sooner – the benefits of the time away seem to just evaporate, and you end up in a gloom that you have to return to the daily grind …
This paragraph highlights the short-lived nature of holidays and how the positive effects seem to disappear as soon as you return to your daily routine. This feeling is commonly known as the "post-vacation blues" and is backed by research that shows the happiness and relaxation from a holiday typically only lasts for about two weeks. Additionally, studies have found that the anticipation of a holiday can actually bring more joy than the holiday itself. This further emphasizes the fleeting nature of vacations and how they may not provide long-term benefits for our overall well-being.
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Holidays are definitely expensive. Hundreds of dollars, if not thousands, and it’s all gone in a week (two if you’re lucky). What’s more, if for whatever reason you don’t have a good time, then all that money has been spent with no benefit whatsoever!
Between flights, accommodation, meals, and activities, the bills stack up with alarming speed. And let's not forget the hidden costs that sneak up on you — those airport transfers, the irresistible souvenirs, even your mobile roaming charges. All these can leave your wallet significantly lighter. Ever experienced post-holiday blues? Imagine that sinking feeling, but with your bank account! Absolutely, there's something to be said for creating priceless memories, but sometimes the price tag is, honestly, a little too steep. It's worth asking, could that money be better invested in something with more lasting value?
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With delays, security etc, travelling can leave you exhausted and stressed. And then you’ve got to do the whole thing again to get home. At which point you barely have time to breathe before you’re back at work again. As they say – you need a holiday to get over your holiday!
In addition to the stress of travelling, holidays can also be a source of financial strain. With the cost of flights, accommodations, and activities, many people end up spending more money than they intended. This can lead to post-holiday blues and stress as people try to catch up on their finances. Furthermore, holidays can also disrupt daily routines and cause health issues such as jet lag and overindulgence in unhealthy foods and alcohol. This can impact productivity and overall well-being, making it difficult to get back into the swing of things after returning from a holiday.
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With the current economic climate, many of us don’t have much spare cash. Sometimes we have to decide what’s most important. Once my bills are taken care of, my priority is my cats. I’d rather keep my money in case they need veterinary treatment, than blow it on a holiday.
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All that sightseeing is exhausting. And why do hotels insist on getting you up early for breakfast and then out so they can clean the room, when all you want is to sleep late? I would prefer to rent an apartment, so that I can come and go as I please – except that as a single traveller, it works out more expensive than staying in a hotel.
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Now, I like to think of myself as a traveller, rather than a tourist (the difference being that a traveller speaks the language and has a genuine interest in the culture). Whether I am right or not in this distinction, for me the problem is that wherever you go, there are tourists spoiling it for you! It’s obviously impossible to have a place to yourself.
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Have you ever been on one of those family holidays where everyone wants to do different things? Or worse still, a holiday with friends where one person wants to dominate everything and make all the decisions? It’s hard to find a holiday that will please everyone in a group …
… and this difference in interests can lead to frustration and even conflict. Imagine, you're dying for a peaceful day at the beach, while your cousin is itching for a high-energy zip-lining adventure. The art lover in the group is longing for museums, but your thrill-seeking friend is on the hunt for the nearest bungee jump. With such diverse expectations, finding a compromise can be exhausting, often leaving someone feeling out of sorts. It's enough to make you wonder whether orchestrating a holiday that satisfies everyone's taste is just too tall an order!
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Not everyone wants to travel. Some people would quite happily stay at home and never visit anywhere in their lives, or stick close to home. Yet it is only in recent decades that the holiday has come to be seen as an essential, almost as something that you are expected to do.
So, what do you think of holidays? Do you find them a waste of money, or do you love travelling? Do you have a long list of destinations that you are slowly ticking off? Or are you a homebody who likes to stay in familiar surroundings?
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