What I don't understand about... holidays!

I realise that this is a cliche, but I have to rant just a little. I completely understand the point of a holiday. The derivation of the word is from 'holy day', i.e. a day when you don't work and relax instead.
At which point I also understand that staying home and not going into work (for example) is also a nice 'holiday'. As is, presumably, if you have no responsibilities and unlimited budget, where you could travel around and enjoying yourself enormously.

But. 

In between these two stress-free extremes is what most of us understand as a holiday, and it's a hundred times more stressful.

There are three factors and I rant and rail at each one when someone starts enquiring after your holiday plans, past or future, and coos "Well, that's nice for you". No, it's usually (mainly) not nice. And I'll explain why.

1. Arrangements

For starters, there are 'arrangements' to be made. Nothing to do with getting to your holiday or what to do when you get there. Those are extra things to do, and pretty massive. But don't forget the day to day arrangements with regards to pets (and their feeding/walking/kennelling, as appropriate), plus mundane stuff like getting someone else in to look after mail on the doorstep, or take in/out rubbish bins.

Then, if you're self-employed, you have to let your customers/readers (etc) know when you'll be away and what to do in the meantime. Or else you go all tech and try and do some stuff while away (though this rarely goes down well with your partner!)

Plus, while on the holiday, especially if you're taking kids or pets, then know that your break will be dominated by them and their happiness. Not yours.

2. Time wastage

Some will say, of holidays and trips, that 'the getting there is half the fun' or 'getting there is all part of the holiday'. But they're wrong. The hours of buses and trains and planes and queues and taxis and walking (carrying suitcases usually) aren't relaxing in the slightest. They're stress, stress, stress. 

And you're not seeing the holiday area/country, you're spending 95% of your time looking at transport infrastructure. For a typical one week holiday, two of the seven days are taken up with travelling or setting up, in one way or another. 

3. Outrageous cost

Then there's the cost. You sound most of your life working hard to earn money. And then blow most of it on utterly unnecessary holidays (again, I contend). Where, for the privilege of being in a slightly different location, you pay a small fortune for someone else's room, for others to cook and wash up your food, for someone to drive or ferry you around. All the while knowing that you're also still paying your rent/mortgage/council tax/utilities for your home, even though you're not actually there.

Whereas if you had (shock, horror) stayed at home, in your own house, with your own food, and everything you needed, and are familiar with, to hand, there would be no extra cost at all.

The VR Grinch

So yes, I sound like a right grumpy stick-in-the-mud. And you're right. But you must also acknowledge that I make some good points. For some holidays and trips, there's a very good case for asking yourself whether it's all 'worth it'.

Can modern technology come to the rescue? From Google Street View to VR goggles and applications, it's never been easier to see what other parts of your planet look like without leaving your living room or study. And while I agree that these stand-ins aren't the same as being somewhere, that you can get half the experience without losing significant time or money is notable, I think.

So yes, the next time someone asks you how your holiday went, answer honestly, perhaps. It might have been fantastic. Or it might have been so stressful and costly that you're a) glad to be back at work, and b) thinking of just staying in next time and putting your feet up on a deckchair in the garden!

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