Wintering abroad.

We are a few years away from retirement but it never hurts to start planning.
My nephew backpacked around Asia recently and everything was really cheap.
This got me thinking about renting a house on a beach somewhere out that way for 2 months every winter. Sun ,snorkelling and great food.
It might even work out cheaper than staying here. There might even be another couple joining us to share the rental costs.
I did see somewhere a hotel in Egypt that cost £800 all inclusive for all of January.
Freezing your nuts off here seems silly.
Has anyone done it?

My ex in-laws do it most years

3 weeks in each, December, January and February. Week or so at home in-between for xmas, NYE and a couple of family birthdays. Usually do a couple of weeks in April as well.

Air BnB or a cheap hotel/villa in Spain is their usual target.

Yup done it a couple of times. Always Canary Islands for me.

Haven’t done it for the last two years as missus is a driving instructor so can’t take the same amount of time off as me.

We both have our own properties. When we retire the plan will be to sell one and live in that during our summer and live abroad for 3 months over winter (prob Jan to end of March). We did think it might be worth buying abroad, but I’d rather rent and keep the money in savings.

Don’t know if I’d want a month in Egypt. I’ve never been so that’s a bit of an ignorant comment I know. But is it safe outside of the hotel area? For a month I’d want to be somewhere I can get out and about. If it is safe, or if you’re happy staying in a resort then £800 all inclusive for a month seems a bargain!

Did some work for a couple in the 90s, they used to hitch up the caravan to the merc and head off to spain in late October.
They would winter there and head home in march.
They did it along with a few other couples.
I’ve gotta admit, it sounds quite appealing.

My mum and dad, who were far from wealthy, after retirement wintered for a while in Portugal when it was still pretty cheap. It didn’t cost much more than staying at home with the heating on all day. Like most of Europe the maths probably don’t work these days but I’m sure other destinations exist that would make it worthwhile.

I’ve gotta admit, it sounds quite appealing.

It was the sort of thing I was looking forward to, but Brexit has pissed on those chips now due to the 90 day rule.  I’d happily go mid December and come back when the 90 days runs out except the Mrs has an office job to attend.  I’m considering driving the camper down to the Costa del Sol with the motorbike, pushbike and kayak though and flying her in and out.

That was always our plan before the B-thing happened. Now we spend a month away at a time a few times a year. Health care is a thing that needs to be thought about, as well as preparing your home for a long absence.

MrsSB and I are considering it as we’re done with UK winters.

Maybe not 3 months but there’s a decent chance we might rent somewhere for a month or 6 weeks. May not happen but we definitely want to get away from the rain and cold!

My mum & dad used to got to stay with my sister in Spain from Boxing Day until late Feb (just after one of my nephew’s birthday). Meant they had plenty of time with the grandkids- they would also spend 6 weeks around May/June for my other nephew’s birthday.

Once my son was born, they cut down time abroad – nephews were hitting their teens so we’re around less anyway.

How does the CO2 impact of heating ones home over winter  compare with  to flying to Asia and back ?

How does the CO2 impact of heating ones home over winter  compare with  to flying to Asia and back ?

I assume the OP was planning to walk. In sustainably produced sandals, natch （╹◡╹）

It’d be a great way to travel the world and see a different continent each year. You could loose yourself in SE Asia for quite some time, I spent 2 months there a while back and I’d favour there over Europe / Egypt for the really nice cultural experience and food, ohh the food – did I mention the food???

How does the CO2 impact of heating ones home over winter compare with to flying to Asia and back ?

Probably rather well considering air travel typically achieves fuel consumption of around 70mpg/person.

How does the CO2 impact of heating ones home over winter compare with to flying to Asia and back?

We have no children or pets. Our carbon footprint is squeaky clean!

A club mate is getting ready for 89 days in France and Spain in a camper. Not sure why they go in the autumn rather than after Christmas, think it might be to do with family birthdays being at the beginning of the year, but I can see the attraction!

Elderly neighbours of ours go to Thailand every Oct/November for 6-8 weeks. I dont know how they stay there or what its costing them, but they state its cheaper than them being in UK.

Work colleague and his wife go to Agadir (Morocco) for 4-6 weeks all-inclusive in January and apparently thats about £2k for both of them.

Anybody else feel like we’ve had no summer this year?90 days abroad might make up for it.

God thread. I have retired but Mrs Surfer not until December 26. After that I am hoping we can do some long stays, particularly Europe. Not likely to buy anywhere I just dont think that is for us. We have a friend with a lovely place in Andalusia and they allow us to use it a reduced price.  Only thing is they use it themselves a lot so 8 weeks plus in one go might not be doable. Fag packet number crunching shows it not dissimilar to staying at home. I think the trick is to “live” there for the period and not treat it as an extended holiday, eating out every night etc…

In Europe we would also take the camper, meander through France and mainland Spain then spend 6 weeks on the coast.

We’re allowed to work a month away so might try the Canaries this winter. Need guaranteed good internet though.

When retired, 6 months in Ireland and 6 in Iberia.

Would love to be able to do this, watching thread with interest

We are setting off in just over a months time with our caravan for 85 nights in south east Spain.

I don’t really like the coast as i prefer to be in Spain rather than “Little Britain/Germany/Holland/France”!

The inland area where i stay is great for road and mtb’ing and it’s a place i have been going to for the past 20 years. A Spanish friend i go road  biking with has a bar in the village which is a bit of a bonus.

Travel costs over recent years and  Brexit appear to have reduced the amount of long stay British visitors over the years. The campsite i am staying at used to be around  70% British customers but last year probably around 20%. When i arrive in mid October it will be pretty empty with Europeans arriving after New Year.

We’re allowed to work a month away so might try the Canaries this winter.

Be careful. My ex-employer would not allow us to work from abroad because of tax issues.

edit – but you live in the EU already, right?

Had 2 weeks in the Algarve last January.

It was dirt cheap.

A meal for 2, with wine, worked out at about 30 or 40 euros. Not fine dining but decent enough.

If we hadn’t took on a rescue dog, I think we would of stayed for 6 weeks this winter.

Our plan was kind of similar but more time away than here – buy in-laws wee place in Corsica and spend the busy summer season travelling/visiting family in UK (June July August), pretty much scuppered by Brexit ?

edit – but you live in the EU already, right?

Yes. And my employer does allow UK based people to work in the EU.