The Positive Truth about Brits (and the Welsh) Abroad

It’s August in the UK…

Unlike our sun-drenched European neighbours, we Brits don’t get the luxury of a months-long summer break. While the Italians escape to the coast for weeks of Aperol, and the Spaniards gracefully shut down for siestas and sangria, we cling to our disappointing weather, and the one sacred week in Skiathos we booked nine months ago, complete with sunburn and all-you-can-eat buffets.

If you’re in the parent gang, it’s even worse - bound by the rigid six-week holiday window, prices sky-high, and travel options squeezed into what feels like a national stampede toward the nearest Costa del Somewhere. Do we moan? Yes. Do we love it? Also, yes.

Welcome to the Great British Summer.

At a time when inboxes go quiet and Ryanair sees a surge in holiday-goers thanks to the cost of living crisis making British Airways points about as useful as a paper fan in a heatwave, us folk from the Great British Isles love a good holiday.

Yet, while nothing quite beats a Jet2 holiday where you save £50 per person, there are some damning truths about the good ol’ British Citizen when we travel.

If you asked AI to generate a Brit Abroad, chances are it’d spit out a proud, topless, larger than life man standing at the edge of a pool, chest hair glistening, Benson & Hedges hanging loosely from his lip, and a warm can of Stella in hand - gazing lovingly at the not-so-distant Benidorm skyline.

Or perhaps a group of teenagers collapsed near a public toilet after one too many Apple Sours and an emotionally charged round of karaoke down the strip. (Oh, the good old days).

In fact, we did ask AI to muster up this depiction of the Great Brit Abroad, and it did not disappoint:

But here’s the thing: while some might find our holiday habits somewhat distasteful - embarrassing even - I’m here to make a case for the British traveller. Remove the politics, ignore the colonial cringe - and let me show you the good side of being from these tiny islands.

Here’s my list of why it’s fantastic to travel with an Englishman, an Irishman, a Welshman and/or a Scotsman:

01/ We’re Loyal - to a Full English, and To Each Other

While we may spend our days at home avoiding eye contact and being taken aback when someone says “Morning,” there’s something about hearing the English language across the room that makes us feel all warm and squidgy inside.

No doubt, Barry from Essex and Stace from Manchester will be on that karaoke machine by noon, becoming best friends for life.

02 / We’re Polite - Even in the Face of Chaos

People laugh at our national compulsion to apologise - even when we’re not in the wrong. But there’s something charming about muttering “Sorry” when someone else steals the last boiled egg from the continental buffet. 

And, while the stereotype may suggest that Brits cause the drunk brawl in the club at 3am, you’ll likely find one of us helping the bouncer break it up. Or at least offering to buy him a pint.

03 / We Love a Queue - Even if There Isn’t One

Let's not forget, table service only became a ‘thing’ in the UK post-pandemic. Before that, queuing at the bar was the ritual. In fact, for many of us, being asked to take a seat at a bar is simply infuriating. Rude even.

So if you see us standing awkwardly at the entrance of a restaurant abroad, waiting to be seated, please just give us a gentle tap on the shoulder. 

04 / We’re Resilient - We Are Just Born That Way

It’s almost guaranteed that someone will get sunburn, heatstroke, food poisoning, or lose their luggage on a holiday with Brits. Being ‘unlucky’ is simply part of our genetic makeup. 

But it’s fine. We bounce back quickly - just hand us a beer or a Pinot Grigio and we’ll be right as rain.

05 / We’re World-Class Storytellers - Even When You’re Not Listening

No one recounts a near-death Jet Ski experience or losing their phone at sea during a boat party quite like a UK traveller.

Whether it’s the dulcet tones of a friendly Northerner or the ancient myths of a Welsh legend, we know how to keep a crowd. Even if the crowd didn’t ask.

06 / We Know How to Have Fun - After All, it’s 5 o’clock Somewhere

Now, whilst my body is a temple these days, for most of my career as a proud Welshman, I’ve ensured that, when on holiday, the cocktails come out at noon - on the dot. On holiday, we are up for anything; we’ll join the hotel volleyball game (despite having never stepped on a sandy beach back at home), we’ll give paddle-boarding a go in our smallest speedo’s, and we do love a good pub quiz.

Yes, it’s true - sometimes we are a ‘bit much’. But overall? We’re a solid 10/10.

07 / We Love a Nickname-ification - and you’ll love it too

If you overhear a table of Brits, there’s a high chance they’ve renamed every object, drink and location within a 2-mile radius. After all, we are on our holibobs.

From “I fancy a Bev” (beverage), and “see you down the Sandy B” (sandy beach), to a lady called Sharon shouting, “Is that Savvy B free? It is a Cossie Livs after all, Dave, and that Prosecs is well Spenny”

You’re not truly British until you’ve invented a brand-new word for a perfectly normal situation.

And finally,

08 / We Know how to Laugh At Ourselves - ish

We are the joke, and we know it. And honestly? That makes us the best company on any holiday.

So that's it! My positive list of being a top-notch UK traveller.

I must admit, I’m not sure if writing this has made me prouder of my roots or slightly ashamed.

But what I do know is this: next time I book a Jet2 holiday, I’ll think fondly of writing this blog while reclining on my sun lounger, sipping a Strawberry Daq’s and rubbing in my Malibu Sun Oil, factor 3.

Happy Holidays!