to not want to do self-catering holidays every time?

[MotherofPearl]

DP and I have opposing views on this. He has what I regard as an irrational hatred of hotels (says he doesn't like being around 'all the other people in hotels' ). Also says he doesn't like being cramped in with the DC (we have 3). I think interconnected rooms solves the latter problem, and feel quite strongly that self-catering holidays aren't really a break for me! Although we share the cooking, I end up doing most of the other stuff (laundry, making beds, general cleaning up).
I'd just like it if sometimes we could opt for a hotel, and someone else could think of the meals, make the beds, and supply the clean towels! All-inclusive is something I can only dream of! And it's not a money issue; I've asked him about that. So, AIBU to desperately hanker for a hotel holiday?

[puglife15]

YANBU.

We found an all inclusive place where the accommodation was spread out bungalows, and got a peaceful spot for ours a few mins from the main resort. Most relaxing holiday ever.

[Wolfiefan]

Can you holiday in a serviced apartment? Do takeaway or eat out more on holiday? Insist on a fair division of labour. Before you go decide who will do what.

[therootoftheroot]

why not do self catering in an aprt-hotel so you have a wee kitchenette, a bedroom, living room, balcony but a maid comes every day to clean up and make the beds and you eat out most of the time?

[MotherofPearl]

Thanks all, I like the idea of a serviced apartment v much; that would be an excellent compromise. I don't mind doing self-catering sometimes, but think that he needs to compromise a bit too.

[Wolfiefan]

Perhaps the compromise could be he does much more of the jobs! Or you head off for the odd night alone in a lovely hotel!

[Mov1ngOn]

I'd much rather a whole cottage than just a room in a hotel if I have the choice.

Cottage and going out for meals would suit me best. But I'm happy cooking the odd thing.

I dont like hotels particularly.

[LagunaBubbles]

But why do you end up doing everything, shouldn't that be shared to?

[defineme]

If he would find an apart hotel to busy then pay for extra cleaning of a villa and eat out every night? We just buy croissants for breakfast and snacky stuff for lunch.

[mychildrenarebarmy]

Obvious solution - he goes self catering with the children while you go to a hotel. Or maybe go with the serviced apartment.

[Costacoffeeplease]

What kind of places are you going to? We always go self catering in a villa or apartment, with maid service and shops/restaurants nearby - it's much less work than being at home!

[MotherofPearl]

Wolfie and MyChildren, I love both of those suggestions!

[AnneEyhtMeyer]

We went on one self-catering holiday once we had DD.

After a few days of cooking breakfast, making sandwiches to take to the beach, cleaning and DH saying "maybe we should eat in a few evenings" I said that I wouldn't go on another self-catering holiday unless we went out for every meal.

I would rather stay at home where I have a proper kitchen, a dishwasher and an Ocado delivery than go on a self-catering holiday.

We now go all-inclusive and everyone is happy.

[PickleSarnie]

I hate hotel holidays with children so I'm with your husband. I hate being surrounded by other people too. Although most our summer holidays are in France and i could survive on bread and cheese indefinitely. Or cottages in the UK where we can choose to eat out if we want or have a bbq in peace instead.

Only holiday I want catered is skiing. Nothing tastes as good as cake someone else has made after a days skiing. But even then I don't do hotels.

[redskytonight]

Eat out if you don't want to cook.

Personally I'm with DH. You get way more space if you selfcater - you don't have to always find somewhere to eat e.g. you can eat breakfast at home, or just chuck pizza in the oven. Making beds surely takes 2 seconds, and having your own washing machine I find handy - you can wash stuff or not, and don't have to drag a whole holiday worth's of dirty clothes home with you.

[expatinscotland]

I hate hotels. I'd so serviced apartment as a compromise in your case.

[Ineedmorelemonpledge]

I love the privacy of a Vila with a private pool. Had one in Mallorca last year that was miles from anyone.

You can't beat skinny dipping in the dark with a bucket of sangria while the kids are asleep, and watching Breaking Bad under the stars on a lilo.

But I know what you mean...I spent a lot of time pottering round the kitchen, wiping down surfaces and worrying about leaving the place in a good state.

But I love the freedom of sleeping in undisturbed, long breakfasts and browsing in new supermarkets

I think you need to take a day each alternately on the chores.

[BarbaraofSeville]

Why are you cleaning and tidying up? Just leave things where they are until the end of the holiday?

Beyond keeping the kitchen usable nothing really needs doing. I hate being crammed in a hotel room and find maid service intrusive. I'd rather be left in peace.

What on earth is all this bed making that people are doing. You just pull the duvet back up don't you? I'm the worlds biggest slattern and even I don't find that a chore.

[UsedToBeAPaxmanFan]

I think self catering is easier if you eat out a lot. You get so much more space? It's really relaxing. I hate being confined to one or two hotel rooms.

If you are holiday in Britain, get a cottage with good facilities (dishwasher, freezer etc), get an Ocado delivery for the evening you arrive with lots of easy-to-throw-together food (quiche, salad etc ) plus wine and insist your husband loads/unloads the dishwasher.

Unless it's for a weekend, I would much rather do self catering than a hotel. On the other hand, if you really feel strongly about it then maybe you should to a hotel one year, self catering the next.

[Babyroobs]

A typical caravan holiday usually involves makig up the beds when you get there, perhaps that's what op means ? I always hated self catering holidays where I had to make up 5 beds on arrival.

[Onedaftmonkey]

I am as I type on a camping self catering holiday. I fucking hate it. So far I've put the tent up. Organised the interior. Cooked all the meals. Sorted out the entertainment. Done all the washing up/ washing. I'm exhausted. So no uanbu. Book a hotel . Book full board. Enjoy yourself because for the other 42 weeks of the year you'll be doing it all anyway. I am fyi halfway through my 3rd glass of wine. Bbq done with and just the washing up to do. I intend to get totally pissed tonight. Thank fuck theirs with

[Onedaftmonkey]

That's Wi-Fi not with ((??))

[BennyTheBall]

I'm with you dh - I hate the idea of hotels and 'other people'.

We always do self catering, but I have to admit I am a complete lazy arse and dh does all of the cooking/washing etc. No way would I do it if I had to actually do anything.

[1busybee]

Somewhere like Pierre et vacances in fuerteventura might suit you. We had our own villa a bit away from the main area with a pool to share between 4 other villas and the main pools etc a 5 minute walk away. We went AI so walked the 5 minutes to eat but there was a supermarket etc on site if you wanted. There was also maid service and low key kids club if that took your fancy.

[ethelb]

Your options are:
Serviced apartment or villa
AI in separate cottage/villa/bungalow thing
Self catering somewhere with a lot of optional add ons and walking distance to a number of affordable restaurants
Your husband picks up the slack

[1frenchfoodie]

YANBU. If he likes self catering so much then he ought to accept a greater share of the work or that you will eat out more.

I am puzzled about having to make beds though. We use self catering cottages all the time (We both much prefer it) but the beds are made when we arrive and we leave them made (but dirty) when we leave. You could also insist on places with a tumble dryer so towels /any essential laundry are easily done. I think towels can last a week so shouldn't need doing while aay.You wouldn't pay hotel laundry charges anyway would you?

We did Butlins half board holidays when I was a kid- you got breakfast and evening meal and did your thing for lunch. You got chalet with kitchen diner and couple of bedrooms. Maybe something like this would work.