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AIBU?

Activities on holiday!

39 replies

INeedAnEspresso · 10/08/2016 21:28

We are off to the Alps next week for our summer holiday, we will be staying in the mountains but a short drive away from Geneva/lake Geneva.

However we only have a single car but we have different people that like different activities as well as people of different ages.

So I have a large blended family and it goes as follows.

Ds aged 16 (likes actives like kayaking, mountain biking, hiking and anything sporty).

Mr eldest stepson also 16 who likes museums and city stuff.

My other stepson 14 who dislikes sports likes city stuff like his brother.

My daughter aged 9 who won't do sport and probably.

My son aged 7 who will do the less intense sports for adults/teens but won't be able to do some of the activities.

My wife who hates sports likes simply to chill and likes cities.

I absolutely love sport.

So I am not sure what to do when it comes to the days.

So far it is
Sunday chill by the pool
Monday kayaking (me and ds)
Tuesday visit to Geneva (all of us)
Wednesday mountain biking (me ds, stepson (16) and ds (7)
Thursday rock climbing (me and ds)
Friday zip wiring (me and ds)
Saturday day at lake (all of us)
Sunday water sports (me and ds)
Monday is to be decided
Tuesday we fly back.

I know it leaves a few family members out a lot. My wife says it not right that i do so many activities with just ds. I think we should get another hire car but my wife doesn't want to drive abroad. She also doesn't want to go out without me. I think they could do some more of the activities.

So what do you suggest less me and ds should do less activities or second car. I think the second car is the best option.

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INeedAnEspresso · 10/08/2016 21:33

The zip lining, and water sports are the ones that are booked.

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cestlavielife · 10/08/2016 21:39

Drive the city lovers to city or nearest station leave them then go back pick up sporty ones. By doing multiple trips as driver you can do it without a second car.
Wife needs to accept people will do different things.
Book a separate weekend you and wife alome to spend time with her.

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LIZS · 10/08/2016 21:39

Do you normally plan in so much detail? It sounds exhausting! Bear in mind weather can be variable and activities get postponed. Most will only take a few hours anyway so that leaves half a day for walking, exploring, swimming, mountain biking etc. Geneva itself won't take more than a day. Are you really staying so remote that the others couldn't use postbuses/trains to get around if needs be, especially the elder dc.

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INeedAnEspresso · 10/08/2016 21:41

It is remote.

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INeedAnEspresso · 10/08/2016 21:44

Well I did this time plan it, because last holiday we went to a all inclusive place lots of activities but some people in the family found it quite boring.

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LIZS · 10/08/2016 21:46

Then you'll have to arrange to drop off/pick up as necessary. Whose idea was it not to be in a resort?

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BikeRunSki · 10/08/2016 21:48

Is there not a bus the teens could use? Ive been on plenty of alpine holidays without a car, and got around by bus.

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VagueButlmportant · 10/08/2016 21:50

I just got back from the area. We were in Annecy so only about 40 mins from Geneva.

Geneva has fantastic public transport, plus free bike hire from the main train station (book ahead - we didn't use it so I don't know how easy it is to get)

I wouldn't recommend taking a car into Geneva anyway. You can park and ride at several of the tram stops. Or depending on where you are, get a boat from further up the lake.

You might both have to compromise. Maybe give them two days to take them where they want to be, and your wife might have to stay in a couple of days if she's not willing to go out by herself. (Or put her big girl pants on!)

Can you co-ordinate and drop them at a tram stop on the way to your activities? If your wife doesn't want to drive, and they want to be in the city centre, a second car seems pointless.

If you have any science nerds in the party go to CERN for a free guided tour - book ahead 3 days early at 7.30 am prompt (BST). Very easily accessible on the Geneva tram system and our teens 13-16 loved it.

You can also do a very cheap tour of the UN building which might interest city / museum types.

Second car would be ideal but I was surprised at how expensive car hire was at Geneva airport. If you are sporty what about getting bikes for you and DS to get to activities? Depends where you are obviously.

It's a beautiful area. Enjoy!

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INeedAnEspresso · 10/08/2016 21:52

Is there not a bus the teens could use? Ive been on plenty of alpine holidays without a car, and got around by bus.

I not sure but I don't want my teens to go round by buses in a foreign country.

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INeedAnEspresso · 10/08/2016 21:54

We are in châtel just across the border.

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Foffyouwanker · 10/08/2016 21:55

So you have 5 children, and over half your holiday revolves around you and one child? Yabu! Looks like you are avoiding what the majority like in favour of your own preference.

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LIZS · 10/08/2016 21:58

There must be buses to Chatel , it isn't really that remote. As long as they have mobiles and can speak a bit of French they will be fine. Mind you, can't imagine you'll want to be driving up and down each day. Do the lifts to Avoriaz/Morzine run in summer, for a bit of variety.

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INeedAnEspresso · 10/08/2016 22:00

we could do the dropoff. I think my wife should and could do one of the activities, so I could have a day out with the younger dc. I think she should do the zip lining with ds Grin

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INeedAnEspresso · 10/08/2016 22:02

I suppose it looks remote as I live in a city but it probably isn't.

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Notso · 10/08/2016 22:04

I think you are being selfish. It doesn't seem like much fun for your wife.

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Ameliablue · 10/08/2016 22:04

What is everyone else doing while you and do are doing activities?

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LIZS · 10/08/2016 22:05

info.chatel.com/the-buses-and-shuttles.html

Looks like there is local transport and plenty to do locally. Can't you just take it day by day? Visit the tourist office and see what takes everyone's fancy.

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INeedAnEspresso · 10/08/2016 22:08

My wife is quite happy to read by the pool. I was joking about the zip lining but she could do the water sports or kayaking.

Thanks for that LIZ

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VagueButlmportant · 10/08/2016 22:10

Is your wife going to manage to read by the pool with four bored children bugging her while you are off with just one child for four days of your holiday?

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MaryMargaret · 10/08/2016 22:11

Yes you definitely have to share yourself out a bit more fairly - this looks like a very selfish division of your attention to the one child who likes doing what you like doing, leaving the only other adult with the other 4 a lot of the time. I'd definitely be pissed off - this would not be happening and neither would my DH think to suggest it!. The holiday is for everyone, so everyone has to do something they like more and something they like less - including you! Scolding over Smile

I think you should ditch the rock climbing - you can easily do that in the UK so if you & DS1 like doing these sporty things so much you could maybe go for a weekend together another time (with due compensation for the others of course!). ditto windsurfing or whatever.

One thing I did from Geneva (or possibly Lausanne or Vevey its 30 yrs ago) was to catch an AMAZING rack and pinion train right up to the top of a mountain. Somewhere on the north shore. Can't remember any names but boy do I remember the views!

Annecy is very pretty, don't know what the poublic transport is like between Geneva & Annecy but I did cycle between to two over the mont Saleve so maybe you could take the bikers in the party and meet up at the other end? (road might be a bit busier now though, this was in March, and in about 1985!)

Also if the weather's nice, the lakes have beaches and maybe you could do a sedater sort of water sport that the other kids could join in on, not a full on day windsurfing, maybe paddle boards or little kayaks or something that people can have a quick go on and then you can all have a picnic together.

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CakeNinja · 10/08/2016 22:12

We've had a similar conversation in our family.
Dp wanted to book 5 day/half day trips with the dds over the course of our holiday which to be entirely fair, I have no interest in and they will love, but I'm a bit sulky as it means I'm doing the brunt work with Ds - I'm a SAHM, my last 4 years have been spent doing the brunt work with Ds!!
I'm actually just being a bit stubborn, Ds is great fun and good company, not remotely hard work, but we will be quite limited as to what we can do when they are off on their jollies!

Your trip does sound quite micromanaged and very leaning in favour of you and your priorities! When you say your wife should do one of the activities, what does she respond with?

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INeedAnEspresso · 10/08/2016 22:14

That's why I started the thread, I want to please everyone as much as possible.

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Ameliablue · 10/08/2016 22:16

And what will the other children do? Presumably if she thought she was going to be able to just relax at the poolside she wouldn't be saying you are being unfair spending so much time with do.

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MaryMargaret · 10/08/2016 22:23

"I think my wife could and should do one of the activities". Well, do you now Maybe she thinks you could and should drop one of yours. God, you sound exhausting. I'm the 'lets go and do something' one in my family but I don#'t tell my OH he 'could and should' do something he dislikes the sound of unless it was for the benefit of the whole of the rest of the party and he was being very selfish.

Anyhow I wanted to remember that train - it was
Rochers-de-Naye Train
The cogwheel railway climbs up through meadows to the Marmot paradise and a botanical alpine garden. The rocky viewpoint at 2,042m/6699ft offers unforgettable panoramic views year-round.
Where: Montreux to Rochers-de-Naye

So you could add that to the list! Not too far to Montreux I don't think. Oh, and yes, you could - err . chill a bit? Maybe "some" people int he family found the last holiday a bit boring but "some" of the party actually quite liked it??

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Smurfit · 10/08/2016 22:26

Rock climbing could be an early morning and back by mid day ready to do something as a family in the afternoon, same with the mountain biking and kayaking.

In saying this. it would be a good compromise to cut down on at least one of the activities to replace it with another full day family outing.

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