AIBU that this is not a 'rip off' holiday at all and SIL should stop sniping?

[BlueAcres]

DH, dd and I are going on holiday to the Lake District in a couple of weeks, staying in a s/c cottage for a week but also having a couple of nights in a Travelodge in a city on the way up, to break up the journey and give us time to do some shopping/sights/zoo. We've budgeted £1k for the entire holiday - including the cottage for a week, return train fares, food shopping, the Travelodge, zoo tickets, tickets to a theatre show we all want to see and a couple of meals out. We'll probably go slightly over with extra spends but not too far, and I think for an August holiday for 3 (dd is a teen) that's entirely reasonable.

Since DH mentioned in it passing to his family however SIL hasn't stopped sniping about how holidaying in the UK is a 'rip off', how we've been 'had', 'poor you having to pay so much' etc, but always does it as a passing comment rather than laying into us, but its getting on my nerves. Especially as the comparison keeps being made by her and MIL to how SIL and BIL had a 2 week holiday to Italy a couple of years ago for £1k, including accommodation, flights and car hire. All very well but that was for the 2 of them only, in September as they don't have kids so can go in term time, and doesn't include any eating out/visiting anywhere which I know they racked up loads on their credit card for, but they fail to acknowledge that as 'that's just the odd spend'.

AIBU that we've got quite a reasonable holiday for the money and, especially as this is our first holiday in about 3 years, they should at least just leave us to it and stop the comments?

[StillStayingClassySanDiego]

Ask her what it has to do with her then tell her it's none of her business.

Your holiday sounds lovely btw.

[SirChenjin]

YANBU to wish she'd stop putting your holiday down.

She is NBU to be horrified at the cost of holidays in the UK during the (English) school holidays - they are crazy.

[Sallyhasleftthebuilding]

My friend enquired about a caravan, £1200 for the van, so you have a bargain!! Enjoy.

[BlueAcres]

Would absolutely love to StillStaying but she'd likely cry (bearing in mind she's very late 20's!) and then MIL would kick up a stink and DH would get caught up in the middle... you can tell there's enough backstory here to last a while can't you Thank you though, even with this I'm still so looking forward to it.

[Triliteral]

Sounds like a wonderful relaxed holiday to me. Ignore her and enjoy yourself.

[BlueAcres]

Sally - oddly enough I looked into caravans too and couldn't get one any cheaper than this cottage (although it's a tiny 'miners' type cottage so probably more room in a caravan ), they were all about £100 more. True SirChenjin, but I don't think she realises everything, even magic Italy, goes up in school holidays because they can just pick a cheaper time, it's not just the UK (she's newly pg though so I'm already counting the 5-6 years before they suddenly hit reality).

[StillStayingClassySanDiego]

Just smile at her and ignore her negative comments.

Really, just ignore her when she starts mentioning it.

[DancingDinosaur]

Sounds like a good deal to me if its including spends.

[BlueAcres]

Precious - I've been on a few 'far flung' holidays and definitely prefer the UK now, especially for the lack of jet lag . You're spot on about the eternal baby, everything has to be exactly her way or there'll be tears an the PIL's see absolutely nothing wrong in this - it's not very charming in an older teen let alone one 10 years older, dread to think what it's like for a nearly 50 year old!

[MaxPepsi]

£1k for 7+ nights away in the UK during school holidays, with everything you have planned?

Sounds like a bargain to me. And bloody lovely to boot, except the zoo, I hate zoos

Enjoy it!

Which city are you planning for your Stopover and what part of the Lakes??

[AugustHasToBeBetter]

People don't know what they don't know.

If she ever holidays to fit in with schooling she will find out.

I'd never mention the cost of anything to her again though as she sounds boringly competitive.

[DinosaursRoar]

Keep asking re the italy trip "really, only one grand including food and trips out? How much was your accomodation and flights then?" look confused when they say it was a grand for those, "but you said your holiday was one grand, how much was it really?"

[PoppyFleur]

OP smile passively and comment on how clever she is at finding such great deals. In fact as she is so good at securing excellent value holidays maybe she can seek out a similar Italian holiday for you, DH & DD for next August within the £1k budget.

[NickiFury]

The UK is a fantastic place to holiday. I was looking at cruises the other day and people pay an absolute fortune to cruise from elsewhere to come and cruise round the British isles. I just can't stand the crowds and queues at anything remotely touristy attraction, it's the only thing that puts me off and drives me to go abroad on holiday.

[Findtheoldme]

Time to stand up to her. Stop enabling her.

[Bluecheese22]

I think it's a fab price and a really lovely holiday.

[Sgtmajormummy]

£1K sounds fine to me, especially with all your extras. Just look forward to showing SIL lots of great photos and enthusing about what an AMAZING time you had. Could you organise a projector and make an evening of it?

[BlueAcres]

Thanks Pepsi, we're staying to the north of the Lakes, a little way from Keswick and we got a cheap deal at one of the Liverpool Travelodges so nipping to Chester Zoo (dd hasn't been to a zoo in years so dying to go). Hoping to not spend too much extra on days out etc as the main point is to have some downtime so lots of walks and scenery!

Fab ideas Dinosaur and Poppy, should shut her up without starting a fight and if it backfires and she finds a good deal we'd happily save up and go

[RooftopCat]

I think some people would be quite shocked if they calculated the total cost of their holidays - including food, days outs, ice creams etc. They just think of the headline figure - flights and accommodation.
I keep all receipts and do an audit of our holidays!
£1k sounds fine for your holiday - and as you say it's school holidays in Britain. People come from all over the world to holiday here- it can't be all bad!

[Coffeemarkone]

I think you need words with your DH for discussing private finances with his silly sister, tbh.
If she starts again, say 'please do not trouble yourself on our account'.
It is a Chinese way of saying 'Mind your own fucking business'.
Enjoy your holiday!

[AugustHasToBeBetter]

Rooftop I refuse to do that calculation anymore as I find it disconcerting. We can cover the cost but I think it's profligate and try to stay in denial. If I know I do it though is it denial?

I am impressed at the op's level-headedness.

Chester Zoo I love! Your holiday sounds so good OP, I wish you good weather!

[RaptorInaPorkPieHat]

So she's newly pregnant and you've got a teen? So in 5-6 years she'll be paying out while you get the cheap holidays and can make the 'rip off' comments win win

[esiotrot2015]

Why tell her how much you're spending in the first place ?! If she asks next time tell her to mind her own business !