To hate family holidays?

We holiday abroad and go half board. 3 years running, it has been cheaper than a holiday in the UK. I don't cook, clean or do anything for a week. It's bliss. DDs are 6 and 3, so not sitting back reading a book, but the reliable weather, access to a pool and lack of chores/life admin is utter bliss. I was never a fan of package holidays...until I had children!

Then you either need to ditch the PILs or holiday some where bigger.

We found once the children became old enough a cottage AirBnB in a decent sized village or town worked better. They could pop off to the park/pool/for an ice cream on their own. You don't have to get in the car for milk and bread. I could pop out the front door for a 5k run escape.

Everyone has more freedom.

I think location is a big issue with your holiday OP.

Ditto. We love our family holidays and have genuinely not had a single bad one since the kids were born and they are now early 20s.

The idea of being in an low-quality Airbnb with my in-laws fills me with horror. That is a chore and not a holiday.

That sounds like fun an will probably be a very fond family memory for them.

My dh’s dad is no longer here, but my dh talks about when his dad took him fishing on weekends and they drank a coca cola each. One of his best memories.

YANBU about the family holidays with in laws - I’m due to go on one in a couple of days and it will be AWFUL. Loads of screaming kids, dreary activities and all ILs criticising the food I prepare for them/the food I eat myself as they are all competitive undereaters. Plus my DH is being an arse and we're not speaking, oh it’s going to be joyous.
YABU for not enjoying the pub lunches though, I would be in heaven to actually do something so decadent as eating out! Instead it will be MIL’s chickpea and lentil pie or similar.

I think the issue is you're away with your IL's and sharing accommodation too. I'm
Not a massive fan of holidaying with others but when we do I need our own space.

That does sound awful! Poor you. I would download and audiobook, find a pub about 5 miles away and walk there by yourself!

So you spend the majority of your holiday with your or DH parents???!!!!

Crazy!

This definitely doesn't sound like a holiday, I'd jack it in and go home while you can still enjoy a few days off work.

You have a problem called holidays with in-laws, not family holidays. Why are you going away with them if you don't like it?

My holidays involve drinking copious amounts of wine .... I used to feel rather judged when the in laws came with us. I can still see the raised eyebrow as I poured my second glass.

That would drive me mad, you can do that stuff at home.

i also don’t like air b&bs, I’d much rather a hotel where my beds made and I get fresh towels and although I don’t leave my room a mess I know I don’t have to clean up afterwards.

We do caravan holidays where yes we cook and clean but mostly we do use the on-site restaurants and there are loads of things to entertain the kids.

I also hate going away with other people. Call me selfish but when I’m on holiday I want to do what I want to do, which isn’t much, I like to relax and watch the dcs do fun activities. I hate having to accommodate other people, especially people who think holidays need to have every minute filled with activities or something to do.

I'm off on holiday - fortunately only a long weekend - with grown up stepchildren their partners and DH's ex wife soon

It doesn’t sound like a holiday.. 😅 But nice change to see people get along!

Same here. Children are young adults now but we’ve had such fantastic holidays. But we’ve had the luxury to be able to save up or to fully pay with points for 5 star hotels thanks to dh’s traveling through work.

Our dd went with us last week, she is 23 and moved from home a couple of years ago but we still had such a great time together.

Maybe don't go on shit holidays with shit people? (sorry 😂). Obviously that's tongue in cheek, I'm sure your family are lovely, but I go on holidays, UK and abroad, both just me and my daughter, and with friends and their families, and we always have a wonderful time. Is it the case that you're just not going on holidays that you enjoy? If so, definitely stop doing that!

You are absolutely right, OP.
That's why I don't bother anymore.
Less fuss and yes, dirt.
😐

That's such a shame OP- defo sounds like you need to book something more exciting next year! Agree with above posters, I absolutely live for our family holidays - for me they make all the work and daily grind worthwhile.

I would just go out for dinners every evening and leave the inlaws at home if they would prefer a quiet time and a Cook meal after a day's rambling. If the weather is fine then lots of wine and cards in the garden with the kids if games are your bag. I'm with them though - pootling around on a beach in the dying sun is my idea of heaven and my most loved holidays as a child were just that. Granted if you have to drive home that takes some of the fun out of it but frankly some non alcoholic beers would create just as much relief from Corrie as a bucket of rose.

The car/google maps thing is a bit wet if I'm honest. You can pin yourself on the map. If you pin the car and save it's location into your GPS or the nearest point you'll remember a route home from then you can always find your way home.

And remember not to do it again. Two days max, with higher accommodation standards or hosted at your own house. DH can still spend time with his parents. A ramble will still be a ramble unless you live in Central London.

It does if its not your choice of TV.

I'd suck it up for the rest of the week. But get a games night planned in somehow. Or google somewhere to take the kids that isn't a muddy walk.

I feel your pain - I'm off on holiday - fortunately only a long weekend - with grown up stepchildren their partners and DH's ex wife soon, who I like - but really we have very different interests and expectations of holidays.

They don't need to start the day till 2pm, by which time I've wanted to gnaw my leg off with boredom.

"Lack of google maps for one mile is not a reason not to go out. Drive for a bit until you have signal or find a signpost."

I must admit I read this with some amusement. Do people really never, ever get behind the wheel anymore without google maps. Presumably the OP is in a little village in Devon or similar and not the Australian outback.

Your holiday doesn't sound shit at all.

It's my ideal holiday; pottering around with nothing much to do, glass of wine and a book and a bit of TV in the evening.

It's relaxing.

But then I'm very busy normally.