'that £340 is too expensive for a staycation ?

Just leave your husband at home with your child, and go by yourself. You'll have far more fun that way, and it'll be cheaper.

I'll be honest, I think it's really odd that you even considered taking a 5 year old on what is clearly meant to be an adult break. It would never have occurred to me to drag the kid along when one of you could stay home if no other childcare was available.

If it’s only 20 minutes from your home £340 for bed and breakfast is an expense you can easily avoid by politely saying that since you can’t get child care for the whole time you will just join her for- spa or dinner or whatever you fancy?

Staycation is staying in your own house and taking time of work to do day trips or whatever

Just don’t go if you don’t have childcare. It won’t be much fun for anyone surely, of your friend is going with her husband without DCs then they will want an adult weekend with the spa, a nice dinner and drinks. You’re 5 year old won’t really fit in with those plans so you’ll be doing separate things anyway. Spend the money on a family holiday instead.

Four Seasons Hampshire is a kiddy paradise. A luxury kiddy paradise but still nevertheless overrun with small people! And the kids activities are amazing- the kids pool especially is so good! Great place to take your 5YO, they’ll love it, you’ll love it. And I think that’s absolutely amazing value for it- when we went with ours it was about £1000 a night for a suite.

Your friend is mad going there for a child free break though. But that’s her choice! I would go as a family, I don’t think you’ll regret it. And you can have adult spa time with your friend whilst the 5YO enjoys the kids club. I think it should work very well.

Leave the kid at home with your husband and go by yourself. Tell her to ditch her husband.

On friends' spa weekends, kids and partners are entirely de trop.

That's cheap for a hotel

She doesn’t seem like she wants a child centred break since she’s leaving hers at home, and none of her suggestions would suit a 5 year old so I’d be either saying I can go alone, or not bother and she can find other child free people to party with. I’d never pay £300+ to take my child to a hotel they wouldn’t be able to fully appreciate. I’d rather spend that on a family focused weekend then dragging them to my friends spa day.

@Isitameproblem

With all the love in the world...is your friend having a mid life crisis?!

Lots of nice hotel cost that sort of amount per night. It's just a question of what you want and are willing to pay for.

I wouldn't go for a spa break with a friend where I had a child in tow and she didn't. It will change the whole nature of the trip.

It’s not really that expensive for a nice family night away, you could spend 350 mooching around the local high street shops and going for lunch.

I do understand that it might not be ‘worth it’ if you have a child in tow and can’t make full use of the facilities.

I wouldn't go and stay in a luxury hotel 20mins away with my kids. Get a baby sitter and go and join her for dinner then the next day leave the kids at home with dh and go to the spa as a day guest.

I have stayed in an expensive spa hotel with my kids but that was for my birthday and they are a bit older so enjoy the fancy meals and could go doe a swim alone while we went in the spa.

Sounds a pointless waste of money. Can't you go just with a friend and husband looks after your child at home?

A staycation can also mean you stay in your home country as opposed to holidaying abroad.

There seems to be two different definitions of the word, which is a bit confusing it must be said.

For one night? I’d expect to pay that for 3 nights! So much money. I’d never be able to justify it. It won’t be much of a break with a child in tow, and you won’t be able to relax. I’d say no if I were you. (The cost alone would make it a no, but taking DC along makes it a hard no).

Taking a 5 year old on a spa break is basically a real life oxymoron!

Do you have to go as a couples? Could you and your friend go and share a room and the dads stay home with the kids?

I get that but why point it out, other than to be an arsehole?!! (Not saying you are). There are so many things that bug me (brought instead of bought for some reason absolutely infuriates me) but I don’t point them out because I try not to be a dick!

Well I would either be asking DH to stay home with your child or telling your friend the plans sound lovely but you can’t come because it’s not a child friendly break.

This really isn’t a child based trip. Leave them home or cancel. £340 could be a day out to a theme park and an over night stay there with food Included. Don’t waste it on what will essentially be just taking your kid swimming and then sleeping in a hotel.

Also have I been doing staycations wrong?

I've always used 'staycation' for a trip where you don't leave your own country.

Think it just bugs people it does me as well 😂 don't know why. Originally a staycation was staying at home and having trips out, people now also use it for not going far and even more annoyingly any UK holiday.
Obviously it doesn't actually matter though

My friend decided that she wants to have one night in a nice spa hotel for one night.

Good for her, I'd tell her I hope she enjoys it but at that price, I wouldn't be joining her!

What do you want to do?