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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Shit holiday

238 replies

WorkingMum1391 · 02/04/2025 10:51

Just want a moan really.
Arrived yesterday to thunderstorms and down pour which looks like it will continue on the rest of the week.
With DH, 8 year old SS and 1 year old DD. I'm sitting in the room in darkness and silence while she has a nap while DH and SS are going between indoor pool and arcade.

Just boring and crap so far.

How do I make it better if the weather doesn't improve? Wine?

OP posts:
WorkingMum1391 · 03/04/2025 09:28

Hi all, the weather has picked up today so we have had a morning in the pool. The baby was almost napping on her pool float so she must have been very relaxed!
SS has made some friends with a couple of slightly older boys who seem to have taken him under their wings this morning.
Only down side so far as I spent half the night in the bathroom. DH suspects ice in the drinks as he had a similar issue in Cambodia when he was there in his early 20s. It's a 5 star hotel so I don't think the food is the issue.
Apart from that, feeling much more positive today!
We looked into land of legends but heard that they will shut most of the attractions if the weather is really poor so we will maybe look into that on a day that it's slightly chillier and not raining.
I would love to go to Antalya old town for the day so trying to convince DH and SS that it will be good fun.
There is a beautiful spa in the hotel so DH is happy to take the kids while I get a facial or something.

OP posts:
LillyPJ · 03/04/2025 08:20

PyongyangKipperbang · 02/04/2025 22:59

You really think that a turkish massage with a bored 8 year old and 1 year old squirming in a buggy is going to be fun?!

You are deluded!

Life doesnt stop when you have children, but it does change MASSIVELY. If you cant accept that then dont have kids.

Obviously not everything I suggested was suitable with children, but she had a partner on the holiday. Surely it would be fair to sometimes take turns and have some time away from children? I have children. I know what it's like. I was trying to be positive and creative. On the other hand, she could just have a miserable holiday wishing it was sunny. What do you suggest?

PrimaniTu · 03/04/2025 07:48

@WorkingMum1391 if the weather remains miserable can you seek out a soft play place and/or trampoline park or even a leisure centre with an indoor pool with slides?

I know you didn’t spend thousands of pounds to do activities you can do in the UK but it’ll allow the 8 year old to burn off some energy and they also have baby areas too.

Hope the weather picks up for you.

Remainsofthehay · 03/04/2025 05:42

ChompandaGrazia · 02/04/2025 21:53

We are booked to go to Rhodes in just over a week. I’m just hoping we get away with it. But then we are just two adults.

Weather won't be great I am afraid. Far too early for beach weather. But as it's just the two of you Rhodes town and some of the historical sights will avail themselves to the colder greyer days.

AmateurDad · 02/04/2025 23:08

Because it's one of the most historic - and beautiful - cities in the Western Hemisphere...?

PyongyangKipperbang · 02/04/2025 22:59

LillyPJ · 02/04/2025 22:37

No, I didn't. The 8 yr old can do most of those things too, and the 1 yr old can go with them. Do you think all life stops once you've got children?

You really think that a turkish massage with a bored 8 year old and 1 year old squirming in a buggy is going to be fun?!

You are deluded!

Life doesnt stop when you have children, but it does change MASSIVELY. If you cant accept that then dont have kids.

meditatingwithdolly · 02/04/2025 22:43

To be fair holidays with a non mobile 1 year old are never going to be great. Sitting in the darkness in silence alone sounds a bit rubbish. Hopefully weather will brighten up tomorrow and you can get out for a nice walk and ice cream at least.

Franjipanl8r · 02/04/2025 22:38

I remember as children having a rainy week in Greece. We just played out in the rain including swimming in the outdoor pool in the rain, the other hotel guests thought we were mad but my parents wanted their money’s worth!

LillyPJ · 02/04/2025 22:37

cookingthebooks · 02/04/2025 16:17

Dude did you miss the part where she has an 8yo and 1yo with her? What are they supposed to do with the kids whilst they’re off swimming and reading and relaxing? 😂🤦‍♀️

No, I didn't. The 8 yr old can do most of those things too, and the 1 yr old can go with them. Do you think all life stops once you've got children?

Doggymummar · 02/04/2025 22:27

garlictwist · 02/04/2025 17:05

Er...no it's not. It's sunny but really quite cold here in Yorkshire. Still got my hat and gloves on.

Yup and blowing a gale here in Brighton

maddiemookins16mum · 02/04/2025 22:02

Try the Aquarium or Sand Land.

SP2024 · 02/04/2025 21:59

WorkingMum1391 · 02/04/2025 18:30

Lots of people suggest hiring a car. How do you manage to do this with no car seat for the baby?
I'm not too comfortable with just sitting them on my lap

You’d have to buy seats - for your baby and the eldest too. No way would I hire seats, they are invariably poor quality brands with no history of how they’ve been kept or looked after.

ChompandaGrazia · 02/04/2025 21:53

We are booked to go to Rhodes in just over a week. I’m just hoping we get away with it. But then we are just two adults.

Meadowland · 02/04/2025 21:50

I think it's always worse when you have gone abroad and the weather is better back in the UK, and everyone says " ooh it's lovely here " - which it is actually at the moment !

Sleepington · 02/04/2025 21:40

SunsetCocktails · 02/04/2025 14:29

I thought somewhere like Rome.
There is so much to see and do in New York no one could possibly be bored, unless you don’t enjoy walking and sightseeing, in which case wrong place to book 😆

Is it New York Curious.

I was in my late 20s/early 30s when I went and I didn't enjoy it much at all. I didn't even enjoy the shopping that much to be honest (and I like shopping!).

I will never pay my own money to go to NY again.

PyongyangKipperbang · 02/04/2025 20:49

This should cheer you up OP!

I am old enough to remember the hell that was The Baby Clinic, and the description of the women running it is pretty accurate!

ThenAssess · 02/04/2025 20:46

Off to Albufeira tomorrow, forecast also wet.

Reminds me of a two week Spanish holiday in May, whilst on maternity leave. I was so excited as it was the first time I was able to travel in term time (teacher).

Poured for 10 days.

That’s when you realise these sunny holiday places, have little else. No leisure centres with indoor pools, few indoor attractions at all. Wandering Carrefour really didn’t cut it. ☹️

Floppyelf · 02/04/2025 20:42

curious79 · 02/04/2025 10:59

We’re currently in one of the world’s considered most vibrant cities and I’m
bored to bits and want to go home. The teens are bored of it too - just DH who continues to be interested and because of the vast money he has spent we can’t admit it

New york?

Justalittlehotpotato · 02/04/2025 20:41

I think I know exactly where you are, and we are due to go there in just shy of 4 weeks. I keep seeing posts on the hotel chain FB group about the weather being poor right now, and the fact that people went there this time last year and it was glorious. I’m a little apprehensive as we are going with small children…so whilst I have no suggestions, I sympathise entirely! Hope it picks up for the rest of your holiday, and in the meantime I hope you can enjoy a break from work (and the million house chores I intend to enjoy a break from!)

PyongyangKipperbang · 02/04/2025 20:37

This is why I didnt have foreign holidays for years when the kids were young. Totally pointless!

As Victoria Wood put it....'Why pay all that money just to sit in the hotel room with the curtains drawn singing "The wheels on the bus go round and round"?'

Tryonemoretime · 02/04/2025 20:36

Sorry OP. Sounds grim. Try Fuerta Ventura next year. We've just had 2 gloriously warm weeks there. I was expecting rubbish weather and had taken winter vests 😅🤣😂

Crikeyalmighty · 02/04/2025 20:36

@SunsetCocktails I think it’s different for me with Florence and have been lots of times because our Italian distributors are based just outside- so we always have work stuff whilst there too and a few lunches with their team etc - I personally find Rome more enjoyable as I personally dont go a bundle on churches or art from way back when

SunsetCocktails · 02/04/2025 20:24

Crikeyalmighty · 02/04/2025 17:16

@SunsetCocktails I loved Rome -hectic but the sight seeing was great .i like NY too -

I enjoyed Rome too but I know a few people who haven’t. The only Italian city I was genuinely bored in was Florence.

Crete001 · 02/04/2025 20:22

If you hire a car ask for a baby seat it's a common request

Quicksilver15 · 02/04/2025 20:20

SpringHasSprungg · 02/04/2025 19:40

I tried Portugal in very early May once, it was cheap but put me off doing an out of season holiday ever again.

I mean Madeira is off the coast of Morocco almost halfway down it almost by the canaries and the Sahara!! It does get rain because it’s mountainous, but not normally this unsettled!