To think this is unfair? Holiday.

Surely you are actually booked into a particular caravan with the dogs and named people.

Also why on earth are you paying for two pet friendly vans when you only need one paying the dog surcharge on both.

Right, we got there!

Tell her you want to stay in the caravan with the more rural setting as it will be better for the dogs.

If she sulks, let her. So what?

Surely the van with the most direct access to walks, furthest away from others would be the most suitable for a dog owner. That’s how I’d allocate it. Also, stop going away with someone you struggle to communicate with. I appreciate she’s your mother, but still none of this sounds like fun.

Honestly it’s a more fool you situation.

Why oh why are you paying constantly to take her away and getting her better accommodation than yourself?

You say she has selfish tendencies but you’re just playing straight into her hands.

People will treat you how you allow them to treat you and if you’re going to continue to treat her like a spoiled child she’ll act like it and continue to take advantage of you.

Obv the second one would suit you better with dogs I’d by a beach and not in middle of other caravans

in future book both of you the same saver caravans if you are paying

contact the place and says as arriving together can you both have the same check in time

Would she listen when you point out the 2nd caravan sounds much better for dogs? Immediately out to a walk on the path or beach and less intrusive on other caravans (fewer people to see the dog doing its business etc).

Edited to add that I don’t think YABU.

Surely the easier thing is just to each pay for your own every year, and get what you want/can afford? Instead of spending disproportionately on one, and then not being able to afford any the next year?

After 15 years of you always paying and her always choosing the best, you’ve picked the first time she pays as the time you choose the best?

I'm afraid yabu. She's paying and can claim the nicer spot if she wants. The fact that you paid for her to have the nice caravan on a previous occasion isn't relevant unless you had an agreement about it.

I wouldn't let it ruin your holiday, you're still getting your accommodation paid for and that's generous of her!

I think you set yourself up for this scenario years ago and it’s ingrained now so difficult to shift. Also it seems clear that you both want the same caravan so not sure why you’re making a big faff around looking at them first or seeing what happens or having your pets in one and then moving them. Just rock paper scissors for it now and show up at check in time for whichever you get. Or pay for an upgrade to one you actually want

Thank you. I'm more with you now. 😊 So she booked it which is how she knows that the 2nd caravan is by far in the nicest location. I think I would tell her that you know why she's so insistent that you go first and that, after last year, it's only fair that you have the nicer place. If the other caravan isn't good enough for her, it's not good enough for you either and she shouldn't have booked it.
What happens next would depend what her response to that is. Only you know if you would rather suck it up in order to have a holiday or whether you should cancel it on a note of principle. Either way, I wouldn't be going on holiday with her next year.

Do you enjoy this annual holiday? It doesn't sound like it?

@rosagartenhas answered this well. It sounds like you hoped that your DM paying would signal a change in the relationship, maybe an acknowledgment that you prioritised her comfort even when you may not have been particularly flush yourself. But to her it’s just BAU except this time she pays.
I suggest if you do go away going forward with her you use this as an opportunity to state that you each just pay for your own, that way you get the accommodation of your choosing.

Have you actually told her you want the caravan with the view?

If you’ve always de facto given her the nicer accommodation/choice of accommodation there’s probably no reason for her to think this trip would be different, she’s not a mind reader.

Well put @rosagarten

Maybe what you'd really like is for your mother to prioritise you this time or at least look out for your interests rather than prioritising her own, given that you have treated with generosity her in the past? If so, I do get that that hurts a bit. Not to minimise that at all because if you do feel that, that is valid but she probably isn't going to change any time soon. Your choice is to put up with her foibles and enjoy it as best you can or do things with her where you won't be hoping quite so much for her to see you.

Edit: Just read another comment where the poster says you sound painful. FWIW, you don't sound painful to me, you sound very human and maybe wanting something from your mother that she isn't able to give you and just being vulnerable and honest about that. TLDR: This most likely isn't about a better caravan but something deeper.

Just stop,going on holiday with her. It obviously gives you grief!

You both sound painful. I wouldn’t be holidaying with either of you.

Who said you had the choice? Frankly this sounds like a miserable set up and I wonder why you repeat it.

Why can’t you look at photos of both the caravans and decide which one you each have before you go?

But does it matter enough to potentially have a crap time for the rest of the holiday?

Why not just accept this as it is, and make a deal with yourself that given your mum can be so difficult over things, don't go away with her again next year? Go alone with your dogs in future and have a lovely time instead of having to bother will all of the drama?

The location of the caravan wouldn't bother me at all...in fact, I'd want my mum to have the lovely location, because I clearly have a different relationship and dynamic with my mum than you do yours. But all this stress before you have even gone away, is it really worth it?

Why do you do these breaks? It sounds like they breed resentment, and are not ultimately good for your relationship with your mother.

Normally with caravans there are specific pet ones, is this not the case this time? I would just double check as you may find the one nearer the open space is the dog friendly caravan. Worth asking?