Am I being a holiday snob?

[BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz]

Looking to book a cottage/apartmenr (uk) for a weeks break at some point over the summer. There are, thankfully; still places to choose from. We have two DC 7 and 10.

Dh keeps sending me links to places that just dont look comfortable at all. He is a fan of a particular holiday let website that only ever seems to upload one or two pics of each place, and 100% of the properties on there look like they've not had so much as a lick of paint or a new mattress since the 1940s.

I honestly am not a snob. But I feel like I'm being made out to be one when it comes to these places.

They are all off the beaten track, no beaches near or attractions to visit near.

They (in the main) do cost less than going to more touristy areas but what's the point in saving 100/200 if there is literally nothing to do?

2019 he chose somewhere off this site that was similar to all the other ones - shabby and v v old, location was truly awful, I did the whole "it will be what we make of it" and we both found the trip so crap that we did the same (one) attraction with the kids twice in one week, and left a day early. It was so disappointing.

I just think the ages they are I would like

1. To see more of the place I'm staying, not 1/2 pics
2. To have days out available (kids at an age where they are ready to do a theme park, or failing that good beaches)
3. I'd like the place to look and feel comfortable. We spend evenings in the property as our kids crash out by 8pm. I want it to be at least as comfy as sitting on my sofa at home!

Sounds like you might be better in a hotel.

YANBU

The way I see it, why pay to stay somewhere that isn’t as nice as home.

The location is also really important, otherwise what you save on accommodation, you waste on taxis.

It always takes us a lot of searching to find the right place 🙂

@cherish123

Sounds like you might be better in a hotel.

No way. All of us in one room for seven nights?!

The evenings eating and drinking wine while the kids are in bed is the best part of our holiday

I find some of these posts so funny, people rejecting properties because they don't like the furniture in particular! We're lucky enough to have a second home and it is where our old furniture and kitchen appliances go to die.
I should say that our "cottage" is a modest terraced house in a village at the seaside - probably rather like the less expensive holiday lets that many posters here seem to despise. However my DC always loved going there and now my GC go too.
We never took posh holidays before we bought it, and the idea of a holiday let being more luxurious than your own home is pretty funny.
All kids really seem to want on holiday is a nice beach, a couple of inexpensive attractions to visit, simple meals out (Chinese, fish and chips) and nice ice cream or lollies.
In the let itself I'd expect a washer and ideally a dishwasher.
But I do agree with the OP and others that you need to be somewhere that isn't too isolated. And personally the idea of driving too far to get there just seems mad with children in the car.
If you can't find a cottage that appeals to you, why don't you just stay at home and spend money on simple days out, meals out and doing things that the DC love to do?

Well yeah presumably you're not paying 700 quid every time your stay in your spare house so maybe have different priorities from the OP.

Or ... do you rent your house full of crap out on that link OP gave us??!

No, never rent it out, just lend it to friends so they can escape for a few days. Its comfortable, simple, clean and cost less per year to run than a two week break in a Cornish palace (with aircon?!)

Yes but in order for OP to do likewise she'd first have to acquire a spare house. Which is potentially a bit spendy therefore not a workable solution.

Try www.groupaccommodation.com (not just for Groups!) you deal & book with the Owners, very personal

My point is that you don't need a fancy airconned palace, just somewhere simple where there are things kids like to do. Perhaps somewhere where there are caravans and chalets on a site with good amenities - there are a few independently run ones on the Jurassic coast, near villages and beaches. It doesn't need to be anywhere fancy/expensive like Centre Parcs

If you're in Northumberland a d are looking at Scotland, you could try the gorural website, especially as you mentioned farm-based accommodation. Loads of lovely cottages, glomming lodges etc and you'd deal directly with the owners

www.goruralscotland.com

Yeah sure. If you have a spare house.

If, on the other hand, you're going to pay out half month's wage to stay somewhere and use at least one of your precious five weeks of annual leave a year to do so, maybe you'd like somewhere that doesn't have stained mismatched furniture and mattresses and is, you know, nice.

@angela99999

My point is that you don't need a fancy airconned palace, just somewhere simple where there are things kids like to do. Perhaps somewhere where there are caravans and chalets on a site with good amenities - there are a few independently run ones on the Jurassic coast, near villages and beaches. It doesn't need to be anywhere fancy/expensive like Centre Parcs

In my opinion, holidays aren’t about “need”. It’s about “want” I’m willing to pay for it, so fair enough.

Likewise if not willing to pay for what you “want” but instead what you “need”, then that’s fair enough too.

No right or wrong when it comes to holidays!

@Wingbackchair

https://www.goruralscotland.com

I'm finding it really difficult to navigate this site. I cant see any accommodation.

I’m a holiday snob tbh. I want a really nice apartment, within walking distance of a good beach with lots of places to visit. We always go to Cornwall and I find the accommodation because Christ knows what we’d end up in if DH did!

I'm not even demanding brand new/air con/pool/fancy toiletries.

Just somewhere that looks like the mattress is younger than me, the sofa can actually be snuggled on, and the table and chairs arent spindly folding ones that will collapse under my lockdown induced heft.

I’m usually a holiday snob but this year we’ll take what we can get.
Currently in a Cornish chalet which has been offered to us in lieu of payment (dh did some work for them, they are old family friends, dh wouldn’t take any money from them, they offered us a week in their holiday chalet which was incredibly wonderfully kind of them).
It’s incredibly basic. It’s not the cleanest either. There’s very little in the way of mod cons. The seating in the living area is not the most comfortable for the 5 of us. There’s no wifi (you try explaining that to teenagers ). No dishwasher.
But it’s right on a beach, a beautiful beach, there are parks for the youngest, water sports for everyone, lovely local restaurants and pop up places dotted around, the sun is shining, we are all spending so much time together laughing and playing board games, messing about in the sea, going to the beach at sunset, just so much fun.
I’m not one to look a gift horse in the mouth.
I know how much people spend on 3 bedroom accommodation in Cornwall, we’ve done it before ourselves. While it’s not the nicest place we’ve ever stayed I’ll always be so grateful because we’re having the best time away together and we were struggling to find something for this half term that wasn’t stupid money and in even half as good a location as this.

A holiday snob is some who refuses to stay in anything less than a 4 star hotel or eat in anything less than a Michelin-starred restaurant...not someone who wants to stay in somewhere halfway decent.

We always go self catering in a cottage...I say we, but I mean me & the kids. There are so many beautiful cottages to rent near the beach that, hopefully, won’t break the bank. Do some searching because you really do need more than 1 or 2 photos to look at. We stayed I the same place for 5 holidays running & the owner allowed to go directly through them so saved on booking fees, & we were able to pay monthly.
Do some digging, it really will be worth it

@angela99999

I find some of these posts so funny, people rejecting properties because they don't like the furniture in particular! We're lucky enough to have a second home and it is where our old furniture and kitchen appliances go to die. I should say that our "cottage" is a modest terraced house in a village at the seaside - probably rather like the less expensive holiday lets that many posters here seem to despise. However my DC always loved going there and now my GC go too. We never took posh holidays before we bought it, and the idea of a holiday let being more luxurious than your own home is pretty funny. All kids really seem to want on holiday is a nice beach, a couple of inexpensive attractions to visit, simple meals out (Chinese, fish and chips) and nice ice cream or lollies. In the let itself I'd expect a washer and ideally a dishwasher. But I do agree with the OP and others that you need to be somewhere that isn't too isolated. And personally the idea of driving too far to get there just seems mad with children in the car. If you can't find a cottage that appeals to you, why don't you just stay at home and spend money on simple days out, meals out and doing things that the DC love to do?

The things you mention may arguably be all that children want - though I know plenty of fussy children - but they are not necessarily all hard working adults WHO ARE PAYING A SHIT TONNE OF MONEY want. Your tone in finding it funny that people should want some comfort, even luxury is very condescending considering your priviliged position as a holiday home owner.

YANBU. It is hard to find self catering properties which are nicer than our home. This week we are away at a property with a pool, jacuzzi and sauna, which is an upgrade from home, but the actual apartment is old, small, dated, double bed (we are used to a king), no dishwasher or washing machine, tiny fridge, oven that takes ages to heat up, no peeler, rubbish shower etc. I find these kind of compromises are common in the UK.
Can’t wait til we can go overseas again and get more for our money!

@BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz sorry, it's not very obvious where to look.... here's the accommodation tab, and if you keep an eye on their Facebook/insta they post any unbooked accommodation

www.directory.goruralscotland.com/plan/destinations/accommodation

If you don't like places your husband chooses, you do the searching, then if it's crap you can't blame him.

Can’t wait til we can go overseas again and get more for our money!

A-fucking-men.

Had an amazing family holiday in Aviemore: resorts.macdonaldhotels.co.uk/resorts/spey-valley