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!

You're not being a snob but YABU to let your DH do any future holiday planning he's clearly SHITE at it

YANBU

But I don't understand people saying they have to go on holiday to somewhere better than home. Our house is really lovely and comfortable and so I think it would be hard to find somewhere better than that.

It's very difficult to findholiday accommodation near the sea at this point in time, though I do agree it's preferable. We've had to settle for somewhere around 25 mins from the coast and probably not a huge amount to do locally. However, I have booked what looks like a very modern, sleek and light-filled place and hope it lives up to expectations as it is expensive. If the weather isn't good, at least there is plenty of space and light. It's not about being snobbish - it's about having a comfortable place to stay with good facilities, especially as British weather is unpredictable.

Usually if you go abroad in the school holidays the prices are very high, though I do think the standards are generally better. It's possible that at this time the prices are lower to attract reluctant tourists but at the moment I wouldn't want the uncertainty and inconvenience that Covid has brought.

UK holiday home owners will be printing money this year it's true but generally they're pretty poor value.

My parents' friends have a rule about not staying anywhere worse than their house. But they are both artists and architects and so their house is incredible. I often wonder how they manage to find anything that betters it

@Irishterrier

YANBU

But I don't understand people saying they have to go on holiday to somewhere better than home. Our house is really lovely and comfortable and so I think it would be hard to find somewhere better than that.

I adore my home. In my eyes it’s perfect.

On holiday - I like an outdoor hot tub. (I would never have at home. Couldn’t be arsed with the upkeep and I think it would look ugly in my garden)

On holiday I love to be close to the beach (I wouldn’t want to be permanently as I love my current location too much. But being close to beach is lovely for holidays)

On holiday I love to have a huge bath - and I always look for one with the jet spas. At home - I never have a bath. Always a very hot shower!

I don't expect my holiday cottage to be better than home - but I do expect the location to have scenery and attractions I couldn't experience at home.

I want my holiday let to be at least as good as my home. I have a very long list of non negotiables but fortunately DH is on the same page. I would rather not go on holiday than compromise.
That makes me sound like a terrible person I imagine but I like what I like on my holidays.

I would suggest a holiday flat in ... Liverpool 😂.
Sounds mad but it is within an hour's drive of Blackpool with it miles of beaches and funfair . It's also within an hours drive of lots of North Wales beaches and Alton Towers theme park
Amazing shopping at Liverpool One , Trafford Centre and MacArthur Glen Outlet village at Ellesmere Port .
Hundreds of restaurants, museums and art galleries. Chester zoo is half an hour away and Knowsley Safari Park is even closer . You wouldn't have time to do them all and may even need to stay for 2 weeks 😂

@winnieanddaisy that's a great idea. We have had some brilliant stays in Chester and York doing a lot of that sort of thing.
So nice to be in the town for eating out in the evening, and loads of great trips out. We went to Liverpool by train from Chester and Leeds from York, plus trips to the coast.

@Irishterrier years ago when our house was pretty shabby and unloved I also never wanted to stay in a house that was worse than my own.
After 15 years of pouring blood, sweat, tears and lots of money into practically rebuilding the whole thing I think we’d struggle to find somewhere that was ‘nicer’ than our own house within the budget of what I’m happy to spend on holiday accommodation for a week or 2.
Now I don’t mind if the house we stay in doesn’t have everything we have at home, just getting away and usually to the beach is enough.

@Sparklingbrook

I want my holiday let to be at least as good as my home. I have a very long list of non negotiables but fortunately DH is on the same page. I would rather not go on holiday than compromise. That makes me sound like a terrible person I imagine but I like what I like on my holidays.

Why does that make you a terrible person for heavens sake!

@winnieanddaisy

I would suggest a holiday flat in ... Liverpool 😂. Sounds mad but it is within an hour's drive of Blackpool with it miles of beaches and funfair . It's also within an hours drive of lots of North Wales beaches and Alton Towers theme park Amazing shopping at Liverpool One , Trafford Centre and MacArthur Glen Outlet village at Ellesmere Port . Hundreds of restaurants, museums and art galleries. Chester zoo is half an hour away and Knowsley Safari Park is even closer . You wouldn't have time to do them all and may even need to stay for 2 weeks 😂

Funnily enough we did a trip to Liverpool last year! Just a few nights booked last minute (we waited for covid updates), and just hopped round a few premier inns.

Did knowsley, liverpool centre, the beach at Little Brighton.

@Sometimesfraught82, because people could say I am missing out on some amazing places due to my dislike of the furniture/lack of dishwasher etc That maybe the view is more important than the sofas?
I will never know the joy of camping or caravanning either. But so be it.

We bought a caravan and will probably buy a motorhome also for touring, probably means we are slumming it a bit compared to a holiday cottage but we like that it is more flexible and everything in it is ours, no worries that we might not like the furnishings or towels

@PrimeraVez

100% with you.

DH and I have a rule that anywhere we go on holiday has to be 'better' than where we live (which is a lovely holiday destination in itself) So either the property has to be really luxurious or the location has to be incredible with lots to do or something truly amazing to see.

Travelling with young kids is hard work as it is, there's no point paying to go somewhere to be miserable, uncomfortable or bored!

Absolutely our rule too! Why would we want to stay anywhere smaller or worse than our own home.. baffles me when my parents who have money squeeze into a shit sun holiday caravan and say oh it’s fine!

Buying a motorhome is slumming it??

Tbf it depends on the motorhome. These days there is almost as much variety as there is with regular housing. You could be squeezing into a tiny 1980s poptop which is nothing much more than a glorified tent, or you could be living it up in a massive grey nomad palace on wheels, complete with wide screen tv, washing machine and queensize bed and a porcelain ensuite.

Only a small motorhome, probably slightly larger than a WV camper van as I want one with a toilet in it, most VWs don't have a toilet. We are retired and caravan is for when we go for a week or two at one place and want car to visit places, small motorhome would be for touring. We had originally planned to go on some large holidays abroad but obviously that isn't going to happen for a couple of years or so now so getting small motorhome instead

My rules for uk holiday cottages.
Must be nicer than home
Must have dishwasher, washing machine and nice kitchen
Must have parking
Must have WiFi
Must have lovely views.
When you holiday in uk you have to be prepared for poor weather, hence I want somewhere I would be happy being stuck indoors.
Rules applied after an unfortunate week in a small dingy holiday let on a stoney "beach".
Good photos that let me see the layout are crucial.

I’ve not ever booked a cottage to sit in the cottage all day. For that reason I don’t really understand ‘need it to be nicer than my own home’. I need it to be lovely where possible but certainly wouldn’t require a multi use stranger’s taste publicly used cottage to be nicer than my own home !! It’s usually a compromise and where it’s not it’s a real unexpected treat.

[quote Sparklingbrook]@Sometimesfraught82, because people could say I am missing out on some amazing places due to my dislike of the furniture/lack of dishwasher etc That maybe the view is more important than the sofas?
I will never know the joy of camping or caravanning either. But so be it.[/quote]
My version is “camping” is what I have booked

On a nature reserve
A shepherd’s hut, with en-suite flushing toilet and show
hot tub
Full (mini) working kitchen
I’ve booked supper to be delivered to us one evening

£275 per night exc the supper!

All the people saying accom doesn’t matter really

Have you ever stayed high end?

Because when you have, it’s damn hard to ever go back!

@Sometimesfraught82

All the people saying accom doesn’t matter really

Have you ever stayed high end?

Because when you have, it’s damn hard to ever go back!

It depends on what you mean by high end and by "going back".

And it depends on what people can afford and their standards.

If it's clean, safe and comfortable, I'm happy. And I've stayed in all sorts of places.
No need to go "high end" but a clean working private bathroom is my limit. Oh, and no bed bugs.