UK holidays are hard work

[ChocolateRiver]

We’re on holiday on the north Devon/Cornwall border. Staying in a converted barn on a farm. It’s lovely, the kids are having a great time but it’s such bloody hard work. Getting up early to get a parking space at the beach, making up picnics, putting sandy beach clothes/towels in washing machine, sorting out food, cooking etc, driving everywhere, hoovering up after beach days, tidying up - feel like I’m constantly on the go! And it’s so expensive, can’t afford to have all lunches and teas out. Don’t get me wrong, we’re having a nice time, but it’s definitely not a rest - we’re knackered. We usually go abroad but have stayed here due to Covid, we’ll be off abroad again next year if it’s possible.

It would be exactly the same stuff to do in a self catering villa in Greece. I suppose here the weather could be anything but this week it's been hot and sunny as forecast (and complained about endlessly by most of the country and especially on mumsnet).

You could avoid by staying in a nice hotel in a quieter location with meal packages. There's been some pretty good deals about. Likely cost less than your barn conversion

Not saying foreign holidays aren't great as they are and I miss them terribly atm but too much complaining seems to be going on over something that's been chosen out of various alternatives

The most relaxing family holiday I went on was self catering with my sister and our young dcs (4 kids all under 5).
It was amazing. If one of us was busy with the dcs, the other got on with food prep, tidying up and whatever else needing to get done.
One afternoon, I got ill and I was able to lie down while she sorted out dcs and made sure they were entertained and taken care of really well.
We had fab days out sightseeing as well relaxing beach days.
It was all so stress free.
We still go on self catering holidays together and we all have a great time.
With dh, it just seems like so much more hard work even though he tries to make it relaxing for me.

Selfishly I'm quite glad people aren't enjoying their UK holidays so next year they'll go abroad and I can enjoy the UK again minus the crowds.

@Woeismethischristmas

It sounds a lot like you’re doing a lot of the work. I’d put the children to work tbh. Mines are aged 6-10 and after our day at the loch swanning off is forbidden. I give them all the wetsuits and buoyancy aids on hangers to go in the greenhouse. Towels and suits in front of washing machine. Picnic bag in front of dishwasher.fiver for the kid who hoovers the car. I carry paddle boards and heavy stuff.

I’m a fan of the carrier bag picnic. Bits from the supermarket that can be taken out without adulteration. So instead of sandwiches id take a packet of oatcakes, packet sliced cheese and cherry tomatoes type stuff.

A woman after my own heart. Dd1 did every bit of washing up las t week on our 5 day camping trip. It was well worth the fiver a day it cost me.

I also don't spend ages making up picnics, throw in to a bag a pack of wraps, one of chorizo, sliced or grated cheese, a pack of cherry toms, bag of apples and punnet of strawberries and peaches. Multi pack of crisps and a pack of biscuits. Everyone can make their own when they want it.

I'm with you OP, overseas AI are definitely more of a holiday for me and far more relaxing.
We don't stay in every day on AI, we rent a car and go round the island or take local buses etc, but we can get up and have a big breakfast. Lunch out at lots of lovely places (without queuing and bun fights for tables) and then back to the hotel for dinner.
Or a day round the pool / on the beach, both walkable to the room if we forget something, want to get out of the sun for an hour and then walk to front for dinner in a restaurant where three courses can cost less then a fish & chip dinner here.
We do still have a UK break each year but we have to do a lot more planning to keep within budget and can struggle if the weather isn't good. We just seem to spend so much money in the UK.
We did do a villa abroad a couple of years ago and while the private pool and kitchen were nice, I probably wouldn't do it again until its just me and DH or we were sharing with friends. I still have to think about making sure we had stuff in that everyone liked for breakfasts, that we have enough drinks in for everyone etc.

@Gertie75

Selfishly I'm quite glad people aren't enjoying their UK holidays so next year they'll go abroad and I can enjoy the UK again minus the crowds.

Same !! Was so happy when the weather broke today down here!

It tends to be a more active holiday in the UK, if we go somewhere warm and sunny there is more time spent around and in the pool.

But getting there is harder, packing requires more thought, as when flying you can't put liquids in hand luggage etc. And this year there are all the tests and bureaucratic hoops to jump through before you even get to the airport. Friends have been taking files of paperwork with them.

I find 'holidaying' with children ANYWHERE to be exhausting. But yes of course going somewhere 'all-inclusive' rather than self-catering makes it easier in many ways.

I think its the self-catering that's the hard work rather than the UK though you can't get AI over here like you can abroad. A hotel does make it less work especially if you have a swimming pool / activities on site and can get half or full board then no need to food shop, cook, you just walk to pool and all your cleaning is done. So much easier with younger kids.

I do miss going abroad though but we went to North Devon last year and had a lovely time apart from nightmare traffic on way down but activities were expensive and we had a swimming pool. It was the activities that made it special - boat trips seeing seals, boat trip to Lundy and swimming with seals, gorging, walking with llamas across Dartmoor. The actual self-catering bit was like being at home but we find that with self-catering abroad as well and avoid if we can. I've always found at AIs you can eat anytime you like so we eat breakfast and evening meal and go exploring in day, its my kids preferred choice as activities on site and food both will eat (one ASD and one vegan). We are going again this year to Devon and Isles of Scilly and am looking forward to it but will be glad when the world is open again.

@doorornottodoor camp on the east coast and not a midge to be seen - we've just got back from 5 days at a lovely campsite 5 minutes walk to the beach and 10 in to the lovely local town. Never saw a single midge the whole time

@ancientgran

Most relaxing family holiday I ever had was camping with a 2 year old and a 8 week old. The weather was glorious, the older kids on the site adopted the 2 year old and entertained her, the baby was breast fed, just wearing a nappy and vest. Hardly any washing. Mobile shop came on site every morning so you could buy fresh bread, salads fruit etc. Fish and chip van came on the site a couple of times a week and 2 lovely pubs a short walk away that did lovely food. The beach was walking distance but it was hard to drag the 2 year old away from their new buddies.

Beach front tea shop did a takeaway tea tray so you could sit on the beach with a Devon cream tea while watching 2 year old who had hopefully met up with friends from the site.

30 years later it stands out.

Sounds wonderful! My ex and I took a 17 month old and a six week old premature baby (less than 5lb at the time) camping. It was fantastic!

Haha I made the mistake of recreating the all inclusive full English breakfast on one UK caravan holiday.
NEVER AGAIN

We live in the area that you are staying OP. Try changing your routine. The beaches are heaving at the mo with tourists. Have a late breakfast, walk etc in early afternoon, then head to the beach at 5ish with a portable BBQ. Less people, cheapish tea, no washing up, kids swim and back home for bath and bed. We very rarely go to the beach in July and August before 5pm to avoid people and car parking charges.

I have been on English beach holidays for almost six decades. You are making things difficult for yourself. Beach stuff doesn't need washing every day. Towels can be dried outside and the sand then shaken off. Just rinse swimming things in a bowl and hang them out to dry. Get your family to do these simple things. Wash sandy feet outside. Your family will remember sitting on a beach with a Fair Isle Jersey over their swimming things far more than any artificial foreign trip.

I've come to the conclusion that a holiday anywhere that doesn't involve driving is more relaxing that one that does need driving. I have become my father (who always moaned / worried about parking!).

We had a UK holiday at Easter where it was self catering caravan but walking distance to a beach, and had some entertainment on site. Due to COVID closures we didn't try to run around getting into various tourist 'attractions'. It was great and I'll plan future holidays to avoid driving (UK or abroad).

@Gertie75

Selfishly I'm quite glad people aren't enjoying their UK holidays so next year they'll go abroad and I can enjoy the UK again minus the crowds.

We went down to cornwall 4 years ago, it was horrendously packed with no reason for people not to go abroad then. Traffic was awful, parking was a nightmare, everywhere to stay hideously expensive.

I'm with you OP UK holidays are just hard work. Just had our activity on Saturday cancelled as the weather isn't calm enough - I'm not sure it ever is to be honest as we had a different activity cancelled on our last UK break for the same reason. It looks like it's likely to rain so no idea what we're going to do as an alternative with a teenager. To be honest though I don't want a relaxing time, I want to do lots of really cool things. Unfortunately they all seem to end up cancelled due to the crappy weather. Desperately hoping the holiday abroad we've got booked comes off.

Anyone want to tell me how to make a UK beach holiday easier woth 20 mo old twins and a 6 yo?? Staying in an actual house without cots or stairgates 🤣🤣🤣

Laughing at some of the food posts too. You can find a Greek salad on a menu in pretty much every Uk town EVEN in the highlands, where you will also find some nice local freshly caught fish too. You don't have to go to Greece or Italy for freshly cooked food, just avoid Wetherspoons. Lots of love for being served watermelon- you can get them for 79p in Lidl (you can get those spinach a feta pies there too)

The UK isn't a tourism country like countries in the med, so there isn't as much set up for AI resorts, even the quantity of restaurants and such.
Having said that, the idea of an AI holiday with 2 weeks on a beach sounds awful to me, we'd be bored to tears.
We like an active holiday, but don't feel like you have to do something every day if it's not relaxing.
We're going to Scotland next week to a cottage, and there'll definitely be a couple of days where I sit on the verandah reading a book and the kids get to relax at the cottage without being rushed out every day.

[quote rantymcrantface66]@doorornottodoor camp on the east coast and not a midge to be seen - we've just got back from 5 days at a lovely campsite 5 minutes walk to the beach and 10 in to the lovely local town. Never saw a single midge the whole time [/quote]
Whereabouts on the East coast, dooromottodoor?

I know there are lovely, unspoilt places on that side and I live not that far from some.

I'm not a camper but did stay on a site with chalets, sited caravans & a camping area, one year with the kids. It was a lovely place with beautiful surroundings and a swimming pool; the chalet was very good and it was quite easy as a base to visit other places. The children liked exploring there with other children whom they met.

We all enjoyed it and it was fairly effortless. When younger, we couldn't afford anything too expensive.

@cjpark

We live in the area that you are staying OP. Try changing your routine. The beaches are heaving at the mo with tourists. Have a late breakfast, walk etc in early afternoon, then head to the beach at 5ish with a portable BBQ. Less people, cheapish tea, no washing up, kids swim and back home for bath and bed. We very rarely go to the beach in July and August before 5pm to avoid people and car parking charges.

Ssshhhhhhh surely by telling everyone this all the tourists will make post 5pm as packed as daytime !

Also, I find the whole process of airports, flights, transfers, fitting everything in suitcases, etc. just as stressful as any aspect of a UK holiday.

@Maggiesfarm we stayed at a lovely site at North Berwick this time and previously at a smaller but equally nice one at belhaven - Dunbar which was right on the beach also. There are so many beaches and bays in this area and even though popular at weekends , many are so large they are never crowded. Both towns have short train rides or an east drive to Edinburgh too: There seem to be nice sites on the fife coast too that I'm yet to try.

Really depends on the age of your kids. If under 3, it’s a bloody nightmare. Timing their naps around your day, my kids can be fussy eaters, they can’t help with any chores, have to pack half the house up in the car every day. Same shit, different location. Give me a AI resort any day

Watermelon and feta pies really aren't the same in this country. It's like when you have local figs, honey and yoghurt for breakfast on a Greek island, then try to recreate it at home.

But mainly, it's the sea. The warm, crystal clear sea without waves or jellyfish or that horrible scummy shit at the edge. It's the one thing I'm really, really missing this year.