Has anyone NOT enjoyed a UK holiday with their kids/teens?

Arrowheart · 2021-08-28T05:54:38+00:00

Or is it just me? Please tell me that I'm not alone in finding the moaning, sulking, moody behaviour a little bit tedious. Especially after spending £££'s to travel somewhere else for a week to listen to it.

Restlessinthenorth · 28/08/2021 07:03

Totally agree. Ours wasn't great. It felt like double the stress in the run up, a lot of forced activity at great expense once we were there, followed by enough unpacking and washing to keep a small army busy for a few days. I don't care about who judges me....give me 10 days all inclusive in the sun!

whiteroseredrose · 28/08/2021 07:05

No. We enjoyed our UK holidays over the years.

We didn't enjoy a couple of hotel and pool holidays years back. Too hot (in May). Spent most of it inside the air conditioned hotel!

QforCucumber · 28/08/2021 07:05

Mine are small - 14 months and 5. We hated it. Whinging and moaning and up early and no dozing daytime naps by the pool to catch up on the 5am mornings. No wine on the balcony while they slept in the late evening....agree with the above, with tinys especially - all inclusive in the sun any day!

3GreenPullups · 28/08/2021 07:07

Agree. Slightly complicated by the fact my eldest has ASD so anything out of his routine has to be planned and planed and he needs to be prepared for it really carefully.

Best holiday we ever had was 7 days in Greece where all we did was laze by the pool and eat salads. It was cheaper too!

I just console myself with the thought that at least we are doing something and although they might not appreciate their new experiences now they might in the future.

BigOldBubbykins · 28/08/2021 07:09

Nope didn't like it at all! So so glad I didn't book a holiday abroad as it would've been hell.

DD was 7/9months when we went so still breastfeeding loads, both times the rooms were too hot and she screamed the entire car journey there (one was centre parcs and the other a cottage break with family).

Wouldn't breastfeed outside so had to be back in the room non stop. Couldn't sleep as unknown place so at the end me and DH were zombies. So so so much stuff to bring, had just started weaning and has allergies so a lot of food considerations. She needs a strict sleep routine and can't cope without it despite trying.

Cannot wait till she's a bit older, and we can go abroad and she can eat most things and not nap all the time. She's definitely getting easier with age

hellcatspangle · 28/08/2021 07:12

Don't fret, gets better when they grow up and you can leave them at home!

Emmacb82 · 28/08/2021 07:23

We’ve just done days out on our week off and it’s been so much fun. They still have their own beds to come home to so routine isn’t disrupted too much. My 1 year old has excelled himself as he’s not walking yet and has spent much of the days in his buggy but has not complained once. A very surprising success!

newnortherner111 · 28/08/2021 07:24

There are plenty of dads who have not enjoyed a holiday with their children, because they have nothing to do with them, or let them down frequently. Plenty of threads to read.

Original poster

Arrowheart · 28/08/2021 07:30

@newnortherner111

There are plenty of dads who have not enjoyed a holiday with their children, because they have nothing to do with them, or let them down frequently. Plenty of threads to read.

I wasn't specifically asking about Dads.

OP posts:

Original poster

Arrowheart · 28/08/2021 07:31

@hellcatspangle

Don't fret, gets better when they grow up and you can leave them at home!

Can't wait! Having to please 4 other people for 7 days is tough going.

OP posts:

Doublevodka · 28/08/2021 07:35

Completely agree OP. We went to London for a couple of days as we’ve done Cornwall to death over the years. Also had the moody, moaning, sulking behaviour. DH and I agreed we aren’t doing it again unless it’s 2 weeks in Greece and we can lounge by the pool and leave them in bed.

rookiemere · 28/08/2021 07:38

Sorry to buck the trend, but we actually had a great week in Whitby with our normally sulky teen DS.
Picked up his friend mid week and had activities lined up every day - some of which we dumped the two of them off at and picked up later. Not relaxing but fun, were lucky with the weather though.

Caramellatteplease · 28/08/2021 07:38

No because our uk holidays tend to have purpose. We're catching bits of history or supporting the school curriculum in some way. The one that was challenging because they were a little sulky because it was all just "piles of rubble" they have since told me they appreciated in retrospect because it made some of the school history make sense.if they don't enjoy all of it it isnt the end of the world because it still has a purpose

Even the one that was super challenging because DD ended up on crutches on day 2, DS is a wheelchair user and I'm a lone parent; we still had a lot of fun. Theres so much to see and do in the uk.

But I'd get bored rigid laying on the beach or ny the pool all day. The one aboard beach type holiday we did have it, was a struggle to fit in requested pool and sunbathing time because of all the stuff I wanted to do whilst we were there....😁😁😁😁

SteakChips · 28/08/2021 07:39

@Arrowheart totally agree with you. We took the children to Disney Land before COVID, I worked extra hours, boot sales and my husband worked weekends to give them the experience and a nice time. The 4 days we we're there spent all of it telling them off. They asked me what ride I enjoyed the most. I told them it was the Eurostar coming home

helentomelon · 28/08/2021 07:43

Taking a friend along roe a teen is a good move. Although prices this year have somewhat hindered that!

But yes, unless you're staying in the height of luxury then UK holidays with kids/teens are torture

MsTSwift · 28/08/2021 07:45

No sorry our teens were fab this year. They love eating out which is lovely though pricey 😁. One even told me to buck up and enjoy the trip as it was raining and I was pining for Italy!

Caramellatteplease · 28/08/2021 07:46

Don't fret, gets better when they grow up and you can leave them at home!

I dont get this attitude at all. DP stopped holidaying with me abroad at about 12. I missed out on New York (that the one on still really bitter about) and all sorts of exciting places. I thought that was normal until I had kids and I'm still enjoying holidays with them at 15 and 14, wouldn't dream of leaving them at home!!! The other day DD(15) said "I can still go on holiday with you when I move out right? I can pay my own way just your good at organising stuff", I was quite happy with that.

Turkishangora · 28/08/2021 07:51

I have found it hard work and am looking forward to when DD can be left at home. We've made it bearable by booking loads of activities as too much downtime leads to stropping and moodiness. However that means there's no relaxation. We just do shorter UK breaks now, a few days here and there as full weeks are unbearable. It's sad but the reality unfortunately. Hopefully next year we'll be in Greece, Spain or similar...

TokyoSushi · 28/08/2021 07:51

Ours was actually ok but the moment I can get back to kids in the pool all day, me on a sunlounger the better!

rookiemere · 28/08/2021 07:55

There are certain sorts of holidays that I'm looking forward to not taking DS15 on once he's 16. Lake District cottage with the emphasis on dog walking for the week for example, but he says he'll come to abroad holidays or somewhere good , plus we always do an extended family UK holiday so he'll join us on that.

And yy to pricey meals. DS can out eat us and has my expensive tastes .

Ozberry · 28/08/2021 07:59

This is why I haven’t been away this year. My two have been at war with each other for most of the last year. I’m not paying through the nose for them to fight somewhere different.
I really need a holiday though.

hellcatspangle · 28/08/2021 08:10

I dont get this attitude at all. DP stopped holidaying with me abroad at about 12. I missed out on New York (that the one on still really bitter about) and all sorts of exciting places. I thought that was normal until I had kids and I'm still enjoying holidays with them at 15 and 14, wouldn't dream of leaving them at home!!! The other day DD(15) said "I can still go on holiday with you when I move out right? I can pay my own way just your good at organising stuff", I was quite happy with that.

I was just being flippant - although we have had holidays on our own when they were older teens and they didn't fancy coming, we've never gone anywhere "exciting" without them and left them home wistfully staring out of the window. In fact they came with us on our last big holiday (paid for by us) and they're in their 20's.

Peanutsandchilli · 28/08/2021 08:15

We always holiday in the UK and, granted, it's hard work (but I'd say that wherever we were) but I'd never go so far as to say I haven't enjoyed it. 2, 4 and 11 year old are always very happy, whatever we're doing. They do nag to go places but generally aren't grumpy and don't bicker (much). Eldest with ASD spends 99% of her time shut away in a darkened room, so she's no bother, so it's just my 13 year old who gets grumpy at times, and we just ignore her when she's like that. She soon snaps out of it.

sausagepastapot · 28/08/2021 08:22

My DC, mostly my DS who has got ADHD, totally fucking ruin it every single time. We always have a shit time. On holiday now, wondering why I fucking bother. I hate it.

milkysmum · 28/08/2021 08:25

We are away now, group of 3 families. 4 children age 5, 10 12 and 13. It's been hell. Nothing but bickering from both kids and adults!! Not relaxing at all. British holiday camp. Never ever doing it again I swear....