Does anyone else get to the point where they think going on holiday is more trouble than it’s worth?

[Rainallnight]

Happens to be every single time.

The laundry, the lists, the ordering of stuff, the packing and planning, the trying to get all the work done.

We’re lucky to be going on holiday and I know we’ll have a nice time but there does come a point when I feel like the holiday prep is longer than the actual holiday.

Happens to ME every single time. Not be

Go on your own. Leave the kids. Problems solved.

We've had some lovely holidays and they all required military levels of organisation. To be honest, I can't be arsed any more. We have friends who go away (on cruises) about 5 times a year. I envy their stamina but not their choices - not the cruise itself but the frantic preparing for excursions etc. No Siree!

Only go away in UK. No more plane flights and aggro. Bliss. Extremely picky about cottages and distance we will drive. Much less hassle.

OMG this is me, every time.

I love the planning, researching, booking etc.

then I get all excited as the time draws nearer until it dawns on me that I need to do things like check passports, insurance, do laundry, find snorkels (or whatever random thing we need to take).

i am incredibly untidy at the best of times. I massively struggle with the house. When it comes to packing for a holiday that gets a 1000% worse. So the entire place is in chaos, I usually end up really stressed, kids bouncing off the walls with excitement and when we finally leave I fling everything in the car shouting “if we don’t have it we will survive without it” and leave behind a house that literally looks like a bomb went off in it.

i have read of people who do things like tidy and clean their house before going away. AS WELL AS packing. I have no idea how they do this but I would love to borrow that magic spell.

Exactly what I was thinking tonight.

Three hectic days of cleaning, packing and preparation ahead this week, just so I can sleep in some horrible, uncomfortable bed which has been slept in by dozens of other people, counting the sleeps until I can come back home.

Yes, I love the change of scenery and the lovely meals out etc, but I have paid £000”s for this experience and quite honestly don’t think it is worth it.

I have found my people.

We go but only in the UK. After a particular holiday when planes were significantly delayed on way & way back and both my husband and youngest ended up in hospital (with different illnesses) we gave up on the idea of abroad being fun.

I've reached this point. It's too much hassle. Just do short breaks now. I absolutely HATE airports as well and doing things like online check in, the accommodation is nearly always a disappointment. And I can't stand cooking on holiday but equally trailing around trying to find a restaurant where the food might be suitable for everyone is a collossal faff.

Absolutely. Every single time we are going away I feel like this.

Ferry's are also your friend.
Short hop to France can be nice difference to UK

Me, massive faff, while away constant worry about the sun and sunscreen, kids bickering.

Everytime I end up saying never again.

I love my ski trips best holiday and I think it's because no sun worries, and kids rarely bicker.

I need to put a lot more thought into next year's summer holiday - if we have one.

God no, I love it 🤣

I find it stressful ☹️

You have ADHD too then?! I become overwhelmed with narrowing down holiday choices, but then once booked I absolutely thrive off hyper focusing on it, staying up until the early hours for weeks planning everything from reviews and Google maps and all kinds of forums I've joined. The planning, the researching, an organised itinerary so unlike me in every other aspect of my life. But the I will do anything other than actually pack until the final hour, and then I am rummaging and throwing things around and over packing or under packing, can't find the new things I bought, and leaving the house in utter chaos. I see people recommending house shares or saying they can't leave until the house is spotless and I want to be like them. Neurotypical do always ask me for itinerary tips though (and then probably regret it when I info dump).

This is me. I’m old and I think it’s because everywhere is so overcrowded now, from airports, railway stations, taxi ranks, busses, the tube, aeroplanes, hotels, beaches, restaurants, shops, bars. Everything is stressful and rushed, service has gone down the pan and everyone has a bad attitude.

Added to that is the general decline of most places.

Me! It’s a gigantic faff and they rarely live up to cost and expectation. We’re knocking the 2 weeks in August holidays on the head now the kids are older. Doing short breaks. Got Rome in October and Paris in December. Even then the parking, airport and travel thing pains me.

Why go then? Save the money or donate it.
I grew up having no holidays at all because my parents were skint. I absolutely love holidays now I can afford them and really appreciate being able to go. So do my kids.
Give me your holiday money if you want, I'll put it to good use!

I hope not! I'm going to Ireland next week to see my family and it's the first time in many years that I've actually been away. A little part of me is already dreading it...

@User68253 you have just described me!
I never would have thought that I could have ADHD. I'm off to properly read about that now.

We book holidays and I'm keen and excited but near the time, I wonder why we did, can't be bothered with the hassle, and I wish I wasn't going!

Well, this year, am literally just back from a lovely week in beautiful Valencia, and the difference this time was - I was much better organised in advance, so the last-minute panic didn't happen! Fabulous city, very walkable (my arthritis notwithstanding!), amazing architecture, great shopping, delicious food and not expensive!

Yes yes yes a million. After hearing about 100s of flight cancellations on the radio today I'm even more adamant. Sod all that.

@Porthia this is me to a tee! Maybe I do have ADHD too?! I have been wondering about it recently. I am supposed to be getting ready for a holiday right now (so of course I’m on mumsnet at 01.26 instead of doing something constructive or sleeping… argh!

No. I love the planning and lead up to holidays. This is the kind of thing my mother would complain about. She always asks me don’t I feel stressed about everything I have to do even though I never complain about it. And when we get back she says oh I bet you’re pleased to be home and I always say I’d go back on holiday tomorrow if I had the chance!

It's harder work than what it's worth