Do I cancel this holiday or go

[capabilityfrowns]

I've not been away for 5 years and had some health issues over pst 2 years.

I'd booked a holiday abroad for 10 days for next September alone , all inclusive .
I was looking forward to 10 days in the sun , but then I'm already having anxiety about driving to airport, parking , being alone etc

My dd had agreed to sit my dogs .

Dd has now been invited to a wedding and feels now she's getting a puppy , working , studying it will be too much with my two and her one so I'd booked a pet hotel

Thing is one of my dogs is old , the other has never been kennelled.

I don't know anyone who would stay here and sit them , and a live in paid for service is extortionate (I've made enquiries)

Ive about a week before I pay my next instalment- should I just cancel and wait until my old boy is over the bridge ?

It's starting to feel like a source of anxiety rather than something good .

Can you look for a local dog boarder? See what could work? There are some that board in their own homes.

Could you pay for her to kennel the puppy instead and she still sits for you but with a pet carer to pop in let out and feed your dogs in her absence?
Does she have the puppy yet?

She's basically said she can't do it and wouldn't kennel her pup - he dog will be 10 months old when I go .

I'm looking at home board but it's becoming a source of stress rather than the anti stress it was meant to be !

Your dog is old, but does he have health problems other than age? If not, you cannot sit at home waiting for him to pass on.

Is the dog hotel local to you? You could try booking them in for one night, two nights, when you are at home, just to see how they get on. They are very likely to be fine, and then you'll know they are fine before your holiday.

Don't worry about being alone on holiday. I travel alone a lot! It's the fear of not having done it, but once you are there, in the sun, with a good book and a cocktail, you'll have a lovely time!

There will always be a reason not to go. I would carry on with my plans and look for a sitter that will have them in their house rather than yours, with almost a year to go you could start introductions now so your dogs are happy with the boarder when you do go away.

Try Trusted Housesitters. They sit for free.

I will have a look thanks

I think I'm getting cold feet .....

Oh lovely, I know how you feel. Personally I would cancel the holiday. You are going to worry about the dogs whilst you're away, I know I would, and it sounds as though you aren't generally that happy about going anyway. I'm a widow with a beloved cat and it is such a problem and also quite daunting going away on your own. I do think your daughter was extremely naughty to get a puppy when she had promised to look after your dogs. I feel she has let you down very badly and that's upsetting.

You have plenty of time to practice boarding them in kennels. Maybe see if where you choose to board them can do day boarding, then increase is slowly

It’s 10 months away. Long enough for you to have a trial run with the boarding or find another solution. Don’t cancel your holiday.

I feel like the dog issue has pushed it over the edge but I was already starting to get anxiety about driving to Manchester airport, parking, what you can take and can't , plastic bags and 50ml liquids , feeling lonely .

Dunno I've got another week or so it's just becoming a headache

In the nicest possible way pull yourself together, millions of people do this every year, you can do it too. Or do you intend to never go on holiday again?

Could you maybe book a short European city break sometime in the intervening 10 months? Somewhere easy like Amsterdam or Barcelona? Nice Hotel with a restaurant so you don't have to worry about meals, at a time when you're daughter can have the dogs for 2 or 3 days. That was you can practice the driving/parking/getting through the airport part so you will know you can handle it and it will boost your confidence.

I've never been away alone .

I was happy to try when I thought my dogs were gonna be looked after

Now it's gonna cost me a lot more

My dd was worrying about me going because of where I'm going and my health so maybe she thinks doing this will "help" me cancel .

I'll have a think about it . I do want to go I'd just be so devastated if anything happened to my old boy while I'm away . My little man will pine , my old boy will be ok but he's so old .....

Aargh !!!!! I'll not anything just yet . Just cancelling now is only lose £20 .

Bless you. How you feel is totally normal. In your situation, I think I would probably cancel and opt for a shorter holiday, perhaps two x 5 night stays in the UK somewhere pretty with spa facilities. Lots of chill time but also less commitment and a shorter way home if need be. It may also allow you to see if you like a lone holiday.

Either way, make sure you get some kind of break!

OP I'm on trusted housesitters and by the sounds of it not stupidly far from you-I'd also fly from Manchester for example. What breed are your dogs?

My very old boy is a soft daft as a brush German Shepard who no longer walks

My little man is a scottie cross . I'll find a pic hang on .

The logistics of Manchester airport will be fine. Either on this thread or another one if you could say roughly where you are and the time of flight I’m sure you’d get some good suggestions e.g. a taxi or train may be cheaper or perhaps even your DD could drop you.

It’s fine to be concerned over leaving the dogs and not leaving them is a valid option - you aren’t failing if you decide you don’t want to. People will house and pet sit as a way of seeing different locations but presumably how appealing you are does depend on your house and where it is.

if your loss would be £20 is there an option to write this particular break off whilst you research and plan and book a similar one in a few weeks if you’re confident you have an arrangement that’ll work for the dogs and won’t leave you feeling worried.

My babies !

The shepherd is gonna be 11 when I go , he doesn't need walks anymore . He's got athritic issues and will be happy for a break from walks for 10 days - he's a handful on walks if he sees a dog . He's not aggressive but he jumps up and down and gets silly - if he wanted to get to them I'd be in my bum and he doesn't but I wouldn't ask anyone else to walk him.

Little man will be 5 . He likes a walk .

For info I'm just outside a quaint village complete with duck pond , bars , restaurants and cafes

I have a spare double room with its own bathroom (not en-suite but it's the main one I don't use )

Near a wildlife park
Driving distance from Peak District and clumber park .

Cancel and let the tour operator re-sell the holiday to someone who actually wants to go on one.

I'd like to go

Just having some anxiety about it all now .

You have plenty of time to practice them going to kennels! Start small with one night and build up

Do go, I went away by myself this summer and although there were a few uncomfortable bits I loved the experience! I think we're more likely to regret the things we didn't do rather than the things we did.