Should we go home a day early?

[Crunchymum]

Boring question but I cant decide.

Booked in a cottage until Saturday but I'm fed up.

Had lovely weather but it's set to rain tomorrow and other than the beach there isn't much to do.

It's somewhere we come to at least once a year (have had our main holiday here some years) so we know the area really well. Nothing we haven't done so to speak.

I'm on my own with 3 DC as DP had to go back for work on Tuesday. They are generally well behaved but DC1 cut their foot so the beach isn't ideal for them (and today they spent most of the day on the promenade in a deck chair reading)

It's been incredibly busy all week and there has sadly been a lot of anti social behaviour. Hoards of teenagers have descended on the town and it's been quite intimidating - I say that as a life long Londoner. Seems to be a mix of half term, good weather and the local station having no ticket barriers that has made this beautiful little spot a meet up place that has gone viral.

We're okay as we go to a smaller, off the beaten track beach but we're all a bit sick of the beach and as I say its meant to rain tomorrow.

Despite all that I still can't make a decision. Part of me thinks we're here and we should just "make the most". We live in central London so should savour every moment in nature etc. But I kind of want to go home. The older kids want to go home - although their motives are clearly different as they want to get back to "see" thier mates ie: jump online.

I have an open ticket but if we leave it will be early tomorrow. I don't want to get caught up in all the weekend comings and goings that have seen the small station closed due to overcrowding all week.

TL;DR our last day of a mediocre break is going to be wet, should be just sack it off and go home?

Edited to add, not sure how I managed to get a typo in the poll?

Perhaps not for everyone, but OP has been there 10+ times, clearly there is some affinity with the place there. And it’s only their last day, there has been plenty of secluded beach time by the sound of it, which is as it should be. I think the teen mobs have really rattled people and the situation is out of the ordinary because of that.

God it really is happening everywhere, isn't it?

good that you've made a decision sounds sensible to me

Yes no question.

I don’t think you should holiday there again sounds like youve done it to death.

When our children were small, we routinely left a day early. Holidays with small children are much harder work than being at home and there’s no point sticking around if the weather’s bad or someone’s ill.

We left one holiday three days early because as soon as we’d started thinking about leaving the idea made us so happy we thought we may as well go immediately.

I don't know how old the kids are but younger ones might enjoy treasure hunts, mine did as kids and there is often something on you might not know about, a lot of councils put stuff on in half terms . I am not sure an extra day at home would be that great plus it might start a precedent with the kids i.e asking to go home early when they are bored.

It’s such a pity what’s happening in Broadstairs.

It was happening in Margate in the early '60s. Bank Holidays brought out the Mods vs Rockers.

But public transport in Broadstairs, if that's where op is, is not bad. (Unless you're comparing it to central London, of course.) Buses and trains go all round the coast and inland to Canterbury.

I’d come home early too OP, have done that before on UK breaks.

seeing people talk about going to the same place when you have done everything. I go to the same place every year for at least a weekend break. Done it all but having gone a lot, I just love the place. Have been twice this year already. Nothing like a visit to the seaside to re-set your brain.

The difference between you going on repeat visits and op going on repeat visits is that you’re happy to do the same things again whereas op feels there’s no point as they’ve done everything.

But the OP has said she’s done everything and they’re bored of it. So why would you keep going?

I think your mind is made up OP - go home, you all sound done !

I live in the area where you are; and despite always loving my hometown and usually flocking to the beach on a sunny day, I've avoided it this half term and travelled a bit further afield.

I can't imagine ever leaving a holiday early, and certainly not for a bit of rain (which is very normal in UK holiday planning). You said the kids want to go home, but only one out of 3 does. I think you have made up your mind, but it seems a shame to me. As soon as you get home, everyone will be back to their normal routines, seeing friends and starting to think about school and work. This is precious time when you can hang out together - to me a rainy day is a perfect excuse to read books, watch a film, play games. And it is not like you have had to endure rain all week. But then, I never want to go home after holidays!

If you’re in Broadstairs, we went recently and were impressed with the public transport! We live in the midlands.

Is the DC who wants to go home old enough to travel home alone to London on the train? That could be an option.

But tbh OP, I’d get all of you on that 10am train in your position. Tomorrow will drag otherwise. Maybe get lunch in a cafe when you reach London or something, to keep yourselves in holiday mode for a bit longer.

And give the location a miss next year. Try somewhere else.

What do your kids want to do? If my kids also wanted to leave then I happily would if they didn't id stay for them

Oh, you have cats.
Go home to the cats.

Yeh we’ve done this before. Had a great week then weather turned at the end. Also dreading the early morning pack up deadline and drive home in traffic.
Avoided all that and the next day waking up late in my own bed was mega !

Good decision OP.

I’d stay until early evening today and travel back when it’s cooler and quieter.

Then tomorrow you’ll wake up in your own beds rather than having to get up, clean up and pack up and leave in the morning (I’m assuming check out is 10 ish?).

I’ve done that so many times when camping. Packed down the tent 6/7 pm and driven home at 8/9pm rather than doing it all I. The morning in heat or rain!

Id always let the weather and my feelings rule at this stage if a holiday so you go home when you’re ready and make it a nice relaxed ending.

Sounds delightful where are you ? Maybe help others avoid if it’s that bad. I would come home sit in your garden tomorrow if it’s nice and relax

Thanks all.

Still undecided to be honest. But think on balance going home is the top choice.

Quite a few people have asked why we keep going back to the same place. Firstly because we usually really enjoy it, it's easily accessible from home, I can make the journey on my own and feel happy to stay in the area / cottage on my own (DP isn't always able to come or stay for the duration). I don't drive for medical reasons so that limits our options as well. And of course money wise it's been affordable for us. Train and cottage for half term week was less than £700.

Over the years we have been here for May half term, summer holidays and October half term. We've never had truly awful weather but for non beach days we've done all the coastal walks (several times), been to other nearby towns, been into Canterbury etc.

It's just this trip that's been an issue? PP have gathered the location and I'm really not happy to be here this time round. Usually we go for evening walks / have fish and chips on the promenade. We've been home by 6pm every day this week as it's just not a nice atmosphere.

I think its a combination of outgrowning a place and coming to a place with a lot of social issues right now.

Plus one child who can't enjoy the beach / go on walks due to cut (which is healing but painful still)

I feel sad, wish I was a bit more positive / resilient about it. I'm much more about comfort and having an easy life these days though. I'll feel guilty packing us all up but relieved to be home.

Plus as Arsenal fans we have a mega weekend ahead anyway !!

I’m in Kent and it’s meant to be lovely and hot again, no idea where you’ve got your forecast from.

BBC. Although it looks a bit better now. Cloudy in the morning (can't seem to screenshot the whole day!)

BBC weather forecast is usually on the pessimistic side. What are the percentages? If below about 60% rain on the BBC, I'd expect it to be mostly dry with the odd shower over the day tbh. Also look at the sky, does it look like rain? That's often more reliable in my experience.

ETA: just looked at the BBC weather forecast for Broadstairs and also the Met Office. I'd say anything more than the odd shower is unlikely.

Probably too late. But I’ve voted stay.

I’m a lone parent and would love to go for little breaks out of the city but just can’t afford it. So just to be away from home would be savoured, even if we watched tv or played games all day.

Hope your journey home goes smoothly 🙂