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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be fed up of people saying " you could go abroad for that"

74 replies

Helenagrace · 30/08/2011 08:32

Bit of background. We usually holiday in Cornwall but this year left it too late to book. So I decided to book early for next year. I've found a house which we're hoping to rent for two weeks. It sleeps 8, has 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, a games room, outdoor play area and heated indoor pool for our sole use. It will cost us, including fuel for the trip, just shy of £3,000 for the fortnight.

We're planning to invite another family to join us (at our expense) as they won't be going on holiday next year due to redundancy and the DH having been out of work for over a year.

Everyone we've mentioned this to , and I mean everyone so far, has immediately said "you could go abroad for that".

Aside from the fact that I like Cornwall, AIBU to think that, actually, you can't get that sort of accommodation "abroad" for that sort of money?

Just before anyone flames me for stealth boasting I would like to say in my defence that we don't normally spend that much and that this year's holiday in Suffolk has been truly miserable. I know I know at least I've had a holiday but I honestly wish I'd stayed at home.

OP posts:
Animation · 30/08/2011 08:36

Wow, that does seem a lot of money for the UK. I can understand why you're getting those comments. But if you love Cornwall well that's what you choose to do.

StonedRosie · 30/08/2011 08:36

That's a nice thing to do for the other family.

But yeah you probably could. Gite in France for sure.

anchovies · 30/08/2011 08:40

You couldn't go abroad for that, a 4 bedroom, 3 bathroom villa with pool would cost £3000 for a fortnight and then you would have all the flights to pay for.

What a lovely thing to do for the other family by the way, wish I had a friend like you :o

Hulababy · 30/08/2011 08:41

Well, I can tell you that you most definitely can get that level of accomodation in many many places abroad for that amount, even taking into account flights - although not for two families - flights for two families would push you over, but for one family you can and they'd be nice too.

i think often people say it as the UK is quite expensive for accomodation ime and without the guarantee of warmer weather. I have to say that is why we go abroad mainly, esp for our main summer holiday.

But yanbu to chose to spend your holiday where you want and to want to enjoy a holiday in the UK.

We are planning a week away at October half term with friends and we are staying in the UK. Just need to find the right place to stay now - but at decidindly less than £3k for the week :)

senua · 30/08/2011 08:42

"you can't get that sort of accommodation "abroad" for that sort of money?"

Of course you can. One year, we got a house which accommodated 10 people, although I will admit that it didn't have your heated pool. We were only 4 people. It was that cheap!
It was in Ardennes so you only had the cost of a car on the chunnel, not a per-head airfare.

Hulababy · 30/08/2011 08:43

A 4 bed, 3 bathroom villa with games room and pool in Florida was way way less than that - but flights obviously much more.

We have had beautiful 4 bed places in Europe with pools for less than £1500k. outh of France was dearer at about £2000 a week but flights cheap to places like nice.

Holidays in the Uk are not the cheap option generally.

troisgarcons · 30/08/2011 08:45

Depends whether you use the internet to your advantage. My friend always does 3-4 weeks over the summer holidays in France, Italy and Switzerland for 6 people and it never comes to more than £3K. However they are a very outdoorsy type of family, don't mind youth hosteling and drive, not fly and seem to spend an inordinate amount of time mountain walking, white water rafting and whizzing up and down glaciers. Not my type of holiday .

However, depending where you want to go and what you want to do, you can often pick up lovely apartments off the beaten track for £30 per night for a family of 6.

But back to the OP - personally I do find the UK very over priced. Again the term 'self catering' to me, does not imply a holiday. It merely means you perform your usual domestic chores in a different setting. But each to their own.

senua · 30/08/2011 08:45

But, as others have said:
-you are being very generous and are a good friend, and
-it's your holiday, who cares what anyone else thinks.
Smile

traceybeaker · 30/08/2011 08:48

Yes you could go abroad for that.

And be nearly guaranteed sunny weather.

I love Cornwall but if it rained every day could be very miserable.

Bloodymary · 30/08/2011 08:50

Yes of course you can get a similar type of accomodation abroad for that kind of money, and with better weather.

But its your money and your choice OP.
I love Cornwall, and the only reason I do not do the same is because I want and need just love the sun.

LynetteScavo · 30/08/2011 08:54

Actually, it's sounds like you've got a really great price for Cornwall. Shock

We go to Cornwall every year, partly because we love it (I would prefer somewhere warmer, but DH and DS1 would hate it- but then they enjoy a picnic in drizzle Hmm) and partly because DH hates travelling with DC.

We could go abroad for the same money, because Cornwall isn't cheep, but there is a reason for that.

PattySimcox · 30/08/2011 08:59

I love holidaying in England / Wales / Scotland but the weather is so unreliable that it can be a miserable experience for all concerned.

You could indeed easily get accomodation and cheap flights for under 3k and have guaranteed sun, but if that is not what you choose then it is no business of anyone else.

And you are a lovely friend

AuntieMonica · 30/08/2011 09:00

yes it really grates my teeth when people say 'you could go abroad for that'

of course you could, but why are we British obsessed with grinding every last penny out of 'furrin' holidays?

you've found a great place which suits your requirements and taste, and some bonfire-pissing party pooper has to say something to make you think you're not 'getting the best'?

tell them to wind it in

Inertia · 30/08/2011 09:00

What a lovely thing to do for your friends.

And that does seem close to the going rate for Cornwall, certainly for the facilities that come with it - especially the sole use indoor pool.

Animation · 30/08/2011 09:00

Yes Cornwall isn't cheap. Probably the most expensive seaside resort in the UK. It is lovely though in all weathers to me.

milkmilklemonade · 30/08/2011 09:01

It sounds lovely, how nice to treat your friends as well. Cornwall is lovely, have a great holiday.

WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes · 30/08/2011 09:07

It sounds lovely to me, we tend to stay in this country and accommodation isn't cheap. We always self cater, cannot imagine doing anything else but each to their own. I would be fed up if I kept getting that comment too.

QuickLookBusy · 30/08/2011 09:13

Oh were are the same as you OP. We love Cornwall and for years rented lovely cottages. Every year we would get "you could go abroad for 2 weeks for that"

The last 2 years we have bben abroad and once you take into account flights and because of the exchange rate, food and drink, it has been MORE expensive to go abroad.

We have had some bad weather holidays but I still think you cannot beat CornwallSmile

Alibabaandthe80nappies · 30/08/2011 09:18

That does sound a good price for Cornwall.

We love it there too, but always stay in a hotel because otherwise it is no break for me. Perhaps that changes once your children are older?

OriginalPoster · 30/08/2011 09:21

Don't tell people how much you are spending, on holidays, food, clothes, cars, insurance. It is none of their business how you choose to spend money. If they ask just tell them you'd rather not say.

Then they will be unable to comment.

trixymalixy · 30/08/2011 09:25

I love Cornwall as well, but they are not wrong in that you could go abroad for that cost.

We stayed in a lovely place in Denmark with heated indoor pool and outdoor sandpit and play area that slept 9 of us. It was £500 a week and I think the ferry was £800 for each car, so less than £3k. It was a fab holiday. The weather probably wasn't much better than Cornwall though!!

What a lovely thing to do for your friends though.

missorinoco · 30/08/2011 09:27

YANBU to be fed up. Factually they are correct, you can, but you can equally stay in UK and have a fantastic time, which is what you are choosing to do. I know nothing about the cost of such places abroad so can't comment on that part.

Original poster
Helenagrace · 30/08/2011 09:47

Thank you for all your nice comments I'm a bit Blush. Our friends were great when we had some work issues two years ago. Just so glad we're in the position to help them now.

I genuinely didn't think we'd get anything for that budget abroad. I can't imagine anything worse than holidaying in Costa del Lager but some of your suggestions sounds great. I'll look into those suggestions for other years. I do love Cornwall but guaranteed sunshine would be nice one yearGrin.

OP posts:
CogitoErgoSometimes · 30/08/2011 09:47

YABU to think 'you can't go abroad for that' - because you probably can - but YANBU to be fed up with people that don't see the attraction in a UK holiday. Having just paid £1300 for a one week all-in UK hotel package for 2 I got that comment quite a lot :) Yes, it's relatively expensive but OTOH... I didn't sit in traffic jams or waste time in airport lounges (went on the train) and there was no danger of icelandic volcanoes or wildcat baggage handler strikes preventing us from getting home either.

scaryteacher · 30/08/2011 09:50

It depends what you want as well. I live abroad, and so come back to the Devon/Cornwall borders for my summer holiday each year, and to see what my tenants are up to with the family house.

I love coming back, going to my old haunts, seeing friends, seeing my Mum, hearing English spoken and managing an entire boot load of stuff to take home for far less than I pay here.

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