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AIBU?

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:

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cornflowers · 30/08/2011 09:58

So what went so wrong in Suffolk??

LIZS · 30/08/2011 10:08

We've rented in UK and France in past years and it is rarely less than 1k per week even for a basic 4/5 berth and not the peak weeks (July or end August/Sept). For France you then have ferry, tolls and petrol which can add several hundred on per car. So for 8 you could easily be looking at similar money at very best before you start allowing for the rest. Food in euroland is not cheap either. We got back from Italy a few weeks ago and even there now soft drinks are 2e a time and eating out expensive (ie. panini 4e plus, salads and pasta almost 10e), petrol 1.40-1.50 per l.

SiamoFottuti · 30/08/2011 10:10

If thats what you want, why care what anyone else thinks?

I'd probably be one of those saying that though, as your holiday is my worst nightmare and I can never understand the point of "holidaying" in the UK if you live there.

Helenagrace · 30/08/2011 10:23

Grubby cottage, nothing like it was described and pictured online, 24hr operating very noisy industrial building at the end of the garden and I got a horrible bug.

I'm actually going to complain about the cottage. Basically it looks like they put nice furniture in it for the photos and then replaced it with horrible stuff. The dishwasher was broken. When I reported it the owner just said "oh that hasn't worked for ages". The cottage hadn't been cleaned properly and they refused to change the bedding or towels half way through the fortnight. To be fair we usually have much better experiences with the cottage company. This is the only bad experience we've had out of about 10 bookings.

OP posts:

Helenagrace · 30/08/2011 10:24

Sorry that was in response to what went wrong in Suffolk

OP posts:

Birdsgottafly · 30/08/2011 10:49

I love the UK coastline and countryside. I choose to live in a city but go camping, i get to live within walking distance of a beach and take my dog, nearly every weekend. We can afford to go 'abroad' but haven't been able to this year because of working patterns. We don't feel that we have missed anything.

You have to decide on what you want to do on holiday and then book one that suits you, regardless of where it is.

We have family that go regulary, to New York, it's our idea of hell. They seem to think that we should be jealous, er no, 'horses for courses'.

OddBoots · 30/08/2011 10:57

If people want to discuss the price of the holiday why not say it in terms of cost per person? If (at a guess) there will be 8 of you then that is £375 each, bet not many people will think you could get an equally luxury holiday fortnight abroad for that. Or you could even halve that and say 'per week'.

kitya · 30/08/2011 10:58

have you tried this website? www.ownersdirect.co.uk/france-brittany-4bed.htm we have been to some fab places through it. We have been all over the world from our living room

It is a lovely thing you are doing though. We went to Cornwall this year. It is beautiful but, the weather was not good I have to say. Croatia next year for us.

theginganinja · 30/08/2011 11:12

My response to that would be 'so?'. Yes, you probably could get a holiday abroad for that but do you really want to start your hols in an airport lounge. Nope, me either. Fwiw, I loathe airports, starting my holiday in one really puts me in a bad mood. Cornwall is a much better bet.
And you are a wonderful friend, have a great time and damn the naysayers.

scrambedeggs · 30/08/2011 11:19

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?

of course you can, we rented a private villa in cyprus, with pool and whatnot, also one in florida - for much less than that

scrambedeggs · 30/08/2011 11:19

Cornwall is a much better bet.

if you like the cold and rain

happyclapper · 30/08/2011 12:27

You are soo right Animation.
Got back last week from a week in a fishermans cottage in the heart of St Ives feeling relieved to be back.
Tried to do the week on a budget and just found it completely depressing not being able to shop at all the lovely shops or eat in the lovely restaurants.
Kids had a great time but it was supposed to be my holiday too.
Probably the wrong place to go unless you have a good budget but didn't anticipate being on as tight a budget as we were.
Thinking of going abroad next year but sure that would be much more expensive.
Well done for being fab friends. We have been in a similar situation, hence tight budget, and friends more caring than family sometimes.

HallnotOates · 30/08/2011 12:29

THAT IS SUCH A RIP OFF though

Ephiny · 30/08/2011 12:34

I don't understand the obsession with going 'abroad' - I actually like going on holiday in the UK most of the time, there are some incredibly beautiful places, and personally I'd rather have a bit of rain than be too hot and not able to do anything much but sit in the shade. And we can take the dog. It's not just for people who can't afford to fly somewhere .

£3000 does seem like a lot for a 'cottage' holiday though - but I guess it's a much more luxurious one than I'm used to! And when you consider it's a fortnight's holiday for two families, it's not so bad.

TheBride · 30/08/2011 12:39

Heat is so overrated. I went to the New Forest this year (although I should admit that the UK is abroad for us). I was wonderful. I could go outside without having to slather DS in Factor 50 and a hat. I paid £1500 for a 4 bed cottage which was amazing. One of the issues with the UK is that there are not that many big holiday rentals that aren't part of complexes (e.g. three cottages on same site) so they do command a premium.

TheBride · 30/08/2011 12:39

um, that should have been "it was wonderful" Not sure I was.

maighdlin · 30/08/2011 12:41

im in the "why would you want to stay in the crappy UK for that money" camp. but its your choice. if had 3k to spend on a holiday there is no way in hell i would spend my holiday in the uk. you can go far and travel nicely for 3k. me and my sister looking and for us DHs and 2 DDs it was just under 3k for a fortnight in florida in 5 bed villa with own pool and car hire.

Punkatheart · 30/08/2011 12:44

You are doing a lovely thing and you won't have to have all the hassle of airports. Have a gorgeous holiday.

CurlyhairedAssassin · 30/08/2011 12:56

Suppose it depends when you travel as well, difficult to compare june with august school holidays. Costs arent comparable.

It's a lovely thing you're doing and we love Cornwall too and usually pay around 1500 for a really nice place for a week in august there but go halves with who we share with (parents) But the last 4 years have been sooo disappointing weather wise both there and just generally all summer so next time we're off to majorca. We need to feel some sun! It will be more expensive because we don't want to slum it in a 2 star studio apartment with a fight for sun beds in the morning and massive queues in the restaurant, that ain't my idea of a relaxing time. So it'll be a privately owned apartment with easy jet flights. For 4 of us I think we'll be lucky to get change of 800 for the flights and apartment with shared pool is about 1200 for week, so it IS more expensive going abroad if don't want to "make do" with v cheap accom etc, which I certainly don't. I don't want a worse environment than what ive got at home just for the sake of guaranteed sunshine.

HallnotOates · 30/08/2011 12:57

i like the expereience of getting away from tv radio news supermarkets

and i htink kids benefit from it too

joric · 30/08/2011 13:07

It depends what other people like 'abroad'. If you are renting a big house for 2 weeks in cornwall for 2 families £1.500 each family is not OTT IMO. Yes, both families could go abroad for that but would you get the same quality accommodation? I personally don't think so.
We (one family) spent a week in a grotty caravan holiday home last year with Eurocamp. The site was nice but with travel costs it came to £1800!
Your choice sounds good considering you are paying for 2 families.

carpetlover · 30/08/2011 13:08

We've had this lots of times. What annoys me is that often the people saying it are saying it in a 'why would you spend that on a uk hol when you can go abroad' way. Rather than just making an observation. It's the assumption that if you can afford it you go abroad and if not you stay in the uk.

We went to menorca this year which was lovely but we did spend more 2yrs ago at bedruthansteps in Cornwall.

If I had £10 for everytime I was told that the £1500 we spent to go to centre parcs for feb half term this year would have taken us abroad it would have paid for the bloody holiday!

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SusanneLinder · 30/08/2011 13:54

I holiday in the UK now since Eurozone has become so expensive. Personally I wouldn't pay £3000 for a cottage,but if you want to do that,that's fine with me.Sounds lovely actually

Yes you get it cheaper in Florida but if that's what you want to do,who am I to say you are wrong.

Valetude · 30/08/2011 13:56

OP is it not just that those people would quite like to go abroad?
You could choose not to take it personally, they're hardly commiting the social crime of the century

MrsCampbellBlack · 30/08/2011 13:58

Well we've done lovely villas the past few years in Turkey/Italy and they cost more than that during the school holidays.

But it depends how fussy you are - I am pretty fussy so find it does cost £££ to find nice self-catering accommodation anywhere really.

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