To want to organise our own accommodation?

[fufulina]

PILs live abroad. We are going to go and visit for a week next year when will have a new baby (approx 10 weeks old, depending on arrival date), plus a DD - 3yo. Their place is too small for us all, so I am getting the ball rolling sorting out a villa/apartment near them.
DH just informed me that PILs are arranging (and paying for) the accommodation.
Hugely kind for them to offer, but it makes me very nervous. I would like to be in control (!) of the accommodation to make sure it's suitable; PILs are not the most practical of people and haven't had a new baby for over thirty years; they won't even think of the things that I will (like number of bedrooms, accessibility, noise, cot, etc.). I'd just like to organise it and pay for it ourselves. I don't feel that if they organise it I can start questioning what they've organised, whereas if we organise and pay for, we can get something suitable. AIBU?

ooh dodgy ground here but I totally understand where you're coming from re being in control! I have to book all our accomodation - at home or overseas!

But ... because the inlaws are paying for it (this is very kind - so tread carefully) you need to get your DH involved.

Could you find a villa super quick and then he could say 'oh we've found the place we'd like to stay and planned to book it next week'.

That way you get to stay exactly where you'd like to and if they're super generous they may even offer to pay for it. If not - you have what you want without upsetting the inlaws :)

Its nice of them to make the effort and pay. Can you not explain your concerns(or get DH to)? Maybe along the lines of "thanks so much for doing all this for us. We really need X, Y and Z. If that makes is too expensive or you can't find something suitable, let us know and we will sort it out". Maybe they can email you the details of the places they are looking at.

Thanks all - some excellent advice. It is very tricky ground, because it is very kind of them to offer, but I'd just rather sort it myself! I might mention to MIL that we've found a villa we think is great, all the right practical boxes ticked, so happy to book that, or see what they had in mind? Oh it is a minefield!

and maybe say it's very important you get xyz because new baby will be so young.

Go down the route of 'you'll remember how much stuff DH needed when he was a few weeks old' ... once MIL is all misty eyed about her little boy you'll get just what you want

Excellent plan! She's generally permanently misty eyed...

What do you mean noise? You cannot have a baby growing up in a totally silent atmosphere, they get used to noise.

google at "Baby friendly bolt holes", it is a company who specialise in accommodation for young families.

Maybe you could take advice on areas to stay from them so they still feel they're helpful? They may feel bad that they don't have enough room for you which is why they want to go to the effort to arrange it themselves which is kind of them. But I understand you wanting to sort it yourself! Good luck.