To want an actual holiday?

[Babylon1]

8 years ago I bought DH a camper van for his birthday. I was pregnant with DD1 at the time and it was really exciting - our own little van on wheels.

Fast forward 8 years, and though I still love our little van, our family has grown and trips are not exciting any more, they are an absolute fucking chore

We've just spent 3 nights (should have been 7) in Cornwall on a basic campsite at Praa Sands. Been to the campsite loads of times, we like basic and don't go in for the big organised sites - give us a field with a shower/toilet facility and we're good.

Weather was OK first couple of days, got in the sea, on the beach etc, but on day 3 the weather changed, it was awful. So instead of me sleeping in van with DS (4mo) and DD2 (3yo), there was also DH and DD1 (7yo) in a very small space.

DS is EBF and still wakes at least once a night to be fed which was a problem in itself, everyone got disturbed, and basically i got so stressed with it all, I ended up having a meltdown at 2am and sitting in the passenger seat crying my eyes out

When we got home and were unloading the van, I casually mentioned to DH that next year I'd like to do something different than camping, I'd like to go on a plane to somewhere hot and sunny in a hotel; where someone cooks and cleans for me for two weeks, and the biggest jobs I have to tackle are dressing the DCs and applying suncream regularly.

Well I might as well have suggested we burn the van, the reaction I got

Apparently i'm being selfish to impose my 'needs' on the rest of the family and i should consider more what he would like to do for his holidays

I'm seriously considering going to the travel agent tomorrow and booking a break for me and the DCs next year. If DH wants to join us then he can, but otherwise I'll go on my own with the children.

I wouldn't mind so much, but my 3 nights in wet Cornwall was my main and only holiday this year. No weekends away, no mini breaks, nothing. DH has alreay had a lads weekend away, a week away with school PGL trip, a trip to Scotland with DD1 on his motorbike, and still has another PGL week in September and a lads weekend in October to look forward to.......

I just want really really need a proper holiday.

Sorry that was so long.

Well we're camping right now and i haven't gone into meltdown yet

Or alcoholism!

Or hard drugs! (or soft ones)

I'm coping just fine, feeling pretty chilled out actually

I am well and truly relaxed

The weather has been alternately brilliant and shite; that is I am now cold and damp, but have sunburn to face neck shoulders and back

Having a very lovely bank holiday weekend in the camper van and dreaming of Cyprus already

Anyone else read this thread and really really started to want a camper van?

BadLad

Thing is they are fantastic, and for weekends it's fabulous - just not every single bloody holiday!!!!

I'm having a great wknd this time!! Not stressed, not shouty or horrible, just nice and relaxed!

Actually sat toasting marshmallows round a camp fire last night - 'twas lovely

It's not a recent thing for me. I've always thought they sounded like fun. When I was single, one thing I planned to do was hire one and go on a tour of the Scottish highlands. Sadly, I never got round to it, and my wife isn't particularly interested in the idea. Perhaps I can talk her round.

Glad you're having fun, anyway. In Cornwall?

OP - what about a holiday with childcare included? We recently went on a Mark Warner holiday where our 6 year was at kids club from 9am-10pm and he only came back to us for 2 hrs at lunchtime and 2 at dinner time. I did keep asking if he wanted to miss the club and spend the day with us, but we couldn't tear him away from his new friends and activities. It was also full board so there were no worries about cooking or shopping. After your recent holiday, it sounds like you deserve a 'lying on a sun lounger on the beach' kind of break!

glad you compromised on the hol thing, we had a fab weekend camping with friends old and new. short breaks lots of alcohol and quality time with friends can add to the destressing time. give me a field running water and a toilet, throw in a swing and the kids are happy. talk things through, and dont stew on things, ranting is good for the soul.

come back and tell us what you've booked op

then come back and tell us your dp's reaction

Thank you guys!! I've just had the most fantastic weekend, it's surprised me how relaxed I feel which is not me after a weekend camping usually

We're home, van is unpacked, washing is on and I'm now sat with one of the leftover pear ciders, just chilling!!

Truly good times

But will be glad to get in my own bed tonight!!

Pear cider? miight give that a try.

YANBU.

YANBU
This is exactly why I refuse any attempt by the DDs to get us to buy a tent.

I know tent will require a top box and sleeping bags, air beds, stove, chairs, table etc. etc.

By the time we've finished we will have spent a small fortune and have to use it every year.

And it will rain.

Sorry holiday = one week in Majorca in a hotel with sunshine, sea, pool and someone to cook and clean.

Clompy it is the way forward I tell ya!!

Next time let him do the cooking on the small gas stove and the handwashing of clothes.

YANBU - we have a caravan and have not been a lot this year because of the weather and because we have a new baby (now 9 months) who is bf and not a great sleeper. It is not such a break but you can have a lovely time if you do it in short bursts like you have done this weekend. There is no way I would be going in bad weather though, it is strictly a fair weather activity with 3 kids.

Glad you have come to a solution.

How can camping in the rain in a van or a tent been seen as pleasurable in any way to anyone over the age of 7? Dont get this camping thing at all I did it in my youth (family camping holidays, guides, duke of Edinburgh) would rather pull my own hair out than go on a camping holiday now. Also to be a proper holiday it has to be at least 25 degrees or why bother. If money is an issue try house swap we have have two AMAZING holidays in Spain and Italy for the cost of the flights only.

Camping is for refugees.

Thanks thenightsky that was helpful

nightsky - what a twat.

Kerala - it's the great outdoors that is so appealing, there are some gorgeous places in this fair country of ours and if you get the weather there is nothing nicer. We usually go within an hour's drive of home, to somewhere isolated and gorgeous where we let the kids off the leash, they usually pal up with other kids and can have all the freedom that they can't have at home. The ideal is that we sit as the sun goes down and have a glass of wine in the fresh air. I find that at home even if it's a nice evening the lure of the tv or computer tends to keep me inside whereas we don't take a tv or computer camping so we are free to chat to each other and just do real things iyswim.

Of course you don't do it in the rain, there is just no point.

I would love a Campervan! We have a humangous (sp) tent, like it is a 10 man, and there are only 3-5 of us max that go.
We take our TV :o for when it pisses down, and have a carpet,electric light and blow up seats for our tent,so hardly roughing it.

However after 2 years of crap British weather, I am like you OP, and have decided that for our main holiday, I wont settle for owt less than a luxury static. Next year we are flying off to somewehere sunny and the tent shall be used for those rare weekends when the sun is splitting the bloody sky and we go last minute.

YANBU camper vans are not for family holidays, you need a proper break in the sun with no cooking or cleaning and a kids club to get a bit of quiet time to read a book uninterrupted.
Maybe you could rent the van out to friends/family, my DS and his GF would think it was the best holiday ever!

I can't find that hotel in Punta Cana. I can find Occidental Allegro hotels in other places and an Occidental Grand in Punta Cana. I want an AI holiday that cheaply! :(
Incidentally, at the Grand it is from £799 for 7 days AI, so would cost -erm-quite a lot for your crew.
However, YANBU about having a variety of holidays.

I suggest a holiday abroad Feb half term or Easter and then camper van next summer. I find I enjoy my year a lot more if I have an early holiday rather than wait all year and build up possible unrealistic expectations of how the holiday will go.