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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To go on holiday with my friend?

28 replies

hiddenhome · 30/08/2012 22:31

My friend hasn't been on holiday for 18 years and I haven't had a proper holiday for about 14 years

dh is a bit of a stick in the mud and doesn't like going away I've suggested that we go away sometime and he agrees, but nothing ever happens and he would probably just moan anyway

WIBU for me and my friend to have a proper holiday?

We would like to go to Italy, but aren't sure how much we'd need to save for this. We like to see different stuff and not just sit around reading all day.

OP posts:

MrsMangelfanciedPaulRobinson · 30/08/2012 22:33

I would go.

Not too sure on the price though. Would you want to go on a package holiday? One week or two weeks?

CoolaSchmoola · 30/08/2012 22:35

Totally not unreasonable!

My Mum's friend's DH works in Saudi and never wants to go on sunshine holidays (understandable), and my Mum was a single parent, so when we were younger we would go on holiday with my Mum's friend and her kids whilst her husband either stayed at home or whilst he was away working.

After we all got to old to go with the parents my Mum and her friend carried on going.

They got their holiday, her DH got to not go, everyone was happy!

Original poster

hiddenhome · 30/08/2012 22:36

Perhaps one week. A package holiday sounds okay. Does anybody know roughly how much this might cost?

Any places in Italy they can recommend too

OP posts:

MrsTerryPratchett · 30/08/2012 22:52

Tuscany is great and has cities, country and the best light in the world so you will get beautiful photos.

MadgeHarvey · 30/08/2012 22:58

Is there a bad bit of Italy - I don't think so! But it's an expensive place to be right now. They're in the fiscal shit and the price of a lot of things is pretty ghastly. There's a new 'tourist tax' - up to ?2 per person per night for a start! However - if you're watching the pennies maybe think about the South - Bari and surroundings is beautiful with lovely unspoilt villages and nice beaches. We found it gratifyingly inexpensive after the buttfuck shock of prices in Rome and Venice. Coffee in Rome minimum ?4, Venice ?5 and ?2 in the South for instance!

MrsTerryPratchett · 30/08/2012 23:00

Bad bit of Italy - Palermo, Seveso, that's all I can think of.

Agree that Rome/Venice are expensive. However, go to Venice in the winter. It is cheaper and the canals don't stink so much then.

wednesdaygirl · 30/08/2012 23:07

Is your friend male or female

Original poster

hiddenhome · 30/08/2012 23:15

It's a female friend, we're colleagues too and just hit it off. She's divorced and has quite a tough life, so deserves a break. We got talking about it tonight on the way home.

OP posts:

ExitStencilist · 30/08/2012 23:17

You can get coffee in Rome for a lot less than 4?, you must have been sitting outside in the tourist spots to pay that! About 1,30? in most bars in Rome, 2? if you sit.

Original poster

hiddenhome · 30/08/2012 23:19

Would like to visit Rome one day

OP posts:

bogeyface · 30/08/2012 23:30

YANBU

I am going away for the weekend with my friend in October and the only reason it isnt a week is money! Mine doesnt "do" holidays. He will go, but you just know he would rather have a week off at home. So he has a week off, I get a few days with my friend while he is at home with the kids, and then I take the kids on days out while he sits in his pants watching crap telly.

The kids go on beach holidays with their dad twice a year.

Everyones happy!

bogeyface · 30/08/2012 23:31

Oh and as for Italy, my dad says that Pompeii and Herculanium (sp?) are amazing places to visit.

MrsTerryPratchett · 30/08/2012 23:33

I've had hot chocolate for 1 Euro in Venice and for 10! I went in a little cafe where the police drink for 1 euro. I speak Italian though, I think that helps.

wellwisher · 31/08/2012 00:04

Definitely go! Sounds lovely :)

bobbledunk · 31/08/2012 00:20

Go, you only live once.

EatsBrainsAndLeaves · 31/08/2012 00:28

Yes go and have a great time. In terms of where, depends what you like doing? We went to Sorrento - cheaper area near Pompei. Pompei and Herculeanium are both amazing if you like history and archealogy.

Naoko · 31/08/2012 00:28

It sounds great! Cost wise, it depends a bit what you do of course, but DP and I went to Rome 18 months ago and if I recall correctly we paid about E.200 to fly there and back (between us, Ryanair, most of it was their insane luggage charges so if you can manage with hand luggage it'll be much cheaper), E.520 for 6 nights in a lovely 3* hotel with breakfast included, a ways out of the center but minutes from public transport links, and probably another E.600 spending money between us, for everything - meals out, transport, entrance fees, souvenirs. Rome in September is expensive too, so if you go elsewhere you could probably do it cheaper.

I've been to Italy many times and it's one of my favourite places on earth. Go, you'll have a fantastic time.

schoolchauffeur · 31/08/2012 09:16

We have done Florence ( lovely if you like art), Venice ( just beautiful- but very expensive) and Turin ( nice for the Lakes area).
Best trip was with my mum a few years ago (so similar situation to yours) when we stayed in Sorrento, which is a lovely little place. Visited Pompeii and Vesuvius. Also had a great trip to Capri by boat and a tour right down the Amalfi Coast- great scenery, lovely food.
Go and have a great time!

RedHelenB · 31/08/2012 09:29

Lake Garda is beautiful - just come back with my three kids from a weeks holiday.

Margerykemp · 31/08/2012 09:29

Definitely go!

Original poster

hiddenhome · 31/08/2012 17:00

Sorento sounds good. I think my friend would like to see Pompeii. She's not that much into art or music or stuff like that, but does like history. I'm happy with anything really

OP posts:

FedUpOfRain · 31/08/2012 17:32

I went to Rome in December - for a cheap flight and a 3* hotel for 5 nights (breakfast included) I think we paid about £330 pp but we did book quite far in advance. Although some places are really expensive to eat out, it doesn't have to be - pizza in lovely little restaurants for €5 for example. Research the places you want to visit first to find out the best/cheapest ways of paying for them. I don't think the guided tours (such as those around the Vatican city) are necessary.

Original poster

hiddenhome · 31/08/2012 18:49

Oh, that's not a bad price FedUpOfRain We're not going to be going anytime soon, as will have to save up, so I could book in advance. Perhaps next year. I would love to visit Rome

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BigRedIndiaRubberBall · 31/08/2012 18:54

If you want cheap, we had a lovely holiday camping in Sardinia - the site, La Mariposa iirc, was right next to the beach and about 40k from an easy jet airport. Not hugely rich in historical sites though.

Having said that, another holiday in Croatia was fairly similar but probably a bit cheaper, and iirc a fair bit of historical sites, ranging from Byzantine to ancient Roman.

Hullygully · 31/08/2012 18:57

go go go go go go go go

you're married, not merged into one person, of course you like different things and should pursue them. It will make you happier and more interesting and enrich your life and thus your life together.

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