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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

About going to the same place on holiday?

153 replies

potatopotato · 14/01/2013 15:56

This is my first AIBU so don't be too harsh Grin

Last year me and DP went to Portugal for a week's holiday. I'd been to the same resort/town twice before (and stayed in the same hotel once) and it was DP's first time there. We had a lovely time and were both sad to leave.

Now it has come to booking this year's holiday and I think we should go back to the same place, but he disagrees.

My reasons are: it will be a boozy beach/ sunshine holiday somewhere in Europe wherever we go, so not like we will be exploring culture/sightseeing etc. It is probably the best place i've ever been to for this kind of holiday- lively strip but it's not full of massive groups of teenagers like Magaluf or Kavos etc. Everything is close by- beach, strip, shops etc not more than 5 mins away. Lovely, mainly English hotel with nice staff and a HUGE infinity pool. Portugal is (correct me if i'm wrong) hotter than Spain etc.

Basically I think we are lucky to have found such a perfect place for the type of holiday we want. I've been on lots of holidays that seem perfect but when you get there they are just a bit lacking in something. I work hard all year and this is my only break so I want the holiday to really live up to my expectations.

DP, however, feels that we should go somewhere new to 'experience it' and try new things. I've been to a lot of European beachy resorts so I don't feel the need to try new ones just for the sake of it, they are normally pretty similar, except this place in Portugal which really stands out.

Also, all we will be doing is sunbathing and drinking, so I don't see why we should risk ending up in a shithole just for the

OP posts:
marmitepeanutbutter · 14/01/2013 16:35

You went to the wrong part of Majorca if you thought it was meh, it's one of the most beautiful places I have ever been. Palma is wonderful, beautiful wide avenues, fantastic shops,wonderful gardens, great restaurants. We adore Puerto Pollensa, I'm yet to find anywhere which matches the Pine Walk area for a more perfect family beach holiday, very much not meh. I would strongly recommend it.

pettyprudence · 14/01/2013 16:38

previously i would have said yabu but i have just been to tge same place twice this year (callela de palafrugell, spain) as we loved it so much. it was our first holiday with ds and found it so easy and suited our needs. dh wants to go back next year.... i normally prefer to go somewhere different each holiday. dh not allowed to choose after a crap holiday in croatia.

Trills · 14/01/2013 16:41

For the type of holiday you describe (pool, read books, chill out) I would have no problem going back to the same place.

Does DP want to do a different kind of thing?

Or does he want to do the same thing but in a different place? How does he think it will differ?

AstroSnot · 14/01/2013 16:42

We are going to albuferia again this year! This will be our third time in the same hotel! We previously holidayed in cities, but this holiday suits our family needs and we have had 2 great holidays previously...so yanbu...see you there :)

ExitPursuedByABear · 14/01/2013 16:48

If all you are going to do is booze and lie in the sun, then I suppose it doesn't matter where you go.

I was going to say YABU but then remembered that I have been to the Kruger Park about 15 times and I am currenlty planning another trip, so I don't really have a leg to stand on. I am on nodding terms with some of the animals Blush

ResolutelyCheeky · 14/01/2013 16:49

Agree Marmite Northern Majorca is absolutely stunning!

Original poster
potatopotato · 14/01/2013 16:50

Mintyy are there beach resorts with places to get very drunk in Italy though? Blush I thought it was more about how beautiful the surroundings are in Italy, which I'm not really bothered about!

marmite I think I did, it was a very rushed, last minute, booked the week before thing. And they cocked up the booking so we had to spend the 1st night in a different hotel then move on the 2nd day which wasn't great!

Trills DP wants to do the same thing but in a different place. I'm not sure what he thinks is going to be different Hmm I think he just wants to go somewhere new so he can say he's been.

OP posts:
Original poster
potatopotato · 14/01/2013 16:52

What else is there to do on holiday, Exit ? It's heaven, no dogs to walk, horses to muck out, work, anything... Just hours and hours of doing absolutely nothing! Grin

OP posts:
Mintyy · 14/01/2013 16:52

Oh sorry, I missed that you aren't keen on doing anything interesting. Don't mind me then.

Wallison · 14/01/2013 16:55

I don't think you are BU at all; have just booked a holiday in the same place (indeed, in the same frigging apartment) for the fourth year running for a week this summer. We do go to different places at other times of the year as well, but this is particularly lovely, within budget and I know that my son will have a fab time and so will I.

When I was younger and travelled a lot I would never have thought about going to the same place twice because I was eager to see new things. As a result, I have stayed in some decidedly dodgy places (no such thing as TripAdvisor back then - it was Lonely Planet and fingers crossed and that was your lot). Didn't matter at the time because I was always on the hoof and if one place was a bit ropey I was soon onto somewhere else. However, now that I'm more settled, it's a bigger deal to go anywhere and there's lots to be said for the tried and tested - especially if you're not going to be hoofing around doing lots of things but just want somewhere that you can relax and drink booze.

diddl · 14/01/2013 16:56

Well I think if it´s just a boozing by the pool holiday, then you might as well do it in a place that you know you like.

shewhowines · 14/01/2013 16:56

Why on earth would you want to go back to the same place, when there are so many wonderful places on this earth. How do you know that the next place you go to, wouldn't be even better than the one you like.

YABU

FellatioNels0n · 14/01/2013 16:57

I think people who go to exactly the same place year after year are a bit weird.

I could happily go to France forever but I force myself not to, because I don't want to be a boring bastard.

CurlyhairedAssassin · 14/01/2013 16:59

Doesn't sound like you want much - beach, cheap booze and pool. Surely there are many many places that would fulfil those criteria so I am going with your husband - let him choose, it will be easy.

Hullygully · 14/01/2013 16:59

oh failed there then fell

Purple2012 · 14/01/2013 17:00

Turkey is nice and hot and not that expensive. We went last year. £723 each for 2 weeks all inclusive at a lovely hotel. Close enough to the main bars etc but far enough away to not be disturbed if you want a quiet night.

We mat go back to the same area but not for a good few years. There's so much out there to see we want to try lots of places.

specialsubject · 14/01/2013 17:01

if all you are going to do is sunbathe and drink, not visit anything, and you know it suits, then why not?

people on activity holidays return to the same place year after year because the conditions suit. Don't see why the same shouldn't apply to those on inactivity holidays!

annual leave is too precious to get it wrong.

Wallison · 14/01/2013 17:03

I am quite happy to be a bit weird - in fact, I'm probably a lot weird. Also, a boring bastard.

Vagaceratops · 14/01/2013 17:04

We have been to the same (UK) place for the last three years. We like it, the kids love it, we know what is in the area and we stay in the same lovely place.

Wallison · 14/01/2013 17:08

Thing is, (and I'm sure I'll get flamed for this but anyway...) if you're going all-inclusive or staying in a big resort or whatever, then one country is much the same as any other. It doesn't really much matter whether it's Spain or Portugal or Mexico or wherever; if you're spending most of your time in a little holiday bubble (and nothing wrong with that) then you could do it anywhere really. So if you've found one that suits, you aren't 'missing out' by not going to any of the others that are similarly tailored - the only thing is that you're taking a gamble on it maybe not being as nice or as suited to you as one that you've been to before.

diddl · 14/01/2013 17:08

If he wants to go somewhere else to "experience it"-is that a hint that he doesn´t want a drinking by the pool holiday?

fedupwithdeployment · 14/01/2013 17:10

I used to think only boring people went to the same place year in year out (I don't think I went to the same place twice until I was in my thirties) and love exploring new places. Still do.

But. We have a small house in the French Alps. And we love it. We go there several times a year (skiing in the winter, water sports, walking, eating drinking etc in the summer) and it is never boring. Always something new to do, and as the children get older that is even more relevant.

This year we have a bit of spare cash, and have thought about going somewhere else, and while a bit of me fancies a change, a larger part of me would miss going to France.

NeverFullyDressedWithoutAScarf · 14/01/2013 17:10

I love going back to the same place - Caitlin Moran did a brilliant column on this once in the Times - bascially about the process of remembering on each holiday and building up layers of memories. That is exactly how I see it (i holiday in the same place as I went as a kid so I am obv quite weird Grin

In my defence I have travelled A LOT in between times, and prob wouldn't go back to the same place if is wasn't for the DC, but all I want is for us to have an easy, relaxing two weeks and now that I know exactly how to achieve that, we won't be trying anything new any time soon!

SantasENormaSnob · 14/01/2013 17:15

Horses for courses imo.

I prefer to try different places although have been to Corfu quite a few times and will definitely return to turkey as we loved it. Never back to the same resort though.

Tbh though, if I was just going for sun and booze I would go wherever I could get most for my money.

SantasENormaSnob · 14/01/2013 17:17

Oh and ime, Portugal is no hotter than any other European holiday destination.