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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to think that term time holidays are not just about price

43 replies

QueenofKelsingra · 16/03/2014 20:04

that they are also about the volume of people?

so many threads about the crack down/fines for TTHs (term time hols) but they all relate to the price. am I the only one who thinks this is only part of the issue? for my parents it was also about the skislopes/beach being overcrowded with people and this would be part of the reason that I would prefer a TTH for my DC too. its no fun if you are packed in like sardines!

or is that just me?

OP posts:

wobblyweebles · 16/03/2014 20:07

My kids had an inset day last Friday and we went skiing for the day - it was the best day's skiing we've had this year. Hardly anyone about, loads of space in the lodge for all our stuff, a table we could sit at for lunch, no queues for the lifts.

It were lovely.

MsMischief · 16/03/2014 20:08

Absolutely.
Also the weather. I hate going 'home' in the summer holidays because it's unbearably hot and humid but Easter is not quite long enough for such a long journey and almost impossible to get annual leave for anyway.

Snargaluff · 16/03/2014 20:13

That is part of it too. It's nice to go away when it's not too busy by the pool.
I'm a teacher and I'm always jealous of the kids going off on holidays . I, like many people, can't afford to go away in the holidays. Hoping for some sunshine this summer so I don't mind not getting away!

Roseformeplease · 16/03/2014 20:16

There Re lovely quiet places to go on holiday, even in August. We live in Scotland and it gets a bit busier in the summer but still loads of space on the beaches.

Better for your children to have a crowd AND an education.

Shakirasma · 16/03/2014 20:16

YANBU
My DS attends a Special school, and although he personally doesn't mind crowds, I know some of his friends have been authorised to holiday in term time for exactly for this reason. Some children simply cannot cope with crowds and queues.

Original poster

QueenofKelsingra · 16/03/2014 20:50

glad its not just me! I can just see us having to holiday in more 'awkward' places for the point of view of transfer and travel times to get somewhere where less people will be. I hate feeling like I have no space on holiday!

OP posts:

Sirzy · 16/03/2014 20:55

I think for most people the main reason for it will be the price. Yes some people will have other reasons for prefering to go during term time (or in some cases ONLY being able to go in term time) but for a large majority it will be to do with the cost.

sleepdodger · 16/03/2014 20:57

For me, actual time off- if whole team have kids actually getting time off in holidays is a big struggle

Wellthen · 16/03/2014 21:07

Are you really saying 'There's too many people on my ski slope'? Because that would be the best first world problem ever and I'd have to submit it to whitewhine.com

wobblyweebles · 16/03/2014 21:10

You've not been to Zermatt over New Year then :-)

wobblyweebles · 16/03/2014 21:12

But a little more seriously, complaining that flights and package holidays cost more at some times than at others is a classic first world problem in itself, isn't it?

NonnoMum · 16/03/2014 21:13

It's completely a first world problem. Didn't you realise this policy was introduced by Cameron's gang to keep the riff raff out of Tuscany in the low season??
(Private school kids not only have much longer holidays but aren't beholden to this ruling...)

CrohnicallyChanging · 16/03/2014 21:15

But then if everyone took their children out of school, there'd be crowds all year round. So what you mean is you would like your child to be allowed a term time holiday, but not everyone else!

By the way, for those of you who genuinely cannot go at any other time (eg jobs where holidays are allocated to you like armed forces), that is 'exceptional circumstances' and the head should authorise holiday for you.

Guitargirl · 16/03/2014 21:16

Good luck explaining that one to the head teacher - 'am requesting authorised term time leave as the ski slopes are simply too busy otherwise'

WooWooOwl · 16/03/2014 21:16

I think everyone would prefer popular holiday destinations to be less crowded at the time they go, but I think that's an incredibly selfish reason to take a term time holiday.

vestandknickers · 16/03/2014 21:17

Just write to the Head explaining hat you don't like queuing for the ski lifts and of course you'll get authorised time off.

After all education is all very fine and dandy, but it is a decent holiday away from the riff raff that really counts.

Original poster

QueenofKelsingra · 16/03/2014 21:19

oh yes the whole TTH thing for whatever reason is a 1st world problem. holidays of any nature are a luxury not a necessity.

but yes, there is a big difference in the volume of people of ski slopes during the school holidays and if you have young/inexperienced skiers it is much more pleasant not to feel crowded.

crohnically no it wouldn't as we would all spread out over the 52 weeks rather than the 12 or so school holiday weeks!

nonno I knew I should have stopped at 1DC and sent him private, would have solved all this hassle for me!!

OP posts:

NearTheWindymill · 16/03/2014 21:20

There are 14 weeks to chose from for non term time holidays. It is reasonable to do when your children are at school.

As far as we are concerned we don't like the touristy places anyway so would avoid them whenever we went.

Yes, holdays are more expensive in the school holidays but it is part of the cost of having children and has to be budgetted for. What might have been four star turns into two star. What might have been an apartment can turn into a caravan.

St Ives, Falmouth and Newquay are heaving in the summer holidays; The Roseland, St Mawes, Polruan aren't. Neither are parts of Wales, Norfolk, Scotland, France.

Having said all that if parents are going to be fined to going away during the last week of term then I would venture that schools, especially primaries, need to ensure that week consists of worthwhile learning rather than descending into video morning, field mornings, extra dance, games afternoon, etc.

Original poster

QueenofKelsingra · 16/03/2014 21:21

same applies to beaches and theme parks though - all much less crowded and more pleasant when less people! not sure why you are all jumping on the skiing, it applies to all holidays.

vest I may try that just to see the reaction!

OP posts:

CrohnicallyChanging · 16/03/2014 21:34

Ah, but queen there'd be more people going, because more could afford to go in term time and the prices would level out. Besides, the limiting factor of how busy it is, is the capacity of the resort (how many hotels/rooms/beds) rather than how many people want to go. So allowing people to go at any time means overall more people will go and the resorts will fill up at other times, not just school holidays.

LindyHemming · 16/03/2014 21:35

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

wobblyweebles · 16/03/2014 21:36

Good luck explaining that one to the head teacher - 'am requesting authorised term time leave as the ski slopes are simply too busy otherwise

You may laugh, but our school lets the ski team out of class early to practice on weekdays, and gives them days off for ski competitions that are over a certain distance away.

They also know perfectly well that most kids who miss a day or two before or after Christmas/Feb vacation are skiing.

Nocomet · 16/03/2014 22:07

YANBU long ago when DD1 was in infants and DD2 in nursery we went to Center Parcs in term time. It was just so much safer for DD2 to do the flumes when it was quieter.

DD2 was utterly fearless and a good swimmer, which means she didn't care about going on the rapids etc. and it was nice not thinking she'd get flattened by a 16y.

DeloresDeSyn · 16/03/2014 22:14

Crohnically We have allocated leave (nhs doctor) but are never granted permission for exceptional circumstances. I have tried to find out more about our rights regarding this, do you know this for certain?
Y

hunreeeal · 16/03/2014 22:15

If you don't pick touristy areas, they're quiet and more affordable. Particularly if they're not overseas. I never went on holiday in termtime as a child and don't feel I've missed out.

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