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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Upset about a surprise trip to Paris?

177 replies

FoxOfWallStreet · 21/01/2015 20:15

So my partner has surprised me with a trip to Paris for my birthday.

I was absolutely thrilled.

But I then found out that we will be going there by coach. It's not the fact that its a coach, it's the fact that it will take us 12 hours to get there.

I haven't said anything or moaned to him as obviously its a lovely surprise non the less but aibu to be dreading it slightly?

OP posts:
ginslinger · 21/01/2015 20:41

It sounds lovely - ferry and no worry about getting to and from airport, comfy seat - it's great.

ChippingInLatteLover · 21/01/2015 20:42

Oh.

Joint or separate bank accounts?

Enjoyingmycoffee1981 · 21/01/2015 20:42

YANBU. You are absolutely NOT being unreasonable.

Awful just awful.

amothersplaceisinthewrong · 21/01/2015 20:42

I can completely understand your not wanting a 12 hour coach trip. You must be travelling from quite far North in the UK! So I am not sure Eurostar would be that much quicker as you would have to get down to St Pancras first.

But an eastjet flight from a regional airport might not have been that much dearer. Maybe your DP just did not know about this. Smile sweetly and make a mental note to discuss afterwards the merits of flying/train.

ChippingInLatteLover · 21/01/2015 20:42

...and how long have you been together?

How long are you going for?

IloveJudgeJudy · 21/01/2015 20:43

I can't believe how picky you all are. Someone has bought someone they love a surprise trip to Paris. Talk about looking a gift horse in the mouth and being rude. What about all the posts on this site about being grateful for whatever presents you get. OP, it won't be that bad. Just make sure you wear comfortable clothes for the journey and take your shoes off in the coach. You'll have a fantastic time! Instead of thinking of the downsides, think of the upsides - lots of time with the person you love; going to a lovely capital city; getting a surpise trip...

Maidupmum · 21/01/2015 20:43

I recently went to France on a coach..... with 50 kids. It was actually ok. Take plenty of snacks & enjoy the ride

JohnFarleysRuskin · 21/01/2015 20:44

12 hours? For a weekend?

Eek!

How old is dp?

GotToBeInItToWinIt · 21/01/2015 20:47

Ilove I've never told anyone on here they should be grateful for any present they can get Smile.

I suffer from travel sickness and coaches are the worst culprit so this would truly be horrific for me. Id rather spend a free weekend at home with the one I love than travel 12 hours on a coach! Plus I lived in Paris for 18 months so wouldn't be massively exciting Smile.

SlaggyIsland · 21/01/2015 20:48

God no. Sounds like hell. I might have not hated it when I was 18.

Eastwickwitch · 21/01/2015 20:53

Is it 12 hours door to door? If you live a long way from an airport think about driving time, parking time, check in time, then transfers at the other end.
It won't be as bad as you think.

timbrrr · 21/01/2015 20:54

Absolutely no way. And I agree with Chillico you need to check what sort of hostel he's booked

Malabrig0 · 21/01/2015 20:56

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

kewtogetin · 21/01/2015 20:56

I think the point is though judgejudy that those 24 wasted hours sitting on a coach could actually be spent in Paris itself!
Not even getting into the 'wear comfortable clothes' line, it's sounding more and more like a pensioners 'turkey and tinsel' trip by the minute. I suppose everyone's romance standards are different!

JohnFarleysRuskin · 21/01/2015 20:57

It's not on 'coach trip' is it op? That would be bad ;)

kewtogetin · 21/01/2015 21:00

Oh god it's one of those 'coach trips' from the back of the local paper isnt it?! Your fellow passengers will all be 75 and clutching Tupperware boxes of cheese sandwiches....

SallySolomon · 21/01/2015 21:02

Nothing wrong with going on the coach! Granted, it takes longer than flying, but so what?!
Enjoy the break and gesture for what it is = lovely and a trip to Paris!
I've been on the coach to Bruges, which took ages but we still had a great weekend.
Suck it up and enjoy yourself. Smile

SallySolomon · 21/01/2015 21:05

I can't believe how picky you all are. Someone has bought someone they love a surprise trip to Paris. Talk about looking a gift horse in the mouth and being rude. What about all the posts on this site about being grateful for whatever presents you get.

Just seen this. Well said! A voice of reason on the thread, was beginning to think I was the only one and had everyone down as being ungrateful/snobby sorts!
Especially the ones saying check what hostel has been booked. Why in the hell would it matter if a hostel had been booked? Jeez Louise.

ShatnersBassoon · 21/01/2015 21:06

I've been much further than Paris on a coach (as a youth, my creaky joints couldn't stick it now). It really isn't that bad, and there is no hassle. It just feels like a waste of time, especially if you're only going to be there for a weekend I imagine.

Don't forget £1 for the whip-round for the driver Wink

timbrrr · 21/01/2015 21:09

Why in the hell would it matter if a hostel had been booked?

Are you into dormitory sex?

PurpleStripedSock · 21/01/2015 21:10

I took an overnight coach trip to Edinburgh from London a few years ago. It took me about two days to recover. I hope yours isn't as bad and that you get to enjoy Paris.

MovingOnUpMovingOnOut · 21/01/2015 21:11

I think if you have small children 12 hours peace and quiet on a coach with nobody wanting to a) touch you b) get you to do the tricky bit on Angry Birds or c) wipe their shitty arse sounds heavenly!

Maybe 12 hours door to door is quicker than fannying about at the airport, getting to airport, travelling to hotel etc?

GotToBeInItToWinIt · 21/01/2015 21:12

For me, the issue with a hostel being booked is that it makes it rather less of a romantic weekend if you're sharing a room with a bunch of strangers!

MovingOnUpMovingOnOut · 21/01/2015 21:13

I once went to Preston on an overnight coach once. I'm still recovering and it was 15 years ago. Paris is slightly nicer though so probably not comparable.

limegoldfinewine · 21/01/2015 21:14

I honestly thought you meant he'd booked an economy class flight (called coach in the US) because the thought he's actually booked a coach was too horrible to imagine!