Upset about a surprise trip to Paris?

[FoxOfWallStreet]

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?

I went from Edinburgh to Paris by coach on a school trip 26 years ago, even then it was fine.

Whoops
Just for the experience but have never been able to book the much advertised £59 tickets .And would have to add at least £15 fromMidlands
Your Dh sounds lovely .Enjoy

It depends on your connections. Unless you actually live in the airport it takes a lot longer than 30 minutes to fly to Paris. There is getting to the airport, leaving extra time for traffic, time to go through passport control, the flight, the waiting for your luggage! getting to the city centre etc etc.

If you live close to a coach terminal its not that bad. I'm really trying to put a positive slant on this for you OP.

BadLad I think she might have been joking...

Wow. What nasty, nasty comments. Perhaps some people should think that OP's partner has tried to do something lovely for her, he may not have got it completely right but her tried. The amount of bitching and moaning I have seen on here about OHs that do bugger all for their partners is insane. Perhaps they don't because some of them are far too snobby (like this thread is clearly showing). For goodness sake, stop being such brats. I started posting here around the christmas period and I thought the majority were very kind. The opinions given on gifts and helping people who thought they weren't spending enough, were really nice. Does that only apply to the Mumsnet members and not their partners? Or does it only apply during the christmas period?

I don't think it's about being ungrateful, it's just being practical. Going to Paris for 3-4 days and spending two of them on a coach is kind of a waste. You can indeed get cheap eurostar or flights if you book ahead enough, it doesn't have to cost that much more. Or you could go somewhere else, Ryanair often has super cheap flights to the south of France, my husband went to Beziers once for peanuts (which is gorgeous and also cheaper than Paris).

I think we need more context though. How many days are you going OP? Is your boyfriend really broke and trying to be sweet or just being tight?

I would adore a trip like this. A chance to hang out with dh, read, nap, look out the window, watch a movie uninterrupted! I hope you have a great time, OP. Your dh sounds like he wanted to give you a lovely time.

Sure, but it just fuels the overreactions.

My DP and I have gone on the coach to Paris and Brussels in the last year- we got Brussels tickets in August for FIVE POUNDS each way from Victoria. We were so amazed by this we decided to take whatever the coach threw at us because we had purchased such cheap travel. In the event it was more than fine- we had a few drinks and played cards on the back seat and felt like students again. It was brilliant!

You'll be fine OP. And even if it's horrendous, think of the destination, have a wine and put some earplugs in. Have a lovely time!

Have just spent a while looking at National Express website - I'm very tempted for DS and me

Don't be so ungrateful. Where's your sense of adventure? I once went to Spain by bus before Kindles and I pads and it was fine. As everyone said just take nice food, magazines and films on I pad or similar and the time will fly.

I started off screaming yanbu. Like another poster i had horrendous coach travel once over 10 years ago and I'm still mentally recovering 9 hours from Essex to Manchester!

But.... oh i have gone all whistful at the thought of cuddling up on the journey, coach munchies, movies. Feels like it will be a lifetime till we can get time together like that (2 young kids)

Enjoy it OP you lucky bastard!

We ant afford a holiday, haven't had one in 13 years. He though about you. He bought a holiday to a romantic place. Who cares if it takes a while, see it that he enjoys your company that much! I wish someone would book that hol for me...won't happen I can't afford he passport.

Don't forget the cairds eh !

Some of you are right precious princesses.

If being a precious princess means that I'd rather not spend 12 hours throwing up all over myself/the other passengers, then 2 days dreading the return trip because the same will happen again, then yes, I am a very precious princess.

I did kent to beyond cardiff on a coach once.

They had one tape, George Benson best of. It played on repeat the whole time. And once we got past cardiff i was the only one on the coach, and the driver turned the volume up.

I was ready to kill or be killed by the time i got there. 12 hours on a coach is my idea of the seventh circle of hell. Still cant listen to George Benson without feeling anxious and sick.

But if someone had bought me a coach trip to paris id give it my best shot. If i wanted a romantic weekend with them, that is. If not, then forget it.

I'm afraid I wouldn't go.

1. I don't like city breaks.
2. I hate coach/bus travel because it makes me ill. Even trains can be an issue.
3. I hate being hemmed in/surrounded by people.
4. It makes me think of my parents taking Ferris/SAGA holidays.

Happy to be a precious princess

Depending on where you are it's still a longer journey than you'd expect (unless you're London/SE). We're near Birmingham and 1 hour to airport, 2 hours check in, 1hour 10 min flight, 50 mins taxiing to terminal, 1 hour train into town and then 30 mins metro all soon adds up to a long and tiring journey!

Just make the most of it! Take travel sickness pills in advance if you're worried nausea will be an issue, they are pretty effective. Tbh I'd relish the chance to gaze out at the scenery and read books for that long, to get a break from 2 toddlers!

For those who say they don't like being hemmed in or surrounded by other people, I genuinely can't see how the set up is any different on a coach to a plane (in economy at least) or a train.

I've been desperately hinting about a weekend in Paris for about 6 months now. I'd assume we would take the channel tunnel anyway- not that I'm going! Think ill book it myself!
Have a great time OP.

Summer, 1 hour in a plane in very different to 12 hours in a coach - and funnily enough I don't enjoy air travel either, but can put up with it for a short period of time.

I've done one particular long journey by coach, car, train and plane. The best one was actually the coach. I had time to read and relax. There were no changes or hanging about airports or stations.
See it as an extra part of the holiday and enjoy the relaxation.

12 hours really?
I went London to Paris by coach once when I was an au pair and that took 4 hours and was fine. Not massively more than flying and you would have to get a bus or taxi or train from the airport anyway. So are you starting from the north of Scotland?

A lot of the travel time might be spent overnight on the ferry - it depends.

Which isn't necessarily a bad thing, btw!