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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To like the idea of going on holiday more than the reality of it

107 replies

ShouldIworryornothelp · 04/04/2015 12:38

I'm due to fly home from holiday today after a lovely time with my family. However the rest of the holiday experience has been horrendous due to other holiday makers thinking being away means you take a holiday from parenting the children and a holiday from any manners of your own

The behaviour of other people really has ruined my break away and, as this has been our first holiday in years as we haven't been able to afford one, it's really upset me.

Perhaps I shouldn't go away any more and just stay home? The idea of holidays is so much better than actually being on one!

OP posts:

somewheresafe · 04/04/2015 19:17

For me is the disappointment of booking 5 star and paying loads of money to find that the bed is uncomfortable and the bathroom is dated.

I find holidays with the kids stressful. I can't relax, can't take my eyes off them as they are still young, it's exhausting following them from beach to pool to beach back to pool. I always seem to attract other broods who want to complain about the foreign food, the heart, the staff, the foreign alcohol. This time in a massive resort of mainly French and Germans the only other brit family still managed to sniff us out.

And dear god, the return journey, the jet lag, the flight, the unpacking. ...... and the weight gain!

VivaLeBeaver · 04/04/2015 19:28

Only been on one package holiday and was involved in a punch up fracas by the pool. Confirmed my gut feeling that package holidays weren't for me.

Pippa12 · 04/04/2015 19:28

I love holidays! From the excitement of choosing were to go, duty free, guaranteed sunshine, someone cooking my tea and making my bed for me, spending time with husband and DD off the rat race, meeting new people, trying new foods, experiencing new cultures- don't know were you lot go on holiday but I love, love, love it

Foxyloxyatehennypenny · 04/04/2015 20:33

We gave up on package holidays years ago. They caused far too much stress, especially in hotels. Kids running riot, rude people at all inclusive buffets, parents drinking from the bar opened at 10am etc. It was our idea of absolute hell. We still go abroad, but normally to a villa. We never go to hotels unless they're adult only ones but can only do that once a year. It's bliss!

nooka · 04/04/2015 20:55

I've never been on a package holiday, they look a bit grim to me. But then I also don't like the idea of staying in a resort, I've always thought that I'd get incredibly bored. I assume that the complaints about anti-social people is about charter flights? To me flying is mainly just a bit boring.

When my children were small holidays were staying with my parents in the countryside where the children could potter all day and the holiday was really just not being at work. Now they are older we can do more interesting things, and have just done a three weeks tour of Japan which was fantastic (if expensive) in a couple of years we'll be back to me and dh and I'm looking forward to seeing more of the world together.

Sparklingbrook · 04/04/2015 21:04

I will never go on an AI again. Was really quite boring and a bit claustrophobic.

Enough27 · 04/04/2015 21:04

In the cab back from Heathrow, I have a new travel tip - travel on Easter Saturday as no one else does. Bliss! (I know we'll have six loads of washing tomorrow but who cares!)

TheFairyCaravan · 04/04/2015 21:10

We went AI for the first time last year, it's all you can really do in Cape Verde. DH really enjoyed the cocktails that were available from 10:00am until 4:00am!

We're going AI again to Fuerteventura in a couple of weeks. We got a bargain though, so will probably eat out too.

The kids aren't coming, they don't want to come with us anymore, and it's in term time, so I'm hoping there won't be many kids there!

Molichite · 04/04/2015 21:11

I've just booked our first holiday abroad in 10 years, AI. Now I am quite scared so I'm hiding this thread!

Sparklingbrook · 04/04/2015 21:12

Ah now an AI in term time without the DC you say TFC? That may put a different slant on things.

TheFairyCaravan · 04/04/2015 21:17

We did it last year too Sparkling, I can recommend it!

Sparklingbrook · 04/04/2015 21:20

DSs are 13 and 15 TFC so soon.

TheFairyCaravan · 04/04/2015 21:23

cardibach · 04/04/2015 21:26

It isn't holidays that are the problem- it's resort based packages! Haven't been on one in years. I usually do some sort of tour (since DD was about 8) bug villas can be good. I don't like pool/beach holidays, so I don't book them. I've also never caught any sort of bug on a plane.
As regards washing, surely you make less while away than at home?

cardibach · 04/04/2015 21:26

But villas, not bug ones. They don't sound nice at all :)

Sparklingbrook · 04/04/2015 21:28

I always do washing on holiday wherever we go. There was a washing machine in the villa we had in Portugal so i washed everything and hung it out the day before we came home.

Nervo · 04/04/2015 21:32

YANBU

We are doing three nights in the Highlands next week. Perfect.

I've always said - the best thing about holidays is going home.

TheFairyCaravan · 04/04/2015 21:37

I did the washing when we had a villa in Lanzarote. It was great coming home with hardly any dirty clothes.

youarekiddingme · 04/04/2015 21:38

I tend to go to big family resort places and have booked one with DS in Majorca for summer holidays. All inclusive.
There will be many different types of person there. (I use to be a rep many years ago so know what it can be like).

However, as DS has asd he tends to keep himself to himself and therefore we tend to spend the time in our own little bubble. No rushing and queing for kids clubs, no babysitting other children, no nighttime entertainment rush.

These types of place are an advantage for us because there's so much to do DS can 'plan' his day and there's always something he's interested in - plus plenty of things to chose from as he tends to do short bursts of things.

I hope you feel refreshed soon enough from your holiday!

messalina · 05/04/2015 07:02

We have only ever done one resort holiday - an expensive one - and I would not do it again. Was full of other British families and I am very anti-social on holiday. We only went to the complex as we went with family who suggested it. Very nice complex but felt I had no privacy. Stick to city breaks with nice hotels or else rent a house in the country.

zazzie · 05/04/2015 07:18

Ds doesn't sleep and is even worse away from home so we find holidays usually aren't worth it. We live in a beautiful part of the country so stick to days out locally especially in the quiet season when tourists aren't around.

LumpySpacedPrincess · 05/04/2015 07:25

We're on holiday now. Super little cottage in Dorset, middle of nowhere with a huge garden but walking distance from a large town.

Try something different.

Guiltismymaster · 05/04/2015 07:27

Op, I wish I had read your post last night when I had the holiday blues! On top of feeling stressed I was then feeling guilty and silly that I couldn't just laugh it off and be the perfect jovial wonder mum! I was tipped over by a complete stranger's horrible comment.

FernieB · 05/04/2015 08:01

Thought I was the only one that didn't like holidays - very reassured after reading this thread.

Trying to find a holiday is awful - DH spends hours rejecting hotel after hotel and seems to enjoy this and thinks I should too. Preparing to go away is just a heap of work, as is the mound of washing etc when we get back.

I hate the journey - airports are hideous and spending hours in a car (which my DH loves) kills my back. Whenever we get where we're going, I just feel we're trying to find things to do to fill the time. We're normally all a bit bored by day 2. DH wants to go to cities and walk round buildings in crowds. DDs just want shopping and wifi. I just want peace, quiet and countryside. I would be happy to holiday in the UK but no-one else will. Think we should all holiday separately really.

OnIlkleyMoorBahTwat · 05/04/2015 08:24

How about your DH finding a selection of hotels that meet his requirements within an agreed criteria and then you have the final say Fernie.

I hate choosing hotels and tend to use booking.com, pick those with 80% or better in the reviews, in the area that I want, knock out any that are too expensive, check for features I want (eg balcony, fridge or mini bar). Once I have found the ones that are available on the dates I want, you are usually down to a manageable number.

I once read a tip that said just book the first one that you see that meets your needs, don't try to look at them all and pick the best as there are too many and it will drive you mad.

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