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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To think going to Spain for 1 week isn't worth the hassle?

76 replies

LikeIcan · 21/08/2015 18:16

Arrived on Saturday, didn't feel relaxed until Tuesday, had to start packing again on Friday.
Never again.
10 days minimum or I'm staying at home.

OP posts:

PlummyBrummy · 22/08/2015 03:29

I would give at least one limb for a whole week in Spain. I'm currently looking a few days in a caravan at Weston straight in the eye.

MidniteScribbler · 22/08/2015 03:37

With just a couple of hours flight, then it shouldn't be that much of a difficulty. I go on a flight like that several times per year and I'm relaxed the minute they put the glass of champagne in my hand on the plane. If I lived in the UK I'd probably spend every weekend travelling somewhere with the short flight times and cheap flights.

Lookingforwardtoholiday · 22/08/2015 04:28

This year I did 3 nights in Europe with girlfriends and 3 nights in Europe with DH, utter heaven, took hand luggage so no hanging around. We often do a week with kids and it's fine. As we travel with kids a couple of times a year and another few times separately I actually keep a medical bag completely packed, toiletries more or less packed and keep all the beach stuff such as buckets and spades in the case. I also do annual insurance. It's then just a matter of grabbing clothes and bunging them in a case. I pack the cases about 5 days before we go, takes about 20 mins and then leave a note of what needs to be added last minute (hair dryers / glasses / chargers / iPad). It's really unstressful

PUGaLUGS · 22/08/2015 05:41

We have just come half way around the world. I aclimatise straight away . Got to do, just get in with it. There is no way I am going to miss a minute of this holiday.

sharonthewaspandthewineywall · 22/08/2015 05:55

We only ever go for a week due to cost, work commitments and the fact we like as many different holidays in a year as possible. We don't even have to have checked in to start exploring and feeling at home

OfficeGirl1969 · 22/08/2015 07:25

Money and 'animal responsibilities at home mean I've not had a holiday for eleven years, other than a few days off work here and there (which were spent at home doing chores).....I'd bloody kill for a week in Spain and would enjoy every minute!

Hulababy · 22/08/2015 09:02

We even do long haul for a week so yabu, for me anyway.

But although I dislike flying once I'm off I forget about it. And packing for me is very quick, especially when coming home. And I find it easy to relax on holiday.

Due to school half term holidays we do a few week only holidays/flights. It's always fine.

chanie44 · 22/08/2015 09:06

My mum took us on holiday recently and insisted we stay in a hotel the night before, even though the airport is only 15 miles away.

We checked in our luggage the night before, so when we arrived at the airport, it was straight to departures for duty free.

I personally thought it was a waste of money, but it does get you into the holiday mood a bit earlier.

It may also help by reading up before you go eg what the hotel is like, where the beach/shops are, things to do.

BrendaandEddie · 22/08/2015 09:11

Christ you wimp

I love a week. Just enough

NannyR · 22/08/2015 09:15

My parents also once did Australia for a week (a family wedding and they could only get a week off work). And after attending the wedding in Brisbane they thought they couldn't go all that way and not visit so-and-so in Melbourne (which is like the equivalent of flying from here to Spain).

I thought they were nuts but they had a great time and for them it was very important to go to the wedding. They said the jet lag wasn't too bad as they barely had time to adjust to the time difference.

BrendaandEddie · 22/08/2015 09:25

I win. Old univ mate did London from Sydney FOR A WEEKEND

3rdSymphony · 22/08/2015 09:26

Jesus, some of these threads (not you specifically, OP, though you do sound wound up and anxious) are so joyless.

Holidays aren't compulsory, you know. And a certain kind of holiday (abroad/ beach/heat etc) certainly isn't. Some people on these threads - also thinking of the 'Tuscany too hot and food terrible' one - sound as if holidays are a grim, inevitable duty, like fillings or tax returns.

And honestly, while I suppose I understand that an anxious person who doesn't travel often could experience packing/ airport liquids packing regulations/flights as stressful, I never knew people were so attached to their own beds. Or that they worried so much about returning holiday lets to the exact original condition. Don't most places include a clean between stays in the cost?

Original poster

LikeIcan · 22/08/2015 09:41

Perhaps I worded my opening post wrong.
The week in Spain was my 'holiday' - as in my one chance in the year to really relax & unwind. I'm not 'joyless' at all, I just find it hard to unwind quickly that's all. It also doesn't take me a day to pack, what I meant was on the Friday I was thinking 'oh no we're going home tomorrow' so I was starting to put a few things in the case. I wasn't ready to go as I'd just started to really enjoy my new routine.
I've done loads of city breaks ( New York for 4 days last year ) I loved it, but I didn't go there to relax & de-stress.
For me, a 'holiday', & I mean a proper holiday, should be a couple of glorious weeks in the sun. A week is just not enough.

OP posts:

DragonRojo · 22/08/2015 09:42

I think YABU but if you are an anxious traveller and it really takes you long to relax, then don't do it. Personally I am quite happy to jump on a plane and go anywhere for a night or 2.

BrendaandEddie · 22/08/2015 09:45

I get bored after a week. And way more stress. Laundry cat feeding etc

We left here last week. On ferry at 8am. In house in pool by 8pm. 6 days relaxing. Then home

grovel · 22/08/2015 09:46

My DH twice went to Australia for approx 6 hours. Once to interview a new country manager. Once to sign a contract. Landed, did his stuff and back to the airport. Obviously not a holiday!

OnMyShoulders · 22/08/2015 09:55

Depends on who's going. If it's just me without the DC, every second counts and even a night away is fabulous. Abroad with the DC, I'd say I need 10 days minimum cause I'm the same as you.

MyIronLung · 22/08/2015 10:06

I'm another one who'd give a limb for 'only' a week in Spain. My last holiday was 10+ years ago. Hopefully I'll manage a sun special next year.

lavendersun · 22/08/2015 10:12

A week or 8 days is long enough for me tbh. We have just returned from our first longer holiday for years (16 days) and it was too long for me. Back to 7 or 8 days from now on.

Dowser · 22/08/2015 10:21

Thank god for that. Was worried we were related when I saw your header as I'm taking 10 relatives abroad next month for a week. Sadly I couldn't afford two weeks :-(

I've done Spain many times for a week. Relaxed as soon as I got there. Impressed at Australia for a weekend . I thought Florida for a week was bad enough but would still do it in a heartbeat.

As for packing. Thats me getting into holiday mood. I've started now and it's three weeks till we go.

Palomb · 22/08/2015 10:27

Dh went to Adalaide for the weekend a couplEnid years ago to play a gig (he's a dj) he said he didn't need to acclimatise as he was up
At the same time he would have been here anyway!

You couldn't pay me enough to sit on a plane for 24hrs unless it was for at least 3 weeks.

Guitargirl · 22/08/2015 10:41

Thanks Patricia and am very impressed at all the weekend jaunts/ day trips to Australia on this thread. Maybe am not so bonkers after all in thinking about it.

Reubs15 · 22/08/2015 18:41

Yabu. I would love a weeks holiday! It takes no more than an hour to pack. Spain isn't far, it's not that much different to england.

AgentCooper · 22/08/2015 18:48

I've never been to Spain for more than a week and it's not bothered me!

I tell you what's a waste: 28 hours' travel to California for work, arrive at 11pm their time, straight to bed, meeting the next day, one night in motel then back on the plane the next morning. I didn't get over the jet lag for a week.

BolshierAyraStark · 22/08/2015 20:09

7 days anywhere other than the UK isn't long enough for me, has to be at least 10-fucking hate airports, grrrr. So no, YANBU.

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