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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be antisocial on holiday

74 replies

Dollymixtureyumyum · 07/02/2016 20:05

Just got back from a week away in Yorkshire with DH and Ds in a caraven/lodge.
The family in the next lodge tried to keep latching on to us, don't get me wrong I don't mind an hello and a bit of chat but everything we saw them they tried to make friends with us.

They were a very brash couple who tended to come out with racist and ignorant comments and when I challenged them they just laughed Hmm. Their DD took a liking to trying to pinch and nip our Dd. The husband thought everything he said was funny.
They kept asking us round for a drink at night
Came and sat with us in the club, even dragged a table over when we sat on a small table trying to avoid them so after a four nights and we stopped going in only for them to bang on our door on the way back and ask why.
They turned up in two locations we said we were visiting and suggested we spend the day together. We didn't as they did not want to pay to go in anywhere thank god, we soon learnt not to say where we were going.
They kept saying we must keep in to touch when we went home as they only lived in the next town, so the night before we were due to go home DH quietly packed the car under a cover of darkness and we left quickly first thing in the morning without seeing them.
This kind of thing has happened to us abroad as well, one women once grabbed my book off me on the sunbed and said it was rude not to talk to herHmm. I was doing the hmmmm and ummmm and one word answers thinking she would get the hint and shut up. This couple even sent the kids over to us to play (we were childless at the time)
I just want my holidays to enjoy with my family, I don't want to make friends with people. The odd chat and hello fine but I don't go on holiday to find a best buddy. I know some people love to make new friends and that's fine but I wish they would realise that some people don't.

OP posts:
SwedishEdith · 07/02/2016 21:08

This is why I avoid hotel and holiday park type holidays.

JassyRadlett · 07/02/2016 21:09

This is why I do self catering in cottages or villas.

Hell is other people. Or at least other families.

Palomb · 07/02/2016 21:13

I'm quite unsociable generally but we've met some lovely people on holiday. One couple we've met up with for the last 3 years! We don't do everything together, we watch each other's kids while we pop to the supermarket, we get shitfaced in the evening and play bananagrams. We don't really communicate at all other than our holidays as we live A couple of hundred miles apart.

I'd rip someone's head off if they touched a book I was reading bit seriously, meeting people is good!

PuppyMonkey · 07/02/2016 21:14

A caravan holiday in Yorkshire in February.

I mean what could possibly go wrong? Grin

Surprised such a thing even exists.

AnyFucker · 07/02/2016 21:16

Yorkshire is great any time of year.

Shakey15000 · 07/02/2016 21:21

Urgh. Nightmare.

PuppyMonkey · 07/02/2016 21:21

Caravans aren't though.

AnyFucker · 07/02/2016 21:23

what's up with caravans ?

many of them have double glazing, central heating, leccy blankets, all mod cons

a holiday is a holiday

MadamCroquette · 07/02/2016 21:26

It's often a camping/caravanning thing IME. In the main it's very nice – kids play together and you have nice chats with people, share a campfire etc. – but there is usually a code of not bothering people when they have gone inside or seem to want privacy. But because it's not a hotel room, some people think it's fine to come and bug you, because they can.

We once had a really persistent kid aged about 11 who just followed us around all day and talked to us non-stop. Sadly I think his parents encouraged this and turfed him out of their caravan, maybe because they wanted a break from listening to him :( With him we didn't want to upset him so we were nice to him, but with adults I think you can say "Well we're off for a lie down and a nice read, see you later!!!"

If that doesn't work it's OK to say "We'd like to be on our own now" with a steely look.

I'm normally polite but book woman would have pissed me right off!

Yseulte · 07/02/2016 21:26

You need to develop sharper elbows.

AlpacaPicnic · 07/02/2016 21:27

I've seen caravans in holiday park ads that look nicer than my actual house.

The thought of bring 'adopted' on holiday is enough to make me cry. I want to be left in peace to read. I don't even like going with DH...

Anyone remember that old Victoria wood sketch show where she's going on a cheap holiday and gets accosted at the airport? Or Shirley Velentine where she meets 'jeanette and dougie' who keep insisting on her eating with them?

PuppyMonkey · 07/02/2016 21:28

I've been on many caravan holidays honest Grin

In August with the heating on usually. (Skeg)

lamiashiro · 07/02/2016 21:29

If someone actually grabbed my book off me on holiday, they'd be getting some sharp words.

GruntledOne · 07/02/2016 21:30

Also the women is on mumsnet

Just waiting now for the thread about the awful standoffish couple the OP encountered whilst on holiday in Yorkshire.

TitClash · 07/02/2016 21:34

Fuck me I would have towed their van to the other side of the park in the middle of the night.

shazzarooney99 · 07/02/2016 21:45

Oh i love skeggy and flamingoland.

WelshMoth · 07/02/2016 21:46

I'd holiday in a paper bag if it meant having a break.

Still wouldn't talk to anyone though.

Adore my camping but we purposefully avoid sites filled with Brits when we go to Europe. Bloody hate the assumption that I want to talk to anyone with the same lingo. Fucking love being antisocial.

Grin
WelshMoth · 07/02/2016 21:47

Never been to Yorkshire though

FoxesSitOnBoxes · 07/02/2016 21:48

DH and I spent 2 weeks in Majorca and only ever spoke to waiters (& each other) the whole time we were there. Perfect
Chatting to other guests by the pool? Fuck that.

Cleebope · 07/02/2016 21:49

This is just like the middle of the Robin Williams' movie , RV. You should watch it!

Yseulte · 07/02/2016 21:50

I don't regard a caravan as a holiday, more like detention in a sardine can.

FoxesSitOnBoxes · 07/02/2016 21:50

There should be a holiday company for people who absolutely do not want to make friends on holiday so we can all go to the same place and ignore each other. Bliss.

CalicoBlue · 07/02/2016 21:53

If you do not like other people, chose a holiday where you are not sharing space with them. Get your own villa or go somewhere remote.

I like meeting people on holiday.

Meeep · 07/02/2016 21:57

Pretend to be foreign?

oneowlgirl · 07/02/2016 22:11

I'm with you Op - I'm happy to be polite but don't want to make friends or spend time with anyone other than my family.

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