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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think there's no need to eat out every night of a holiday?

182 replies

JQuinnS · 19/03/2017 00:13

We're going away soon and are staying in a resort/hotel that has a small kitchen in the room. We have decided to not do all inclusive/eat out at the town. There's no reason to not cook something at least a couple of needs. Is there really a need to eat out every night? Not being arsey, genuinely wondering. AIBU?

OP posts:
NoCapes · 19/03/2017 00:16

A holiday to me is a holiday from all of my daily chores
So I take enough clothes to not need to wash, and I don't cook
Unless in a villa where we stay in and Bbq a couple of times, I wouldn't stay in and cook in an apartment/hotel personally
Just doesn't feel very 'fun' and 'holiday-esque' to me

NuffSaidSam · 19/03/2017 00:16

There is no need to eat out every night. Many people like to though. Including me. I'd only cook on holiday if I couldn't afford to eat out.

user1489189598 · 19/03/2017 00:17

I HATE all inclusive (they're given SUCH a shit deal! We stay at the same resorts, and they're second-class citizens. Cheap, cheap, cheap all the way = horrible holiday as far as I can see, although people do seem to love it, and it's apparently the way to go)

We stay places with small kitchen, and although COULD do pasta/cous-cous etc generally don't. We find it handy for breakfast. Eating out is part of the holiday experience for us.

depends on the ages of your DC and how fussy they are and what time they need to go to bed.

BackforGood · 19/03/2017 00:18

Well, there's no need (if, indeed the kitchen is actually equipped enough to use - many aren't), but then, there's no need to go on holiday - it's just nice. For many people, if they had to start shopping and cooking and clearing up, they feel it's not really a holiday - just doing same old stuff in a hot place with less equipment.

mya83 · 19/03/2017 00:19

If you're both happy with that then it doesn't matter what anyone else thinks, it's your holiday. Personally I'd want to eat out every night because to me that's part of the fun of being on holiday, not having to cook and the fun of choosing a different restaurant each night etc

NewBallsPlease00 · 19/03/2017 00:19

Most of those kitchens don't have a knife sharp enough to spread butter so you might not bu but optimistic... Also we found it as cheap to eat out (and well- good local food gorgeous settings abs passable wine) as cook. And I'm on holiday, so someone else cab think about what to do for a change!

Topseyt · 19/03/2017 00:19

I never bothered cooking even on nights we did eat in on our last holiday. Just picked up fresh bread and salad stuff from the bakery and supermarket on the way home with cheeses and cold meats. That was it.

Lochan · 19/03/2017 00:20

I'm not really clear on the point of the thread really?

If you and your DP are happy to cook that's fine. If you don't want to cook that's also fine.

It's really not that big a deal.

I prefer self catering over hotels so usually prepare at least one meal a day on holiday. Others like NoCapes prefer a break from cooking.

It's purely personal preference.

WorraLiberty · 19/03/2017 00:21

I'm not sure where need comes into it.

Surely it's all about preference?

There's no need to go swimming every day either, but lots of people like to.

acquiescence · 19/03/2017 00:22

We generally will eat out half the time and eat in sometimes. Get fresh breads, cheeses, meats if you eat it, lots of salad, dips etc. I find it boring to eat out every night. Our last holiday was with our LO who was 8 months. Eating out with him was just not fun at all so we tended to go for an early cocktail then eat salad type meals on the balcony, it was wonderful.

FortyFacedFuckers · 19/03/2017 00:23

I personally love not having to shop/cook/clean up and would only do it if I had no other choice but some people like doing that while they are away everyone enjoys different things.

babyinthacorner · 19/03/2017 00:33

I prefer not to cook/clean on holiday but it really depends. Snowboarding holidays almost always mean self catering to save money, because the activity is more important than that holiday feeling, IYSWIM. Although when a small supermarket shop for approx 3 evening meals and snacks/drinks for a few days costs almost€100, we're starting to think we should've gone half board. In the Alps 🙄

BestZebbie · 19/03/2017 00:33

There is no need, but it isn't an unreasonable thing to do.

For example, you may be going on days out away from the room and not want to have to come back before tea-time every day to get things ready - so you'd eat at the place you went to and have the evening there as well before returning "home" to sleep.

MercyMyJewels · 19/03/2017 00:36

No I like to go to the markets and cook local stuff. Especially fish, I'm borderline obsessed with it. We usually do one night in, one night out. We tend to book villas/apartments. Oh and I put some knives in my suitcase

I can't be arsed eating out every night, we all like chilling with books and music sometimes. All inclusive deals fill me with horror, just too confining

PinkFlamingo545 · 19/03/2017 00:38

On holiday, if finances permit, I would eat out every night

I have been on several holidays where money was tight and had no choice but to shop and cook. I didn't enjoy it very much and cooked basic meals

BagelGoesWalking · 19/03/2017 00:38

I prefer not to cook but sometimes it's nice to have lunch out and then just have bread, cheese, salami, cooked (bought) prawns etc for supper.

Then, it's still no cooking, just a few plates to wash up.

TisMeTheLadFromTheBar · 19/03/2017 00:40

It all depends on what you can afford and people's health (rich food doesn'tagree with everyone). If you can't agree and can afford it, eat in a couple of nights and spend the money saved on a nice day trip somewhere Smile

Crispbutty · 19/03/2017 00:44

Your holiday so your choice. I prefer to eat out as that's one of the best parts of the holiday for me, but I like to get fresh bread, butter, cheese, ham, local deli stuff to have as lunch if we are just going to laze around the pool in the day.

6079SmithW · 19/03/2017 00:47

It's personal preference I think. Part of a holiday for me is not having to cook/wash dishes every meal time so I enjoy eating out (but I enjoy it at home too).
It also depends on your family; Do they have allergies? Are they picky eaters? Do they like to try new things?
Finally (like most things) it is also about budget. Eating out for every meal is expensive and not always worth it. Maybe a couple of special nights out and self catering the rest of the week is a good compromise?

amberdillyduck · 19/03/2017 00:51

I don't want to cook or clean on holiday.
I don't want mediocre food, I want fabulous food.
I don't want to shop for food.

I would never do all inclusive- I have never been to a hotel that offers that. I enjoy chosing which restaurant to go to each day.

Cooking tea in the room would be hell on earth for me. I cant sleep in any room that has food smells and never eat in hotel rooms, even if they have a separate dining room.

FurryLittleTwerp · 19/03/2017 01:01

We eat in sometimes, but only cold meat/cheese/bread type meals, no actual cooking.

manicinsomniac · 19/03/2017 01:01

There's no need, no. But a lot of people want to.

We don't eat out often on holiday because I like to do long, travelling type holidays to far away, expensive places so everything other than flights and sights are done on a shoe string. We stay in youth hostels which usually means a kitchen.

I've done the occasional where long, relaxed meals out every night have been part of the point of the holiday. Food is a fear/stress for me rather than a pleasure so it wasn't my kind of holiday. But I think for most people it's a very welcome change and a chance to socialise and bond.

So, I think YANBU and YABU - it's all down to personal choice and type of holiday.

EmeraldScorn · 19/03/2017 02:30

On holiday we eat out for all meals except breakfast;

We like to laze on a sun drenched balcony in the mornings with fresh baguette, a selection of meat/cheese and ice cold drinks all freshly bought each morning and "prepared" by us in a self catering villa/apartment.

Then we're set for the day, beach, shopping, excursions, sampling local cuisine for lunch and dinner etc.

pinkmagic1 · 19/03/2017 02:38

It is up to you, but I would only cook if absolutely financially necessary.
I go on holiday to have a total break from the daily grind of life.

user1488487346 · 19/03/2017 04:34

It really depends on how long you're there for.

If only one week, of course go for it eat out every night!

2 weeks, I'd eat out every 2nd night and cook in the rest (still go out for drinks etc)

4 weeks definitely not eating out every night! that's a waste of money you could spend on a fun activity during the day.. I'm on about sun holiday though.
2 weeks ago I went to lanzarote for just 5 days so ate out every day breakfast,lunch dinner of course.. but returning in may for 2 weeks where me and partner will eat out alot but also cook some dinners in apartment.