To be angry at dp for booking this holiday?

[Imengagedtoanidiot]

• [Message from MNHQ - just noting, this thread was started in July 2017 and has been resurrected FOR NO GOOD REASON - move along now, please there's nothing new to see here...]

So for ages I've been saying I wan to go to Paris I've never been and it's always been somewhere I want to go but money's right ATM.

Anyway I was talking about how much I want to go in front of my mum a few months and turns out she said to dp to book it for us, she'll have the DCs and pay for the trip for my birthday and keep it as a surprise.

I found out this trip was booked last week by accident and was obviously very excited although felt awful that my mum had given dp the money (£500)

I've just had a look at the details and he's booked it leaving on a Saturday afternoon (arriving late Saturday) and returning very early Monday morning. He booked the Monday off work for me and confirmed mum was having the dcs from Friday night and dropping them to childminder Monday (we collect at 6pm)

AIBU to be fuming that he's taken £500 for essentially 1 day?? I've looked and he could have got Friday evening/early Saturday flights and late Monday flight back for the exact same price so it's not a price issue - he said he just 'didn't think'. He's saying I'm so ungrateful and should be thankful for him (he didn't bloody pay for it)

I'm really upset and don't know if I am being ungrateful and a spoilt brat but I'm just pissed off and feel like my dream break and first holiday without dc is a fucking joke.

I've tried changing the flights and even cancelling but the charge is excessive.

He already is one of 'those' men by doing a shit job and expecting her to be massively grateful for it

This. With a load of MNetters to back him up

Blimey! Some of these posts are
Calling OP a nasty bitch? Wow!

What, "one of those men" who make a half arsed attempt at something and then act all hard done by when your not eternally grateful?

C'est la vie cherie! But Mondays the museums are closed. One really needs 5/6 days in Paris to see all its wonders. Surely if he takes you up the Eiffel Tower it will make up for it all

I do agree that, although it is less romantic, if you want something like this organising the best option is to do it yourself. Unfortunately.

I went to Paris on a Sunday once. It was shut.

Yes, it's depressing how little most so many mumsnetters expect from their other halves, if OP is expected to be grateful for this.

I would be pretty annoyed at the poor value for money too. I would be upset as I would think ops mum expected 500quid would get more than one day away.

I would be really annoyed too. What a twit! I'm not sure why anyone thinks you should feel gratitude towards him if he didn't pay anything and his only contribution was to cock up the booking.

He's made a right mess of that booking. I would be upset that I couldn't make the most of the weekend. Can you try and change the flight home so that you get all Monday there?

God - I'd be annoyed too. Your mum has given him £500 and he's made a right mess of the booking.

What a stupid waste of money. Better than not going at all, but what a shame when it could have been so much better.

I'm with you OP. I'd be ashamed of myselt if I'd organised that. Vague recollection in my head that museums are free on the first Sunday of each month, but queues can be enormous. Let's hope that's not when you're going!

I agree with you OP, he hasn't made any effort, and has wasted your Mum's money, like those men I keep reading about on here that are incapable of getting a few things from the supermarket. I wonder if he's half arsed in other areas too and that's why you're finding this so infuriating? On the plus side though, you are going to Paris, and I'm sure you'll have a fantastic time anyways, even if it's very short.

I'd be furious op. YANBU!!!

I totally understand where you're coming from. If I was going away for a weekend somewhere, I'd travel Fri, daytime if I could, evening at latest, then fly back Monday evening. That way you have all day sat and sun and Monday morning there. £500 is a lot of money for 1 day in Paris. There's not really much u can see in 1 day

There's no need for some of you to be so rude

He's hardly partner of the century, my mum tells him to book a trip and hands him the money to do so.

I've tried changing flights but is £100 per flight so would eat into spending money.

I guess there's not much I can do now though except hope I can still see most of Paris on a Sunday!

I agree with you too OP, it's the sort of thing my dh would do and wonder why I was pissed off.
All about grand gestures, and he isn't even paying??

I do hope that you are able either to rearrange the flights and accommodation or, if that's not possible, to be able to enjoy the time you will have in Paris.

I also don't understand why the OP is being given such a hard time. Her DH has basically wasted someone else's money by not putting in a little effort to get better timed flights.

I'm surprised how many people think you are U. Personally I'm with you, your DH had picked the worst possible times, your DM is essentially paying 2 nights hotel for only 1 day sightseeing. For the same 2 nights and a bit of common sense your DH could have got almost 3 full days in Paris. It feels like a huge waste of your mum's money and I'd be upset about that more than anything.

Im with you op. There has been no thought or effort on your partners side to make it a good trip. One day?! Whats he planned for when you're there? Id assume fuck all other that wander around.

Totally get you OP, I don't know why you're being given such a hard time! I'd be really annoyed as well and it's a waste of money if he could have got different flights for the same price. Yanbu! I do think though you have to now try and make the best of it, can you research and plan an itinerary that maximises your time there?

If you can possibly manage it, I would change the flights and skimp on the spending money. Don't eat out - just get wonderful baguettes, cheese and wine and eat in a park if the sun's out. You can live very cheaply in a self-catering apartment.

Is it in August?

Nah. I'd be fucked off too. A long weekend has become a day trip.
I would however now make the very best of it and plan accordingly.
So..Saturday night, Paris at Night tour, the sights will be lit up and pretty OR Montmartre/Sacré coeur, wine and meal and trip on the little white train OR Louvre/Pyramide then meal and a shag.
Sunday, go to Champs Elysées first, arc de triomphe end..get breakfast in the brioche dorée chain not far from arc de triomphe (it'll be cheaper especially if meal night before was dear). Then jump on the metro to do Eiffel tower. After that do Sacré coeur/slice of pizza near steps to montmartre (funicular up to sacré coeur fun iirc)
Or go to the river and do bateau mouche river tour (cheap way of doing sights if you feel short of time). There might be hop on/off circuit so you could jump out at Notre dame but I am too lazy.
Then les halles/Pompidou centre of you are on a budget food wise.
You will have to forfeit doing Versailles but you can easily do all the monopoly sights in one day: I know cos I have done it with two kids in tow. Then...had to do it all again in day two cos camera was left behind (Iammarriedtoanidiote).
Finally, channel your inner Parisienne and just think Bof! if it rains or there's queues anywhere or it is dear. C'est la vie. Preferably with a Gallic shrug.
Enjoy!