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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Self catering isn't a holiday. It's the same rubbish in a different location.

574 replies

wintersdawn · 24/08/2017 19:40

We are currently 3 days into a 10 day self catering holiday and I'm sick of it already. My DH loves self catering holidays as they are a break from work and a different location and he can spend the whole time winding down from work and enjoying the break from the commuting routine.

But for me it's just the same shit in a different place, DD6 and DS4 still wake up early no matter how late we let them stay up. We either head off somewhere for the day which seems to always cost a fortune or involve lots of driving or stay in the house but without all their normal toys and entertainment options. We aren't near a beach this time which would normally give the children hours of entertainment, as we are staying in a relations house whilst they are away to save money. We don't have the budget to eat out each night and so the same cleaning, cooking, washing crap happens as it would at home.

I know we needed a cheap holiday this year as we've just had to replace the car and we did the kitchen at the start of the year but this is the 4th year in a row of self catering and I'm over them.

I can't be the only one who gets dragged down by self catering? Can I?

OP posts:
Holidayhooray · 27/08/2017 13:08

August should be cheaper in the Caribbean.

PresentlyTense · 27/08/2017 13:08

We have flights booked to Majorca for 12 nights next summer. I was intending to do a self catering type Airbnb holiday, but I'm seriously considering a kick ass AI one now after reading this thread.Smile

simiisme · 27/08/2017 13:16

As others have commented, it depends on the age of your kids and whether your DH just expects to sit on his arse.
Just arrived back Friday from 10 days in a tent, two locations. Kids are teenagers. DH does all the pitching and unpitching (de-pitching?) and cooks lush breakfast wraps - sausage, bacon, beans, egg. Kids do the washing up and help tidy. I enjoy the change, the scenery, the uncomplicated life. Break from TV and PlayStations. Kids went swimming every day.
Am now left with sunburn, muddy gear - ahh the wonderful British weather - and stacks of laundry, but it was great.

Calmanglass · 27/08/2017 13:25

We love self-catering. Children in own bedrooms means we get to sit on the patio or living room relaxing at night. We only do uk and take the car so we have everything we need. My husband is fantastic and we are a team so laundry cooking is shared. We always eat lunch out and our babies stick to their normal 6/7 bedtime so we relax and enjoy a meal later. I couldn't relax in a hotel as they don't sleep in the pram easily.

We rent the same cottage every year and I love it... it's like our home from home.

MusicForTheJiltedGeneration · 27/08/2017 13:27

Went all-inclusive to Barbados one year. Whilst it was lovely, I was aware of how much it cost vs how much we actually ate and drank and didn't think it was good value tbh.

I do like the freedom of self-catering and the fact you're not confined to one room like you are in a hotel. I know the point of a holiday is to be outside, but it still makes a big difference to me to have that extra room.

Personally I'd go for cheaper SC accommodation and have more money for eating out (at places of your choice, not just onsite) or days out.

Holidayhooray · 27/08/2017 13:32

Rufus
I'm going st the most expensive time for the Caribbean. February half term. I'm leaving two days before term breaks up but returning in half term.

Christinayangstwistedsista · 27/08/2017 13:41

A beach Butler, lovely cold fruit served at the pool, a massage on the beach, sigh.......oh well, back to the ironing

Tumblethumps · 27/08/2017 13:55

Music, as has been said repeatedly on this thread, AI doesn't have to be a high rise hotel where you're all stuck in one room. Good quality AI is often either low rise hotels where the ground floor has a large patio and the 1st floor has a large balcony, often 2 balconies as one of the bedrooms often has one (2 or 3 bedroom apartments usually) or they're like little town houses with bedrooms upstairs and stunning balconies and seating area/small kitchen area downstairs.
No way would I cope sharing one room with DH and the kids.

Tumblethumps · 27/08/2017 13:58

Yes, Feb half term is popular for C and I'd never go Aug/Sept/Oct but there's still less demand for the Caribbean in Feb than there is for The Med in August.

Cailleach666 · 27/08/2017 14:03

but my vision of AI hols is that you stay in one place....one hotel or resort and use all their facilities. Do you go out and about? Getting a feel of the area you are staying in?

Most AI hotels do have set times that guests are allowed out. Usually for a two hour period max though, on alternate days to allow guests to buy shampoo, inflatables etc.
Passes are issued but usually a 24 hour notice period is required.
Purchases are examined - and receipts checked.

Shoes are examined for any evidence of beach visits which are discouraged.

Rufustherenegadereindeer1 · 27/08/2017 14:09

Sorry holiday that wasn't supposed to be aimed at you

It was supposed to be a more general 'cant compare holidays' thing

Apologies

Rufustherenegadereindeer1 · 27/08/2017 14:10

Tell you what i was suprised about

Planning a Florida trip june/july next year ir the year after

And its more expensive than august!!!

Tumblethumps · 27/08/2017 14:13

Grin Grin Grin @ Caille

HollyBollyBooBoo · 27/08/2017 14:16

Completely agree, I don't get spending £1k on a house that's less lovely than mine and doing the same stuff.

I discovered AI holidays a few years ago and even if it means I have half the holidays I'd go AI every time.

HelloSquirrels · 27/08/2017 14:20

Pre kids we went all inclusive but we now have a baby and ss lives with us and the thought of dragging two kids to a restaurant three times a day fills me with dread so for next year's holiday I'm booking eurocamp. 3 bedrooms so everyone can sleep and once the baby is in bed we can sit outside or whatever rather than all being copped up in one room or dragging the kids out every night.

I won't be cooking anything that requires effort and well probably eat out a few times.

iogo · 27/08/2017 14:22

Cailleach666 Are you sure you weren't in some kind of open prison? Grin

I've never had that kind of AI experience. We were able to come and go as we pleased. Granted they weren't resorts in areas where the 'outside' might be dangerous.

Christinayangstwistedsista · 27/08/2017 14:29

Rufus

Do you stay in a villa when you go to Florida? We haven't been yet, not sure if a villa would suit us as DS is an only one

Cailleach666 · 27/08/2017 14:32

*Cailleach666 Are you sure you weren't in some kind of open prison? grin

I've never had that kind of AI experience. We were able to come and go as we pleased. Granted they weren't resorts in areas where the 'outside' might be dangerous.*

Seems usual to me- Greece and Turkey. And that is one of the more relaxed regimes.

I have been to a couple of AI resorts where no one is permitted outside at all. Even dogs patrolling etc.
That was in Corfu.

Maireadplastic · 27/08/2017 14:57

Cailleach, that sounds awful! I suppose the other things I love about our hols are slow mornings...much easier now kids are older....husband serving me coffee, reading, sending a child out for croissants....

NomNomNominativeDeterminism · 27/08/2017 15:07

Cailleach, and don't forget you've got to have fun too, but not too much and not too little, and each family all at the same time but not at the same time as everyone else otherwise it upsets the dogs, and if you can't demonstrate you've had the right amount of fun your outside pass gets cancelled. That was Corfu, right?

lljkk · 27/08/2017 15:09

Alright, Alright. I'm fussy too. Especially about what DC eat. Weeks of me or them eating out every meal just wouldn't make me happy. They'd want pizza & chips daily & nothing else . zzzzzzz I am someone who tends to lose weight when on holiday if eating out is only option, b/c I just don't like what's on offer. Add to tht the stress of having to keep DC well behaved for restaurant waiting, there's no room for appetite at all.

Glad you guys have something you're happy with.

PrimalLass · 27/08/2017 15:10

Primal, what actually figures are you talking about?

About 5k for 10 days AI. We were 1400 apartment, 400 flights, 250 car plus spending money.

Cailleach666 · 27/08/2017 15:11

Maireadplastic
Not so bad as it sounds really.

Most people didn't want to leave the hotel anyway for the fortnight anyway, so no great hardship.
The only thing I did find annoying was the confiscation of local maps etc from hand luggage.
AI resorts never have wifi,- again a method to discourage residents from researching local attractions.

RoseLight · 27/08/2017 15:12

We always go self catering (years and years!) but have never cooked a meal in an apartment. Unless you count a bit of cereal in the morning for the kids.

We just budget eating out as part of our spending money. So we eat out for lunch and dinner and pay for any snacks we fancy. We love it, we can visit a variety of restaurants over our stay and all the meals are freshly cooked as opposed to all inclusive samey buffet.

We spread out spending money over the week with this is mind and have extra for drinks and buying stuff. Though granted we don't really guzzle down booze anyway.

We did this for 2 adults and 2 children all for under 3k this year.

Cailleach666 · 27/08/2017 15:12

NomNomNominativeDeterminism I think we must have visited the same hotel.