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

[wintersdawn]

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?

I am dreading mine coming up because guess who does the lions share of the work? Oh yes, the person that needs the break the most! This wasn't my idea at all either - I had opted to stay at home. but I have at least done the grocery shop to get delivered - all instant meals. Plus someone does some home cooked meals there delivered supposedly. I actually don't have time to pack as these holidays have been horrendous. Was wondering if we could throw some undies and nappies in a bag and shop at TK Maxx on the way up?

YABU your problems are DH/budget/planning related not sc. I can't stay more than 2 nights in a hotel they're so claustrophobic unless you have a big suite. I like a proper living room and lots of space and private garden etc.

Not much you can do about your location (I agree you're house sitting not sc). But DH needs to pull his weight. And as for budget, we've spent the day on a gorgeous beach with a picnic. Total spend £10 for ice creams.

I never ever did them and this was why, it would have been the same shit, cooking, cleaning, shopping. Same shit different location

I'd rather save up an have one decent holiday every three or four years, than one crap one every year.

A holiday for me is someone cooks for me, I don't clean up, get takeaways, I don't trawl round a supermarket etc. For me that's stuff uou do at home.

Why are you doing all the cooking/cleaning/washing OP? Fuck that for a laugh. DP works bloody hard in his job, and I do at home, but on self catering holidays we do it all together, mucking in so we BOTH have time to relax. I'll be fucked if I'm the skivvy while everyone else is sitting on their arse!

To me SC is about having the separate bedrooms that you don't get in hotels and having a proper fridge (for all the wine and beer...)And being able to make a cup of tea!

I might cook twice in a 10 day holiday (other benefit of SC is generally more flexible holiday lengths)

If DH is pulling his weight then it should be a break as it's a lot less work than if you were at home and he was in work. Is he leaving everything to you?

I like them and would hate an AI hotel, all round a pool with other people type of thing. But, I don't do any cooking (partner loves cooking - that's part of the holiday for him) and only ever book somewhere with a dishwasher and washing machine. Plus, you've so much less stuff with you on holiday, there's not much to tidy.

Agree with pp that the problem is your husband not pulling his weight.

Totally agree. I'm not spending a small fortune to do all the crap I do at home. Love going away as it means a total mental break.

Self catering is not the problem. The problem is that you're on a cheap holiday.

Do you feel it's worth staying there? Because, presumably, if it's not worth it after 3 days you can always leave. It doesn't look like you've paid anything for it.

It's not a self catering issue, it's a husband issue.
Why th fuck is he not cooking, washing etc?

Get some ready meals, take out, make I'm and the children cook. I love self catering, nicer house than my own, nicer location, fancy pants showers, and lots of space.
Staying at a relatives house makes it harder, it honestly, this is your holiday too.

Totally get where you're coming from OP.

My DH tries to take more of the load of meal planning, shopping and cooking while we are away. It helps somewhat. We also give each other lie ins in turn. Can you stretch to lunches out (pasties etc) then pasta with bought sauce kind of thing in the evening?

Write a list of things you would positively enjoy and try to get some of them in, even simple stuff like read a whole book or drink hot chocolate with marshmallows.

I'm the opposite to you, OP!

I love sc holidays! We get a lovely big house with a garden and pool, far away from the tourist crowd. We have day trips every other day, dh is in charge of making packed lunch, I'm in charge of dinner. I actually genuinely enjoy cooking so I find that part pretty relaxing. Half an hour or so by myself in the kitchen while dh plays with the kids is really lovely. We go out to eat once or twice, dh bbqs once or twice - it's great.

The idea of massive crowded hotels, a million kids in a pool, loud people, hustle and bustle, God-knows-what for dinner every evening... that to me sounds like I'd need a holiday to recover.

I'm not snobbish, I just don't like people much

Self catering or no holiday
I choose no holiday, seriously!
When money was too tight to do it, we didn't go on holiday for several years. A shit holiday is utterly depressing, worse than no holiday at all.

We were going on an all inclusive this year for the first time after I had a complete meltdown on a cottage break last year. Everyone had a great time apart from muggins here, who was the only one who lifted a finger. And then DH's manager had an accident (their fault) and has been in hospital for 6 weeks and with no sign of being discharged so DH is working 6 days and can't leave the business. I feel too bad to go abroad and leave him, so my youngest 2 DDs and I are self catering in Devon. And I've already booked a shop full of ready meals and instant crap as I am not cooking one single solitary meal this time or tidying anything until the morning we leave.

Horses for courses. I will only self-cater! I cook easy food. Eating out with fussy DD2 is a nightmare so I'd rather not do it. We have our own bedrooms, garden for the kids to play in, no noisy neighbours, DVD player. Having the four of us in one room for a holiday would not be my idea of fun!

I love self catering as you usually get more floor space. Hate all inclusive, if the food is shit you are stuck with it. You can go SC and still eat out.

Agree with others that your DH seems to be part of the problem. Why does he get to relax and you get to cook and entertain children? We have been at a holiday camp this week (which is self catering but lots of things for the kids to do and free childcare included) and we have all had a great time. We have cooked really simple meals and shared the cleaning/childcare.

I have liked it when the weather was good AND there were good restaurants nearby! So not fully self catered..

@kalidasa where are you?

We like self catering-but I'm lucky because DH is a fab cook and we both enjoy pottering around markets on holiday and buying local food etc. I organise breakfast and lunch (easy DIY stuff, croissants and cereal for brekkie and then bread/ham/cheese/salad for lunch) and DH cooks and clears up in the evenings. We only ever stay somewhere with a dishwasher, and we all pull our weight with the chores. I've done clothes washing, DH has kept the living room and kitchen tidy. It all works out roughly equal.

We usually self cater

But we always eat out

I agree OP.

I would prefer to stay at home than go SC.

It's all inclusive somewhere hot with kids.

No other way. I spend all year shopping, cooking, washing up. I need a break from that.

I love them. Dh and I like cooking and so once we've made a packed lunch, we're out all day on the beach or walking. Enjoying being just the 4 of us.

No other family to think about,no cleaning, no work, no obligations.

It's brilliant.

I love self-catering. Basically for the reasons BenLui says, plus the space. Much prefer to have complete independence.

I don't cook on holiday, never switch the oven or hob on. I arrange bought food on plates, do the odd salad/cut meats type thing, and eat out once a day even if it's not a full meal (no desserts, wine, too expensive). Otherwise I refuse to go. Even my husband cooking, not that he can cook, wouldn't be a holiday as it would involve washing up!