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 agree op totally crap.
Next time refuse point blank to go.
Hotel Holliday's only for me otherwise I'd rather not go.
Your husband sounds like a duck by the way.

grecian,

If you have a partner in all this, why do YOU pre cook the food.

See it is a feminist issue.

Dick not duck!

sunglassally, maybe grecian likes to cook?

or does everything have to be a feminist issue to you?

Why are folks saying self catering or mass all inclusive? There is other types of holiday you know,,,small boutique hotels, bed and breakfast only, going to local restaurants or whatever in the evening. It's really not self cater in someone's house or go all inclusive

Yup. We did s/c last summer and I vowed never again. Different place, same shit. Would rather go every other year and spend more money on something which actually feels like a holiday.

ssd,

Just seems to me that women do the bulk cooking, all the prep, all the packing and so on. But men always do the BBQ LOL.

Just having a laugh. But there is truth in fun.

We are going next week on our sixth sc holiday (uk) with the dc (2 and 5). I love them! Dh and I are 50:50 generally so that carries on there too. However we have no work, no wifi, no tablets, no bills or post, no pets, no need to do anything other than enjoy one another and the kids company and explore our new surroundings.

My weekly shop to take away with us is probably almost double the normal as I get easier to prep stuff/nicer treat stuff etc. But I dont mind that. And our kids are young enough to be easily entertained.

Probably this will change as they grow and need other provisions. But for now, I like it. Home from home.

But the problem is not that it is SC but either through money or expectation (maybe both) one person holiday is that of cooking and cleaning. Self catering with a kitchen is that the amenities are there if you wish to use them. So the real question should be "I refuse to go on a holiday when I am expected to cook and clean". Personally I want a living room, three bedrooms and a full size fridge. How we eat is then a decision we make together. Even in a hotel if food is not included you are self catering it is just either takeaways or restaurants which you can do if staying in a SC facility with kitchen.

We've done lots of self-catering holidays in the past as we like the flexibility and space.

OP - you're not on holiday. You're in a relative's house. Had you been on a "proper" holiday you would have made sure to choose somewhere that's in a holiday location, with a beach, or lake, or whatever you want there to be for the kids to do. If you have early rising kids it won't make any difference if you're in a hotel or cottage - they'll wake.

I don't cook full meals when we're self catering - i'll chuck pizza in the oven, cook pasta or maybe do bacon rolls and french toast, but not cooking.We get takeaways, or M&S dine in deals, or eat out. And certainly no cleaning apart from wiping surfaces and tidying up. Again if you're in a relative's house you have no option.

*grecian,

If you have a partner in all this, why do YOU pre cook the food.

See it is a feminist issue*

My DH works 60-80 hour weeks so I do nearly all of the cooking (currently SAHM) I quite enjoy it!

Sorry, but no matter what, women always do the bulk of the work on a SC trip.

Tell me differently please. I know our partners are great, they cook and so on, and serve up great grub, but omg the mess afterwards.

I will NEVER do it again, DH is all for helping out, and he does try, but I think they sometimes make a mess so they will not be asked again.

It is a feminist issue. Wake up folks.

We usually go SC because DH and DS are vegetarian and DH gets bored of the veg option in restaurants if we eat out too often. I on the other hand can think of nothing worse than spending my holiday cooking/clearing up. I also like to eat nice food on holiday as it is part of the experience so don't want to eat basic food all the time on holiday. Therefore DH does all the cooking and clearing up on holiday. We eat out at least 3-5 times a week and the other times DH cooks something really really simple.

I do any other work around the place, clothes washing, any tidying, putting together packed lunches, sorting out bags for beach and day trips but absolutely no cooking. / Cleaning kitchen.

I assume pre-marriage your DH managed to survive. Time for him to remember how to cook. It's not that hard to cook some pasta and open a jar of pesto.

Self-Catering is fine if you can also go out and don't have to cook every night. Never going to a gite again.

SC suits us as we have ASD dcs so we don't disturb anyone else and it's easier to replicate the home environment, however we share all tasks and make sure we have a Gregg's McDonalds and Morrison's in a 10 mile radius for the dcs eating requirements (and to stock up on wine in Morrison's)

Yesterday 20:13 GraceGrape

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!

It really is horses....

For me a separate bedroom would be hell. Dd gets scared and is a bad sleeper. She would be up and down to me all night.
I would rather have her a metre a way on a camp bed where I know I can sleep all night.

I agree with no SC as a whole. I prefer meals out and trying new restaurants.

However I don't mind the odd weekend sc in a nice lodge where we would just eat wine and cheese or the like.
To cook like at home though no thanks! I would rather stay at home.

Once went on holiday with a friend who took packet pasta/ noodles to eat to keep the cost down. Rather have stayed at home than taken reconstituted food across the sea.

OP - how did your pathetic excuse for a husband survive before he had you to rush around after him?

Did he scrounge off of mummy or did he just live in his own filth?

I suggest you give the prick an ultimatum - either he learns the basic life skills that any functional human being should have learned by the time they turned 18, or he's out the door.

I have self catered but eat out every evening. I did manage to buy croissants at the little patisserie a couple of doors down most mornings for a whole week once, apart from when I sent DS.

SC is brilliant because breakfast is so much easier than having to negotiate hotel buffets with small children. But it's only a real holiday for everyone if there are enough people around to rotate the cooking and cleaning duties or you are able to eat out most nights

But hotels can be crap too!! Yes someone makes the bed and cleans the bathroom but you either are all in one room or shell out ££ for interconnecting.

Same selection of food for days. No space in the evening. I saw photos on Facebook of parents sitting in the bathroom waiting for kids to get to sleep. No way!!

Totally agree.

I've usually done AI but this year went HB.

HB was perfect for ds and I.

Get up, good cooked breakfast and then head out for day. We didn't eat out for lunch but rather got rolls/sandwiches from supermarket and snacky stuff.

I couldn't afford to eat out everyday and wouldn't want to cook/clean because as you say it's same as home.

As PPs have said, you're house-sitting not sc. A sc cottage or apartment is usually pared down with less 'stuff' to get in the way. Easier to keep clean or manage, and in a more touristy area with lots to do.

Currently sc in Spain as staying with the in-laws in their holiday house. (Love them to bits so that bit's not a problem)

I've cooked simple risottos and pasta and we've had ice cream and fruit for dessert. We've eaten out a few times. Breakfast and lunch are simple too.

It's a holiday because the rest of the time is by the pool, playing games, eating in local restaurants or cafes and relaxing. DC are teens and like having their own space so can go to their rooms and escape us!

Had awful hotel hols early on as tied to their menus and meal times with no option to cook something simple; all in one room and shared pool with other people's children!!
Flying and negotiating airports with little ones was bloody awful too so we stuck to the UK till they were at least 7.

OP, In a hotel your DC would still wake early; you'd have to hope there was something your DC liked to eat and you'd have to go to bed early with them or whisper in the dark over your evening glass of wine.

Get your DH to share the cooking, buy ready to cook stuff (I even buy chopped onions and grated Chester) and look up cheap local things to do.

We have usually done villa style all inclusive. Can take food back or eat in the dining room.

Oh i love SC, I'd hate to have to eat out every day! But i love shopping for food and foreign shops and markets are always so interesting. I also like cooking, so it's no hassle.
We do tend to have quite a lot of easy fast BBQ type meals on holiday because the kitchen is very basic.
Agree though that everyone has to help with clearing up etc.

But it's not for everyone.