I want to bail on my holiday..AIBU

[Iwannabail]

Ok so I probably am, but please let me rant. Currently on holiday in Siciliy, I guess I had his picturesque idea of a beautiful holiday villa, lemon trees , strolling to the beach, romantic walks home from dinner. Instead i find myself in a depressingly small and dark villa, absolutely not a safe walking distance to beach or town as advertised. Town is pretty basic, beach ok, but having to drive everywhere is well driving me mad. The Italians are quite frankly the most frightening drivers I have ever come across. Twice melted down on car journies as it is so awful. And to make matters worse it's not like I am coming home to a relaxing picturesque villa. Oh all the towns we have visited so far are horrible, my little girl wants to go home as soon as we set foot back in the villa, I just want to strangle my husband and we can't eat a damn sandwich without being attached by wasps!!!! I just honestly want to bail!!!

Where in Sicily are you?

The drivers are indeed a bit wild.

Visited Sicily earlier this year- agree driving very very stressful!

Sorry the villa is not as advertised. Any chance of complaining about that? Though that doesn't help now...

Ah the driving in Sicily! I remember it well!
If you want to go home then go home. I personally would try to make the most of it but if you are that miserable then leave. I presume you looked at all the pictures of the villa before you booked? Are they misleading?

Sorry to hear this, OP - it must be so disappointing for you and your little girl to have looked forward to your holiday and have it fall so far short of expectations.

How realistic is it that if you complained now to your holiday provider, they'd provide you with somewhere better/nicer? If it's a possibility, it's worth having a go. Otherwise, come home and complain when you're back to see if you can get some or all of your money back. And if you can't, put it down to experience. But don't go on having a crap time when you don't have to.

Where are you staying?

I love driving in Italy. It's a master class in trying to drive defensively and think two moves ahead!

Isn't the food great? Tell me the food is great...

Did the advertising say the villa was much closer to the beach than it is? I would definitely complain if it did.

If not, then you have to accept you didn't do your research properly.

I would probably try to stick it out and get a bus to another town and try to make the best of it.

We are outside Palermo in a small town called Ballestre. The reviews all looked great and to be honest it's not dreadful just disappointing. The guy who owns the villa is so lovely as well so would feel awful complaining. I think it would be liveable if we could walk places which you can but only down really steep lanes and under dodgy tunnels!! The food yes it is great!!! It's a small win except we are self catering which is fine in principle and then you realise you are doing the same shit different country ha ha! is is super extravagent to sod this and spend at least another 800 euros booking a hotel with swimming pool and kids entertainment?? So tempted!!

Meant to say we are here for another week!

Don't do the same shit, different place!

If there is money to do other things, make sure you eat out a lot, get taxis rather than drive, have carpet picnics (bread, cheese, ham, wine and nibbles) rather than cooking. Of course, this is why DH refuses to do self-catering any more!

Even a side trip of a couple of days in another place with a swimming pool will break up the week.

Hotel Ciuri di Badia $34 a night, pool, in Sicily, Certificate of Excellence on Tripadvisor...

www.tripadvisor.ca/Hotel_Review-g1025052-d797702-Reviews-Hotel_Ciuri_di_Badia-Buseto_Palizzolo_Province_of_Trapani_Sicily.html

I'm not as keen on Palermo and that north east corner.

Cefalu is beautiful.

Taormina is great but pricey.

The god father coach tour is great fun.

There is a beautiful lagoon somewhere east of Palermo and Marsala has the wineries.

Have you been to the catacombs in Palermo?

My Italian friend, 'Even Italians need balls to live in Sicily.'

Sorry it's not working out, OP. The food is bloody amazing in Sicily at any this time of year though. Is that any consolation?

Agree, tell the owner that you are not happy, ask for a refund and book a lovely hotel. Cefalu is wonderful!

Am so glad I cancelled my holiday there !

I was in Sicily this year and stayed in the most welcoming, lovely place ever! It is a drive to get to but the host cooks wonderful food and is so welcoming I didn't want to leave.
www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_Review-g194662-d646364-Reviews-Ciuci_s_Manor-Agrigento_Province_of_Agrigento_Sicily.html

We went to Taormina, but that was before DC, and so could do the walking around looking at trees thing - which would, of course, bore DC senseless.

Still remember it fondly as our last 'just adult' holiday.

Yabu. Nothing is ever as good as advertised, but you're on holiday. Sounds like it's not as idyllic as you'd like, but not an ordeal.
So suck it up and soak up some sun and be grateful you have got away.
I've never been able to afford to take my DCs out of the country and would swap places with you in a heartbeat!!
I do remember that holidays can also be stressful though, so I hope you do manage to enjoy the rest of it. :)

I lived in Sicily for 4 years (dh's home country) yes, the driving is tricky but why not drive to the nearest big town and catch a coach (they're cheap) and travel to Taormina for the day, it's lovely, also Mount Etna (volcano and cable car rides) . There is also Etna land (think Alton towers but with water) it really is a beautiful place when you see more of it. But coach/bus is definitely the way to go.

Italian driving is mad- you just need to accept that and drive assuming that everyone else on the road has had a lobotomy. You mention you've had meltdowns on car journeys which is probably scaring your dd and making her feel more negative about the place. Don't mean that nastily, just be aware that she will react to whatever vibe you and your dh are giving off.

If it's truly awful, and you're staying another week and can afford to do so, why not cut your losses and book into a decent hotel? I think it would be a shame to cut the holiday short. If it's all doable (just not living up to what you thought) then do your research for good day trips and meals out

Don't stay there if you're miserable. Get online and find a fab hotel nearby. There must be some last minute deals to be had.

Thanks ladies and yes do realise that I am still lucky to be here. Thank you for all the recommendations! We are going to look tonight what the accommodation options are and make a decision later. Either way feeling slightly less negative than earlier and about to tuck into pizza!!! Always helps!

From Palermo you can travel West to Erice - hill top touristy town. I think there is a lovely beach little town on that North Coast on the way. Also a little island. Sicily is beautiful - but the not being able to walk anywhere I find quite typical in Italy and the distances are never accurate.

Can you ask your host about local markets - we used to stock up on fresh goodies and then just chill back at the villa/flat. Italy can be very shabby - it is not the polished place often portrayed.

I didnt mind the driving, mostly empty motorways, except for Palermo. Yes that was scary. You have to drive with purpose in Italy.

Do visit the Dancing Girls Villa (but dont take a personal tour if offered, it was good but pricy).

Ah OP ! DP is a palermitano and laughed when i told him where you were staying

I will ask for some tips tomorrow

Some great day advice here already

If it's any consolation I accidentally booked a UK break to one of the places that feature on mytownisshit.com

Have lots of lovely tomatoes for me

Visit the Benanti vineyard which shouldnt be too far from you. They do a massive lunch and wine tasting. Their wines are sold for cray money in michelin starred restaurants in the UK.

Or climb etna with a volcanologist.

I love Sicily.