Night in a hotel alone - AIBU?

[stickersstickerseverywhere]

After several years of pregnancy, breastfeeding, sleepless nights with three children, I have a big birthday coming up, and decided to treat myself to a night in a posh hotel alone to relax. I actually posted in Chat asking for recommendations yesterday. But some friends and relatives have reacted strangely. Why would I not want to spend time with my family? Why would I not want to take my family? Why am I doing this instead of a weekend away with my family? Does my husband mind? What about the children?

For the record, I spend lots of time with my family. It's not an either/or situation - this doesn't impact upon family holiday plans, either time-wise or financially. My husband doesn't mind at all, same as I didn't mind on the occasions he's had nights away to do things he wants. As for the children, I'm sure they'll be fine with their perfectly capable father. He lets them eat more cake than I do, and watch more TV, so they'll be happy.

I'm not being unreasonable to do this am I?

sounds delightful and just shrug off other opinions,and don't go feeling any guilt.its not time away from them just time away from busyness of it.not being away from them just a break.go enjoy just being for a while.
whats your price bracket.could you travel a bit to somewhere.whatley manor is amazing!
broome park
cantebury cathedral lodge
ther mermaid inn east sussex
ahsdown park and country hotel
de verre wotton house hotel
the Runnymede on thames
great fosters

I have been bf for two years and regularly dream of doing this. I will some day!

You don't say what your budget is but -- The Mondrian in the old Sea Containers Hotel on the South Bank is lovely, very 'designer' and you can book a room with a river view. Great cocktails. They also do valet parking if you're driving.
A little more downmarket -- the Novotel on Blackfriars bridge also do rooms with nice views.
If money is no object -- The Shangri-La at the Shard (on the 22nd floors or thereabouts) and you can also have a swim in the highest swimming pool in London. (I reeeally want to do this!)
OR -- The Mandarin Oriental in Knightsbridge (££££), just opposite Harvey Nicks for shopping. The hotel bar is lovely, very polished and professional. Don'ty bother with Heston's 'Dinner' if you're alone, eat in Bar Boulud, excellent gourmet burgers and traditional French food. There is a spa too...

I plan to go to Lindisfarne and just pottle about Northumbria a bit, have early nights and the telly to myself

Oh, now you're giving me ideas! I adore that part of the UK – and I'd love the telly to myself for a while too

I can second Coworth Park in Ascot -- as long as the races aren't on!

Sounds wonderful! I need this in the autumn/winter, I did it 4 times to get me through those months and it was glorious. Don’t seem to need it so much in spring & summer, but the urge to hibernate with a long bath, film, room service and a good book is strong. Enjoy!

I did it when mine were young - it was bliss! Just do it

People are weird - ignore the naysayers - it's a fabulous idea and what a lovely birthday treat. Enjoy it.

I often go away for work and whilst nobody bats an eyelid if a father has to go away for work apparently it's totally bizarre for a mother. But guess what, my DH is an AMAZING father and looks after our DC just like they were his own....oh, they are. I'm sure your DH would also be totally capable of looking after his children for a night and if he doesn't mind then you should totally embrace it.

I was desperate to get away after four consecutive years of breastfeeding (2 children one after the other).

I am now seriously considering this! Sounds bliss.

I do nothing on my own, thought I would be bored but reading this thread hotel, spa, room service, full nights sleep sounds fantastic!!

Enjoy OP.

Oh it’s bliss, I’ve done this a few times using DH’s business hotel points I take lovely wine, chocs and toiletries and lounge around in pjs reading books and eating my way through room service enjoy every glorious silent minute!

I did it whilst breastfeeding just to try and get a nights unbroken sleep as I was in a bad state..... My husband and baby were fine. However I woke up at all the times I would have to feed the baby in the night anyway lol and then in the morning my own milk had leaked all over me so I was shivering and drenched!!!

Id try it again when I wasnt breastfeeding tho. The claw foot bath my hotel room had was gorgeous!! And someone else making a posh breakfast for you is amazing!

I can also recommend it.

My best though was 5 nights away, alone, in a villa in Lanzarote, with a pool and a suitcase full of books! Didn't need many clothes as I didn't plan to go out and about much, if at all. I went out once for a drink early evening, then just back and forth to the local shop for supplies (wine!). The villa owner picked me up from the airport, which was nice, and unplanned until just before I set off. She also gave me a lift back to the airport at the end as she was going into the city anyway.

Total and absolute bliss . I'd been to Lanzarote several times before, so didn't have the guilt of going but not looking around because I knew the area. I read for 5 solid days and evenings.

Do it, it's amazing. I'm happy with a premier inn, I'd rather have absolutely no demands put on me in terms of what to wear or what to do and soundproofing is crucial! I've done it twice just after finishing BF. Just read a whole book and relished the silence.

I used to do mid-pm Sat to mid-pm Sun - a whole 24 hours.

I went away for a couple of nights when the DC were small, developed a migraine and spent the whole of one night throwing up!

Was still a great idea in theory though.

I don't have kids and once a year, I go away for 3 nights by myself. 5 star, room service, spa treatments and DVD's in bed. Tis wonderful. Do it, definitely.

you deserve it!

Book hotel with free access to swimming pool and sauna if you enjoy that sort of thing. Good book, some alcohol and food. Or perhaps somewhere with seaside or country walk near by. Look hotel.com or booking.com

Your idea sounds lovely - do it!
As for the reaction of your family & friends....
Wanting to be alone makes you a "loner" which means you are at best a bit sad and at worst really weird, right? This is how some people think. The idea of time alone being thoroughly enjoyable and something you would positively choose is alien to them.
More and more as I get older I love doing things on my own.

Do it. I do. I've got one night away in a nice hotel booked for a few weeks time.

Hi OP, I did exactly this - 24 hours off - in January as my Christmas present from DH & the LO’s (the baby took a bottle so it wasn’t a problem but I am still breastfeeding now so even that didn’t get in the way!) Hotel with a spa and decent restaurant, a good book & loads of martinis/wine/fizz/all of the above. Heaven.

Forget the snide comments... My MIL when she found out said “shouldn’t it be (DH) who is having the night off?!!” He’d pulled a muscle playing football & I had spent the last 4 years growing babies during HG pregnancies and breasfeeding them in the middle of the night.

Sod em! Go get yours mama - you have more than earned this!

I have done this several times.
I have already booked two nights away in a five star hotel for the end of April.

Please book the hotel! And two nights at least!

I've done it twice now and loved it. When my DS were 2 & 5, I said to my husband that I have to go away alone or I'll explode. And not just for one night, as it won't be enough to unwind. We spend a lot of time as family which I love but my husband travels a lot and we have no family near by at all, so the sole care falls for me for the majority of the time. I just wanted two nights on my own, mooch about, watch crap telly and not to be needed by anyone. It was marvellous.

Only one friend, well more like a school gate mum kind of friend were a little funny about it.

I really really really want to do this, my son is nearly 1 and I've not had a full nights sleep since about half way through the pregnancy. It sounds like bliss!

Go and enjoy!