To be dreading this holiday to France?

[thinkingmakesitso]

In September I stupidly and quite rashly booked a holiday with Brittany holidays for me and my dc. They mentioned they'd always wanted to sleep on a ferry and before I knew it I'd booked it.

Now it's next week and I'm dreading it because:

1. I'm shattered after a very hectic year. I break up Wednesday (teacher), the house is a shit hole, and I'll have to get straight into packing mode and I just can't be arsed.
2. I live 6 hours from the port so have arranged to stay the night at my parents' on the way. I find them quite stressful and I haven't been to theirs for about 8 years as they keep their house like somewhere Kim and Aggie would be needed. God knows why I thought this would be a good place to stop off.

3.I drive up an down the M1 every day and enjoy driving, but I've never driven abroad before and am getting really nervous about getting onto the ferry and driving in France - having Googled it seems they have lots of complex regulations and I will need to but hi-vis jackets for us all etc etc. Luckily we are staying only about 40km from the port, but still...

1. We are staying in a chalet on a camp site, so I will have no respite from the constant thinking about food, and clearing up. Dc are 11 & 9, so can do their bit, but I just wish we were going AI somewhere. I think it's going to be expensive over there, so I won't want to rely on restaurants too much. I'll be constantly whittling about money while there...

The area looks stunning, and I'm sure it'll all be worth it, but I feel a sense of dread rather than excitement atm... ok, not really an AIBU, but AIBU to think I shouldn't have booked it, or can anyone persuade me otherwise?

Once you get there you will be so happy! French campsites have shops and cafes and chip shops so you can send the children to buy dinner ready cooked. Driving abroad is much easier than you might imagine. I'm excited for you. Tell your parents plans have changed due to timing and book yourself a premier inn.

We did a overnight ferry with Brittany ferries when the DC were small and it was fab they loved sleeping on the ferry. hope that helps a little!

France is a lot quieter for driving too.

It'll be fine, OP. More than fine, it's a break away from home. Is there any chance you could stay in a hotel instead of at your parents?

Choose easy meals to cook while away, pasta, risotto, baked potatoes etc. Get the dc to muck in washing up and tidying round.

Could get simple things to eat like baguettes and pasta, it will be fine

We’re in France now. I’ve done the whole trip as the only adult. The driving is easy, all dual carriageway. I bought my car French kit from Aldi, but they sell them at the port. All you need to take is a few clothes, towels, extra cooking stuff. Sorted. The most relaxing holiday I’ve ever had - even more so than the all inclusives. French supermarkets are fab. Your children are old enough to be given a slightly looser rein. I hope you have a relaxing time - and I appreciate it’s hard when faced with the journey. X

France has lidl, can you google where your nearest one is before you go. You can be a bit more relaxed about food when you’re on holiday. Let the kids have a cold dinner more often.
Write lists for you and the kids then it’s just a case of ticking everything off as it goes in to the suitcase.

You'll be fine, my DH who always makes sure any experience is a baptism by fire, booked a trip to France about two weeks after I passed my driving test, I managed fine. The ferry is quite good fun. Presumably you'll have a lot less stuff than at home so clearing up will be easier.

Well no, YANBU to be dreading it for all the reasons you've stated. HOWEVER, you will have a brilliant time and will do the same again next year!

Driving in France is easy peasy. I've done it several times on my own and it's really not a problem. Roads are excellent, well signed etc. You will be fine. Hi viz vests? available in most supermarkets now I think, or certainly Halfords.

Packing - meh. I loathe it. Just chuck everything in several bags. What you don't have you can buy in France. Their shops are good too. If you have them, do pack bat'n'ball games, French cricket, boules etc. Great evening entertainment.

Food - send DCs to the shop every morning for baguettes. Buy ham and cheese. Live off pasta. It shouldn't be anymore expensive than the UK. Plus you can sit with a glass or two of vino and watch the DCs playing outside.

Forget your house. Cleaning is much over-rated. Your parents? Again, meh. You're on holiday. Just let it go.

Seriously - you'll love it, as will the DCs.

French camp sites are usually pretty good. Your kids will make friends with other kids and you can sit by the pool and read. Have a great time.

YANBU. I can totally understand why you're not looking forward to it. BUT I bet you and the kids will have a great time and you'll be glad you went.

I drove all the way home to Essex last year from the Loire Valley. It's so much easier than driving in the UK. I didn't get stressed once until I'd got back in the UK. Driving in France is so easy because there are hardly any people around and the French have better driving manners than brits.
As for your parents, call in for a cup of tea but stay elsewhere! Don't put yourself through it!

Please don't worry - driving in France is really straightforward. I was crapping myself the first time I did it but there was no need as the roads are great over there. Yes, you do need the Hi-Vis etc but you can get France-friendly packs from Halfords etc which makes it less stressful.

If you're worried about staying with your parents why not book a cheap Travelodge or B&B? Otherwise just break your 6 hour journey to the port. I have driven 6 hours in a day before (in France, ironically!) and it's fine as long as you take meal breaks etc which you'll probably need to do with the kids anyway.

One last tip - if you're driving over on the ferry why not take some food over with you? Stock up on crisps/snacks/drinks from Lidl/Aldi where it's as cheap as chips. There's also a lot of "ambient" convenience food you could take that will not require a fridge eg rice/pasta meals. Camping discussion groups are a great source of info about this. I think if you had the makings of a few meals with you that would take the pressure off you a bit and might leave enough cash to eat out a couple of times as a treat.

Hope you have a lovely break - it sounds like you deserve it!

Reading these comments is making me want to book a little break in france 😂

Go to a hypermarket and buy bread, pastries, yoghurts, cheese, cold meats, a ready roasted chicken (or two), pâté, prepared dishes like tabbouleh, bags of salad, cherry tomatoes, cereal, crisps, nuts, olives, fruit, juice, milk, Nesquik powder (if your kids like) and French goodies. Wine, beer, or whatever your poison is.

No cooking!

Rota for laying and clearing table and washing up (encourage eating with fingers to minimise!)

Take a good book or two, and RELAX! It will be stressful until you've actually arrived, but you know that, and it will be worth it.

Aw OP it will be okay. In fact, it will be great, but I totally understand your trepidation, as I was nervous driving my car over to France the first time. You'll be fine driving it onto the ferry - you go very slowly and there are people to direct you into your exact spot and once in France you will soon adapt to driving on the right. It is strange for the first half hour or so, but after that you'll be fine. Brittany is beautiful, the beaches are huge, the food is lovely and once you've got the stress of end of term, packing and getting there out of the way I'm sure you'll have a fab time. As for staying with your parents - would staying in a Travelodge or Premier Inn be an alternative? Could you ring them and just say 'change of plan' and make something up like you want to stay nearer/further from the port or something? Take a deep breath - it will be fine.

Take food stuff with you! Last time we went i did on online order and collected near out departure port on the way. Filled the cold box and everything kept fine. Squash is not sold in France so well worth taking your own supply along with any kids favorites. Take some laundry stuff too.
Driving is fine!
Treat it like a big adventure.

Ooh lucky you! You'll love it! Brittany Ferries are good, the foods lovely on board, French roads are empty once you get away from the port; French campsites are better than ours and so's the food. Can I come?

It will all be worth it OP. We usually ferry/drive to France for our holidays as my husband and I detest flying. I hate everything that comes with a flight. The airport, the limited packing. Waiting for your bag on the carousel with 100s of other people. The waiting, the boarding, the actual flying.

We went to Florida this year with family. I loved it, don't get me wrong, but I am already dying to book our holiday to France for next year.

You honestly can't beat it.

The roads are much better in france. Bit weird at first but you will get used to it on no time.

Enjoy 👍👍👍👍

We've overnight ferried and then driven quite some distances many times with babies and older. You'll be fine! It will be great!

There's usually a Lidl or an Aldi near the port on this side. Stock up before you get on and then just drive to the chalet. The French roads are very civilized. You'll be fine.

"Du pain, du vin, du Boursin"!

Where in France are you going? What port are you sailing from and to?
My top tip, book someone's in to clean your house whilst you're away, the cost will be worth it!
Driving in France is a breeze, just don't think about driving in Paris! Make sure your sat nav is up to date.
Don't bother taking any food or toiletries with you, find the nearest hypermarche when you've registered at the camp site and do a big shop.
Don't try to get known English brands, you'll pay through the nose. Shop in the markets. I'm envious already!

We did these holidays with four small children driving down to the south of France. Fab holidays! Driving in terrifying for half an hour and then you're fine.

Campsite shops are expensive, but shopping in French supermarkets is fun. Just ask couriers for directions to nearest one.

You will have a great time but I think I would book into a travel lodge on way down and treat it as part of the holiday
BF are fine and French roads are fab!
Have fun