to be feeling just a little bit sorry for ourselves re holiday disappointment?

[timetogohomenow]

Currently being battered by the wind in a tent in Cornwall at 3:30am so I accept that I may be being a bit unreasonable here but...

AIBU to be so disappointed in how our holiday is turning out? After months of sweating away at work in the heat, we come away on our first camping trip as a family and apart from one day, the weather has been utterly rubbish for the last 8 days.

Camping is not the fun holiday I remember it being... trudging through the mud to go to the toilet in a portacabin, air beds that keep deflating, showers that are not much more than dripping taps, neighbours who talk loudly into the night... not as fun as I remember it being pre-children.

DD's behaviour has been a nightmare in comparison to at home and I feel like all we've done is have a go at her. I suppose she's only 4 and excited but things like running off or not listening in potentially dangerous situations can't be tolerated. That's not been any fun.

Cornwall... a beautiful county but my god the crowds. I knew it would be busy with it being August (we had no choice to come any earlier or later) but literally everywhere we've tried to visit has been a complete ball ache to try to get parked. Some places we've just had to drive through as there was no chance of stopping. Where we're staying there's no public transport we could easily use. The traffic is terrible! The supermarkets where we are are like scenes from an apocalypse film. How the locals cope living down here I do not know.

I know I'm just being a miserable so and so and I realise how lucky we are to be in a situation where we can (just about!) afford a family holiday but AIBU to be so disappointed? We've got 4 nights left and I just feel like packing up and going home! Please tell me in years to come I'll look back on this holiday with fond memories and not lament about the time we spent probably as much as we would have going abroad to stay in a wet, miserable, busy place in a tent!

Having spent the past two weeks in the same place, although in a relative's house rather than a tent, YANBU at all!

Miserable weather, the busiest I've seen it in the 22 years I've been visiting, hideous supermarket experiences and queuing traffic that never seems to abate. I've been looking for a week away in the sun in October half term ever since we got back and won't ever be going to Cornwall in August again!

I love camping. Yes we have had years where it has rained non stop, but other times where the weather has been fantastic.

Can you put on waterproofs and wellies and spend the day at the beach? Your dd will love that, she won’t remember the rain...

Have a campfire when you get back with marshmallows and hot chocolate and play cards or other games your dd likes. Lots of wine for you too!

We camped a lot in Cornwall in the rain and our dc don’t really remember the weather just being happy 😊

Someone somewhere managed to brain wash us all and tell us that camping was a holiday - it’s not! Sorry but it’s just not! Putting shoes on and trekking out for a pee in the night, showering in a grubby shower block etc is not what I call a holiday. We’ve tried it in a tent and even bought a caravan - it’s still hassle and hard work - not what I call a holiday. Add in rain and wind and you turn into a friggin hostage in your tent or car. I can’t comment on Cornwall but we went to Devon this year (in a house) and the towns and roads were rammed! Such a long drive to get there (spread over 2 days) and we all said it wasn’t worth it! I really do sympathise with you OP - it sounds awful. I’m sorry it has been a let down.

We weren’t camping but we had a similarly disastrous holiday last year in France. We came home early. The RELIEF when we’d made the decision was immense. It’s not admitting defeat, with a four year old it’s a sensible decision.

Plus we felt like naughty schoolchildren hiding from/being undisturbed by our parents when we got back

YANBU. Pack up and go home if the forecast isn’t improving, I was in cornwall this August (go there most years) and it was definitely the busiest I’d ever seen it. Lots of Europeans (I guess the weather and cheap £) visiting. There was no room for spontaneity, restaurants needed to be booked a week in advance and the streets were impassable. The countryside and non touristy coastline was ok. No fun in a rainy field camping I’m sure.

If you don’t want to go home and can afford it, Air Bnb the rest of your holiday.

Plan where you want to go in advance and get there as early as possible. Try and take the lanes instead of the main roads.

I love Cornwall more than anywhere on Earth but not from a tent, so YABNU.

Camping, unless it’s warm and completely dry, is like a bloody indurance test.

Troopers, you really made me laugh

Single mym. Two children.

And this is precisely why I will never camp in this country. Strikes me as false economy because it is more of an endurance challenge than anything enjoyable. Even in good weather it seems like bloody hard work.

5 star, all inclusive, Caribbean, every February. A proper wonderful holiday. Spoilt rotten, children love every second, as do I. Proper quality time together.

What a shame. Camping is only ever ok when the weather is dry. Even then I find it stressful and uncomfortable.

Hope the weather bucks up for you.

@timetogohomenow

YANBU, and I am sorry you have had to tolerate such a shit holiday when you have been looking forward to it so much.

It sounds flippin' awful. I would never go camping - ever, as it always looks so uncomfortable (and I am a bit of a princess!) We used to go to a caravan when I was a kid that had no loo or shower (so we had to go to the ablutions block!) but it was solid and dry and comfortable with comfy beds!

And I would never go to Cornwall in the summer hols. It's a pretty county, but a ballache to visit, and parking and traffic (in the school hols) is dreadful!

Sorry, that doesn't help you at all!

No wonder some people go places outside of school holidays!

Yabu for moaning about the showers toilets etc, surely you researched he facilities before you went?

Wales is far superior

I don't understand which bit of this is different to what you would expect.

Late August weather in the UK is often terrible.

Camping is always appalling.

Cornwall in summer holidays is always hugely crowded.

Yanbu to hate it but yabu to have expected anything different.

YANBU!

We’re currently in the IOW and it was fucking horrendous yesterday - some of the tents in our field collapsed and everyone’s shit blew away!

We’re week 2 into our holiday, and whilst it’s been ok it’s not relaxing with two children, damp clothes and a 5 min walk to the toilet blocks. The days out have been awesome though - and it’s not as busy!

The kids do enjoy it though, as does my husband. Although next year mama has got her way finally and we’re going to Spain for a week 😂😂

Obviously I don't know where you live, but if you came down via the M5 corridor, I would suggest you pack up and stop off somewhere quieter - Somerset is beautiful and fairly quiet with very good campsites!!! The weather is looking better today, too!!!!

YANBU. I hate camping and would never consider it but if I was in your shoes I'd do what PP's have said and pack up and head home. We went glamping in a Yurt for the first time the other weekend, log burning stove and huge ensuite bathroom. That is the closest I will ever get to camping. Loved it so much we are doing it again over the winter.

I can't really understand people saying 'get a hotel, or air b'n'b, or stay in a guest house. It's August, in CORNWALL - the OP has a better chance of sticking her tent stakes in the ground and striking oil, than she has of getting somewhere else to stay!

Sorry it's so awful OP, but yeah, come home, and as a few pps have said, fuck camping, it's a massive PITA when the weather is nice. I would defo prefer a caravan.

Good luck!

Many years ago I did a similar thing having found myself on my own as my DH had left me earlier in the year. So took children 5 and 3 and put up the tent...it rained DS5 was happy enough DD3 was miserable. Next morning the sun was out...brilliant. I shouted hello to the much older chap next door, he was reading his paper in a deck chair....I just thought surely not but went closer and checked! YES totally naked bar the paper. Packed and left!!!! The rest of the week should be better weather OP, we did lots of camping after that and it does get better, we did have fun times!

Where abouts in Cornwall are you?
We've just got back from 2 weeks there and other than a day trip to St Ives we didn't fund it crowded or busy at all. I was quite surprised.
The weather has been pretty overcast with just a few days of sunshine but I think it is getting better next week so you may still get some sun.
There were quite a few family friendly places to go that could be visited in all weathers. I'd be happy to list some for you. We were staying near Penzance.

Go home. Resolve never to make the same mistake again.

I do love that post suggesting the Caribbean 😂

Maybe not the most helpful??

Have been to Cornwall. It's nice but it's not that nice.

Most counties have owl sanctuaries, zoos, stately homes, a theme park in reasonable travelling distance, museums, places that are scenic. Also if you pick right they might not have hoards of people.

DH and I did our summer holiday around Leeds because I wanted to go to the DIY Kitchens showroom He thought I was mad. Actually there was loads to do and we loved it. And crowd-free everyday!

Camping is fine in good weather, I hate when it's cold/ rainy. I'd go home too. Love Cornwall but the long drive there, the traffic and the crowds put us off. Prefer to go to Wales.

Camping is amazing when the weather is good, but not so much fun in the rain! It is particularly busy in Cornwall this summer.

Where are you staying? Perhaps we can suggest some days out away from the crowds. Cardinham woods is a good place to go. For the price of parking only. Lots of trails through the woods, a stream that kids can play in, play park & a fab cafe.

There's another good children's park in Wadebridge and there is a food festival running today.

Hope you manage to find some good things to do today & the rain stays away