Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

1 2 3

Original poster

Is it strange we holiday at my in laws house

74 replies

Theladylady · 07/04/2019 22:12

We are currently at our in laws house having a holiday while they are away

They are very weak have a 7 bed room house my mil has kindly done a marks and Spencer’s shop we could never afford this we have use of there very nice car

But friends think it’s strange because they live in the same country

OP posts:

hibbledibble · 08/04/2019 06:37

I assume you mean very wealthy, not weak?

Nothing weird about it, but accepting a shop is a bit odd, unless you are doing them a favour by looking after pets while you are there (so saving them paying for a house sitter)

codswhallop · 08/04/2019 06:40

That’s brilliant, we used to do that as children, we swapped with my grandparents and they were the best holidays.

Hazlenutpie · 08/04/2019 07:21

Nothing odd, enjoy yourselves. I don’t see anything wrong in their kindness in doing a shop for you. What’s wrong with some people?

DuggeesWoggle · 08/04/2019 07:28

We had most of our childhood holidays at either of my grandparents houses on the Suffolk coast. I now feel very lucky that they lived there and were brought up there as to buy a holiday home there would have been well beyond our means. We had endless days at the beach, poking about the little seaside towns and villages, exploring the heaths, it was wonderful. We would often go several times a year. My parents got to see their parents (we lived 100s of miles away) and we got to see our beloved grandparents. Of course they fed and watered us while we were there, grandma had always made a few cakes etc too.

Would find it weirder to go and 'housesit' for them while they weren't there!

DobbyTheHouseElk · 08/04/2019 07:29

Sounds perfect to me. We did similar as a child. We had relations who went abroad for the summer hols and we went to stay in their house. They loved in a very expensive place on the coast. We had a massive house and garden all summer for free. It was amazing and very fond memories of that time.

SewButtons · 08/04/2019 07:34

My favourite holidays are at my in-laws. Prefer it while they are there though as they don’t let me lift a finger. Someone else doing all the cooking and carrying the mental load - bliss!

crimsonlake · 08/04/2019 07:35

Ignore your friends comments, it sounds as if you have lovely in laws, lucky you and enjoy your holiday.

BurrSir · 08/04/2019 07:37

I live very close to Great Yarmouth (Less than 20 minute drive) and people I know from here go on holiday there! Now that’s strange!

Springwalk · 08/04/2019 07:38

Your friends sound envious!

You are both fortunate and should make the best of it, why not, it is a lovely opportunity for all of you, inc your in laws. Ignore the comments.

Foreverexhausted · 08/04/2019 07:38

We used to do this at my grandparents house and they only lived a one hour drive away and they weren't near a beach or anything exciting but we loved it. And looking back I think it gave my mum and dad a break from each other because dad would stay at home :)

I'm thinking if taking my children camping in their grandparents garden this summer for a few days and they only live half an hour away from us so god knows what your friends would think of me.

Foreverexhausted · 08/04/2019 07:40

Oops posted too soon was going to say it sounds like a lovely break.

labazsisgoingmad · 08/04/2019 07:40

we do home sitting for a living part of our pet care business your arrangement sounds brilliant everyone happy no expensive accommodation

Provincialbelle · 08/04/2019 07:48

I deliberately take my children on holiday in the U.K. from time to time even though it’s not necessarily cheaper, because I want them to see a bit of their own country. There is something ridiculous about this belief that a holiday must involve flying etc

GillianUsedToLiveHere · 08/04/2019 07:49

Sounds absolutely lovely. Enjoy it.

HumptyNumptyNooNoo · 08/04/2019 07:55

And they get a house sitter - win win I'd say.

Ragwort · 08/04/2019 08:16

We used to do this a lot as my DPs had a beautiful home a very traditional ‘holiday’ destination, the equivalent would have cost thousands to rent. We would sometimes ‘swap’ houses with them as they liked the area we lived in (also a holiday destination ). We had over 20 years of fabulous (& free) holidays until they moved to be nearer us in their 80s. It really spoiled us when we realised the cost of holidays.

The only slight downside, looking back, is that it can’t have always been that easy for my DH to holiday with the in laws. Although he didn’t complain.

havingtochangeusernameagain · 08/04/2019 08:26

Not in laws, but my husband's family used to go to Kent every year to stay with his mum's friends who had a huge house. It is vaguely in a touristy area but not to the same extent as a lot of other seaside places. Personally I think it sounds quite dull but he loved it and when his brother (and father) died, they both wanted their ashes scattered on the beach nearby.

We often spend time with my mum as she lives in a touristy area of Devon. Mostly just for a weekend as her house isn't very large but if she had a bigger house and wanted to leave it for us to use it while she went away, I am sure we'd take her up on it.

It's no different to renting a holiday home in the UK is it, but cheaper.

Also don't see what the problem would be with leaving the fridge stocked with M&S goodies.

BricksInTheWall · 08/04/2019 08:28

We do this for a week a year. Sometimes shoot down for a long weekend if it's half term and work allows. DPs parents live in a beautiful old coastal town down south in an amazing home. They love to have us and we love to go, they're amazing people. Some days we will do things with them, others we go off on our own but always come back to dinner cooked and spend the nights having a few drinks together. Because they're always at home though we do give them money towards food bills and pick up extra bits, take them for a meal etc

Sounds lovely OP, enjoy

havingtochangeusernameagain · 08/04/2019 08:31

Oh and on the UK issue - there are so many lovely places to visit here. you can't beat Scotland on a sunny day. The Antrim coast is amazing. You've got large and small cities with so much to see and do - eg Edinburgh, York, London, Canterbury, Liverpool to name but a few examples. I'm not a beach person but there's no shortage of beaches if you like them. And then you have all the national parks, castles, stately homes. I'd have said there is something for everyone unless you want guaranteed skin-roasting sunshine which I know some people do.

And if you can avoid the school holidays you more or less have a lot of places to yourself, too.

x2boys · 08/04/2019 08:38

If they live in a holiday place is seaside resort or somewhere with lots of things to do I think it would be great not so much if it was a week in Blackburn, we always holiday in the UK as it's all we can afford.

BiddyPop · 08/04/2019 08:48

We have stayed in DPIls house o occasion, just us.

We have often stayed in my DPs holiday house - sometimes family trips, sometimes just our nuclear family - and love it.

And we have often rented SC places or gone to hotels around the country as well on holidays.

You really, really don’t have to go abroad to have a holiday, enjoy lovely food and scenery, and come back refreshed (maybe even more refreshed having not dealt with airports etc!).

BiddyPop · 08/04/2019 08:49

We have gone abroad on holiday as well though - sometimes even just across the water to the UK! Sometimes sun, or snow, or long haul....

Generally all lovely holidays whether staying in our country or going abroad.

Jebuschristchocolatebar · 08/04/2019 09:01

When we lived in apartment we used to stay in my parents house when ever they were away. It was lovely. My parents also have a holiday home and we go there for most holidays and my mum still orders is an online shop to be there when we arrive- I’m 39 and totally spoiled

PunishmentSnart · 08/04/2019 09:04

I think it’s nice, as long as you don’t steal their duvet...

Flip

1 2 3