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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

For not wanting to holiday abroad?

486 replies

chocolatelog · 24/04/2019 10:28

Myself and 4 out of 5 of the children haven't been abroad. We don't even have passports.

Dh and the 3 oldest all want to go on holiday this year. Dh has found a holiday for 10 days in Spain and is pressuring me to go but I've got zero interest. My eldest (17) has been with her friends family so she's got the bug and is begging me to go.
A part of me feels like I should go because before long the kids will be older and won't be interested in going with us, but I just can't be bothered with it all. I filled in one passport form and that was enough to make me go 🙈 it took 5 attempts at getting it wrong, so the thought of filling in 5 people's worth is enough to put me into an early grave!

The two youngest are 5 and 2 and I feel like it won't really be an enjoyable experience for me, dh is very hands on with them but I'm a stress head and get into rage pretty quickly 😬

Plus the money for passports and the actual holiday for 7 people makes me think we could use it for better things, we both need a new cat each and I'm thinking I'd rather those than a pissing holiday 🤦🏻‍♀️

I don't know if my attitude to it all is because I've never been abroad, I'm quite happy to spend a week in Cornwall or Dorset or anywhere else that this country has to offer. The thought of flying and watching the kids like a hawk just doesn't appeal to me in the slightest. Is it a case of what you've never had you never miss? Or should I just put my happy face on and agree to going?

OP posts:
TeacupDrama · 24/04/2019 11:46

you don't have to sit around or sunbathe go somewhere with stuff to do near a town, or hire a car so you can go different places every day kids also love exploring ruins climbing rocks the youngest have no preconceptions
but if you would hate a beach pool holiday it is not really being abroad that is the problem but the type of holiday
barcelona would be better loads to do but still beside the sea the kids would love Park guell

regularbutpanickingabit · 24/04/2019 11:47

Yes, you are. For so many reasons!
However it doesn't sound like this particular version of going on holiday is going to ever be appealing to you so maybe you need to do some research (or ask on here for help) to find something that you would find more acceptable.

Not going away for more than a couple of days even in the UK is a real shame. I understand a love of home comforts but that goes beyond that and is definitely limiting the opportunities for you and your children to explore new things and new places, even more locally!

So maybe you should write down a list of all the things you are most anxious about and we can think about ways to make you feel more comfortable or cope with those. eg.

Not wanting a villa with a pool - going somewhere with a communal pool that means kids can't just run in and out of your apartment/villa and straight in to water.

Liking your own bedding - take your own duvet cover and sheets so they smell right for you.

Wanting your own brand of tea - take it with you.

Not enjoying lounging in the sun but the others do - finding somewhere that has easy access to lovely walks/castles/activities and a place for the flop and sun for those who want it.

Wanting different things out of a holiday - agreeing to compromise on each person choosing a day's worth of activities and everyone else agreeing to do that happily knowing they have their own day coming up. Half the fun of any holiday anywhere is the planning and research beforehand. The more you can find out about your destination, the more fun it should be when you get there and lots of the unknowns are removed from your anxiety.

Form-filling - get someone else to do it first so you can literally copy exactly what they have done or send their version in.

Money - yeah, that's a tough one! But if you can think of a budget that gives you a holiday but doesn't break the bank completely then think of it as investing in family time and experiences. Difficult to imagine if you have never had that as a child yourself, I realise. Maybe you use the budget for one car only this year and the other car budget goes on the holiday. You get the car out of the deal.

Being ragey - why? What triggers that? Can you see a GP/hypnotist/homeopath to get to the bottom of your own triggers and strategies to cope with those? Not great to penalise your kids for that sort of behaviour.

You get the picture.

Remember, no-one has the right to dictate to everyone else and that includes both you and your husband. It seems like it has been your way for a long time, it might be time for you to open up to trying something new for a change. Just work out the best way to create a good experience for all of you.

So what WOULD you like in any kind of holiday? Where do you go for those 2/3 day breaks?

DexyMidnight · 24/04/2019 11:47

So you could afford a family holiday abroad and there's no good reason (exams, medical issues, lack of parental consent, a dying relative) to stop you going, you just think you don't like "forrin" stuff and would rather have a new car?

OP I think you're not being honest here this is clearly a wind up. No one is as pig ignorant and woefully selfish as you're professing to be.

If this isn't a joke then I hope your husband leaves you and finds someone interesting and fun to live his life with

sighrollseyes · 24/04/2019 11:49

None of the OPs comments make sense. Only done weekends away because can't afford anything else but that was in the past! So why is it a problem now.
There's more to it than OP is making out.

goingonabearhunt1 · 24/04/2019 11:49

I can't imagine never wanting to leave England but otoh you are being great for the planet!

I suggest you go but everyone in the family gets to pick 1-2 activities they'd like to do so everyone gets a bit of what they want. So for example, one beach day, one trip to a castle, one morning wandering round a market or whatever. Because I'm with you on the fact that just lying by the pool for a week is kind of a waste (and I think your DC would soon get bored and manic if you did this).

goingonabearhunt1 · 24/04/2019 11:50

If the DH can afford to go to Vegas I'm assuming they can afford a wk in Spain unless circumstances have changed.

Bluesmartiesarebest · 24/04/2019 11:51

Sorry to say it but you sound very set in your ways and a bit narrow minded even though you are presumably under 45 (based on you having a 2 year old child). How do you know it will be awful if you’ve never been? There’s very good reasons that so many British people go to Spain every year.

Personally I would suggest a Spanish villa holiday once your youngest child is a bit older. Flying with a 2 year old isn’t fun and keeping small children out of the hot sun is tricky. Take the pressure off the situation this year and say that you will go next year to give yourselves more time to get passports sorted out while saving up for the holiday.

chocolatelog · 24/04/2019 11:51

@DexyMidnight 😂😂 hilarious.

I would just rather see where my money's been spent. Holidays are a waste of money imo with nothing to show for it at the end, yes there's memories. But memories won't matter when dh is walking the 80 miles to works when he has no van.

OP posts:
Shadycorner · 24/04/2019 11:52

I was going to come on here and say I understand about the anxiety and hassle (although with five DC those aspects arguably pretty much the same in UK and Spain). But it's a lot to deal with and
I have a deep fear of DC drowning.

But I'm afraid you lost me with "I've no interest in seeing other countries". That's your prerogative of course but you shouldn't inflict that attitude on your dc and dh.

NoBaggyPants · 24/04/2019 11:52

Do you have a health condition or disability that makes you act this way? People might be more understanding if there was some explanation for your attitude (that otherwise comes across as irrational and selfish).

outpinked · 24/04/2019 11:54

Filling out a form is not difficult, you’re making excuses. Just go and enjoy yourselves, it’s important to engross yourself in another culture from time to time.

LadyRannaldini · 24/04/2019 11:55

It’s significantly easier to look after small children in the sunshine at a resort designed for holidays than in the rain in England

It can also be a lot cheaper than entertaining them in the rain in England.

RavenLG · 24/04/2019 11:55

I think there needs to be some compromise here. The kids and DP want to go abroad, you say you don't want to because you'd be bored around the pool/ on edge because of the pool and like your home comforts. So why not talk to your DP and establish a compromise and ground rules now. You agree to go abroad for a week. One day DP has the kids and you get some alone time chilling in the villa with some magazines and a cuppa. Another day you all go out to do some cultural sight seeing? It doesn't seem fair that (if you can actually afford to go) if everyone wants to go and you're saying no due to your own issues.

Passport applications online. Do one at a time and do well in advance so you're not stressed out and get DP to help. It's step by step online, no worry about caps or black ink. Get the kids some safety lessons / booklets or whatever for around the pool.

goingonabearhunt1 · 24/04/2019 11:56

I think if you can't afford it you can't afford it (sounds like you can't if DH needs money for work van) so maybe save up and go another year?

DexyMidnight · 24/04/2019 11:57

Right so why go to Devon or Cornwall? They're not cheap OP, by anyone's standards, you could have holidayed in Bognor Regis and saved at least 1k if there's 7 of you. Better still you could have stayed home, given the kids a wooden spoon each and kept yourself safely out of harm's way of unfamiliar bedlinen. Give it up, wind up merchant.

WillGymForPizza · 24/04/2019 11:57

Ive no interest in seeing other country'

Wow you sound like great company... it's Spain not Outer Mongolia, and in the summer is usually overrun with Brits. It's practically a home from home, s you don't have to worry too much about being over exposed to anything too 'forrin'.

chocolatelog · 24/04/2019 11:57

Nope no condition I'm just set in my ways. Dh has been abroad so he's not missing out and has another Vegas trip lined up for later this year. He wants to take the kids away for a family holiday. Dh is more laid back than me and we clash. I know I won't enjoy it because there will just be rows and arguments and we can do that here, don't need to spend thousands to do that.

I have a fear of heights too so not even sure how I'd be on a plane. I might get there and have a panic attack then what happens? I come home and he takes them all because he's paid.

I just look at things at all different angles it's how I am.

OP posts:
thelastgoldeneagle · 24/04/2019 11:57

If your h wants to go, then leave the passports and organisation up to him. Then see what happens...

The PO offers a passport checking service. Once you've done one, the others are easier...

And add up all the costs of 7 passports, villa hire, flights, car hire, etc. Your h might think that a UK holiday is better value...

There is no more need to watch your dc like a hawk in Spain than there is in the UK, though - not sure why you think that.

And get a villa with a gated pool.

And before you go, look up what there is to do in the area. if you hate lying by a pool, talk to your dh.

What does he want out of a holiday? Will he look after the dc and do his share? If not, you're perfectly entitled to say you don't want to go, but I don't understand people who say they have no desire to see another country... How can you not?!

If you don't like pools and sunbathing, go in Easter or October and sight-see, when it's cool enough to walk around!

chocolatelog · 24/04/2019 11:58

I can't even get them to go on a walk here. So I doubt then want to sightsee there.

OP posts:
sweeneytoddsrazor · 24/04/2019 11:58

If someone posted that their DH thought holidays were a waste of money and refused to do more than the odd weekend as a family he would be called controlling, abusive and the advice would be ltb. Your kids wont give a shiny shit about your new car but they will remember holidays their whole life. Stop being a selfish cow and take them on a proper holiday either in this country or abroad.

RosaWaiting · 24/04/2019 11:58

so OP, like most of us, you are in a dilemma about spend/save as well?

I totally get it. The cost of going anywhere makes me wince. I have got it, but it's nice to know it's there for the inevitable "boiler has packed up for good" kind of issues.

Bungalowbeth · 24/04/2019 11:59

I can't imagine never wanting to leave England but otoh you are being great for the planet!

What? Not getting on an already scheduled flight after having had 5 kids? Sounds great 🙄

InspectorClouseauMNdivision · 24/04/2019 11:59

I would just rather see where my money's been spent. Holidays are a waste of money imo with nothing to show for it at the end, yes there's memories.

Culture experience and learning new things? Seeing that there is life beyond La Manche?
What holidays give you fully depends on you and what you make of it.
Just please, don't ruin it for everyone else. It looks like that's what you are actually setting up for.

thelastgoldeneagle · 24/04/2019 12:01

I'm very anxious about it all. I'm a homebody I like being at home with all my comforts. We've only had long weekends away. We've not even had a week away
I get stressed, I lose my shit, and dh and I will have a slanging match

Well, then you need to do something to sort out your anxiety.

DexyMidnight · 24/04/2019 12:01

Hey btw OP, if you're unable to fill in simple forms is there any reason you felt fit to procreate once, let alone five times?

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