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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be sad we're not going abroad this year

207 replies

Paraparanoid · 26/04/2019 21:31

We go abroad on holiday most years. This year we just can't afford the 4k plus it will cost our family of 4. Instead we've booked week in a cottage in the UK plus a few nights either side in Premier Inns, so will be away 10 nights at a cost of around 1k for accomodation and allowing 1k for spends. DD (13) unimpressed and I admit I feel a bit worried about crap weather etc although have done loads of research on things to do to keep us entertained. I'm now worried I could've done better with our 2k budget and perhaps could've gone abroad afterall. It would be school summer hols.

AIBU?

OP posts:
ilovesooty · 26/04/2019 22:05

Surely you can side hustle 4k

If it were that simple there wouldn't be so many people genuinely struggling.

userxx · 26/04/2019 22:05

You could have gone abroad for £2k.

BackforGood · 26/04/2019 22:05

If you have been used to doing something, and the dc have grown up seeing that as "the norm", then of course she will feel deprived. She's 13. At 13, most teens feel deprived - it goes with that phase they are in.

Whatever you do - they will know someone who has bigger / better / newer / more trendy / more often / longer duration / etc. etc. It might be that their mate is allowed to watch something on TV that they aren't - it is just a stage they go through.

You are hardly depriving them. Perhaps you should have presented it as 'the chance to see X,Y,Z for a change' rather than 'sorry, we can't afford to.

profumoaffair · 26/04/2019 22:05

On the bright side op, you are keeping down your carbon footprint which is a good thing. It all helps

Geraniumpink · 26/04/2019 22:05

We very rarely afford holidays abroad - but the UK can be great in a different way. We tend to do city holidays as they are less weather dependent - so, for example Bath or York or Edinburgh - masses to do and see. Not the same as abroad, certainly, but still lots of fun.

PumpkinPie2016 · 26/04/2019 22:06

Some families never get to go away anywhere so I think you are being a bit unreasonable.

FWIW we did 2 weeks in Cornwall in July/Aug last year and absolutely glorious weather. We were on the beach and it was like being abroad so you can get nice weather here. Plus, there are some absolutely beautiful parts of the UK to explore - sometimes, we don't appreciate what's on our doorstep so to speak.

MsLayla · 26/04/2019 22:07

I feel the same! We went away on a long holiday last summer, long haul and will be doing the same in 2020. So this summer we only have a very small budget and will be staying in a cottage in the UK for 5 days. If the weather is nice it'll be lovely.

Putyourdamnshoeson · 26/04/2019 22:07

Jeez. I'm having a week camping in Cornwall. Household income of over £60k, my 7 year old has never been abroad. There's time. My kids ate grateful for their camping

MollyYouInDangerGirl · 26/04/2019 22:08

I get you.

I love holidays and prioritise them, so I'd be a bit sad if I didnt go abroad.

Im certain that for 2k you could have gone abroad (Croatia, Greece?) But I'm sure you'll have a good time in the UK anyway :)

Disappearedtothe80s · 26/04/2019 22:08

There was a thread over in chat yesterday about do children suffer if they don't go abroad...and the general consensus was no.

I mean what is this obsession with going abroad anyway? I know people that take their kids abroad twice year but never travel within the UK.

My kids have seen a large chunk of the UK through holidays and even as teenagers they enjoyed it!

hsegfiugseskufh · 26/04/2019 22:09

For me if im on holiday i want warm weather. I dont want to have to be busy doing something every day. If you could guarantee a hot summer id stay in the uk every year but you cant!

joliejoleen · 26/04/2019 22:10

I'm going to Spain for 5 nights in the summer holidays (end of August) and I've paid £890 for the whole thing. 1 adult, two children, flights, hotel, transfer from/to the aiport. It can be done OP ;-)

Branleuse · 26/04/2019 22:11

I love going abroad but have never spent close to that much. Do you go in really posh hotels?

Could you do a eurocamp in france or something

MsJaneAusten · 26/04/2019 22:11

I’ve just checked and you could go on a Jet2 holiday to Spain for around £1200 as a family of four...

If you are staying in the UK though, presumably give booked a good location with plenty for Dd to do and she’ll love it once she’s actually there?

LoveB · 26/04/2019 22:11

Oh my god get a grip. Massive first world problem.

Maybe if all of us didn't go abroad this year, your 13 year olds grandchildren might have an earth to live on.

DesparateDino · 26/04/2019 22:12

Our holiday is costing £1500 for four of us all inclusive to Spain.

2k is a lot for a UK break.

You still have a holiday booked though.

MsMustDoBetter · 26/04/2019 22:13

There is much to be said for the British holiday. I enjoy all holidays, I've never had a bad holiday and I've been to all sorts of places on all sorts of budgets.

As I get older my tolerance of airports and heat is diminishing, so I'm quite happy having a British holiday and discovering some beautiful coastline and countryside.

PositiveVibez · 26/04/2019 22:13

We done Brittany 11 nights a couple of years ago. Ferry/drive for under £1k. Me, dd, dh.

That was August and weather was a bit shit, but the campsite (we stayed in a caravan) was AMAZING.

Would love to go again, but cba this year with the ferry ports etc.

I hate flying tho, so we are staying put and going to Scotland for a week this year, which will cost us more than our France holiday.

hazeyjane · 26/04/2019 22:13

AIBU?
Utterly.

profumoaffair · 26/04/2019 22:14

There was a thread over in chat yesterday about do children suffer if they don't go abroad...and the general consensus was no

Was it? I travelled abroad a lot as a child, and I have to say it was one of the best things about my childhood. I absolutely loved it, and have loved travelling ever since. So do children suffer if they don’t go abroad? Perhaps not. Do they miss out? IMO yes.

RoryGillmoresEvilTwin · 26/04/2019 22:15

My god. I'm feeling devastated for you all. I'm now feeling much better about not being able to afford to take ds on holiday again.
I don't know how he would cope with a 2 grand UK holiday

Pharlapwasthebest · 26/04/2019 22:16

@littleelle
Surely you can side hustle £4K though?

Are you having a forking giraffe? 4K!

puppy23 · 26/04/2019 22:17

There's no need to blast OP because you're jealous or have different priorities or whatever. The weeks I get abroad are always the highlights of my year and I'd be gutted without them too. I hope you do manage to have a good UK holiday instead, but of course YANBU to long for that week of escape in the sun.

underneaththeash · 26/04/2019 22:18

13yolds always find something to complain about. We’re going to the UK this summer (although we did go abroad at Easter and my 12yo complained constantly that it was too hot). Yoy’ll Have a lovely time and you can go aboard next year.

Shockers · 26/04/2019 22:19

I want to know how to side hustle 4K!