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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Holidays are crap

114 replies

Basketofkittens · 22/08/2019 21:18

Before anyone says anything - yes I’m lucky to be able to go on holidays...

But...DH and have decided that we have had enough! Currently on holiday and got stranded when the hop on hop off bus didn’t show up and had to pay quite a few Euros for a taxi back to the hotel. Standing in the sun in 35C for 90 minutes.

Had a couple of poor meals that feel like complete wastes of money. Got sunburn despite factor 50. Find other tourists pretty rude and entitled. Breakfast in the hotel isn’t great, staff all seem really fed up.

Then there is all the hassle of getting to and from the airports, security etc. The flight was awful, turbulence, dirty cabin, cabin crew clearly didn’t want to be there, nor did they care about safety.

We recently went to Paris and got caught up in the riots. Luxembourg was awful, nothing to do and changed hotels due to noise. Ibiza was okay but not much to do and we aren’t really beach / pool people.

Between us we’ve travelled to around 35 countries so we are pretty experienced.

The only holiday I enjoyed recently was a long haul holiday to visit family that my parents paid for - think business class and luxury hotels, no hassle at all. In fact the airport and flight were enjoyable!

But most holidays we just walk around getting hot and grumpy and everywhere is so busy and we spend loads of money eating.

We are seriously thinking of just not going abroad for a few years now.

OP posts:
Titsywoo · 22/08/2019 21:53

When you say stay at home do you mean literally in you home or do you mean you'll holiday here? There are so many wonderful places to go in the UK anyway - I'd be happy to do several short breaks in the UK each year.

chomalungma · 22/08/2019 21:54

So does everyone else really enjoy every holiday

There are bits of them that are a bit crap. We have a saying for when it's really hot - "Sarlat hot". Named after a very hot day in Sarlat when we were wandering around, getting hot and grumpy. Never again. We both know what it means.

But I have enjoyed every holiday I have been on overall. Because DS and I know what we want from our holidays.

Original poster
Basketofkittens · 22/08/2019 21:55

Literally in my home with Netflix 😂

Maybe some UK breaks.

Maybe I am spoiled. Shrugs. Hard to tell from a few words on a screen isn’t it.

OP posts:
PurpleDaisies · 22/08/2019 21:55

Even with regional airports, there are usually better, more expensive options.

PurpleDaisies · 22/08/2019 21:56

So does everyone else really enjoy every holiday?
Not every moment of every holiday but in general, yes.

Original poster
Basketofkittens · 22/08/2019 21:56

Because this is MN, people can’t just say YABU and why but have to call me whiny and spoiled etc. 🤷🏻‍♀️

OP posts:
missmouse101 · 22/08/2019 21:56

I cba with all the faff of holidays, the packing,the staying in a hot, uncomfortable room, the travelling, the expense...I agree OP.

chomalungma · 22/08/2019 21:57

Maybe I am spoiled. Shrugs. Hard to tell from a few words on a screen isn’t it

So what do you want from a holiday? What do you enjoy doing?

Vibiano · 22/08/2019 21:57

Don't go on package holidays then you can take scheduled flights. Go when it's not hot like October or November.
Had several fantastic breaks in Italy in November.

lazylinguist · 22/08/2019 21:58

So does everyone else really enjoy every holiday?

I do! I can only think of one holiday ever that I didn't enjoy - a week's UK canal boat holiday on a smallish canal boat in October with the in-laws.

Other than that I love all our family holidays (and loved all my holidays when I was a child and a young adult). Maybe I'm easily pleased! Grin

Original poster
Basketofkittens · 22/08/2019 21:58

We can only holiday outside of term time at the moment.

OP posts:
chomalungma · 22/08/2019 21:58

We are seriously thinking of just not going abroad for a few years now

So what would you like doing on a UK holiday, if you don't go abroad?

lazylinguist · 22/08/2019 21:59

Oh and we don't do 5 star hotels and exotic destinations. We do self-catering and camping (although just went on a cruise, which was fab!).

itstrue · 22/08/2019 21:59

For people who have been to so many countries you would think you would know what sort of holiday suits you!

We all have different travel styles and the perfect holiday for my family certainly isn't for my best friends one.

We like to cram ours full of activity, with little crowds, no beach/pool relaxing and destinations where the currency exchange is in our favour makes it easier to be enjoyable. Our perfect holiday is not for everyone! But it suits us!

Work out what you want and then it's easy to have the perfect holiday everytime!

RosaWaiting · 22/08/2019 22:02

Have you bought into the idea that holidays are essential? You might find you’re happier staying at home.

SiberianCake · 22/08/2019 22:02

I've enjoyed holidays I've set up through Airbnb far more than packaged ones. I would recommend not going somewhere that is popular but instead, choose somewhere that you find interesting. Maybe something you really want to see, a museum to visit, or a food to try. Don't put so much pressure on it to make sure you do a token holiday with the normal sun activities. Go to other cities in Europe for the cultural experience and have fun.

Original poster
Basketofkittens · 22/08/2019 22:02

chomalungma - Museums, art galleries, reading, drinking coffee. I liked Berlin but I can’t really remember why. Lots of museums and nice restaurants. Liked the atmosphere.

Sardinia beach holiday - lots of reading and swimming but it was a very quiet, luxurious resort.

REALLY loved Australia and Singapore and would happily live there.

Maybe I need a lottery win and private jet or something!

OP posts:
chomalungma · 22/08/2019 22:06

Museums, art galleries, reading, drinking coffee

Not my cup of tea - but there must be lots of places for short city breaks with self catering and a chance to eat out in a range of restaurants.

Personally, I love driving abroad and camping. Nothing beats a barbecue, some wine and a lovely quiet campsite in Europe. With croissants in the morning.

Justaboy · 22/08/2019 22:07

Simple OP stay at home and reduce your carbon footprint your children's children may be around to thank you for it;)

TSSDNCOP · 22/08/2019 22:09

Ours was terrific.

Factor 50 lotion will only slow down the effects of the sun. It’s a cream, you see, not a lead lined suit.

CheshireDing · 22/08/2019 22:09

What about Rome or Florence based on what you said you enjoyed previously ?

So much to see in both places.

underneaththeash · 22/08/2019 22:14

We don’t like the heat so much in Europe over the summer, so we’ve been to

  1. British Columbia - last summer (Vancouver, Whistler and Vancouver Island)
  2. South Africa - Cape Town And safari last October.
  3. This summer Cornwall and CP.
  4. We also love Ile de Re and Norfolk in summer.
gilliansgardenbench · 22/08/2019 22:21

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ReanimatedSGB · 22/08/2019 22:21

Maybe think about what you want, rather than what you think you 'should' want?
You do sound a bit of a whiner. I might have had more sympathy if you were one of those women whose 'family' holidays consist of doing all the housework and childcare in some damp caravan somewhere - the DC and the H have a 'wonderful' time, but for the woman it's just the same shitwork in another location.

FirstTimeFlyer · 22/08/2019 22:23

You might be better off staying in your house and watching paint dry.

You know, if there isn't anything good on Netflix.