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

Original poster

to hate holidays?

39 replies

onthewatchlist · 30/01/2020 15:08

I know a lot of people don't enjoy holidays after having children but I don't feel like I ever really enjoyed them. I don't like being away from home, I don't like travelling, I don't like packing, or unpacking, or unfamiliar beds. I absolutely loathe flying to the extent I have not been abroad since DS was born 4 years ago. My preferred "holiday" is just taking a week off work and pottering around with DH and DS, going on day trips and out for nice lunches.

I did a fair bit of travelling pre-DS and I've been to some lovely places but honestly 99% of the time I'd have been just as happy at home with my book and a cuppa. AIBU?

OP posts:

ZaraW · 30/01/2020 15:12

YANBU if that's what you prefer. I live to travel, meeting new people, having a break from routine. I will never visit all the places on my list. Have been to around 40 so far.

Original poster

onthewatchlist · 30/01/2020 15:13

Meeting new people is genuinely one of my least favourite things on earth, so perhaps that's why I don't like holidays

OP posts:

Upsetmidwife · 30/01/2020 15:25

I am exactly the same as you OP. I hate the relentlessness of it all. Hardly relaxing. I also loathe the insistence of PIL who want to go away with us multiple times a year. It seems like it’s not even for the enjoyment, only for bragging rights in the Christmas round robin

damnthatanxiety · 30/01/2020 15:27

I used to love it. I have lived in 4 different countries and visited countless others. Suddenly now in my 50s I've had enough. All the organising and packing and unpacking. It seems like such a hassle. Maybe in a few years I will enjoy it again. Who knows.

Caramel78 · 30/01/2020 15:30

I always love the idea of it but on the day of travelling I get very anxious and I seem to be guaranteed to always get food poisoning abroad too or have some sort of illness. I don’t sleep well unless it’s my own bed and I don’t like extremes of temperature such as very hot humid weather. Jet lag also kills me too!
I now prefer to holiday in the UK or just stay at home. If I do go abroad then it’s somewhere within a 4 hour flight away and I’ll just go for a long weekend.

Original poster

onthewatchlist · 30/01/2020 15:31

I just can't be bothered with it! I quite like going away for the occasional weekend but honestly within 3 days I'm ready to come home again.

OP posts:

Caramel78 · 30/01/2020 15:33

I went to Japan recently and I was counting down the hours until i could get home as I had an IBS flare up there, terrible jet lag and just missed all my home comforts. The journey seemed to take forever too. I felt so ungrateful as it’s a lot of people’s dream destination and it cost a lot of money but It’s taught me not to do a holiday like that again

belay · 30/01/2020 15:35

I agree with you OP. Before having a child we loved to travel but we haven't been able to face it or risk it now

Inforthelonghaul · 30/01/2020 15:35

Holidays without children are lovely and relaxing. Holidays with children are mostly hard work with the odd lovely bit thrown in.

ZaraW · 30/01/2020 15:36

I love Japan visited for the cherry blossom. Tokyo and Kyoto were amazing, the Japanese are so polite and helpful. I hope to go back soon.

TwoleftUggs · 30/01/2020 15:36

We were in our 20s and childfree when easyJet and Ryanair were at their cheapest, and embraced it fully. Used to absolutely love the variety of destinations and several holidays every year. Now in our 40s with older children who don’t like change of any sort, it doesn’t have the same appeal, and I hate all the thinking that goes with any holiday. I’ve just lost the enthusiasm, I hope it comes back soon!

Original poster

onthewatchlist · 30/01/2020 15:36

The thing is, I don't think holidays with DS are any worse or, indeed, any better than holidays without him. I have always not particularly enjoyed holidays.

OP posts:

Tennapenny · 30/01/2020 15:37

For folk like you and me YANBU OP! As I have got older the thought of the hassle of organising it all bores me. Not helped by having animals that would need sorting out with care if we went away and a disabled DC that really can't cope with trips away, so we just don't bother!!!

I would however not mind if someone took away ALL the hassle of organising a holiday, animal care, packing, unpacking, travel etc etc and just 'put' me on holiday somewhere for a couple of weeks. That I could do with, big time!

Original poster

onthewatchlist · 30/01/2020 15:40

I am really pathetic and actually also hate being away from my cats when we go away

I'd be better with holidays if I could teleport there.

OP posts:

Smellbow · 30/01/2020 15:44

I hated the packing, being away from my dog and being in an unfamiliar bed. We got a campervan, keep certain things packed in it and don't go too far from home. I do love the comforts of my own house still though .

motheroftwoboys · 30/01/2020 15:44

I love holidays and they are, and have always been, the best thing I can spend my money on. I enjoy all the research and planning - finding the best deals for our money. My parents never went on holiday and I didn't go abroad until I was in my mid 20s. Our family holidays - when our sons were younger - were brilliant and gave us the very best memories. Now our sons are grown up we go on our own and so much enjoy spending time together and seeing new places and exploring them and experiencing them. Love, love, love it.

givemehopepls · 30/01/2020 15:45

Depends. I prefer holidays in the UK because I love nature and the countryside. Nothing beats being in the hot tub in torrential October rain- bliss!

My only exception for abroad is Paris. Beautiful city, people and food. Plus I speak the language. Everywhere else? meh.

LettertoHermoine · 30/01/2020 15:46

Exactly! If you could teleport there! I hate the packing, getting the animals minded, the airport, the waiting, the travelling, the flying, the getting to the hotel etc etc. I find it extremely stressful, you are not alone.

Paddy1234 · 30/01/2020 15:47

I completely agree with you - go on holiday all the time with the family but can't admit I would rather be at home ❤️

lovelove9 · 30/01/2020 15:49

I can't relate to this - I love holidays and we have 3 young kids! We travel 3-4 times a year and yes the packing/unpacking is a bit of a pain but I do think it's all worth it. We have made so many great memories and our kids have learned so much. Maybe because my best and most memorable childhood memories were going away with my parents so I want to recreate that for my own kids. Although I grew up going to lower budget camping/cottages and the same warm vacation destination every year which we drove (never flew) but my dad worked like crazy to be able to take us to these places. I loved it!!

caperplips · 30/01/2020 15:49

Nope, we're the exact polar opposite of you and we LOVE travelling .
But I think if you don't enjoy it you're better off not doing it. Looking back it is clear that my mother felt as you do about holidays. We didn't go on many when I was growing up but those we did have she completely and utterly ruined. Every. Single. Time. To the point where I hated holidays and didn't want to go with them (her!)

She was stressed, anxious, cranky, martyred and 100 % a killjoy on any holiday. She also made herself physically ill with worry / anxiety every time so we had daily updates on the state of her insides I have not travelled with her in 30 years and I don't image I will again.

On the plus side, it made me aware of myself and I am a very different traveller and we are very relaxed and always have a good time! dd loves travelling and has never viewed it as a hassle and has travelled extensively both short and long haul

wobblywinelover · 30/01/2020 15:49

I agree OP , I don't enjoy holidays much. I don't mind a long weekend but that's about my limit. The main thing which puts me off as a single parent is the cost of it all, I have so many other things which need spending money on and I see it as a waste.

Nicolastuffedone · 30/01/2020 15:54

I prefer a long weekend somewhere....usually about 2 hours from home!!!

BarkandCheese · 30/01/2020 15:55

I love holidays, and I’m lucky my DD is a good traveler and DH and I are on the same page as to what we enjoy doing. However you’re not being unreasonable disliking them, you like what you like. I dislike plenty of popular things, sport, wine, soap operas, superheroes to name a few.

FizzyIce · 30/01/2020 15:55

I LOVE holidays but just wish I could take my bed with me as rarely sleep well on holiday

Flip

1 2