DH thinks overnight stay is pointless for 4 hour round trip

[Usernamqwerty]

Thinking of taking my little man to Thomas Land. It's 2 hours 15 minutes away by car according to Google maps. I want to break up the driving by going up the evening before, staying over (found a hotel at a good price), entering the park at opening time and then driving back afterwards. DH says this is silly and I should just get up in the morning and go and drive back afterwards. I am not a big fan of driving, but he is... AIBU?

Your idea sounds perfect, its long day when you have 4hrs worth of driving to do, enjoy

I would prefer to stay over the night before too. I would find over 4 hours of driving plus a day in a theme park too much even without a small child in the mix.

I wouldn't stay in a hotel for that but then I think that's quite a short journey. Up to what you are comfortable though

Neither of you are unreasonable but if you can afford the hotel it would certainly be my preferred choice although I think I would stay the night after rather than before. It's not like it opens at dawn and then you have a nice hotel to look forward to and you will be tired.

I definitely wouldn't stay overnight for such a short journey. It would make the whole trip so much more expensive.

4 hour round trip and especially with kids is too much in one day. Your option is perfect x

I'm with your husband. I wouldn't stop over for that visit to be honest.

Is your DH going with you?

I did this with DD at a similar age and we had a lovely time.

It was nice to go out for dinner together and then snuggle up in the room with a film on the iPad. Meant that we were up early and straight in the park.

Many years on DD talks about the hotel room and the breakfast rather than the theme park!

I wouldn’t mind doing the driving and going for the day.

However, your idea is a good one of making it more of a short break. So, it’s really a different thing altogether. Could you sell it to him better if you make it more of a two day/one night trip? Two days out, instead of just the one?

Don't forget that it's going to be a very demanding day, not a relaxing one. So it's not just 4.5 hours behind the wheel you're considering. It's 4.5 hours driving PLUS around 5/6 hours on your feet caring for a very excited child. I'd stay over if the option is there. Why put yourself through a 10 hour day with no breaks if you don't have to?

2 hours each way is nothing
If you can afford it and want to stay overnight by all means do so but it’s not needed

I live about 15-20 minutes away from Thomas Land so wouldn’t get away with a hotel stay 😂.

I actually think it’s a really good plan though. The day out itself will be tiring. It just makes it a bit more special to have an overnight stay too.

Where were you thinking of staying?

Ah, lots of opinions! 😁

No he wouldn't come as well (we also have a two year old and a lot of it would be wasted on her). Plus would need two hotel rooms as DH needs his own room (medical reasons). The hotel afterwards sounds good actually, thanks! 👍

I'd prefer to drive on the same day. Overnight stays are always so much hassle.

P.S. When DS2 was at uni in Plymouth I used to prefer to stay overnight to split the journey. But that was 4 hours + each way.

Twice I drove there & back in a day out of necessity. Not fun.

I did this when ds3 was small. It was a great trip and like a previous poster the whole eating out and staying in a hotel room was so exciting for him (and it wasn’t a very exciting hotel!). We hit the park as soon as it opened and he wasn’t tired or grumpy from a car journey. If you can afford it, it’s much more of an adventure.

Premier Inn! Good price and free breakfast for kids 😋. Stayed at one in Kent last year and was very impressed 😊

I definitely recommend this for theme parks. Means you can definitely get there early and then you get the pick of the rides. No stress over traffic on the way there. If he's not going to be the one actually driving, it's your call.

I think it depends upon doing the driving, if you are the passenger it will not be tiring for you. If you can afford the break that would be a nice treat though.

If it’s not too expensive stay over, it will be much more relaxing. As someone else said, it’s exhausting walking around theme parks. Have a great time!

Yes, my son still gets excited when we drive past a Premier Inn now because he remembers it from last year 😁

If you can afford it, stay in the Thomas hotel on site. DS loved it at that age - various wooden train tracks around the hotel, he had a Thomas bunk bed and met the Fat Controller over breakfast. As a hotel, a Premier Inn is probably nicer, but if you're not local and only going the once, it's a nice thing to do to get the full Thomas experience!

Definitely do that then. My DD is 10 years younger than DS2. Some of her favourite “holiday” memories are actually Premier Inns we stayed in visiting her brother, as opposed to actual holidays 😂. A very good value way of making the visit more special xx

Surely 2h15 is with good traffic. Could take longer!!!