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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

DH thinks overnight stay is pointless for 4 hour round trip

124 replies

Usernamqwerty · 22/07/2020 22:59

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?

OP posts:
Mumdiva99 · 22/07/2020 23:20

I would definitely do hotel if you can. (I find driving 2 hours tiring. But I love staying in a hotel.

(Earlier today I booked a day out 2 hours away and booked a travel lodge for the night before and after - theu are on buy 1 get 1 free at the moment! It makes the day out more fun.)

Eastie77 · 22/07/2020 23:21

We live 2 hours away from Thomas Land and always stay overnight when we visit (usually once a year for DS' birthday). One year we stayed at the onsite hotel and last year at an absolutely lovely farmhouse a short drive away. DP doesn't drive so I prefer not to do 4+ hours driving in a day. Means I can have a glass of wine in the evening which is always needed after a day rushing around with over excited DC. I'm sure you can book something reasonably priced on Booking.com or similar.

Stompythedinosaur · 22/07/2020 23:22

There's nothing wrong with staying overnight if you'd enjoy it, but 2 hours isn't a huge distance to drive for a day out. You could easily get there for opening without the overnight if you were inclined.

Original poster
Usernamqwerty · 22/07/2020 23:22

Thanks for all your comments 😊. Will book something tomorrow 👍

OP posts:
AudacityOfHope · 22/07/2020 23:24

I wouldn't stay overnight for that; a night in a hotel room with a toddler is going to be a pain in the arse. They take ages to fall asleep, then you have to creep around, they wake up early and you worry about the guests in the next room, etc etc.

Bridecilla · 22/07/2020 23:24

Stay at the Holiday inn express, it's 5 minutes away and shares a carpark with the snow place. We did it last year. There's a shopping place nearby with Nando's etc too

AldiAisleofCrap · 22/07/2020 23:25

@Usernamqwerty stay in a travel lodge then you can stay the night before and after. You get second night free.

Mothership4two · 22/07/2020 23:26

Personally wouldn't occur to me to stay for a 2.25 drive, but I am happy to drive long distances. But it would take away the hassle of getting there early and spending all day there if you want.

Busymum45 · 22/07/2020 23:26

Love your idea of staying over ,I'd do the same

user1471481356 · 22/07/2020 23:27

I don’t think 2 hours each way is far at all, and would never normally stay overnight. however, I think it would be nice to add on a night and make it in to more of a getaway. Why not, it will be fun!

Rhianna1980 · 22/07/2020 23:29

Both ideas are reasonable - but with CV19 thrown in the equation, there’s no way I would stay in a hotel now until we know the long term effects of this virus. I would use the car and do it all in the same day.

copperoliver · 22/07/2020 23:30

If you can afford it stay overnight, make some wonderful memories. X

Kasparovski · 22/07/2020 23:31

Seems overkill for a short trip. The nipper will just crash in the back on the way home won’t he?

Isthisfinallyit · 22/07/2020 23:33

That is so personal. My brother used to live 2.15 hrs away from me and our dad. I drove up and down in one day. But if my brother came our way he always stayed the night because he felt it was too much to do in one day. So neitger is wrong or right, it's just personal preference.

Durgasarrow · 22/07/2020 23:34

If it would be fun for you, I would do it. It's not up to your husband to micromanage how you do an outing that he's not going to be helping you out with anyway.

Longdistance · 22/07/2020 23:35

I vote for stay over. We went to Poultons Park to Peppa Pig World (or whatever it’s called) and stayed in a hotel. That was about 2 and a half hour drive. I had my dm with me, it was a long day.
Now my dds are older I quite frequently take them away myself leaving dh working.

MizMoonshine · 22/07/2020 23:36

My OH commutes 2+ hours each way to work and back everyday. Different people are comfortable with different things.

notacooldad · 22/07/2020 23:37

Why put yourself through a 10 hour day with no breaks if you don't have to?
Because I would want to get back home rather than take an unnecessary risk around C-19 in a hotel.
It's one thing wandering around outside and being able to socially distance quite another sleeping in the same room somebody may have been in the night before.

ineedaholidaynow · 22/07/2020 23:38

For many years a hotel breakfast was the best thing about a weekend break/holiday to DS and the thing he would talk about most when he told anyone about our holiday!

ifhedoesntlikeithecanstuffit · 22/07/2020 23:38

We did that for Legoland - similar journey. We stayed in the Holiday Inn Express and had a lovely afternoon walking around Windsor, had a meal out and a train ride, it was as much part of the 'holiday' as Legoland the next day. We went on a TD day in April 2019 and a family room for 4 with breakfast was £30!

Legoland was quite tiring, and DH (who did all the driving) said he was really glad we hadn't tried to go there and back in a day.

Stick to your guns - it makes sense, and as PPs have said, it's all part of the memories.

tunnocksreturns2019 · 22/07/2020 23:40

You are the one going, not your DH, and you are more comfortable staying over, plus sounds like your son would find it really exciting 😀. So go for it!

My two DC and I are spending the next two nights in a Premier Inn near friends we are visiting - first overnight stay since Feb. Can’t wait.

Have a lovely time.

Mintychoc1 · 22/07/2020 23:40

staying in a hotel before or after makes it so much more fun. I’d definitely do it.

mamansnet · 22/07/2020 23:40

I did this when our (non UK) lockdown ended last month. Drove up to the seaside the night before, shared a bed with DS(3) and hit the beach straight after breakfast. He still naps in the afternoon so we got plenty of fun time in before he conked out in the car for the ride home.

It was like a little Mummy-DS holiday treat for us both before DC2 arrives next month, it was bliss!

tunnocksreturns2019 · 22/07/2020 23:41

Btw likely to be a breakfast box, not a cooked breakfast if you do Premier Inn

Rosieposy4 · 22/07/2020 23:41

Unlikely to make memories with young dc, my adult dc keep saying eg I have never been to Edinburgh “ yes you have we took you when you were 6” etc. They remember very little from when they were young.
At that distance I would definitely do there and back in a day as hotel rooms are a pita with young dc, basically you have to go to bed at the same time as them, or read in the bloody bathroom 😳