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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Husband booked a holiday,I don't want to do,aibu?

605 replies

breadbreadwine · 22/05/2021 10:44

My husband has booked a holiday for the half term.
I thought fab,just what we need...till he told me he has bought a 6 man tent and we are going away to Scotland for a week in a tent.
He's booked a parkdene tent holiday.
It was £155 for 4 of us and he has paid £700 for a tent.
He has bought sleeping bags,fridge etc
He said it's to save money.

Aibu here ?
A week in a tent in Scotland with 2 kids who don't sleep anyway.
I'm not high maintenance but I'm worried about the toilet /shower situation

I'm not happy

OP posts:
osbertthesyrianhamster · 22/05/2021 10:58

@breadbreadwine

It's the park in Dumfries I would have enjoyed a nice caravan I fancied center parcs. He bought the tent on eBay too which makes it worse as he can't return it. So looks like we are stuck with it.
No, he is stuck with it. Don't let him control and bamboozle you.

We're holidayed in Dumfries at a different park in a caravan that I made sure was quite far from the facilities as quieter.

We got very lucky in that the weather was stunning for all but the last day but I would not have wanted to be in a tent in that.

And I'd not go on a tent holiday. He'd be going alone.

Elieza · 22/05/2021 10:59

Have you googled the site? It will tell you about all the facilities.

While you’re on google the caravan prices and see how they compare to his expensive tent (which must be pretty good for that extortionate price). If a caravan is cheaper and he’s not opened the tent could he get his money back on it?

I’d be raging that he spent that amount of money without discussion first. Is he one of those “I’m the man whose Big Important Job pays for this family while you look after the kids and only have a petty part time job so I make decisions with my money as it’s not family money it’s mine as I earned it” types? Sod that if he is.

lockdownalli · 22/05/2021 10:59

Is there any way he can return the tent? I would go ape shit about this tbh.

No way would I go on this "holiday"

If he won't return the tent tell him you hope he has fun with the kids. You will be enjoying the peace and quiet at home.

CassandraTrotter · 22/05/2021 10:59

Ha cross post!

We love Southerness. We went every year with my parents before lockdown. They like the lodges. Their children’s entertainment team are very good (if still the same). And the pool is great.

We went to Dumfries and Galloway last year and stayed in a house in the isle of whithorn. We went to the chocolate factory and the rock museum which aren't too far from Southerness. My son loves rocks. But if you wanted to go further afield D&G is stunning.

Wigtown is worth a visit for readers!

bonbonours · 22/05/2021 10:59

Do you have any other camping kit? Because if not there's going to be a lot more expenditure before the trip. If you go with nothing but a tent it'll be pretty miserable, there are a lot of camping essentials. However if you're not sure you want to do it and haven't done it before it would be better to do a glamping holiday first, or borrow stuff from someone.

Totally unreasonable of him to book this and buy a tent without consulting you.

DinosaurDiana · 22/05/2021 11:00

I’d be fuming at the waste of money. And no, I wouldn’t go.

lockdownalli · 22/05/2021 11:00

Sorry, incomplete post. Return the tent and use that money to pay for caravan on the site. I loved caravan holidays with my DC when they were little.

HoldontoOneMoreDay · 22/05/2021 11:02

Southerness is really nice!

Sell the tent - someone else will buy it on eBay as everyone is looking for that sort of stuff right now - phone the site and get moved to a caravan. Use the extra money to pay for it. Job done. Like fuck would I be camping, we go there often and it is brilliant but it's not the sunniest part of the world.

CassandraTrotter · 22/05/2021 11:02

And we always visit mabie farm park, which is great, in Dumfries and the dinosaur park too, which is at a garden centre.

osbertthesyrianhamster · 22/05/2021 11:02

@CassandraTrotter

Ha cross post!

We love Southerness. We went every year with my parents before lockdown. They like the lodges. Their children’s entertainment team are very good (if still the same). And the pool is great.

We went to Dumfries and Galloway last year and stayed in a house in the isle of whithorn. We went to the chocolate factory and the rock museum which aren't too far from Southerness. My son loves rocks. But if you wanted to go further afield D&G is stunning.

Wigtown is worth a visit for readers!

Yeah, lodge, with own bathroom, kitchen facilities, running water, real beds.

I agree, the area is lovely, but in a tent? He'd be going on his own.

But then, I wouldn't be with a twat who did things like this.

Shoxfordian · 22/05/2021 11:03

Sounds shit
He can go on his own

Crunchymum · 22/05/2021 11:04

Well the good news is the weather actually looks decent in Dumfries for half term week.

That is about the only good news though.

I'd be so fucked off about the lack of consultation, the huge expense of the tent, the utter lack of respect about my wants and needs etc.

FWIW we have booked an Airbnb for half term (seaside town) for the same he paid for your tent.

Schrutesbeets · 22/05/2021 11:05

Return the tent or sell it on and book a caravan there. Park Dean are great for families.

GrandDuchessRomanov · 22/05/2021 11:05

Just tell him that as you were given no input or chance of discussion that hell will freeze over before you would be doing that and stick to it.

CassandraTrotter · 22/05/2021 11:05

Oh don't get me wrong, I think op is right to be really annoyed, and I think parkdean is expensive for campers. I've stayed in statics there much cheaper than their tent pitches.

I was just trying to show the positives of the area and what's there.

But absolutely, he has been a prick.

TidyDancer · 22/05/2021 11:06

I wouldn't go. My feelings on camping are well known in my family and if DP booked this I'd be waving him off with the DCs and enjoying a week to myself.

IceCreamAndCandyfloss · 22/05/2021 11:07

I’d tell him to enjoy it with the children and stay home. Camping is not a holiday to me whatsoever.

Chloemol · 22/05/2021 11:07

I wouldn’t be going. I would wave him and the kids off and stay at home

romany4 · 22/05/2021 11:08

Wave them all off and have a relaxing time at home

THis is exactly what I would do. Just no

FelicityPike · 22/05/2021 11:10

Southerness is brilliant, but I wouldn’t fancy it in a tent either.

Stroopwaffle5000 · 22/05/2021 11:10

I just can't get past the fact that he booked all this without even discussing it with you, that is so controlling and disrespectful! Big purchases like this should be decided together!

FishyFriday · 22/05/2021 11:11

He's going to have a lovely week in the tent with the kids. I'd suggest staying at home and enjoying sleeping.

Peridot1 · 22/05/2021 11:11

You aren’t stuck with it. Lots of people are looking for camping stuff so he could probably sell it again easily.

I’d hate it too. I might do a nice caravan but no way would I do a tent.

MikeWozniaksMohawk · 22/05/2021 11:12

Well he can have a lovely time with the kids while you stay at home then.

I’d also be fuming, OP.

LittlestBoho · 22/05/2021 11:12

Sell the tent on ebay and switch to staying in a caravan instead. He can't dictate that the whole family have a miserable time in a muddy tent with no proper toilets or kitchen facilities. That's not a holiday for you.

If he refuses to sell the tent then he can take the kids camping alone and you can have a relaxing time at home. Don't let him railroad you.