to never go on holiday again

[Draculadeadandlovingit]

We spend just under a grand to stay in a caravan park for 4 days and just got here today but i already want to go home.
ds 5 ( has sn) has been a nightmare hes hit his brother, ran out of the caravan naked, major meltdowns, he keeps on trying to open windows and climb out si me and dh and sleeping in shifts tonight:(
ds2 has just been unsettled and throw his 10 quid burger on the floor.
my other two have been fine and made friends with other kids.
why do i think a hoilday would be nice?

YANBU> I have always thought holidays vastly over-rated and in many ways a total waste of money.

@FaceyRomford

YANBU> I have always thought holidays vastly over-rated and in many ways a total waste of money.

100% a complete waste of time and money!!

Overrated, I think, too.
Reality rarely matches expectations.

I don’t have kids and I love holidays…perhaps next time it might be easier to enjoy an adults break where you actually get some alone time, although realise this is a luxury if you can’t get childcare!

Aww OP that sounds tough. Buuuut, holidays can be brilliant. UK breaks are hugely overpriced and when it’s possible, you’d be better off going abroad. Hope it improves.

Look on the bright side. At least you've not flown halfway across Europe for the pleasure.

Holidays with dc are wearing. Maybe they will have lovely happy memories of it. And you can look back on it from your sunlounger in Spain as an older person thinking how much sweeter life is again!!!!

Perhaps they just need to settle into a new environment & routine. I really hope you can enjoy the rest of the holiday. At least 2 of your DC are having a nice time. Try and ride it out for them.

I think all the organising, packing/ unpacking etc etc etc is hardly worth it for a week away.
I'd rather go infrequently and for longer.

Meh, each to their own. We love it.

YANBU not to though

Sorry you're not enjoying it OP the first day/night will probably take some adjusting to for your DS who has sn.

Obviously no help now but in future, could you look at a cottage rather than a caravan? More space and more like 'home' for the kids. Even if you went less often due to them being more expensive?

Can you wear the kids out during the day - park/walks/beach etc. Might help them sleep a bit better.

The two year old chucking his burger is probably just one of those toddler things.

I remember our first holiday with DS (he was 8 months). It was hideous -he didn't sleep and seemed to just whinge all week. I felt like we had just wasted the money we had spent.

Fast forward a year and it got better. He's 7 now and holidays are actually enjoyable with him as he enjoys going out with us/can eat out/happy to have a chill at the cottage etc.

I do only have the one though

@FindingMeno

I think all the organising, packing/ unpacking etc etc etc is hardly worth it for a week away. I'd rather go infrequently and for longer.

i think so too. i think day trips are the way forward for us. saying that today has been better and 3/4 kids are currently asleep.

You need to go for longer. I reckon it takes 2/3 days to settle in. And I don’t have children!
10 days minimum 2 weeks really

Day 1 is always tricky. Even my super placid ds can be a bit tricky on day 1. Just roll with it, they should settle.

holidays are pot luck. sorry it's a bit crap.

I have to ask what burger you ate that cost £10. genuine question!
sounds either just outrageously expensive or bloody marvellous!

£10 a burger is standard in a lot of pubs/restaurant chains etc. Sometimes they're nice, often they're a bit shit.

OP in your circumstances it sounds like not bothering for a few years might be a plan.

But you can still have a break at home. If you take time off work and vow to only do the minimum of housework etc, you can use the money you didn't spend on accommodation and travel to have trips out, buy in treaty food, and possibly buy garden toys to entertain DC.

I hope things improve for you and you have a lovely time x

My autistic daughter is reason why we don't go on holiday, she simply can't cope with it. We too prefer days out x

That sounds rubbish, holidays with little kids can be bloody hard work! And I know UK holidays are expensive this year (I am not in the UK), but a thousand quid for four nights in a sodding caravan!!!!

Yes wear them out like a pack of spaniels. Literally with a frisby if needs be.

Hopefully once the children have settled you can enjoy your holiday. Prices are mad this year I agree, everywhere is expensive. Try to make the most of your trip away, sorry things got off to a rough start

4 nights in a caravan with 4 kids including one with SN sounds horrendous. Poor you.
Not unreasonable to avoid holiday until they are all older.
Personally I love holidays but my circumstances are different.

4 days isn’t long enough.

I love holidays (and I have 3DC, 1 with SN) but much prefer going abroad although my DC love caravan parks.

Do you have plans for the days? Give your DC chance to settle in and get used to their new surroundings.

Holidays are great, as long as you pay for shit.

Otherwise its just at times the same shit in a different place. (sometimes worst stuff)

We ended up coming home last night as it became far too much for ds. lots of good memories and overall worth it for my other 3