Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be so fed up of having to book everything!

123 replies

Acunningruse · 05/07/2021 11:46

I know, I know, Covid, restrictions, social distancing, blah blah blah. But I am just so fed up of having to log in, fill in loads of forms and tick boxes, choose a date in 2 weeks (upon which it will be guaranteed to rain) to just visit a National trust/other gardens/castle place which is OUTDOORS and about seventy billion acres anyway?!

We have a week's holiday in the UK booked and I am dreading the associated admin that goes with it. No more waking up and making a plan of what to do over breakfast - no we probably need to book tickets now, before we even go, not knowing what the weather will be like or what else is in the area! Then how to keep track of what is booked for each day?! I go on holiday to get away from being on my phone all the time but this year will have to have it constantly in hand to book the bloody tickets, find the QR code, scan the NHS app...

Anyone else feel the same and do you have any tips?

OP posts:
Spyro1234 · 05/07/2021 12:45

I totally agree, there is no spontaneous fun anymore. I'm so bored of hearing about covid. I've deleted the app and can't wait to just get on with life now

Backhills · 05/07/2021 12:46

I like knowing you'll get in and that it won't be over crowded.

I particularly like being able to book a table for drinks and turning up knowing you'll be able to get a table.

TiredButDancing · 05/07/2021 12:54

100% agree. It's not that I mind booking some things, but the absolute impossibility of anything even vaguely spontaneous is so frustrating. Especially when it's all just a bit ridiculous. We have a centre parts trip planned and we've booked our swim sessions now. which is all well and good but it frustrates me that we have these two set slots and if we are, for example having a good time in a playground, we can't just stay longer until we feel like going to the pool. Plus, our trip is after "freedom" day but I have no doubt that Centreparcs is going to maintain the restrictions - much more opportunity for us to spend money elsewhere if we can't just mooch down to the pool whenever we feel like it.

Some stuff is fine, but on holiday especially I don't want to prebook and pre plan every minute. I want the option to arrive earlier or later or to spontaneously decide that we're going to have dinner at a different restaurant because we've all suddenly got a craving for burgers instead of pizza.

Sigh.

rookiemere · 05/07/2021 12:55

@Backhills I agree with the pubs and selfishly I'm not looking forward to tables being crammed back in again, but I know the pubs and restaurants desperately need the revenue from more footfall.

Dishwashersaurous · 05/07/2021 12:57

I hear you combined with the unpredictable weather makes everything a gamble.

I don't want to go to a farm park in the pouring rain but I have to boom three weeks in advance to get a place

Narwhalsh · 05/07/2021 13:03

YANBU. We recently had a long weekend booked which we couldn’t go on because of last minute work commitments, but instead of just losing the cost of the accommodation, we lost the cost of all of the activities we had to prebook too (which we would have otherwise just rocked up to on the day!!)

Bibidy · 05/07/2021 13:14

Yessssss I completely know how you feel.

We recently went to Devon for a week, and it was so stressful having to book into dinner every night or worry that we wouldn't get in places. Having to decide what time we wanted each meal before we were even there. Luckily there was general space for walk-ins for lunch, but not always.

And I absolutely agree about the outdoor stuff too, it just puts me off booking anything at all because it could be torrential rain by the time my booking comes around.

LittleMissSneezy · 05/07/2021 13:16

I hate it too

if you'd asked me before Covid if I was a spontaneous person, I would have said no. Now I realise most things I did beforehand, I didn't plan to the nth degree weeks in advance!

friend of ours booked a late weekend away but then couldn't get into any of the nice restaurants because they were all booked up in advance!

Jaxhog · 05/07/2021 13:18

I mean it's a real pain and so time consuming. Surely it's better we all get covid and have done with it. I mean I'm sure the NHS will cope.

Well, boohoo. So we all have to plan ahead a bit more. Better that than killing other people.

Jaxhog · 05/07/2021 13:20

BTW, not all NT places require pre-booking. We went last Friday without a booking. No problem.

ZingDramaQueenOfSheeba · 05/07/2021 13:22

it's one of the reasons we are not going on holiday.

to me the whole point of a holiday is not to have a timetable.
We always research what's nearby& available but like to get up and decide on the day, depending on weather, mood, energy levels.
The very last thing I'd want is to be restricted by pre-booked crap especially if normally we'd just change plans - I can't be arsed to worry about refunds/ losing money on nonrefundable deposits or having to go with gritted teeth.

urgh. just no.
I hate this crap

Sugarplumfairy65 · 05/07/2021 13:29

@justinhawkinsnavalfluff

I mean it's a real pain and so time consuming. Surely it's better we all get covid and have done with it. I mean I'm sure the NHS will cope.

So the clinically extremely vulnerable including the 30% of the 220,000 of those with blood cancer who haven't developed enough (if any) antibodies from the vaccine should be ok then?
There's more important things in life than your fucking spontaneous days out!

KatieKat88 · 05/07/2021 13:30

The weather gamble for outdoor stuff is a massive PITA. See also booking to go to a playgroup a week in advance- who knows if DD or I will be in the right mood (e.g. did we get any sleep the night before), if it will lovely weather and we'll have to go anyway because other people would have liked that spot so can't just not go that week... not a major issue in the grand scheme of things but still irritating!

Youdiditanyway · 05/07/2021 13:34

Hate it too, especially since everything needs prebooking weeks in advance to be in with a shot of getting a slot. We were at the coast over the weekend and it was so refreshing to be able to walk into a museum off the street and it not be fully booked, ditto a pirate ship experience.

I’m most bored of trying to get a place at toddler groups. I have an 11 month old and 2.5 year old and I’m honestly going stir crazy at home with them all week but can’t seem to find a local group that has a slot! I miss the drop in sessions, they were great. No pressure to turn up if you couldn’t that week and enjoyed the spontaneity. The National trust things are a bit silly, totally agree with that. It’s a wide open space.

TwoleftUggs · 05/07/2021 13:35

100% totally agree. Pain in the arse, all of it and I’m so fed up of the whole malarkey. We have a week away coming up and I have no idea yet what I want to do or when I want to do it but if we don’t have it booked before we go we won’t get to do any of it. Already looking forward to coming home tbh

Youdiditanyway · 05/07/2021 13:35

Also agree with the weather aspect, it’s tough to book something outdoors weeks in advance without knowing what the weather will be like.

KatherineJaneway · 05/07/2021 13:36

@kindaclassy

just have diner in the pub, problem solved.
With so many people holidaying in the UK this year, I don't think walk ins will be anywhere near as easy as in pre-Covid times. I've already booked my meals out for my holiday in August.
HotChocolateLover · 05/07/2021 13:37

Me too! We went to a National Trust place the other week. There was barely anyone there yet we still couldn’t go in the house, only the gardens. It’s hardly as though we were about to start snogging everyone 😂 So fed up now.

whynotwhatknot · 05/07/2021 13:38

I dont mind then again i havent been doing much-must be a pain on holiday though
im sure by next month will be easier to get in places

kindaclassy · 05/07/2021 13:39

KatherineJaneway

I just meant to stay in the same pub (so 1 booking) instead of booking the restaurant and having to book a second place later on.

Screamingcowboy99 · 05/07/2021 13:39

Or even better, you book it all, pay for it all and your kids bubble at school burts. So you have to spend all weekend in with them and be out of bloody pocket. Angry

userxx · 05/07/2021 13:44

@osbertthesyrianhamster

It's shit. Going abroad next week where there's none of this carry on and can't wait.
You sure ? Someone I know booked restaurants in advance before they flew over.
quizqueen · 05/07/2021 13:46

My local leisure centre has just stopped bookings and minimum numbers for swimming from today.

Bibidy · 05/07/2021 13:55

The worst thing is that some of the pubs and restaurants don't even actually keep proper track of their bookings, especially if booked a little way in advance. A few times we have shown up for booked dinners to see obvious surprise and some shuffling around of tables.

Luckily so far they've always been able to squeeze us in but it's not like you can just walk around and find somewhere else.

BogRollBOGOF · 05/07/2021 13:56

I haven't had the heart to pre-book stuff since last autumn when everything was so uncertain with different areas going into different tiers at different times. Also the threat of being caught up in DCs isolating and having to cancel.

I like being spontaneous and working with the mood and weather.

We went away for a few days at May half term and just did outdoors things like hiking and takeaway so there was no stress of having to organise things and have the punctuality battle.

Swipe left for the next trending thread