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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:
Shellingbynight · 05/07/2021 14:15

YANBU. We usually go to a couple of NT places in Spring/Summer but I haven't been at all since the restrictions began, in fact we cancelled our subscription. We found a local place which is lovely and doesn't require you to book in advance, so we've been there a few times.

My local (council) pool stopped the requirement for booked timeslots at the beginning of June. It's bliss being able to just turn up and stay in as long as you like - just like in normal times.

MargosKaftan · 05/07/2021 14:22

National trust also make it very hard to cancel. As we have membership and it costs us nothing extra, we have booked to go to places in advance then decided on the day if we fancy it, but then found it a faff to cancel. So we were no shows.

I wonder if they are struggling with members doing the same, holding places that means they can't sell them to others, or let in other members who'll spend money in the cafe etc.

I hate having to guess in advance what I want to do.

Judd · 05/07/2021 14:29

[quote Sugarplumfairy65]@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![/quote]
I read Justin's post as being sarcastic, not their real opinion?

LondonJax · 05/07/2021 14:42

I know what you mean OP.

We've been very lucky to have been able to book some lovely places through NT and English Heritage as well as local independent places. I do actually like the feeling of less people and it's lovely to be able to see things without being crushed during school holidays.

But, we were talking about this at the weekend. We haven't booked a holiday this year and are looking at places for days out or overnighters in the summer school holiday. So we're trying to get a hotel overnight booked plus two or three things to do in the area. Some of which don't allow booking yet on the calendar system. So we have to take a chance and book the hotel plus one attraction, keep an eye on the on line booking for the other ones. You just know we're going to forget don't you? Or we won't be able to get a booking that coincides nicely with the other attraction booking.

It was peeing down with rain as we were booking and we were just thinking back to how, two years ago on holiday in the UK, we'd have thought 'oh, we'll do the beach tomorrow, let's go to x stately home today as it's raining' or some other indoor attraction. Not that easy to do this year unfortunately.

Last year it didn't seem so tedious. But then I give my head a wobble and remember that we're both working, all healthy (ish) and have the transport to get to these places - so we're doing more than OK. Pulling my hair out with frustration as another attraction becomes booked up on the day we want to visit is a doddle compared to what many are going through.

RampantIvy · 05/07/2021 14:47

YABU. I love it. I love being able to go to places knowing that I can park and that they won't be too crowded.

MrsMiddleMother · 05/07/2021 14:58

@dreamingbohemian

I guess I'm in a minority because it doesn't really bother me. It's nice to know you have a definite spot, rather than turning up to places to find them sold out or every table gone, and it's nice having things less crowded.

Ideally some places will keep bookings and some won't, and then everyone can gravitate to whichever system they prefer!

I completely agree!
Whatafool123 · 05/07/2021 14:58

@TiredButDancing

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.

The only redeeming feature of Centerparcs, given how expensive it is, used to be that spending all day in the pool was then free. Without that, it will be cheaper to fly to Disneyland in Florida!
HarebrightCedarmoon · 05/07/2021 15:03

It will be really nice not to have to book a slot at the fucking tip. I prefer to book in pubs to make sure we can get in.

GreenCrayon · 05/07/2021 15:05

@RampantIvy

YABU. I love it. I love being able to go to places knowing that I can park and that they won't be too crowded.
Another one over here who really dislikes it. I really miss spontaneity.

I also don't understand the logic of it being great that places are not so crowded. Many businesses are currently operating at limited capacity but if they continue to do so they won't be sustainable. We need places to get busier otherwise many are at risk of closing for good.

HarebrightCedarmoon · 05/07/2021 15:05

YABU. I love it. I love being able to go to places knowing that I can park and that they won't be too crowded

Yes, that's great when it's actually the case. Not when you have to book at theme parks and they let five million people in anyway because they are greedy fuckers who want to sell their skip the queue tickets and make everyone pay double the already ridiculous price.

Stinkysteamy · 05/07/2021 15:06

Having to plan well ahead is normal life for us.
The big pain around NT parks is that we used to be able to use the parks early before the crowds came but now you can't get in lots of places till 10am and autistic ds cannot cope with that many people ( even with fewer numbers) so lots of places he likes are ruled out at the moment.

TotorosCatBus · 05/07/2021 15:07

I thought I wasn't a particularly spontaneous person but I like to at least be able to book the cinema or whatever on the day.

I can see why some businesses will like this. They will know how many people will turn up so can hire less people.

I am more concerned about how many businesses use Covid as an excuse for shoddy service or not offering as much as pre-pandemic for the same ticket price. I think Covid will be the new "Health and Safety"

AliceMcK · 05/07/2021 15:35

It’s a pain in the arse. We’ve got a few days booked away. We are staying in a family friendly hotel with pool and kids a activities which we can book in advance but none of our dates are available yet. They are just releasing dates randomly so I have to constantly keep checking, which I’d forgotten to do over the last few days, so thanks for this post for reminding me. I know I’m going to forget again. It’s the same with the restaurant, breakfasts and dinner need to be booked in advance, but the booking system isn’t available yet ggrrr

SpeckledFrogsLog · 05/07/2021 15:41

Agreed! I miss spontaneity Sad

ThomSands · 06/07/2021 10:38

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Strawberriesandcream21 · 06/07/2021 10:50

Yabu. I love it. I'm a very organised person and hate crowds. I was just saying to Dh last night how much this suits me. I wrote on another thread how annoying the weather is atm because it's so unpredictable but we're not the type to let rain put us off

Even our local chinese you can now message days in advance and pick a time. So much better then ringing 10 times to get through at 5PM and then having to wait until 6 or later for the order. Now I order a couple of days early online at pick up at 5.15/5.30

lollypoppi · 06/07/2021 11:00

It is annoying. Especially if it's the kind of place u need decent weather and u need to book way in advance. Only made worse with school holidays.

We went uk holiday recently and has to book everything the night before which at least wasn't too bad u cld check the weather. Even had to book soft play though. Then u go to enter and they say oh u need to do track and trace...for the umpteenth time that day!

Youarenothere · 06/07/2021 11:11

There’s 2 types of people. Some that like spontaneity, some that like organised fun. I personally can’t think of anything less fun than having to book everything in advance. I too have given up doing stuff.

OverByYer · 06/07/2021 11:14

I agree. We had a week in Cornwall in May, had to book tables for every meal in advance, for every tourist attraction. I hate that life has no spontaneity

igelkott2021 · 06/07/2021 11:15

Didn't you always have to book most things in advance? OK not swimming, although you have to be careful about timing your visit because of school swimming and swimming clubs etc and you could book for pools with flumes etc. People had to book gym classes, theme park tickets, meals out etc especially evening meals. I've always pre-booked the cinema.

It has been really nice that places haven't been packed out. I don't relish everywhere being overcrowded again, but realise that's the only way venues make money.

igelkott2021 · 06/07/2021 11:17

although having to book breakfast in advance sounds mad. That said, some hotels have signs up telling you when the busiest times are if you want to avoid the rush, so I suppose it's only an extension of that.

GreenCrayon · 06/07/2021 11:21

Didn't you always have to book most things in advance?

You have had the option to book lots of things in advance for years such as theme parks, zoos, cinema tickets or calling to make a restaurant reservation but the key part was this was a choice. Now it's mandatory in many places due to reduced numbers hence the lack of spontaneity.

Pre covid I rarely booked anything in advance now I have to book sometimes weeks in advance for even the most trivial of things such as visiting the library or my toddler attending a church hall stay and play group. It makes every activity so much more tedious.

sempiternal · 06/07/2021 11:27

Yes! We've often booked things online in the past but like to be able to decide a day or two before, keep an eye on the weather forecast before week book etc.

We had to book our last day out almost 4 weeks in advance, spaces were filling up so we couldn't leave it any longer. It was the sort of thing that just isn't the same in the rain! Very frustrating.

RampantIvy · 06/07/2021 11:27

While I do miss spontaneity I really do like knowing that when I go somewhere that I can get in and enjoy somewhere without it being ridiculously crowded.

We don't "do" theme parks, I much prefer NT properties, wildlife parks and places of natural beauty.

lazyarse123 · 06/07/2021 11:28

I feel your pain. I am on holiday at home this week and had two garden places I wanted to visit and it's going to rain most days so I am glad I didn't book and lose my money but so disappointed because if we do get a nice day I can t go.