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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:
ssd · 06/07/2021 11:29

I think theres nothing worse than going on a break and having all your times planned out. Just get a chippy and sit somewhere.

MorrisZapp · 06/07/2021 11:29

It's so shit. I had a big birthday recently and had to book a meal and drinks out. How do i know how long the meal will last? Or which pub we'll fancy afterwards? It's like every weekend is now Hogmanay. Planned to the minute and organised by committee.

And even Premier Inn is crap now as you have to admit to a waitress what you actually want for breakfast instead of just privately taking whatever you damn fancy.

tallduckandhandsome · 06/07/2021 11:29

@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.
I detected sarcasm here but everyone seems to be taking your post seriously!
sweeneytoddsrazor · 06/07/2021 11:30

Considering how much emphasis MN generally place on sharing of life admin, how it should be done 50/50 and so on, I am surprised how many of you are spontaneous.

Bargebill19 · 06/07/2021 11:34

I no longer do things. I just don’t know my work schedule further than a week at a time. Dh doesn’t know his schedule day to day. So we don’t bother anymore.
Friend wanted to book swimming at a leisure center - could not book for her child as her child doesn’t have an account (8 yr old). Child can’t have an account as under 18…..
Couldn’t book on her child via her own account either. Catch 22.
Bonkers.

TiredButDancing · 06/07/2021 12:22

@TotorosCatBus

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"

Yes this. The one I'm finding odd is how most ice cream places used to let you try a flavour with a tiny spoonful. Great for kids who were nervous about going out of their comfort zone of chocolate/mint/strawberry. But now.... that's a no "because Covid". what exactly is the increased risk in giving DD a tiny teaspoon of ice cream vs giving her a large ice cream I've already paid for!?
MargosKaftan · 06/07/2021 14:29

I do wonder if this will be "fixed" by the 19th July and ending restrictions on numbers, many places are only letting the socially distanced number book in advance in case the restrictions were extended again, so they didn't have to cancel. I'd expect lots more tickets /tables becoming available from 19th when the extras are added.

I've also found several places "booked up" on line in advance, if I call them just before I want to go, they have spaces, because some people who should have already been there have cancelled/haven't turned up.

WeDontLikeCricket · 06/07/2021 15:10

I love having things booked and being organised however last weekend after we finished dinner we fancied going on for a few drinks and ended up walking round for ages not being let in to several pubs with loads of empty tables. So frustrating. Can't wait to go back to a mix organisation and spontaneity.

Coasterfan · 06/07/2021 15:26

I m normally pretty organised and plan our weekends a couple of months in advance anyway even before covid so we know what we are doing and to get discounts, so day to day it doesn’t bother me. Our holiday last year was utter shit though!! We always go to cornwall in the summer holidays, if it’s nice, beach day, if it’s raining something else but last year on the crap weather days there was nothing to do as everything was booked and I didn’t want to book in advance spending money on the zoo etc which we can do any time in the landlocked midlands when there’s potential for a lovely beach day! We ended up spending multiple rainy days on the beach which wasn’t fun!! For the rest of the year we just stuck to theme park short breaks as they were much better!

Toddlerteaplease · 06/07/2021 15:26

You don't have to book some NT places any more during the week. But I do wish they would let you book further in advance. I must admit. I'm glad I've booked all the things I want to do when I'm on holiday. I like to have a plan.

welshladywhois40 · 06/07/2021 15:50

There is one place where you can only book on line and then get charged an admin fee!

Blondeshavemorefun · 06/07/2021 15:53

Will we need to Pre plan and book after the 19?

MargosKaftan · 06/07/2021 15:59

I think companies won't need to hold info for track and trace after 19th, and will be able to have larger numbers in / less spread out tables, no more table service in pubs etc so they can manage with fewer staff ratios. Hopefully, more places will be open to spontaneous trips out.

(However expect weekend of 23/24/25th to be completely rammed !)

TheGoogleMum · 06/07/2021 16:54

I agree. It's annoying. I chose where to take DD one day the other week based on where we didn't have to book in advance as I'd left deciding a bit last minute!

randomsabreuse · 06/07/2021 17:05

It's the weather that really makes planning in advance difficult. Some activities need cool weather, some need sun and it's frustrating when you have had to book well in advance to secure something then the weather is totally wrong for it!

randomlyLostInWales · 06/07/2021 17:06

No - we feel like this too.

Having said that we did manage to get to a new nearby city and both tourist places were fine with people turning up - though we checked before going there - second place did have to send some people after us away fro 15 minutes as they'd hit their capcity limits but they did come back.

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 06/07/2021 17:09

I think it’s great!

Everything is so much less crowded and no having to queue for things on the day!

Excited101 · 06/07/2021 17:12

Tried to book in for the baby to go to soft play today, last night, but it was already full on that time slot. Then I tried to book for a local museum but that was full too. So we spent the wet morning sitting out in the rain at the playground, again. And the cafe where we ate biscuits just so we could stay in there 🤷‍♀️ Then we walked down the high steeet and went in some shops just for something to do. I hate it.

GreenCrayon · 06/07/2021 17:28

@GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing

I think it’s great!

Everything is so much less crowded and no having to queue for things on the day!

But as I've already pointed out the limited capacity in many instances is actually costing some places more money to open that they are making. Its just not sustainable.
randomlyLostInWales · 06/07/2021 17:29

I think one of the reasons we hate it is we are dependent on public transport and our feet- we do walk long distances.

So the weather has a massive impact on what kind of day it ends up being travel wise as well as the actual attraction suitablity for the variable weather.

rantymcrantface66 · 06/07/2021 17:58

Yes it's a pain, doesn't work with our spontaneous lifestyle at all so we just do different things now

StrictlyAFemaleFemale · 06/07/2021 18:26

Tips: I researched all the activities available during the summer holidays and put them on one calender. Then held a family meeting and went through it to see what everyone wanted to do. Im about to do the same with our summer holiday because its a holiday park so theres a lot available. Dc have asd so we need to manage their expectations.

ivfbabymomma1 · 06/07/2021 18:28

I'm kinda in a catch 22 about this! I hate the booking and planning but when your actually there it's nice when things are a bit quieter 😂

SecretOfChange · 06/07/2021 19:06

I can't afford a holiday this year so feel little sympathy but even if I did have the money I'm not sure I'd entertain the reality of current covid restrictions. So I agree that it's a pain but at the same time I think it's a first world problem, really. Find something else to do, for now? That doesn't cost the earth and doesn't require so much planning?..

kindaclassy · 06/07/2021 19:10

I can't afford a holiday this year so feel little sympathy

but it's not just holiday, is it. I like the bookings personally, but surely they apply to any outing, diner, day out...

Even taking the kids for a swim needs to be booked in advance. Days out with national trust cost next to nothing!