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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To feel down about UK holiday?

173 replies

WoahThereNelly · 20/07/2021 08:09

Of course I already realise I am BU when some people don't get holidays at all, have been horribly impacted by covid etc.

Just using this to vent and get some perspective.

Feeling so gutted that we can't go to France to see family we haven't seen in over a year. It looked like we could go, then at the very last minute the rules have changed again and now we can't. We do have a 1 week UK holiday booked but it won't be as lovely, or seeing family, or getting out of this country!

Feels like we've worked all year, through all this rubbish...for nothing...and now it'll be another year again before there's another chance (we only ever get a few days in the other holidays, with longer ones at summer).

Ok, tell me I'm being ridiculous and hopefully I'll feel better about it. Just feeling v sad and flat at the moment.

OP posts:
Original poster
WoahThereNelly · 20/07/2021 08:33

Thank you all, yes I definitely will go on TripAdvisor and try to find some lovely things to do. If the weather is like this it won't be so bad....I'm just crossing everything that it doesn't rain the whole time or I may actually cry as the places we're going are really quite rural, intended for dog walking etc.

OP posts:
Turkishangora · 20/07/2021 08:35

I sympathise, we're off to North Yorkshire next week sharing a big holiday property with another family. I'm dreading it, it's predicted to be cold and rainy most days which means non stop planning as to how to fill our days as we can't just by a a pool/mooch down to the sea. Trying to entertain teenagers hard work in the UK, in the rain post covid. I try to make the most of it with UK holidays but the crappy weather and overpriced mediocre food you get outside of big cities just finishes me off....

Mindymomo · 20/07/2021 08:39

We went to Suffolk a couple of weeks ago and despite not really feeling it would be good, it turned out great. Had to either book pubs/restaurants or arrive early (we have a dog). Also any places we visited had to be booked beforehand and you take a gamble on the weather. It was lovely to get away and do different walks and wake up somewhere new. We took my single brother, who was good company for our adult son.

Deliaskis · 20/07/2021 08:42

YANBU OP. It's the latest in a long string of disappointments for lots of people. Our overseas holiday was written off ages ago as it was meant to be May. We're off to Dorset in a couple of weeks and I'm sure it will be lovely. We also had a week on the Solent in May, so I know we're lucky to have got away at all. I love UK holidays, really love them. We had an amazing week sailing in Scotland last year. What I miss, so much, is the feeling of being somewhere culturally completely different. Picking up a restaurant menu and not understanding half of it.... seeing villages and markets that are not touristy, but where people just live a very different life to us... seeing a wide variety of landscapes (and yes I know the UK has a lot to offer in this respect as well, but I miss seeing 'elsewhere') ...and so many other things. It's wonderful and enriching and intriguing and I love it. And I miss it.

I'm sorry you won't see your family this summer, it must be really tough. It sucks, and it doesn't make anybody a bad person to acknowledge that.

gogohm · 20/07/2021 08:44

It's disappointing but needs must. We were meant to be meeting up with lots of friends overseas but it's not happening, Scotland here we come instead - booked sc to avoid the closed restaurants issue

Thisisworsethananticpated · 20/07/2021 08:46

You can go to France
Just have to lay low at home afterwards

I’ve just taken kids to spend summer with dad

I’m prepared to face the so called risks however !

But it’s always possible

Just stressful

StepladderToHeaven · 20/07/2021 08:47

It is disappointing OP. Moan away!

rookiemere · 20/07/2021 08:48

I totally get that you're disappointed not to see family but UK holidays are really not that bad.

We had amazing weather in the Lake District and are heading to Whitby on Saturday where I've got multiple activities booked for DS and his Pal so it doesn't matter if weather isn't as good.

Although talk to me again if I can't go to Tenerife in October- what I really love is a blast of sunshine in the winter months. For some reason I've convinced myself it will be happening although current logic dictates otherwise.

What I'm finding hard at the minute is the infinite nature of this. Last summer we were totally convinced this would all be sorted by now, now I'm reluctant to move things forward to summer 2022 because not convinced we won't still be in this mess.

BananasAboutBananas · 20/07/2021 08:49

Yep, we are the same . Just came back from a week in the UK which was .....fine. Moan away.

hellcatspangle · 20/07/2021 08:51

Also OP, book something places to eat etc before you leave (with as much notice as possible) as everywhere is very busy and short staffed. Nothing worse than wandering around hungry and finding everywhere full.

rantymcrantface66 · 20/07/2021 08:53

We have very close family and friends abroad in the country I lived for 10 years and my dc were born. We usually spend 3-4 weeks every summer and this is the second year of not being able to go. I accepted back in April we'd not be able to go to save any last minute disappointments. I could see how things were going even back then. Thankfully there are some really lovely places to explore and the weather has been nice so we've already had a fabulous stay with friends and a sunny camping trip. Got another booked for next week in a stunning part of the country so making the most of it all.

Original poster
WoahThereNelly · 20/07/2021 08:53

@Thisisworsethananticpated Sadly our work / shared custody situ means we can't do the quarantine upon returning to UK so it really isn't possible for us. We would have quite happily taken on the cost of all the pcr tests etc.

OP posts:
GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 20/07/2021 08:55

I’m just worried that something will happen to make my U.K. break not happen - eg we catch covid or something. Or have to self isolate, but it’s just after the rules change on that one.

That’s another awful thing about the pandemic- we can’t whole heartedly look forward to anything.

Original poster
WoahThereNelly · 20/07/2021 08:56

@BananasAboutBananas yes that's it, isn't it...the difference between Fine and Fabulous. Which sounds such a total first world problem but when you'd really been hanging everything on this holiday as a chance to reset, refresh and get through another year, it hurts. And obviously the not seeing family layer makes it extra sore.

OP posts:
MsTSwift · 20/07/2021 08:56

We have teens who love to read and swim paddleboard and sunbathe too so we do that in the day interspersed with trips to local towns in the evening to wander about/ eat out. We got to Venice last summer and saw it half empty which none of us will ever forget. This year we’re going up north for a week. I can’t get excited about it. I know I am being unreasonable.

Plump82 · 20/07/2021 08:56

No you're definitely not being unreasonable.
I'm going to York the end of this week and the weather looks awful. Can't believe the bad luck considering Monday - Friday is perfect weather. We've not been anywhere since 2019. Our honeymoon was cancelled and this was meant to be a 1st anniversary celebration but looks like we're going to be stuck indoors most of it.
For those saying the uk has some of the most amazing scenery etc. Yes, true but when you don't drive it really does limit your options.

Demelza82 · 20/07/2021 08:57

Foreign holidays are a luxury not a necessity

rantymcrantface66 · 20/07/2021 08:57

@hellcatspangle

Also OP, book something places to eat etc before you leave (with as much notice as possible) as everywhere is very busy and short staffed. Nothing worse than wandering around hungry and finding everywhere full.
We couldn't be bothered with that so have just been getting takeaways and a bottle of wine from the chiller in the supermarket and finding somewhere nice outdoors to enjoy them, or having bbq's. Bonus that it's cheaper that way too.
ShanghaiDiva · 20/07/2021 08:57

I think it’s understandable that you are fed up especially when rules change at the last minute and hopes are dashed once more.
As pp have mentioned books some places before you leave to guarantee entry. We went to a few national trust places when away last week and many still had limited entry so not over crowded and booking in advance guaranteed entry.

ShanghaiDiva · 20/07/2021 08:58

@Demelza82

Foreign holidays are a luxury not a necessity
Did you miss the part where op will miss seeing family in France...
dottiedodah · 20/07/2021 09:01

Of course we are blessed with a beautiful Country/Coastline here. However this lady has been looking forward to travelling to France and seeing her family! No matter how lovely it is here ,it wont make up for a double disappointment! YANBU at all .We are due to go to Kent for a few days in September .Looking forward to our trip obv .We were due to go to US last year to see friends .Hopefully this will still happen in the future ,but it is absolutely Ok to feel disappointed ATM!

ScottishDiblet · 20/07/2021 09:05

I am the same as you! Off to Lakes on Sunday and just not that excited. Trying to get motivated to pack but it’s not the same when you are packing waterproofs instead of swimsuits and sun cream.

CloudPop · 20/07/2021 09:06

@FuzzyPuffling

Yes, you're being unreasonable. But you know that.
Not unreasonable at all to be gutted at having to cancel yet another much anticipated event. Especially when it was looking like you could you. It's incredibly disappointing. However it's clear that there are a large number of people who can't/won't understand that.
NakedAttraction · 20/07/2021 09:06

Yep, you are totally ridiculous. If that's all you have to worry about, then you have been incredibly lucky over the past 18 months!

Did you miss the part where they now cannot see family who they’ve not seen for a long time?

BillyWhozz · 20/07/2021 09:06

As someone who loves UK holidays and is heading up to N Yorks next week YANBU. It's not about UK vs Abroad, it's just the teasing of the light at the end of the tunnel then not quite getting there, especially when it keeps families apart.