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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To not want to buy a bloody caravan

87 replies

Llamasally · 02/11/2021 18:29

DH is really keen. We have a young baby and toddler. Even a really nice one would be very cramped with travel cot & baby kit etc. DH is incredibly untidy. I’ll be doing all I do at home except falling over everything/children and getting stressed in the process. No one will get any sleep. I would much rather stay in luxury SC until at least they are both a bit more self sufficient - it’s a bloody lot of money for what would be logistically difficult holidays. I went on caravan holidays as a child and had so much fun, but think that started more like school age…

OP posts:

A580Hojas · 02/11/2021 19:41

Caravans are for the retired or child-free who are very enthusiastic about getting out and about all the time.

Otherwise I cannot see the point of them.

Horst · 02/11/2021 19:41

@Llamasally

I’m definitely in the camp of revisiting the idea in a few years time. But now? No. Shudder.

Tell him then once the youngest starts school you are all for it but until then renting somewhere. Even glamping where it’s all set up.

My oldest is 12 youngest 5 and we have camp camped tent camping for a few years now and tbh it’s not that much more effort than renting a static if you have the right equipment.

Helbelle75 · 02/11/2021 19:47

We have a 1 year old and a 4 year old, and I agree caravan would be a nightmare. We do, however, have a folding camper (bit like a trailer tent but living area area in the trailer) and its been fantastic for holidays this year. We sleep on proper mattresses off the ground, and have a lot of space in the awning. Our girls love it. You have to be into camping though.

coldwarenigma · 02/11/2021 19:54

I'll echo that if you like camping then it's a step up...we camped when the kids were young. Could only afford a 'van once they were older..DD came with us but although she enjoyed the holiday she didn't enjoy listening to her father snoring..roll on 15 years we caravan because we can take the dog..we go out of season ..only thing I don't enjoy is towing.

Tal45 · 02/11/2021 20:03

Tell him you want to try out all staying in a caravan a few times before you commit to buying one. Then go once a year for the next few years and by the time you've been a few times the kids will be older and you'll be keener (or you'll both agree it's a nightmare).

Graymare · 02/11/2021 20:05

YADNU! Awful idea, annnoy everyone on country lanes and only be allowed into larger and more "lively" caravan sites, no, no, no!

Notreallyhappy · 02/11/2021 20:06

I'd not buy one...could think of nothing worse..a tin box with your stuff in and two little ones in tow...

TheLovleyChebbyMcGee · 02/11/2021 20:08

If rather cut my own foot off than buy a caravan!

I say that as a caravan Veteran. We took all our family holidays till the age of about 14 away in a touring caravan, and while I have many good memories, I have no desire to repeat that as an adult.

So much work packing the van, cleaning it, making the beds every night and every morning. The snoring, the lack of privacy, putting up the awning,setting up the water......

Original poster

Llamasally · 05/03/2022 11:06

Updating this thread for anyone who searches and finds this considering a caravan /young children.

I agreed to try it out. It’s worse than I even expected. No one sleeps. Lack of proper bed makes everything hurt. Falling over everything. Nowhere for crawling for the baby, no room for energetic toddler and you can’t let them loose because of cars passing and other people, unlike a nice cottage with an enclosed garden. Nowhere to dry anything. Floor and seats and everything filthy and covered in crumbs. Shit. Hope that helps! 😂

OP posts:

Original poster

Llamasally · 05/03/2022 11:07

*young meaning under 1 and 2 years

OP posts:

Bigfathairyones · 05/03/2022 11:09

I have a friend who's DH loved caravanning. He bought one, she sent him off with their 2 young children in said caravan and to be fair to the bloke, it was fine apparently. She, meanwhile, had a lovely quiet time at home on her own. Win:win in my book! Personally, I'd rather gouge my eyes out with a spoon than holiday in one, especially with younger DC.

tttigress · 05/03/2022 11:10

Caravans cost time and money.

Probably cheaper and easier to stay in a hotel or BnB.

MrsMoastyToasty · 05/03/2022 11:20

It depends on whether you meant a static or a tourer. We upgraded from a tent to a tourer. It was OK for a weekend but after staying in it for a week in what was possibly the honest week of a hot summer we decided to sell. Spending a week with an adult size teen and a snoring husband in a tin can on wheels smaller than my lounge at home became my idea of hell. We also witnessed a caravan and awning go up in flames on our campsite which really put me off.
I would consider a static caravan again though. We've tended to book 3 bedroom ones when we have used them in the past because if I have a problem with DH snoring I can move to another bed.

CounsellorTroi · 05/03/2022 11:27

We have some friends who are retired with grown up children, they have a caravan they use a lot during term times when they aren’t doing childcare, it’s a very very nice one and I was quite taken with the idea when I saw it, but I think the novelty would wear off quite quickly. Apart from anything else, cooking smells, it would be like living and sleeping in your kitchen.

Floralnomad · 05/03/2022 11:31

The only thing worse than a caravan holiday is camping , the most I will self cater on a holiday is breakfast IMO if I’m going to be cooking and cleaning I may as well stay at home .

Xiaoxiong · 05/03/2022 11:33

Oh no OP, your update is horrendous

How did you let yourself get talked into it!! Have you said "I told you so" yet?

GameofPhones · 05/03/2022 11:34

For goodness' sake try hiring one already on site first.

bellac11 · 05/03/2022 11:36

@TotallySuper

Tell him you can get one on the condition he does all cleaning and tidying once you have it. If it doesn't clean and tidy it to your expectations you won't be holidaying with him. Men don't get to just be untidy - he does it because he knows you'll clean up after him. Make it clear from the beginning then stick to it.

I would say that the problem will occur when he wont tidy and clean up and now she has an expensive caravan and no holiday (because she will refuse to go with him)

Untidy and unclean people dont just get that way because they think someone else will do it, some dont care that they are untidy and unclean so they would just live like that even if OP wouldnt clean and tidy up.

Oblomov22 · 05/03/2022 11:43

Why do something, anything if you know you aren't going to enjoy it?

No point converting the inconvertible. But we've been happy.

We've had a caravan for years, since Ds2 born. Upgraded twice. It has a big fixed bed that is the comfiest thing ever, and 2 bunk beds that the boys still say are more comfy that their beds at home. We have a huge awning, a proper cadac bbq. The boys learnt to ride bikes there. Always loads of other kids for them to play with. No cars. No dangers. I sit and read books with cups of tea, and then wine, now. We go to Poole, Weymouth, sandbanks. Fish and chips. Ice creams. What's not to like. Uber cheap. A week costs you the same as one night in a Hotel.

But you have time want to do it.

Whammyyammy · 05/03/2022 11:49

YANBU. caravans belong in the 1960s! Towing a tin box round the country at 50mph, clogging up the roads, to park up in a field, so you can spend a few miserable days away from home, cramped in a cold caravan, whilst all going to a toilet in a bucket.
Put the money towards a nice holiday and scrap the caravan idea.

mizzo · 05/03/2022 11:52

The best holiday I had as a child was in a caravan. Lots of freedom, close to the beach, no TV so my parents played loads of games with us.
The worst holiday I've had as a parent was in a caravan. Rained, cramped, four DC including 2 under 2, it was misery.
PIL were so disappointed as they thought we'd love it and want to buy a static and they'd be able to mooch free holidays off us.

Whammyyammy · 05/03/2022 11:54

And how will you feel whilst your on holiday in your caravan, sound of rain hammering on its roof, windows all steamed up whilst looking at your friends posts of their holidays in exotic climates, round the pool drinking cocktails etc.

diddl · 05/03/2022 11:57

@Llamasally

Updating this thread for anyone who searches and finds this considering a caravan /young children.

So is the caravan now for sale?

How did you get talked into it?

Hellorhighwater · 05/03/2022 12:02

I loved my caravan. The one I bought when I DD was four weeks old. I took her away all over while on mat leave and it was lovely. I’ve caravanned since I was a child. My DH came, once. We all hated it. But he hated it because he wouldn’t listen to me about how you do it, he thought he knew better (despite having never been in one before) I hated it because he created so much extra work when it should be easier with two parents and I resented that. After that, I reverted to caravanning alone.

I loved it, but it’s not for everyone. Hire one from camplify and try it out. Don’t smooth the way, let him find his own feet with it. maybe don’t even go? You really need to be tidy in a van and if he isn’t and you are, either you’ll pick up his slack or be driven loopy by the mess. But for pity’s sake hire one first. You are not being unreasonable. Everyone’s entitled to preferences.

GiantHaystacks2021 · 05/03/2022 12:02

Yep, wouldn't be at home to that at all.

The money would be better spent on a few decent holidays abroad somewhere nice.

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