Would you drive 7 hours in day for a family meet up?

[Imsunburntandfedup]

Every year my DM arranges a family meet up at a beach in Cornwall where we all get together - it is a lovely beach and rare for everyone to be together at the same time. Everyone else lives locally so it takes between 10mins and 45 mins for them to get there. We are further afield so it is about 3 1/2hrs there and back (including a quick stop at Costa or somewhere similar on route) so 7 hrs driving in all. We have 2 DC so they need a break really.

After a particularly grueling journey yesterday, 2 very tearful kids at various points and finding I have gone bright red from being on the beach too long - I'm beginning to question if I can bear to keep doing this each year. What would you do?

As aside the DC generally do have a good time at the gathering and like seeing my family, but we often have tears/stress. We can't afford to stay overnight and no-one has space to put us up so that's not an option.

Yea I wouldn't be putting myself through this given no one is willing to accommodate you. I think you are crazy to do this especially to your kids.

If u know this is an annual event could u put a tiny bit aside for the next 12 months to be able to stay? As PP said, places like Premier Inn might make it more feasible for you.
Could u ask for the location to be moved closer to u every 2nd or 3rd year?
How would u feel knowing it went ahead with everyone else and u weren't there? Would u feel lonely and sad or would u be OK with it?

we had 7 folk sleeping in my 3 bed semi when family came over from USA for DDs wedding. We all managed. I slept on an air mattress in the living room, which was surprisingly comfy.

even if you and DC1 are in one house and your partner and DC2 are in another - surely you could squeeze in for one night?

I think 3.5h each way is pushing it a bit. Would probably do two. But really would be looking to stay over somehow. Are there really no corners of any living rooms or gardens you can camp in? Or could you camp elsewhere? I know accommodation in Cornwall in the holidays can be crazy but surely there must be some kind of workaround between the whole family.

Tent. Campsite. Weekend trip.

I would do it once a year and wear lots of sunscreen/a cover up.

When else do you see your family if no one can ever put you up and you can’t afford accommodation?

No, I wouldn't. Surely your mother can't really expect you - and particularly, your children - to do a seven-hours round-trip to spend a couple of hours with them?

Glamping site with pre-erected bell tent, or camping pod, or shepherd’s hut.

@SuperlativeOxymoron that is very sweet that you chip in to pay for your family - how lovely!

Do any of them come to visit you?

We actually did that length of journey on Saturday. Manchester to Somerset and back. But it was a one-off. DC's Canadian cousins were over briefly and they've never actually all met. A hotel would have been £250+ which we can't afford.

It was knackering so we wouldn't make it a regular thing.

Our DC are young adults. Certainly wouldn't do it with young ones.

Let's face it, it's a local meet up and you're not local.

I would do it but I'd also consider what I'd have to do to to be able to stay over night. I don't want to be dismissive if money really is extremely tight but put a pound or 2 away every week, save money on eating out or takeaways or alcohol, coffees out, anywhere you can save a bit for a cheap Travel Lodge or something for one night? Or if your parents get you Christmas or birthday gifts, ask for money you can save towards a hotel instead. Apologies if none of that applies but it sounds like a nice family day out that I wouldn't want to miss.

I raise you 5 adults and 7 kids in my sister in laws 1 bed house for a family wedding. Air beds in every free space 😆

@@madasawethen no they don't as it's too far to travel 🤣. We would put them up as have a spare room. They usually meet us at a halfway point.

Next Christmas ask for them to chip in for a night or two in a hotel instead of other gifts?

There's your answer. I wouldn't bother going there anymore.
No compromise or anything.

Just meet them at the halfway point and give up on this particular day

Premier inn would be far cheaper than buying camping gear.

4 of you in the room for one night wouldn’t be ideal, but better than a tent imo (and I enjoy camping done properly).

I would be staying at least a night somewhere over 2hrs away or declining tbh. It sounds like a lovely day, but far too much effort with small children.

Very cosy!

Could you stay in premier inn part of the way back - so not Cornwall which is likely to be more expensive?

I wouldn't want to drive that far in one day.

They don't sound like they are too bothered about accommodating you to be honest. I would decline then maybe they would help out in some way.

Yeah - I’d see if I could stay over some how. Premier inn or on people’s floors or youth hostel or camping in garden or whatever.

I wouldn’t do this if I wasnt staying over, too far for a day trip