Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask if this is too much effort for a holiday

227 replies

Auntiejohnfromjamaica · 08/08/2022 12:08

Am I mad to try to make this holiday work?

PILs have surprised us with a villa booking in Greece next year, for them, us and BIL and his wife.

We were so excited as it’s somewhere we have always wanted to go, but I’ve been looking at travel and it’s so complicated.

PILs and BIL+SIL live near London and don’t have kids. We are further north, don’t live that close to any airports, the closest ones to us don’t fly to this destination, and we will have a 18 month old and 4 year old with us.

I think we have two choices. Drive 1 hour to nearest airport, take a low cost flight to one place then another low cost flight to actual destination. would have to be Hand luggage only :(

Or we drive four hours (setting off midnight) to London and take direct flight.

First option seems more expensive but I haven’t priced up fuel and parking.

PILs won’t be impressed if we don’t go. And won’t really understand about the kids, and how long it’ll take, and the price (we are on a budget).

So I suppose my question is - would you bother?
YABU - make it work, it’s worth it!
YANBU - too much effort, don’t go

OP posts:
Original poster
Auntiejohnfromjamaica · 08/08/2022 18:27

IrisVersicolor · 08/08/2022 18:00

This is why I live near 2 major airports (sorry to be no help whatsoever).

😂
can we come stay?

OP posts:
Jollygreen · 08/08/2022 18:28

Drive to London the night before.

Stay in cheapest airport hotel.

Check in 2 big 20kg cases for the 4 of you. Don't pack too much, just T-shirts and dresses etc. presumably a villa will have a washing machine. Take about 4 outfits per person and wash it mid-holiday.

Toddler on your lap to fly, so only book 3 seats each way.

Twinsforthewin · 08/08/2022 18:31

If you haven't been abroad for six years I'm not surprised it's a big deal!

I would go, but a) make sure you have a discussion about who will pay for what when you're there (like if the villa is free but you have to split the cost of a lobster platter and Dom Perigon for all every evening, it's still not a cheap holiday) and

B) one thing I found really useful was changing my mindset for travelling with children. Like if you did solo travelling six years ago, it's all on you, any unexpected expense is a disaster, hangovers are immense, you can get yourself to the airport with half an hour to spare (bantz) and drink too much on the plane etc etc

Now I travel with husband and twins but you aren't the only one, one of your in-laws can mind a child for a bit, you have to leave ages for everything so little people can wee etc etc but it means you're not late so just think about it all with a different hat on and go for it x

Pipsquiggle · 08/08/2022 18:33

Why can't you fly together? Where are the PILs / BILs flying from?

I would prefer to fly with more adults so that childcare can be spread out if you need it to.

For the flight just give them tablets and head phones. Even the 18mth old will probably watch for a bit.

xippo · 08/08/2022 18:34

some good advice OP, if you are tight for funds I'd nail down what will happen for the week. Usually you have to buy everything for a villa holiday, loo roll, washing up liquid, salt, pepper, oil etc.plus food for the week, at least for breakfast.
Would you be eating out?
Villa's aren't usually central to towns/villages, would you need a car? Ridiculously expensive at the moment.

garlictwist · 08/08/2022 18:53

I know what you mean, OP. Our local airport doesn't have much choice of destinations. It's a 3 hour drive/train to Manchester where there are much more options but I always feel I just cba with that as it adds so much faff to the journey.

MargotChateau · 08/08/2022 18:56

I wouldn’t go, far too much effort for a holiday with the in-laws 🤣

Georgyporky · 08/08/2022 19:05

We've stayed at an airport hotel near Stansted (Premier Inn???) was very cheap.
Off-site parking is also a good idea, & much cheaper if booked in advance.

In wish I had such lovely in-laws !!

whynotwhatknot · 08/08/2022 19:15

its doable but imo its not a great offer from them-did you say its n term time? wold have cost them a few hundred at most and then the flighs are going to cos t you about the same so not really saving anything

Blossomtoes · 08/08/2022 19:19

whynotwhatknot · 08/08/2022 19:15

its doable but imo its not a great offer from them-did you say its n term time? wold have cost them a few hundred at most and then the flighs are going to cos t you about the same so not really saving anything

How can having half the cost of your holiday paid for not save you anything? There really are some ingrates in this world.

resuwen · 08/08/2022 19:36

With travel sick little ones, I would get the train if you can, a family ticket reduces the price and it's much less stressful!

Dibbydoos · 08/08/2022 19:42

Travel the day before, stay in a hotel, add that stay to your holiday ie holiday starts when you leave home :) That's what we used to do with kids in tow.
2 flights with kids sounds like a nightmare. The only time we did that was in an emergency and we had to fly to Glasgow and then home. We stayed in a hotel in Glasgow and then flew home!

FinallyHere · 08/08/2022 20:44

How can having half the cost of your holiday paid for not save you anything?

It might be half the cost, but we really don't know.

There has as yet been no discussion about how the costs of food and drink will be shared, now at what sort of level they will be incurred.

Child free couples do tend to have more disposable income, and spend at least some of that in lovely food and drink. If the OP will be expected to share or take turns in paying restaurant bills, they may find they are spending loads more than they would left to themselves.

Car hire, taxis, booze, food

Imagine how far that budget would go on day trips out for the little ones.

The accommodation could easily be the smallest item of the bills. There may also be an expectation that given the parents have paid for accommodation, they and the other couple should take it in turns to pay for the expensive meals out.

The answer is to have the conversations about what to expect and get agreement on what other costs they are likely to incur.

liveforsummer · 09/08/2022 08:48

I'm confused about why it HAS to be a morning flight? If there is a flight from your local airport but later in the day surely that would be the easier option?

Endlesslypatient82 · 09/08/2022 09:26

This thread really should have been titled

”I really do not want to go away next year with my in laws. Help me find an excuse to get me out of it!”

notimagain · 09/08/2022 10:14

liveforsummer · 09/08/2022 08:48

I'm confused about why it HAS to be a morning flight? If there is a flight from your local airport but later in the day surely that would be the easier option?

The OP hasn't mentioned a later flight so maybe there really is only the "early", i.e. one a day, it wouldn't be that unusual.

liveforsummer · 09/08/2022 10:24

@notimagain she stated in a pp that it needs to be a Saturday and needs to be a morning flight which rules out other airports. I was wondering why it needs to be morning. Usually you just take what you can get

rookiemere · 09/08/2022 11:04

Timings are presumably because they are sharing a lift or shuttle with the others going from the different airports.

mycatisannoying · 09/08/2022 11:11

Are they treating you to the holiday?
And you're finding issue with the drive to the airport and cost of fuel?!
I've never had anyone treat me to a holiday in my adult life! Grin
If it's for more than a week, I'd do my utmost to make this work!

Crikeyalmighty · 09/08/2022 11:42

We live about 5 miles from terminal 5 at Heathrow- the downside-Plane noise- very very bad at times
Upsides - bloody handy for Heathrow and relatively handy for Gatwick too

I think OP as I said yesterday the biggie before you get into the logistical side is- can you actually afford it- flights to Greece aren't that cheap for 4 , and even getting free accommodation I think you are looking at maybe around £600 to £1200 spending money- depending how frugal you are and what's kind of expected - plus overnight hotels , plus fuel, plus parking. So maybe £1200 to £1500 in total plus flights. It's a decent deal for a family but only if you have that kind of cash free or can save it

Disneyblueeyes · 09/08/2022 11:50

We're currently on a quiet Greek Island. 2 hour drive then 3 flights, with a 2 year Old.
No drama.
YABU

DSGR · 09/08/2022 11:51

You’re being ridiculous. If you don’t want to go then don’t but don’t make up a silly excuse around what is a really simple travel arrangement!
drive down the night before and stay in a hotel or with PIL and travel together the next day.
This isn’t a big deal and you have loads of time to save up

katepilar · 09/08/2022 12:33

DSGR · 09/08/2022 11:51

You’re being ridiculous. If you don’t want to go then don’t but don’t make up a silly excuse around what is a really simple travel arrangement!
drive down the night before and stay in a hotel or with PIL and travel together the next day.
This isn’t a big deal and you have loads of time to save up

You are being unnecessarily nasty.
If its really that diffucult to understand they this sort of journey is considered difficult to organise and make then you dont need to comment.

I am actually in shock how many find this a normal holiday arrangement. So much waste of time, money and resources.

notimagain · 09/08/2022 12:46

@katepilar

I am actually in shock how many find this a normal holiday arrangement. So much waste of time, money and resources.

Waste or not, shock or not, there really are countless hotels around countless airports around the world who specialise in catering for exactly the sort of travel arrangement being suggested.

If you go into the lobby of those hotels (e.g. in the UK airport Premier Inns, such as those around Heathrow) in an evening, especially in holiday season you'll see lots of family groups checking in. Following AM you'll see the same families checking out and heading off for the terminals to get their flights.

It really is very normal for many families.

FinallyHere · 09/08/2022 13:00

mycatisannoying · 09/08/2022 11:11

Are they treating you to the holiday?
And you're finding issue with the drive to the airport and cost of fuel?!
I've never had anyone treat me to a holiday in my adult life! Grin
If it's for more than a week, I'd do my utmost to make this work!

OP have been treated to the accommodation and is to pay for their own travel

No information to date on who will cover all the other costs, including food and car hire / taxis and what budget might be required.

This mystifies me, as I would like to know a lot more information being committing to sharing undefined costs

Swipe left for the next trending thread