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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To hate booking holidays and holiday accommodation?

53 replies

Terryer · 29/06/2023 07:10

I hate it. Managed to sort a week in France in the Lot but now have to find a stopover south of Paris. I have a weird thing about it and can only spend 5 minutes on air b and b before having a mild panic attack and shutting it down. Dh keeps asking me if I've found anywhere and it just makes me want to run away. Isn't this something I should enjoy doing? We haven't been on holiday for years so I should be enjoying it? Tbf dh is normally good at it but is about to collapse with stress at work while I'm at home doing nothing recovering from a (mild) operation so have nothing better to do.

OP posts:
SockGoddess · 29/06/2023 08:08

i like it when it’s just for me (eg for a work trip) as I don’t mind basic and I’m resilient if it turns out to be not great for some reason. But I hate doing it for a family holiday. Everything I find has some issue that someone will moan about or is next to a cliff that I would worry about or doesn’t meet everyone’s needs or whatever, and I go round in circles and it takes hours. Once we were also bringing a family member and a dog so had to find a dog-friendly cottage on top of the rest. It took bloody ages.

And I think it’s one of those jobs that is often left to women, like Christmas. Then you get moaned at if someone doesn’t like something. Ugh.

cakeorwine · 29/06/2023 08:24

I love it. I love the research, looking at maps, planning,. It's all part of the holiday. We do driving holidays in Europe so lots of research is involved.

gannett · 29/06/2023 08:25

Can't believe there are people who love this. I'm bad when I have so much choice and start overthinking about which option will be the best. DP is much better, he cuts straight to "this one will be perfectly fine" rather than fixating on which is the best.

Terryer · 29/06/2023 08:27

SockGoddess · 29/06/2023 08:08

i like it when it’s just for me (eg for a work trip) as I don’t mind basic and I’m resilient if it turns out to be not great for some reason. But I hate doing it for a family holiday. Everything I find has some issue that someone will moan about or is next to a cliff that I would worry about or doesn’t meet everyone’s needs or whatever, and I go round in circles and it takes hours. Once we were also bringing a family member and a dog so had to find a dog-friendly cottage on top of the rest. It took bloody ages.

And I think it’s one of those jobs that is often left to women, like Christmas. Then you get moaned at if someone doesn’t like something. Ugh.

I - shhhh - also hate Christmas.

You might be on to something there.

OP posts:
Doidontimmm · 29/06/2023 08:28

Does it need to have car parking?

Terryer · 29/06/2023 08:31

Doidontimmm · 29/06/2023 08:28

Does it need to have car parking?

Yes. For a huge car.

OP posts:
cakeorwine · 29/06/2023 08:36

Terryer · 29/06/2023 08:31

Yes. For a huge car.

July 15th / 16th...

In France....

I guess places might be busy with Le Grand Depart?

When "everyone" leaves Paris for the South after Bastille Day.

We use Premiere Classe hotels for our stopovers - cheap and cheerful.

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 29/06/2023 08:38

I love booking holidays and everything involved with it too!

I also don’t use air bnb though.

Terryer · 29/06/2023 08:39

cakeorwine · 29/06/2023 08:36

July 15th / 16th...

In France....

I guess places might be busy with Le Grand Depart?

When "everyone" leaves Paris for the South after Bastille Day.

We use Premiere Classe hotels for our stopovers - cheap and cheerful.

Yes. I think I've found a hotel. Its more expensive than an air b and b but I don't really care. It looks cheerful and clean and it's in a nice area with free parking.

Don't fancy a air b and b farm with no reviews. I've seen too many french rural horror films.

OP posts:
ZittiEBuoni · 29/06/2023 08:42

The booking itself is bad enough but often stuff happens after I've breathed that sigh of relief at finally finding and reserving the only half-decent option on the list.

Last time it was the owner contacting me to try and do an 'off-site' secret deal which made me worry he was a scammer so I cancelled.

This time the property is run by an agency who want various extra payments for late book-ins etc (none of it mentioned on the listing).

It's exhausting. Come back, travel agents.

Lemons1571 · 29/06/2023 08:51

I think it gets easier the more you do it, and also easier the older the kids get (less non negotiables like fenced pools).

I have a friend who does the same as you - opens Airbnb, panics and closes the laptop. She’d love to go away, just hasn’t got the confidence. Makes me sad for her - you only get one life.

I don’t worry about booking the wrong thing (and there have been some). If it’s my “job” and no one has bothered their arse to help, then you graciously put up with what you get. None of us are psychic, we don’t automatically sense that the pool is actually green.

TheChosenTwo · 29/06/2023 08:53

I hate it, last night we had to book 2 nights before our villa is available - I went on booking.com and filled in the details and basically looked at the first 4 results and chose the one with then nicest looking swimming pool - I just don’t give a shit about any of it. I don’t care where it is, it’s 2 days and it’s such a shit job hunting and searching and checking reviews - if anyone complains they can choose next time. Took me truly less than 5 minutes.

cakeorwine · 29/06/2023 08:57

TheChosenTwo · 29/06/2023 08:53

I hate it, last night we had to book 2 nights before our villa is available - I went on booking.com and filled in the details and basically looked at the first 4 results and chose the one with then nicest looking swimming pool - I just don’t give a shit about any of it. I don’t care where it is, it’s 2 days and it’s such a shit job hunting and searching and checking reviews - if anyone complains they can choose next time. Took me truly less than 5 minutes.

Did similar last year. Should have researched a little bit more exactly where it was. A lovely drive through the mountains to get there though.

5foot5 · 29/06/2023 09:03

I love it!

DH and I are currently putting together 3 weeks in France in September. We have the gite booked for the middle week, found through Gites de France. We plan to spend a week travelling there stopping at various places and a week travelling back.

Hotels the first week are mostly Ibis. Stayed in them several times before. They are basic but perfectly OK for a short stay.

On the way back we have at least one Ibis I think, then another we found through booking com. For the others we are exploring the Logis de France website.

BTW as an alternative to air bnb we have used vrbo and had good properties.

Enjoy your holiday OP

gannett · 29/06/2023 09:30

cakeorwine · 29/06/2023 08:24

I love it. I love the research, looking at maps, planning,. It's all part of the holiday. We do driving holidays in Europe so lots of research is involved.

I love researching holiday activities, places to see, things to do, where to eat - all the actively enjoyable bits of going away that make me feel excited.

But when it comes to accommodation it's somehow so important but also so functionally boring and the bits that can go wrong are very unpredictable. All I want from it is somewhere I can sleep, wake up and wash comfortably and without thinking too much. So that's wifi, decent bed, air con and mosquito nets if in a relevant climate, working hot water/shower and - I can't emphasise this enough - coffee facilities.

Airbnb owners tend to emphasise the "luxury" aspects of their places but I just want to be assured of functionality!

cakeorwine · 29/06/2023 09:32

Airbnb owners tend to emphasise the "luxury" aspects of their places but I just want to be assured of functionality

We self cater so I need pictures of the kitchen. Yet this is often neglected. Has it got an oven? A grill? How many rings?

The one we have booked has an amazing kitchen.

gannett · 29/06/2023 09:36

cakeorwine · 29/06/2023 09:32

Airbnb owners tend to emphasise the "luxury" aspects of their places but I just want to be assured of functionality

We self cater so I need pictures of the kitchen. Yet this is often neglected. Has it got an oven? A grill? How many rings?

The one we have booked has an amazing kitchen.

Same and I've never seen a listing that provides details of kitchen knives and how sharp they are.

Tracker1234 · 29/06/2023 09:40

I do all our holidays far and wide!

As its just one night location will be key. Dont choose budget but an IBIS and maybe an upgraded room because space often allows people to stop moaning.

I also sometimes need twin beds so always find the reception email of the hotel and confirm with them directly too especially if I book via booking.com.

BestIsWest · 29/06/2023 09:47

I hate it too, detest it. We often end up going back to the same place because neither of us want to wade through pages of stuff.
Maybe we ‘re both too picky. I’m currently trying to book a week abroad in September, I’ve narrowed it down to 2 completely different cities but the thought of choosing a hotel is defeating me.
I’d rather pay some to do it for me.

greyhairnomore · 29/06/2023 13:37

To PPs who say 'I'd rather pay someone' Isn't that what Travel Agents are for ? 😂

I'm another one who loves it. Used to do 3-4 week driving holidays in Europe with about 6 different towns / stops.
Recently did a month travelling round Thailand and three multi stop trips round India.

Caroparo52 · 29/06/2023 17:53

I am a professional in the accommodation industry if it were me I would use booking.com. every time.
They have the most powerful website and are pretty strict with the owners. They give you filters like number bedrooms required, ages of kids, and you can read the many reviews. Unlike some sites, only genuine customers can leave a review.
If you are really worried use a trusted hotel chain ......Go safe go boring.
These are also found on booking.com
I avoid all other websites as popular with amateur landlords.
Don't worry too much about it and have a great holiday

BarbaraofSeville · 29/06/2023 18:21

For one night as long as it exists when you get there, has parking, and is acceptably clean, it'll be fine.

When we drove to northern Spain in the days before budget airlines we stayed in this unstaffed, automated motel place, that made Travelodges look like The Ritz, on a service area that had several of these places somewhere in the middle of France. But it was a cheap bed for the night, which was all we needed.

These days with the internet and all that, I tend to default to Booking.com, for which I wasn't sure why, but after reading @Caroparo52 post, it makes sense, it's a good search facility with sensible filters that I like.

I also like to know exactly where the property is, which is the main thing that puts me off Airbnb, because we like to be in walking distance of restaurants and other amenities.

But I found hotel booking a lot easier when I realised I didn't need to compare and contrast a huge shortlist to find the best hotel, I just needed a nice one for the right price in the right place and once I've set the filters right on booking.com, I usually end up booking one of the first two/three I click on.

ShinyAppleDreamingOfTheSea · 29/06/2023 19:19

@5foot5
I also use vrbo for villa/apartment accommodation . I find the descriptions and photographs of the property really useful and always email the owner to double check anything I'm unsure on . Booking.com is great for hotels but rarely gives the level of info I want when booking self catering accommodation.

LoobyDop · 29/06/2023 19:23

I hate it too. It’s the panic that sets in if you find somewhere really good and can’t book it that second because your idiot husband has a stupid reason not to and says it’ll be fine if you wait.

cakeorwine · 29/06/2023 22:31

I miss using Rough Guides and using the directory to find a place when you get somewhere.

Kids of today, with the internet and all that. We just had to go on what the guidebook said and the grapevine!