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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to shut down the idea of a camping holiday?

92 replies

SayNoToCamping · 03/08/2023 14:38

A friend wants to go away with me on a U.K break. I'm more than happy to go alone but I don't mind going as a pair. The trouble is that she'll only ever sleep under canvas on holiday and I'd sooner be flayed alive. She's already looking at camping grounds and I said I'll be in a hotel/BnB but She still keeps sending me details of camping grounds. AIBU to say that I won't be going at all if it involves camping.

I've no intention of stopping her from camping, we could meet up but I camped once and despised it and have vowed never again so I'm certainly not doing it for a second time.

AIBU to suggest that we just meet up during the day or go our separate ways?

OP posts:
TastesLikeStrawberriesOnASummerEvening · 03/08/2023 15:26

YANBU.
Camping is my idea of hell.

cymbidium · 03/08/2023 15:33

I can't imagine anything worse and would frankly rather go to work than have that sort of holiday.

This made me laugh. 😂😂 I agree!

Whammyyammy · 03/08/2023 15:34

Sleeping in a damp smelling, cold tent in a field.... no thanks.

SamW98 · 03/08/2023 15:37

YANBU - I would literally rather poke pins in my eyeballs than go camping. I’ll find the nearest hotel thank you, enjoy my comfortable bed and hot shower and meet the campers for breakfast.

Camping and holiday are two words that don’t go together in my world

Whammyyammy · 03/08/2023 15:37

I can't imagine anything worse and would frankly rather go to work than have that sort of holiday.

Me too😂

Stressfordays · 03/08/2023 15:40

Haha I have some friends like this. They were trying to convince me to ditch my caravan break in a couple of weeks to go camping with them. Its a firm no 🤣 a caravan is my absolute limit.

Just be firm and say you're happy to meet up but you won't be camping. Make a joke of it, I just refer to myself as a bit of a princess.

WomanAtWork · 03/08/2023 15:42

I had two bad camping experiences and said never again but have to say, after being bullied into a short trip, I could put up with a weekend again and might actually look forward to it. Had lots of fun - v surprised!

def yanbu tho. If you don’t want to go she is being silly pressuring you.

there are some gorgeous little one bed cottages if you don’t mind sharing a double. I’d start sending her absolutely loads of links to places your DO want to go !

Beenhereforever1978 · 03/08/2023 15:42

whumpthereitis · 03/08/2023 15:21

You don’t actually have to do something to know you’ll hate it. I’ve never shot myself in the face, but I can reasonably assume that I’m not going to find it an enjoyable leisure activity.

YANBU OP, fuck that.

I was eating noodles when I read this. I'm now wearing noodles.

spotnoodle · 03/08/2023 15:42

I've been camping many many times and have all the gear (husband is an enthusiast and the kids love it). It's absolute endurance and hard work and misery all rolled into one soggy, damp, freezing (or uncomfortably hot!) laborious, deflating air bed, swarming midgies, trek to the loo pain in the hole.

MavisChunch29 · 03/08/2023 15:43

YANBU.

TenOhSeven · 03/08/2023 15:43

Ha! I was in this situation once. My friend and her dog stayed in a tent, I stayed in a B&B near the campsite. We spent the days together and went our separate ways after dinner. No regrets!

KimberleyClark · 03/08/2023 15:44

It’s not my SIL you’re going with is it? She’s just like this. I’m sure my DB would like to stay in a nice hotel once in a while, but she won’t hear of it.

Chersfrozenface · 03/08/2023 15:44

Glamping sounds lovely in theory but you're still just a piece of fabric away from the weather and you still have to trek over wet grass and mud to go out anywhere and particularly to go to the toilet snd shower, including at night.

I camp, because reasons, and every time I hate it more.

So no, OP, YADNBU.

cymbidium · 03/08/2023 15:45

Stressfordays · 03/08/2023 15:40

Haha I have some friends like this. They were trying to convince me to ditch my caravan break in a couple of weeks to go camping with them. Its a firm no 🤣 a caravan is my absolute limit.

Just be firm and say you're happy to meet up but you won't be camping. Make a joke of it, I just refer to myself as a bit of a princess.

Princesses don’t do holidays in caravans. 😬

Seasideanticscanleadtosandybuckets · 03/08/2023 15:46

Well maybe your sil just doesn't like you op?!?!?!

MariaVT65 · 03/08/2023 15:46

YANBU.

I hate camping. Put off it for life after DofE at school. Not a holiday! I love hotels.

Original poster
SayNoToCamping · 03/08/2023 15:50

Well maybe your sil just doesn't like you op?!?!?!

SIL? I don't have one.

OP posts:
Nanny0gg · 03/08/2023 15:50

SamW98 · 03/08/2023 15:37

YANBU - I would literally rather poke pins in my eyeballs than go camping. I’ll find the nearest hotel thank you, enjoy my comfortable bed and hot shower and meet the campers for breakfast.

Camping and holiday are two words that don’t go together in my world

Yes. In a very nice cafe/my hotel.

Not eating in a field either

Nanny0gg · 03/08/2023 15:51

spotnoodle · 03/08/2023 15:42

I've been camping many many times and have all the gear (husband is an enthusiast and the kids love it). It's absolute endurance and hard work and misery all rolled into one soggy, damp, freezing (or uncomfortably hot!) laborious, deflating air bed, swarming midgies, trek to the loo pain in the hole.

They'd be going without me...

TravelSpam · 03/08/2023 15:53

No tents, but I would and do go to camp sites and stay in cabins. Watertight, with actual beds, running water, a shower and toilet, that'll do fine.

My dh wants to camp. I told him he can pitch a tent in the parking space beside the cabin I'll be sleeping in... my best offer 🤩

rookiemere · 03/08/2023 15:56

Go somewhere that has decent cabins as well as camping. There are a few sites that do this, if she won't budge that way you're both happy.

UsingChangeofName · 03/08/2023 15:59

Of course YANBU.

Be very clear. "Look, Jane, I don't know how I can put this any other way. I am not camping. I have told you this. I am happy to go away with you, but I AM NOT CAMPING, so I don't know why you keep sending my information about camp sites. Let me know if you want to do something else, together, or not, so I can do some research on where I can go, if going on my own"

GenericUsername99 · 03/08/2023 16:00

I'm team 'hates camping' as well, OP.

Just say no, really firmly. I wouldn't go camping or glamping if you paid me - I can't think of a worse 'holiday'. Give me a villa or good hotel room any day!

GoldDuster · 03/08/2023 16:02

Reply that when she's chosen her campsite to let you know which one and you'll look for accommodation nearby, and you can meet up. Although , do you actually want to go on holiday with her? She sounds like a load of hard work so far.

Camping in the UK is torture if you're under any kind of duress to be there, don't do it.

Vitriolinsanity · 03/08/2023 16:06

I am not against people enjoying camping. People that do seem to have a great time.

I have camped. I did not enjoy it. I will never camp again.