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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to be cheesed off with shrieking kids on holiday?

642 replies

AnnoyedOnHoliday · 07/08/2023 14:26

Recently my DP took me on an amazing surprise holiday for my birthday a few weeks ago, 4 nights in a beautiful 5 star hotel - definitely a big treat and really outside of our normal budget so obviously wanted to enjoy it to the absolutely maximum. Hotel was absolutely beautiful and facilities/staff were pretty faultless.

I don't want to say it was ruined but definitely marred by the amount of unruly children. The main pool of the hotel had two pool - a smaller shallow one for kids and another larger one bit more suitable for being able to get a proper swim in. Everyday the main pool as well as the kids one was taken over by kids shrieking in rubber rings, splashing and jumping as well as just being smack bang in the centre of the pool so hard to swim. The area was basically taken over by the constant noise of shouting, screaming, crying and small children sprinting into your sun lounger every two seconds. I found it really hard to concentrate on unwinding and couldn't concentrate on reading my book as so noisy and chaotic and obviously found using the pool for swimming quite annoying also.

The hotel was very much in the countryside so we ate the really great hotel restaurant quite a few breakfasts, lunches and 2 dinners. Every single time, early in the morning, late at night children were sprinting up and down the dining room, running into waiters, more of that shrieking again. More examples but you get the idea.

It seemed to be happening in many different families and every single time I'd look over and they'd be just ignoring their kids or encouraging them to run around so they could have drinks/eat their meal without having to deal with them and 9 times out of 10, I'd never see them being reprimanded for being disruptive.

I get that looking after small children is full on and stressful (I'm really not talking about kids crying/distressed as I know that cannot be helped - referencing the running around shrieking behaviour) but AIBU to think to think it's a bit out of order to just zone out and let everyone have their meals and relaxing time ruined because you're in 'holiday mode' and want some time off parenting?

It just felt a bit jarring that we'd paid to be on holiday too and were basically having to endure everyone else kids.

OP posts:
Verv · 07/08/2023 14:32

YANBU.
It does my absolute tits in, so now I wont book anywhere thats family oriented and go for either remote or adult only.

dramoy · 07/08/2023 14:33

I think it's to be expected during school holidays

KevinDeBrioche · 07/08/2023 14:35

YADNBU

so many parents don’t parent. There were a family next to us on the train like this recently, the incessant noise and loud eating and badly behaved children was astounding.

ZeldaWillTellYourFortune · 07/08/2023 14:35

YANBU. It's really deplorable.

EzraJones · 07/08/2023 14:35

If our child starts shreking, that BS will be nipped in the bud PDQ!

Deathbyfluffy · 07/08/2023 14:35

dramoy · 07/08/2023 14:33

I think it's to be expected during school holidays

It shouldn’t be, people should control their kids.
I find I become particularly careless where my feet are when a clusterfuck of uncontrolled brats are running around a restaurant!

MoonLion · 07/08/2023 14:36

YANBU to find it irritating, but I think this is pretty much par for the course during the school holidays. Next time maybe go outside the school holidays or choose a non child-friendly hotel.

MabelMoo23 · 07/08/2023 14:39

YANBU. We have young children and are currently on holiday and my pair are getting a bit shrieky and overexcited and I am really conscious of other people around us, it winds me up when they are doing it (and yes I do try and control it!) so yep if you don’t have kids and have come away for peace then I absolutely don’t blame you for being annoyed

Elsiebear90 · 07/08/2023 14:39

Kids just seem to be screaming all the time these days, think there was a thread about it a while ago.

I holiday out of season and avoid any family friendly hotels because I can’t stand the noise, I have an ear condition which makes me sensitive to high pitched loud noises, so it’s actually painful at times.

Mojoj · 07/08/2023 14:41

Next time, choose an adults only hotel. And don't go during school holidays.

BellaJuno · 07/08/2023 14:42

This is exactly why I don’t stay in a hotel during school holidays (and I have kids 😂) I will not spend money on a holiday to spend time with other people’s kids.

VeridicalVagabond · 07/08/2023 14:43

This is why we always book adult only resorts and hotels these days, and even then never holiday during the school breaks if we can avoid it! Can't be doing with it. My tolerance for small children behaving poorly has never been great, less so on holiday.

ItsNotRocketSalad · 07/08/2023 14:43

This is why I only go to adult-only hotels. Bliss.

QueefQueen80s · 07/08/2023 14:46

Those parents are definitely not doing their job, they should be controlling them. BUT choose adults only if you want to relax, like a spa hotel

bakermummy21 · 07/08/2023 14:46

Had this in a beer garden recently. A few kids screaming and running around, climbing on things. In the end another adult got up and told them to stop whilst the parents just ignored them.

Marwoodsbigbreak · 07/08/2023 14:48

This is why I don’t go on holiday in school holidays.

Rookie error

dramoy · 07/08/2023 14:48

It shouldn’t be, people should control their kids.

We don't live in what should happen world so better to prepare for what realistically will happen. 🤷🏻‍♀️

MotherWol · 07/08/2023 14:50

Marwoodsbigbreak · 07/08/2023 14:48

This is why I don’t go on holiday in school holidays.

Rookie error

Plus outside of the school holidays, it's cheaper - win-win!

SindyisbetterthanBarbie · 07/08/2023 14:50

Elsiebear90 · 07/08/2023 14:39

Kids just seem to be screaming all the time these days, think there was a thread about it a while ago.

I holiday out of season and avoid any family friendly hotels because I can’t stand the noise, I have an ear condition which makes me sensitive to high pitched loud noises, so it’s actually painful at times.

Kids just seem to be screaming all the time these days, think there was a thread about it a while ago

new next door neighbours have a small child about 2 or 3 that screams all. the. time. I can't relax in my own garden anymore. Nobody ever seems to see to her, they're all inside enjoying some peace while she's outside annoying everyone else!

OP YADNBU. I wish people would control their kids, but a lot of people don't have any consideration these days unfortunately. Selfish.

agent765 · 07/08/2023 14:53

KevinDeBrioche · 07/08/2023 14:35

YADNBU

so many parents don’t parent. There were a family next to us on the train like this recently, the incessant noise and loud eating and badly behaved children was astounding.

Spot on.

I'm also fed up with other people's kids annoying me wanting attention or taking them to the toilet while their family is having a nice peaceful meal.

A few years ago several of us went out for a meal and pub quiz. The quiz started at 9pm but there were still small children running around from one particular table.

One child ran over and smeared chocolate all over my friend's new white skirt. She'd had enough so went over to the table to complain where she got told their children hadn't eaten chocolate and weren't running around! How do you counter people like that?

We fantasised about taking the kids out to the beer garden and locking them out. We wondered aloud how long it would take the parents to notice the kids were gone. Sadly, we had too much common sense to do that. If we were as self-absorbed and thick as the other parents we might have done it.

As obnoxious as the little brats are we must remember it's not their fault.

KingTriton · 07/08/2023 14:53

A vast number of people just don't give a shit these days. It's one thing to have excited children but there is no need for the constant screaming and unruliness.

We live next to a path which all the primary children walk down to get to school. It's a constant barrage of shrieking and screaming - there's just no need for it. But like I said, people don't give a shit about anyone else but themselves these days.

coxesorangepippin · 07/08/2023 14:54

Was this in the UK??

agent765 · 07/08/2023 14:55

Deathbyfluffy · 07/08/2023 14:35

It shouldn’t be, people should control their kids.
I find I become particularly careless where my feet are when a clusterfuck of uncontrolled brats are running around a restaurant!

Show quote history

Haha. My mum's walking stick is also a bit of a trip hazard at times. She's old school and always says she'll give them something to scream about.

AllOfThemWitches · 07/08/2023 14:55

Little kids making a noise? Never!

WhateverMate · 07/08/2023 14:55

The pool wouldn't have bothered me but I would've complained to management about them allowing kids to run up and down in the restaurant.