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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To feel frustrated so much has to be booked in advance these days?

240 replies

Teentrauma · 05/09/2023 07:17

I'm talking mainly attractions and days out. I've found that increasingly over the last few years and certainly since Covid many places require booking online in advance taking away spontanaety as they're often full up on the day. For example, tickets for a kids Father Christmas experience locally sold out within hours of tickets going on sale the other week - in August! We also booked to go up the Snowden railway - had to do in advance as wouldn't have got on otherwise. On the day, the weather was appalling and we wouldn't have gone if we didn't have tickets. We saw nothing and it was a total waste of money!

I get it's more efficient for the businesses and also takes away the need to queue. I'm probably a dinosaur but I hanker for the days when you could just decide to do things spur of the moment!

OP posts:
imjustanerd · 05/09/2023 07:19

I agree

Turnthelightoff · 05/09/2023 07:22

I agree, it takes away the ability to be spontaneous and as you say sometimes you waste a booking because of the weather, I’ve had it the other way where we booked an indoor activity and then the weather was glorious. A lovely outdoor pool near us releases tickets on a weekly basis for that week and I don’t mind that level of pre-booking.

Orturo · 05/09/2023 07:23

Yes.

And if you do do something without booking it often costs more. Train tickets, entrance charge, everything. So much admin, and planning, all the time.

Isthisexpected · 05/09/2023 07:26

Near me there are some little places that don't allow you to book in advance and use their website to say when they're nearing capacity so you don't waste a journey. Planning in advance is so dull when it's for everything!

Fizbosshoes · 05/09/2023 07:28

Even the tip! 🤣

EmmaPaella · 05/09/2023 07:28

I agree. I hate more admin and like to see how I feel. Also, weather.

Hangingoctopus · 05/09/2023 07:38

Being a child of a parent who never, and still don’t understand the concept of advance planning was no fun.
When I had DS I booked things in advance so he wouldn’t miss out. My sister was the same with her children, now it’s us that books anything that the family do.
I like having something to look forward to and know that I’m not left traipsing around trying to find something to do or somewhere that has space.
One persons spontaneity is another’s chaos but I also understand having things planned could be another’s shackles.

Britneyfan · 05/09/2023 07:40

I agree OP.

cheezncrackers · 05/09/2023 07:42

I agree - no spontaneity and if it's outdoor and on the day the weather is shit it's both really disappointing and a total waste of money. It's also turned booking holidays with days out into a huge logistical PITA and means planning out each day in advance, rather than seeing what you feel like doing and being able to take into account things like tiredness or feeling unwell. If it's booked in advance you have to go or lose it.

Malarandras · 05/09/2023 07:42

Totally agree!

PicaK · 05/09/2023 07:49

I'm the absolute opposite - I'm delighted with the social shift since covid of booking stuff. More enjoyable when you do it as not crowded and you know more reliable for the business owners - win win

Flickersy · 05/09/2023 07:52

The problem is there are too many people wanting to do these things. Theme parks etc are so much more crowded than they were 10-15 years ago.

If the event allowed people just to turn up on the day there'd be an awful scramble and a lot of disappointed children.

OnlyFoolsnMothers · 05/09/2023 07:54

Yep agree- just recovering from the summer holidays and I have to find the money for Xmas events- I don’t like thinking this far ahead!

TheBarbieEffect · 05/09/2023 07:56

I totally disagree. I love booking stuff in advance! I’m a planner and like to plan everything down to a tee including months in advance so much prefer this shift.

We booked two Christmas events back in January that sold out fairly quickly too.

Flickersy · 05/09/2023 07:57

OnlyFoolsnMothers · 05/09/2023 07:54

Yep agree- just recovering from the summer holidays and I have to find the money for Xmas events- I don’t like thinking this far ahead!

This is part of the issue - you don't "have" to, you are choosing to.

We've convinced ourselves we're somehow failing if we don't go to all these wonderful events for pictures on social media.

CPLawyer · 05/09/2023 07:59

I agree OP

Whinge · 05/09/2023 08:00

OnlyFoolsnMothers · 05/09/2023 07:54

Yep agree- just recovering from the summer holidays and I have to find the money for Xmas events- I don’t like thinking this far ahead!

I agree. It's not just booking, it's the fact in most cases you also have to pay at the time of booking. It's much harder to spread the cost, and means families who are struggling often miss out as things are booked up so quickly. Sad

HousePlantNeglect · 05/09/2023 08:01

I agree. All of our local sports centres make you book a swimming lane now, you can't just turn up during the session times. They are all usually booked out despite it never actually being very busy. Really puts me off going and you can't be spontaneous.

Trenchfootinthescottishhighlandstoday · 05/09/2023 08:03

Just back from a caravan park where the option to book activities is 16 weeks before the booking.. I didn't book anything... Nowt left when we got there. Thing is they lost out on hundreds of pounds because I literally couldn't spend my money!

Flickersy · 05/09/2023 08:04

Trenchfootinthescottishhighlandstoday · 05/09/2023 08:03

Just back from a caravan park where the option to book activities is 16 weeks before the booking.. I didn't book anything... Nowt left when we got there. Thing is they lost out on hundreds of pounds because I literally couldn't spend my money!

But if the activities were full then they didn't lose out on any money.

Spendonsend · 05/09/2023 08:04

I agree. Even our local cafe you need to book in for a coffee. Its the biggest change post covid.

I find it really difficult as my mum has fluctuating health condition, so we have to see how she is on a day to decide what to ddo.we cant afford to book lots in advance just in case.

Lurkingandlearning · 05/09/2023 08:05

As PP said the tip. They are half hour slots. No one fit enough to load their car would take half hour to unload it.

swimming pools. How did they cope with the crowds of swimmers before covid? I’m guessing if it got too busy they would just tell you new arrivals that. Booking will put people off and my cynicism makes me think this will end up being a reason for councils to close them due to lack of interest but really just cost cutting

OnlyFoolsnMothers · 05/09/2023 08:06

It’s not for social media- I want to go to panto with my eldest and I like to visit Father Christmas- I don’t share pictures of these things. Yes we can afford it, just can’t afford it all in September.

YourNameGoesHere · 05/09/2023 08:07

Oh gosh yes this drives me bloody bonkers. I booked so much stuff that was cancelled over the summer due to the weather so then I've had to spend even more time requesting refunds because heaven forbid they just automatically refund me.

Sometimes I want to be spontaneous and wake up one morning and just decide today we are going to X,Y or Z but it's not possible any more and it takes away the enjoyment.

MMMarmite · 05/09/2023 08:10

I agree. The local swimming pool is particularly annoying, I want to just turn up for a swim, like the old days, not book via the app and find it's full until 15 minutes before when everyone cancels and it's too late to go then.

I hate having to plan all my activities, I don't know whether I'll fancy it in three weekends time, I know whether I fancy it now. Planning meetups with friends is enough fixed stuff, I don't want to also plan my meetups with the art exhibition and the swimming pool.