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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to think that I might be a bit young for a 'winter sun' holiday?

102 replies

MevsDHoliday · 12/09/2024 19:26

Lighthearted: My parents want DH and me to come with them on a week's 'winter sun' holiday in December in Spain. DH thinks it would be nice, but I can't really imagine it and view these kinds of holidays as kind of a retiree thing. The weather won't be hot enough (22 degrees ish) to do much swimming/water activities, and I'm not really sure what I would do all week. We're in our late 20s. AIBU to think we're a bit young for this?

OP posts:
notacooldad · 12/09/2024 20:14

YABU. You are never too young or too old to travel. And 22 degrees is 21 warmer than it will be here.
This
It's just a holiday.
I've always gone on 'winter sunholidays' even though I didn't realise it was a thing.
I stay in the uk during the summer so I can enjoy the ( generally) warm weather and light nights and go to somewhere warmer and lighter to break the endless dark nights up and to give me a lift.

GlasgowGal82 · 12/09/2024 20:14

I had no idea there was an age limit on winter sun! I used to regularly go abroad in January or February to get a break from the British winter before I had kids. And I was living live to the full at the time too.

notacooldad · 12/09/2024 20:17

It doesn't matter what anyone else thinks, it sounds like you don't want to go. And as it's going to be your money and you're time off why waste it on something you don't really want?
She didn't say she didn't want to go but thought 'winter sun' was only for OAPS that don't like doing anything by the sounds of it.

TopBunk · 12/09/2024 20:18

When I was in my 20s we went on a week's holiday in February to the south of Spain.

We left our flat just as a storm was lashing the windows. When I stepped off the plane to the beautiful evening in malaga there was a big thermometer hung up on the side of the road, saying it was somewhere around 25 degrees. We went to the beach and had supper of beach-grilled fish with wine.

I honestly cried with happiness. I am desperate to do it again.

Editing to add that we never go to hot countries in summer now. It's just too expensive and... hot.

Spongebobcircletop · 12/09/2024 20:18

We went to the canaries last December when I was 33yo. 20 degrees there is better than zero degrees at home. I'll be going somewhere similar every winter now.

DappledThings · 12/09/2024 20:25

What a bizarre concept. I'd happily go to Spain in December and go to all the sites (and sights) I would otherwise. Depending on actual temperature and how far south I might also swim outside. I don't relate to a holiday being for old people just because of the time of year.

CheeseWisely · 12/09/2024 20:31

Erm.... I've been on a number of winter holidays (to sunny places, so tick the 'winter sun' box) and I was only 40 last year. We're going to the Canaries at the end of November this year and taking our almost 6 month old...

Sparklywhiteteeth · 12/09/2024 20:37

Genuinely you can’t think of anything to do if you go to Spain and it’s not warm enough to swim or sunbathe?

that’s the saddest thing I’ve ever read.

Perroi · 12/09/2024 20:43

DH and I are now in our late 60s but we used to do it in the 80s and 90s before we had DC.
Two weeks in January and two weeks in June.

DS2 is coming with us in January because he likes a very chilled week in the sun and his partner doesn't.
It may not be the type of holiday you like but that doesn't mean it's an age thing.

thinkfast · 12/09/2024 20:44

I think it depends what part of Spain. I love going to Spain outside of the summer to go for country walks and visit city and other sights that is impossible to enjoy in August when it's 40 degrees. But swimming, sunbathing and beaches at that time of year is not guaranteed. I've been lucky with a November dip in the sea in Spain, but outdoor pools are all generally closed after August and would be bloody freezing.

JaninaDuszejko · 12/09/2024 20:44

I've actually never been to Spain in the summer, I've been in May, September, October and December. Madrid in December was cold but sunny and the Prado was really quiet, it was fab. I only holiday in northern Europe in the summer, the Mediterranean is strictly a spring or autumn destination. Much better for sightseeing.

SanMarzano · 12/09/2024 20:47

We often go away in the winter and have done since early 20s but not to Tenerife etc. More like destinations that are better in our winter like South America, SE Asia etc - I think a Spanish city break to somewhere like Seville or Granada that’s too hot in the summer would be nice.

RandomUsernameHere · 12/09/2024 20:59

Sounds great for any age and a lot better than being stuck here!

Original poster
MevsDHoliday · 12/09/2024 21:44

Sparklywhiteteeth · 12/09/2024 20:37

Genuinely you can’t think of anything to do if you go to Spain and it’s not warm enough to swim or sunbathe?

that’s the saddest thing I’ve ever read.

I can think of lots of things to do in Spain, but this seems like a holiday in a beach resort to do typical beach resort things. If I was going to do that, I'd go when it's actually warm enough on the beach to swim in the ocean comfortably. If my parents wanted to go to Madrid or Barcelona with us in winter I'd have no reservations about that. Going to a Spanish beach resort outside of summer felt like a thing retirees do to me. Obviously I'm BU it turns out. 😂

OP posts:
Borninabarn32 · 12/09/2024 21:50

I'm 29, I love winter sun. It feels so much hotter becuase it's so cold at home. We spent the whole week in the pool or the sea in February. Great for people who get seasonal depression too.

Octavia64 · 12/09/2024 21:54

We've been on winter sun holidays with the kids since I was about 25 (and they were two).

We went to Egypt (diving) or morocoo.

Plenty of young families about.

Why do you think you have to be old to go on a winter sun holiday? Never heard of that before.

Original poster
MevsDHoliday · 12/09/2024 21:56

Octavia64 · 12/09/2024 21:54

We've been on winter sun holidays with the kids since I was about 25 (and they were two).

We went to Egypt (diving) or morocoo.

Plenty of young families about.

Why do you think you have to be old to go on a winter sun holiday? Never heard of that before.

I think I should have been more specific than winter sun in hindsight 😂

OP posts:
JoyousPinkPeer · 12/09/2024 22:01

I'm in my 60s and been doing it since my 20s. It's so much nicer than going away in summer time.

limegreenheart · 12/09/2024 22:06

Depends a lot on where in Spain you'd be going. If it were a place I wanted to go (let's say Cádiz or Sevilla) I wouldn't let the "winter sun" description put me off. I know a lot of people who do some bits of travelling mainly for the sun and it's less being unable to tolerate the cold because of age and more either disliking the cold a lot (usually because of growing up somewhere with a warmer climate year-round) or wanting to do outdoor activities that work best in a mild, dry climate.

If it's someplace that wouldn't particularly attract you or where the things that do interest you won't keep you occupied for the full time (Marbella, Alicante, Vic would be examples for me) I'd likely say no. But I'd also guess that inviting you to go with them is a way for all of you to spend some continuous and non-distracted time together, so factor in whether that's a priority for you. If it is it, might make up for a less exciting location.

1offnamechange · 12/09/2024 22:15

Flipping heck I've heard it all now...
You're too young for...sun?
Why wouldn't you do any of the things you'd do on a holiday at any other time in the year, just in better weather than at home? Going out for food, walking around the local area, going to museums, relaxing, going to clubs/bars, go on a boat trip, chat to new people, relax and read a book...whatever.

also 22 degrees is definitely hot enough for swimming, particularly if it's actually direct sun - I live by the seaside and it's barely been warmer than that at all this summer and people have been in the sea every day! Wear a wetsuit or something if you really can't handle it, then you can try paddleboarding, windsurfing, kayaking...

What do you do 99% of the time in the UK if you can only imagine enjoying yourself at 30degree temperatures or more?

If you've only got so much annual leave or can't afford it then fair enough, prioritise the holiday you do want to go on...but not wanting to go on holiday in the winter because you think you're too young is just bizarre.

notacooldad · 12/09/2024 22:21

I can think of lots of things to do in Spain, but this seems like a holiday in a beach resort to do typical beach resort things. If I was going to do that, I'd go when it's actually warm enough on the beach to swim in the ocean comfortably. If my parents wanted to go to Madrid or Barcelona with us in winter I'd have no reservations about that. Going to a Spanish beach resort outside of summer felt like a thing retirees do to me. Obviously I'm BU it turns out. 😂
So hire a car and explore.
It's still warm enough to be on the beach most .months in Spain, although it does cool in the evening. So yeah, I'm still saying yab vu!
Took about having a closed mind!

DappledThings · 12/09/2024 22:25

MevsDHoliday · 12/09/2024 21:44

I can think of lots of things to do in Spain, but this seems like a holiday in a beach resort to do typical beach resort things. If I was going to do that, I'd go when it's actually warm enough on the beach to swim in the ocean comfortably. If my parents wanted to go to Madrid or Barcelona with us in winter I'd have no reservations about that. Going to a Spanish beach resort outside of summer felt like a thing retirees do to me. Obviously I'm BU it turns out. 😂

Show quote history

Even beach resorts will be near interesting places to visit. You're not locked in the hotel. It's only a boring holiday if you make it boring.

Ponoka7 · 12/09/2024 22:54

It depends on where and that particular hotel. Someone said that they wouldn't contemplate Fuengirola, but it's a cheap base for Gibraltar and the whole region. There's usually a mix of bars in most places. If they wanted to stick together the whole time, then it would be a no.

Alongthepineconetrail · 12/09/2024 22:59

We're looking to book St. Lucia for December 2025 so looking forward to it. Proper winter sun. You are being unreasonable and quite narrow minded.

Original poster
MevsDHoliday · 12/09/2024 23:06

Alongthepineconetrail · 12/09/2024 22:59

We're looking to book St. Lucia for December 2025 so looking forward to it. Proper winter sun. You are being unreasonable and quite narrow minded.

St Lucia isn't Benidorm 😆

OP posts: