'that £340 is too expensive for a staycation ?

[Isitameproblem]

My friend decided that she wants to have one night in a nice spa hotel for one night. So far so good. They can leave their kids at home, but we can't, so hers is only £225 whereas ours is £340, no spa treatment, just bed and breakfast.

Isn't that a bit too steep?

It really depends on it it is affordable or not. It is however NOT a staycation. A staycation is where you stay at home and do day trips etc, it isn't a night/ weekend away.

You can't take a five year old on a spa break, surely? What will you do with them when you're relaxing by the pool or getting a massage? Even the most chill five year old will want to play in the pool and be entertained to some degree.

I have stayed in one expensive hotel as a birthday treat, and while it was lovely I didn't think it was really worth it. Maybe if you get free treatments, dinner etc so you're actually getting something for your stay rather than a very expensive bedroom it would be better value.

I don't think the price is unreasonable, but what is a five year old going to do at a spa hotel which is (presumably) geared up for adults?

Surely your friends will want to be relaxing/enjoying treatments kid free, while you'll be running around after a child?

Is there no other night they can do when you can arrange childcare?

@AnnaQuayInTheUk @TooBored1 from the OED and Cambridge Dictionaries. Is there any need to be such dicks (incorrectly) pointing out something which is completely irrelevant?

edited - also @SnoozingFox

I don’t think it’s unreasonable - we’d spend similar, but, like others, I’m not sure I’d want to with a 5 year old in tow!

I wouldn’t take a child to a spa hotel if I was planning to enjoy the facilities, so no I wouldn’t want to pay for that. Would happily pay without a child in tow.

It's all very subjective. We're planning to go to the Four Seasons in Hampshire but we know it's not a spa holiday, and it's a proper break.

I think she's think that close to £400 is too expensive when someone will have to stay babysitting in a room a good chunk of the time

It’s not a staycation in a luxury spa hotel. And it’s utterly bonkers to take a 5yo to a luxury spa hotel. And if you don’t want to spend £340 on a night, don’t.

THANK YOU!

Imo it's not about whether it's affordable or not. When we see holidays/ breaks etc when we thinking something is too expensive we just walk away and say "it's too expensive" and it's got nothing to do with affordability.

Seriously, if you look around £300+ per night is a pro rata daily price for a top AI abroad incl flights....and that includes the caribbean/ mexico.

I don't think £340 is too much for a hotel stay with a spa, I don't see the point of you going with a five year old. It's not clear whether you are going as couples though. Is there an option for just you and your friend go together?

I think the best option if you really want to do this is for you to go, while your kid and partner stay at home.

It's actually a "family friendly" spa hotel, but children can only use the pool, and a sensory garden. That's it.
We can't arrange overnight childcare we have no family around to do that for us.

My friend decided that she wants to have one night in a nice spa hotel for one night.

Good for her, I'd tell her I hope she enjoys it but at that price, I wouldn't be joining her!

What do you want to do?

Think it just bugs people it does me as well 😂 don't know why. Originally a staycation was staying at home and having trips out, people now also use it for not going far and even more annoyingly any UK holiday.
Obviously it doesn't actually matter though

Also have I been doing staycations wrong?

I've always used 'staycation' for a trip where you don't leave your own country.

Well I would either be asking DH to stay home with your child or telling your friend the plans sound lovely but you can’t come because it’s not a child friendly break.

This really isn’t a child based trip. Leave them home or cancel. £340 could be a day out to a theme park and an over night stay there with food Included. Don’t waste it on what will essentially be just taking your kid swimming and then sleeping in a hotel.

I get that but why point it out, other than to be an arsehole?!! (Not saying you are). There are so many things that bug me (brought instead of bought for some reason absolutely infuriates me) but I don’t point them out because I try not to be a dick!

Taking a 5 year old on a spa break is basically a real life oxymoron!

Do you have to go as a couples? Could you and your friend go and share a room and the dads stay home with the kids?

For one night? I’d expect to pay that for 3 nights! So much money. I’d never be able to justify it. It won’t be much of a break with a child in tow, and you won’t be able to relax. I’d say no if I were you. (The cost alone would make it a no, but taking DC along makes it a hard no).

A staycation can also mean you stay in your home country as opposed to holidaying abroad.

There seems to be two different definitions of the word, which is a bit confusing it must be said.

Sounds a pointless waste of money. Can't you go just with a friend and husband looks after your child at home?

My name is called Periwinkle!!!
Anyway I think she wants to do it with her husband.

Her original idea was to fly to Spain and party all day and come back on the first flight . Obviously not child friendly either!

I wouldn't go and stay in a luxury hotel 20mins away with my kids. Get a baby sitter and go and join her for dinner then the next day leave the kids at home with dh and go to the spa as a day guest.

I have stayed in an expensive spa hotel with my kids but that was for my birthday and they are a bit older so enjoy the fancy meals and could go doe a swim alone while we went in the spa.

It’s not really that expensive for a nice family night away, you could spend 350 mooching around the local high street shops and going for lunch.

I do understand that it might not be ‘worth it’ if you have a child in tow and can’t make full use of the facilities.