Shit holiday

[WorkingMum1391]

Just want a moan really.
Arrived yesterday to thunderstorms and down pour which looks like it will continue on the rest of the week.
With DH, 8 year old SS and 1 year old DD. I'm sitting in the room in darkness and silence while she has a nap while DH and SS are going between indoor pool and arcade.

Just boring and crap so far.

How do I make it better if the weather doesn't improve? Wine?

But you would be in hotel for baby's nap anyway ? I get that it would have been nice to sit in the sun on balcony or whatever but stretch out on bed with book , wine and nice food.

That's shitty, but weather isn't always good in the med at this time of year.

A few years ago we had booked a week in the med at this time (the last week in March). Weather should have been low 20s and sunny, Looked at the forecast the week before and it was awful - wet and cold - and we cancelled it. We were very lucky as it was till Covid times (3 years ago) and DS had just come down with it so we managed to get a refund on our insurance less the excess (£100). DS was 18 at the time and wasn't coming on the holiday, but he was ill and I wasn't comfortable leaving him. In the end DH and I went away for a few days in the UK and it was lovely weather here.

DH and I have had some shitty weather holidays abroad - all pretty much out of season though at the time - you have to make the most of it however awful it is. Hire a car, do sightseeing if you can. Hopefully they'll be a break in the rain.

Exactly this.

You’re in Europe in early April. Nowhere is guaranteed to be particularly warm/dry at this time of year, even southern Europe. Don’t understand why people book holidays at this time of year and then expect it to be great weather!

If you want pretty much guaranteed hot/dry, you really need to go June-September. Any other months are variable!

Once had a week of 22 degrees and wind and rain in Majorca in late September - luckily we were only 9 miles from Palma and had a car so went in virtually every day - I’ve been to Majorca a lot but it was the first time we did the palace, the cathedral, the big indoor mall at Porto pi, lots of indoor tapas lunches at authentic places-personally in your position OP I would get a car and do some sight seeing in the area- I find hanging round a hotel in UK type weather more depressing than going out in the car etc

April of often rainy in Turkey. What did you expect? Try and find some activities you can do that aren’t weather dependant as it’ll be a long week otherwise

I'm guessing Rome or Paris. Maybe New York.

I want to know where the boring (but vibrant) city is!

Oh dear OP, weather for the week not looking great. I’m not interested in wine but I’d be indulging in some nice food to soften the blow.

Obviously Coventry.

That’s just poor research though, surely?

See, I was thinking New York.

But I'd put money on it being Dubai, because that actually is shit!

I’m trying to imagine booking a European holiday in April (!) where it’s reasonable to be shocked that the weather isn’t great. You sound like you were wanting a sunny beach holiday in April.

You’ll have paid less than in the main holiday seasons for that very reason. You can’t pay April prices and expect July weather, sorry!

Presumably you have ways to entertain yourselves when it’s rainy in the UK? Do that. And enjoy being away from your usual domestic chores and cooking etc.

I feel for you. Ex-DH and went on what was supposed to be a two week camping holiday in June travelling around Ireland. It was cold, it rained every day so the tent was wet and muddy all the time, it was a pain to pack up and move every few days, DH electrocuted himself on an electric fence & fell in a river (don't ask😂) and we drove all the way around the Ring of Kerry on a day which started promisingly with sunshine and clear skies but promptly became so foggy that we saw absolutely nothing of the beautiful views. Our will to live disappeared after a week and we went home early.

It was still better than being in work,though!

Sorry you're having such a disappointing time OP. Is it your first holiday away with SS as well?

At least there a few indoor things nearby. Can you look up some other activities nearby, or hire a car and drive to nearest city? Babies are such hard work on holiday, but at least she's still tiny enough to strap into a buggy and hopefully nap while you eat out, go sight seeing or for coffees. It's much harder chasing after a runaway toddler.
If you get on well with SS, maybe leave DH with baby and have some bonding time with SS in arcade?

I remember a holiday in Spain, it rained every day and was too chilly and windy to go out without a jumper. I had to buy cardigans, jackets and macs for everyone as we only had summer clothes and hoodies. The beach was off limits due to dangerous currents and tides, the lifegaurds wouldn't even let us go on sand!
We played games in the holiday flat a lot, and did day-trips to touristy indoor places like caves, an indoor fun pool, shopping mall.

Most holidays I've had with under 4s have been disappointing tbh. We travelled a lot when we just had DS, thinking he'd grow up used to travelling. As a baby he either got ill, or screamed for hours in airports/on planes, or we ran out of nappies or food he liked. Once we got stuck in floods in Croatia, with cars floating past, which was terrifying. And you have to lug so much stuff everywhere. My youngest is now a toddler and I still dread holidays, but we have family abroad and DH loves travel. So I've given up expecting to enjoy holidays until she's 4 or 5. It's so much more fun when they're out of nappies, able to tell you what they want etc.

You'll have so many chances for great holidays in the future OP. My DS is 10 now and a massive help with DD, he also has a wonderful sense of humour and is really good company. Even when DD's having a toddler tantrum, he sees the funny side and helps cheer everyone up.

I'm another voting for hiring a car, OP. Or get a bus somewhere if you can't do that. There might be some organised trips you could go on. Turkey is the most child-friendly place I ever went and our young children were welcomed everywhere. There is a lot to see and usually it's too hot to do that with young children.

I get that it's not the holiday you wanted, but that doesn't make it a write off.

I used to spend a lot of time in Antalya when DH was still DP and he needed a UK visa from Iran. (Long story). This is standard April weather as PP’s said. Get thee to a hammam. And then visit getyourguide.com and find a tour to the waterfalls. Go into the Old Town, have a ride on the cable car. There are also tonnes of outdoor activities that DSS would love and they are not weather-dependent.

Well if you can't find something to un-bore yourself in one of the worlds most vibrant cities I am afraid that's on you.

@WorkingMum1391 I think you just have to make the best of it. Many years ago I booked a trip of a life time (Venezuelan Island), we planned loads of excursions - the main reason for going - and they had terrible out of season weather most of the time we were there. Our trip to the Angel Falls was cancelled as was piranha fishing and all our sailing trips etc.

Never again will I rely on good weather abroad.

Are you staying on a resort? If so they should be some entertainment for SS. Is there an indoor pool? Holidays are always a bit tricky with a baby, when you want to keep up with their routine. But I am sure you will find things to do. Just try to make the most of the holiday. I agree it’s really disappointing to have rubbish weather, weather does seem rainy over the Med at the moment. I would favour Canaries Islands over Turkey at this time of year.

Just wanted to say people saying what did you expect - I’m not sure how they think that’s helpful at this stage.
FWIW the weather in Antalya should be better than this atm. I’m hoping you’re in an amazing hotel. I would try and use the spa for yourself. Treat it like you’re in Britain but with much better facilities. It won’t rain the whole week I promise you that. There will be sun.
someone else is washing up and making the beds. The hotel will change their activities to indoor so you won’t be bored.
get some shopping done too! Amazing stuff out there! Xx

I second this

This is hard, happened to us once, not the entire week, last 2 days were okay!
Why not hire a car and go and do some site seeing, bays, beaches etc!
Obvs the wine is a must, but later in the day and not behind the wheel!

sounds disappointing but get out there & make the best of it.
Is there a kids club to give you a small break?

Why can't the 1 year old go to the indoor swimming pool & arcade?

Agree just came back from canaries. It’s not hot but it’s warm and pleasant at 21. Would definitely recommend!!

Could you organise a trip to Cappadocia? Interesting to see. 8 year old would love it

Why are you sitting in darkness and silence?

For all the people saying what did we expect at this time of year, well we obviously didn't expect it to be as hot as summer but the thunderstorms and heavy rain wasn't something we would expect, it's just been very unlucky.

I've been away with just SS before and as long as he can get in a pool, he is happy. Not a fan of a kids club as he is quite shy so he rely on DH to play with him rather than making friends. Obviously in previous years this wasn't an issue as I would be quite happy to drink cocktails, sunbathe and read my book but now I'm stuck in baby prison 😂