In-laws going back on holiday cost

[Topazbear]

I’m pretty wound up so I can’t tell if I am being unreasonable!

We were invited to my MIL 60th weekend away camping. We are not campers, we don’t do it because we don’t enjoy it but my husband really wanted to do it as obviously it was a special occasion and quite a few other family members were going so he didn’t want us to be the only ones not doing it. FIL knows full well we would have no camping equipment etc but had said he was paying for the pitches for every one which was £120 for 3 nights which I thought was fair enough and then we could decide whether we would buy the tent, sleeping bags etc or hire a bell tent that comes with everything. We decided to do the bell tent for £410 - expensive but not really too much more than buying a tent and everything else needed for 2 adults and 2 kids considering we’d likely never use it again. Plus we wouldn’t need to pack up the car too much and it would generally make life easier, we thought it was worth it

now FIL is asking for the money for the pitch, I know it’s not a huge amount compared to what we paid for the bell tent but it’s the principal. They are extremely comfortable money wise so I can’t understand why they’re asking for it. I don’t know if it stings so much because my husband refuses to question him about it for fear of causing a row, or if it’s because my parents spring for a weekend away every year for us all because they love to have everyone together and spend time with their grandchildren (we offer money everytime and are refused, but we will pay for a meal out for them while we’re away) My husbands attitude was ‘well we get one free weekend a year so it’s not so bad having to pay for this one’ I was livid when he said that

So a 3 day weekend camping, which we would never usually choose to do is now going to cost us upwards of £700 if not more once you take food and drink and activities into account and I’m feeling pretty bitter about it all 😂

His dad never offered. Your DH just really wanted to go and is a wet bloody weekend. Hopefully the camping weekend is let wet than your DH!

I bet you end up with others hanging around in your snazzy bell tent 🤣🤣🤣

It's no help but as a camping hater myself, I think you're showing admirable grit not to develop a tactical migraine the morning of the trip and send DH with the kids on his own. It'll give you good family stories to tell later, though..

instead of paying for the bell tent, I think I would have hired a top of the range VW camper van( two of my friends both have one, and love them)
with 6 other families it’s going to be a hell of a trip!
I hope it goes well

Oh yes the idea of dh saying dads paying so soften the camping blow. Not expecting dad to email an invoice. High possibility.

It’s either going to be fabulous, or you’ll see us all on the news 😂

I don’t mind camping but I do mind paying to camp with family 😅 that an obligation not a holiday.

Absolutely. Does he have such a bad relationship with his dad that he can't just say "I thought you said you were paying for the pitch?".

I don’t think his dad ever said it!

Whenever I'm invited to anything involving camping, `I look up the nearest holiday cottage/B and B. I see no point whatsoever in suffering.

Scrap the bell tent idea.

Lend or buy a cheap tent and sleeping bags. You can sell them again once used.

You don't need all the other gear. I presume that others will have the cooking gear which you can all use. Just chip in money for the food costs.

Glamping is fun (even for non campers). Your kids will love it and it sounds like you are going to make the best if it. I hope the weather is good!

That doesn’t always work well when everyone’s wanting to cook around the same time and you’ve got someone trying to borrow the very items you need to use. Also tedious being constantly asked can we borrow? Do you have? Any chance you might have? Oh that’s fancy can I use it?

Then trying to get it all back. Didn’t Jane have Tongs? Yes she did. No I gave them back… lost.

Can you tell we go as the most equipped campers, and now every trip we are asked. Even can you store my milk after slagging off the cooler cheek of it. We don’t family camp anymore 😅

I'm sure you won't be feeling very well that weekend, tummy upset perhaps?

Christ, I wouldn't pay £700 to stay in a tent for 3 nights - I'd rather book a hotel and meet up with them. I hate camping though.

id cancel and go and stay in a nice bed and breakfast down the road - many on booking dot com for a lot less.

join the campers in the day and evening and go back to your accommodation at night

I think you’ve got the right idea with hiring the all in tent. You’ll be involved with the camp without the faff.
Hope it all goes well.

You’ve definitely made the right decision and that’s cheaper than hiring a top of the range campervan for 3 nights - that can really add up with insurance and all the added fees they throw on.

Also, you’ll be in your car and can escape with the kids if you need to! Keep a mental note of the nearest travellodges etc!!

I am definitely not a happy camper. However, I find that the key to it is a good sleep so take eye masks for you and the kids (if old enough). And hot water bottles are good to warm up the beds first.

You are mad to even consider this mosquito-fest in lieu of proper celebrations!

£460 quid for accommodation only for 3 nights - and it's a TENT? Mate, I'd be in a hotel!

That would annoy me.

There’s no way I’d be paying £700 to camp in a field. With no en-suite etc and knowing you could be in a hotel for that price and uncomfy beds. Not a chance!

Id say DH can go and I’ll be in a hotel down the road or visit for the day!

This! It’s not hard to say

Ugh, that would be hell! A bell tent is bad enough but an actual tent? I would stay home. Maybe OP is like me?

Off topic but I think you are very brave. I would have booked a hotel or a BB nearby and just popped over for the activities. I'm no camping fan. I feel that a bed in a room is a much better option 🙂

Why didn't you just arrange a holiday cottage / airbnb nearbye? We've done that as we're not campers either - it worked fine. And BiL was free to help with packing niece's tent as he didn't have his own to pack (she needed the help!).