To not want to go on this Holiday?

[comeandhaveteawithme]

We've got a Holiday booked on a Greek Island for 10 days in April 2026. It's been talked about for a good couple of years with DH's side of the family, and we were all supposed to be going as one big group. Us, MIL, DH'S three siblings and all of their kids. This particular date was planned to mark a special occasion.

About a month ago, MIL made a whatsapp group and said bookings are now open but there isn't much space so everyone book now. We quickly went ahead and booked ours, expecting everyone else to do the same as discussed. MIL booked to go with a friend.

Trouble is, noone else booked! they're all now saying they don't want to go, can't afford it, or think that April is a crappy time to go to Greece as nothing will be on, no excursions, waterparks aren't open, etc.
I've checked and it's true, nothing is open in the area, no excursions are on. We've been to this place before and it's on a nice beach but it's a small hotel, small pool, no kids clubs or on-site entertainment, no water slides, nothing.
I thought this would be OK because the kids would have their cousins to play with, but now they'll have practically nothing to do for 10 straight days except beach and a tiny pool and I really don't want to go!!
I really don't know what to do now because I know this date is important to MIL, but she will have her friend with her.
Cancellation fee is massive, company doesn't offer location changes. I'd rather book for later in the year when stuff is on, but it's at least an extra grand and a half to do that, I don't really mind paying if I HAVE to but DH is saying that's ridiculous and we should just suck it up 😭

Any idea of what I can do to keep kids entertained (Will be almost 13yo and an extremely energetic ADHD 8yo) or what I can do otherwise??!!

Who did you book with who won't let you change location/dates?

onthebeach.

They don't offer location changes. They will let me change the dates, but as I said, it costs a lot more.

It's not the holiday that was agreed on, with cousins etc.
Weather most likely won't be great, and yeh, nothing will be open. Including a lot of seasonal restaurants!

I'd pay the extra tbh. April will be terrible

Your first loss is the best loss, change dates and pay the extra. I've been to a beach destination out of season and if you don’t have the weather and nothing is open it’s not a fun time

I'm really quite annoyed about it. Well over a year this has been talked about, now they're like "it's a waste of money to go in April" after letting us book it. thinking they were coming.

Last time we went there it was October, and loads of stuff was shutting down but there were still excursions and it was still fairly hot and the waterpark was still open. But looking into it, it looks like April is way worse than October and nothing gets going until mid-May!

Did you not look up weather, activies etc before booking yourself?

Not really, because tbh I thought it was a done deal, this date is important to MIL, every one was going (or so they said!) we were all going to hang out together, the kids would have each other to play with, so it didn't really matter and we wanted to mark this particular date together so there was no point checking if a different date was better. The particular location and place was also significant to MIL and we've been before so again, didn't really bother checking. But that was when I thought it was going to be something completely different.

I don’t blame you.

I wouldn’t waste all that money and annual leave on something that doesn’t sound good.

I would pay the extra money and change the date.

“Ok, so as nobody else is coming, and being out of season means there will be nothing open for the kids, we’re going to bow out of this one. We can’t get a refund but we can change the date. MIL, you have a lovely time with your friend in April, siblings, we are going to rebook for June, would be great if some of you could join us”

Noone is reassuring me that April won't be that bad 😂not surprised, but was hoping for a miracle or big revelation lol!!

I think I am just going to have to be firm and tell DH that I am not willing to go in April. I honestly don't believe we will enjoy it and think the kids will be bored shitless. There's only so many sandcastles you can build.
I imagine it will be all older people who just want to lie by the pool the entire time, won't appreciate my kids splashing about, and no other families.

We went to Rhodes a few years ago in May (around the middle if I remember rightly) and it was ok for me and DH but very quiet and the weather was a mixed bag!

I would probably look at paying the extra to change the dates if I were you. It's not so bad if there are no kids - or even if the hotel has stuff for them to do - but if not then yeah, they are probably going to be bored.

Actually just thinking, if it's Crete you might be ok as it's a much bigger island with a lot going on and various towns / places you can visit?

Is it Crete?! 😀

It's not Crete. I wish I'd booked Crete. In fact, I wish I'd booked somewhere else entirely like Spain, or Egypt, or Cyprus, at a completely different time and instead of relying on others. Not doing it again, that's for sure.

I was actually thinking early May as June onwards is even more expensive.

It's not even all inclusive so the actual Holiday itself is going to need so much spending money 😭I did this because I thought it was important!

They won't be lying by the pool it will be too chilly most likely.

I wouldn’t be going in April. The weather is so unpredictable.

Which island is it? Is there the chance to do a bit of island hopping by water taxi or ferry?

Is there the chance of the kids doing a sailing or windsurfing course nearby etc. Those type of activities cross the ages and perhaps the whole family could find something like that. Or maybe the chance of hiring mountain bikes etc. With the weather not particularly good that time of year some form of sporting activity might be worth exploring ?

Oh I'd be so cross. Is there no way you can talk the others into going by pointing out it doesn't matter so much what the weather is like if you're all together? I'd definitely make sure they absolutely, definitely aren't going before you amend anything.

Croatia in April is lovely. Just saying.

Oh bollocks. Sorry.

Ok definitely change dates!

I feel very sorry for your poor mother in law who was expecting a holiday with her family to mark a date that is special to her.
Children don't necessarily need water slides and kids clubs to have a good time I think your husband's siblings have been very selfish to drop out now.
I don't know what you should do because I don't know your children but if it was me I would still go. Children can get s lot out of being in a foreign country without the distraction of kids clubs and water slides they might enjoy different things. I would research nearby towns, public transport etc and embrace bring somewhere different

I do too! What has MIL said about it?

They're absolutely 100% not going to go, they've all booked other stuff.

I can't work out if it's them just being selfish and flakey or if it's me taking everything so literally and expecting people to remember and stick to things they say (I'm neurodiverse so often struggle with this)

It was like "lets do it, lets do it, lets do it... nah, we don't want to" like wtf? I booked it in a hurry because I didn't want to let them down and now I get shafted. I could have booked somewhere easier, cheaper, and all inclusive, probably in May or June for the price I bloody paid.

Onthebeach type websites are notorious for very low deposits. Surely you've not left that much on it this far in advance?

It’ll be before the tourist crowds so you’ll be able to visit the island and get to know the place. Get the kids learning some greek so that they can try out their language skills. Are their ferries to other islands or boat trips? You’ll have a great holiday. It’s a shame that other family won’t be there but never mind.