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??!!

Cancelling completely would cost us a grand plus what we've already paid.

We could still go at a later date for the same money cancelling would cost us, so moving dates or staying put are our only options.

I'm thinking of possibly moving dates but making it a week instead of 10 days so it doesn't cost as much, but I need to speak to someone ideally and it's mostly just an online company.

I would just change the dates.

Not much, but I think she's disappointed. She's doing other stuff with them through the year, I think.

Is there any option to upgrade to another hotel with more for the kids to do? Or might it be really nice to be away with their granny?

We went to Rhodes this April. We were very lucky in that the weather was perfect. It was around 21/22 degrees and sunny. We got a little bit burnt sitting around the pool as we under estimated the strength of the sun.

We were all inclusive but most restaurants were open. Not the water park though. The sea and the pools are quite cold still that early in the year but even I managed a bit of a swim.

My kids are a bit older so not interested in kids clubs but they enjoyed exploring Rhodes Old Town and a day exploring Lindos and the rest of the island when we hired a car.

I know we were lucky with the weather. April can be very mixed and the week before we arrived was very stormy. It was half the price of July/August though and obviously not at all overcrowded.

I did think about maybe another close-by hotel where we can still hang out with her and her friend. I'll look into that, thank you x

Which island? There will be something to do and you could get lucky with the weather.

Personally I wouldn't do Greece for that type of trip in April. City break to Athens, yes, beachy type holiday...definitely not.

Just my opinion, but I think the other sibs have been arseholes. DH and MIL should be getting up them. Flakey drop out twats.

If you do go, I'd reframe it in your mind. The weather may/may not be nice. If it's not beach weather hire a car and explore hike/hire bikes/go to greek villages in the mountains.

I'd also outline some boundaries with MIL in that you will not be joined at the hip and this is as much of a holiday to your family as it is her.

Oh no, she's fine, bless her. She won't expect us to be joined to her all the time, we've been away with her before and she's a great Holiday person. She's got her friend too. She even babysits while we have evenings out 😃
I actually love her, she's one of my favourite people in the world. It's not her that's the issue, it's my kids, particularly the 8 year old. She requires a lot of stimulation.

Look at it from a different angle. If you don’t spend the money to go at a better time you could well come home disappointed and feeling like you’ve wasted all the money spent anyway. I wouldn’t go in April. I wouldn’t go until June. I’d pay the extra to move dates

Tbh, I don't think I can even afford June. I think May is the best I can do.

I am a huge Greece fan but April is notoriously rainy and unpredictable. I would move to late May if you can, depending on island. Some such as Corfu I would go even later.

Also too late now but OTB are a terrible company, I would never ever use them. You are better off with a full service tour operator like TUI or Jet2 in future.

I would be fuming about this, and doubly fuming when I got there and was sitting around in my jumper and raincoat! The other siblings should have been clear much, much sooner that they weren't going, am so shocked they let you book without saying anything! Definitely move dates!

Don’t move the dates, MIL is already disappointed at the rest of them dropping out. They are out of order but this can be salvaged. If you tell us the island we can help with ideas to keep your youngest busy!

Will your kids not be at school for all of June?

What crummy behaviour from DH's siblings! Why on earth couldn't they say when it first came up oh i don't reckon the weather will be great, how about the xyz place instead.

Absolutely no way would I still go with so little for DC to do, we ended up on a holiday like that once with our DC and by the end of it I was tearing my hair out, like you we have a VERY high energy child and she had naff all to do for 10 days, it was pure hell.

Have you checked the price difference for October half term? It should still be warm not too hot and a few things hopefully will be open.

God your poor mil.

her kids are absolute shitheads...!

1. The holiday

I'd move the holiday and suck up the cost.

1. Your mil and her birthday / special occasion

Ideally talk face 2 face (be that on VC or in person) or failing that set up a what's app group with DH siblings (dickhead siblings) and say politely
" right wtf is the plan for April then since you crushed your poor mother by not bothering to book / communicate you weren't booking..."

If they persisted in their uselessness id try and organise something science just your guys and mil or your dh & mil solo

I've used them more than once before and never had an issue.

I went to Corfu in early May once. It wasn’t great. Cold wet and windy. And as you say not a lot was open.

i recently had to move a booking from Feb to March. My cockup as id booked the wrong month and it was more expensive. I queried it and it was supply and demand thing. It’s cheaper out of season. I’d try and suck up extra cost and move the booking. Otherwise it could be a difficult week.

I think the rest of the family have not covered themselves in glory.

It sounds like you could pay to move it to may and still have poor weather. And you wouldn't have the upside of being there with MIL. I think I'd go and spend some of the money you save on really nice meals out etc.

I'd change the date the pool will be freezing in April.

It’s when you have an issue that they become shit. Like now, you’re having an issue because they don’t have anyone you can speak to and even if they did they have absolutely naff all control over any of the holiday elements they’ve sold you. This is also the point where you find out they don’t care as a company, either.

Booking direct with the operator means they can move things around for you without much difficulty.

Agree with you.

Of course DH doesn't want to cancel as I expect he doesn't want to let his mum down, nor will he expect to do much parenting (I'm inferring that based on you being the one that's worried about what they will actually do for 10 days).

If you need to persuade him, I'd look to draft a schedule e.g.

Day one: Family time
Day 2 Mum morning/dad afternoon, family tea out
DAY 3: Dad organises something, Mum cooks.
Day 4: Family
Day 5: Mum organises something, dad cooks

Then make noises about there being a lovely spa that you are saving up to go to (he doesnt need to know that there isnt one) This will you want to make it clear there is fuck all to do and you won't be bearing the brunt alone or letting him slope off with MIL and leave you handling bored kids.