Would you stay in the cellar or in a hotel room

[Cellarorhotel]

Dh and I have distanced ourselves from his family for various reasons but we now have a newborn (5 months old in december) and it is his grandfather's birthday in December. He is 93 so likely to be his last. He has always loved his grandchildren and is very excited about any great grandchild. MIL (his daughter) has 4 kids and 3 kids plus partners will be there including us

There are 3 bedrooms plus a cellar where there is a sofa bed. Bedroom 1 is for DH's grandpa, MIL shares a room with single daughter. So last bedroom up for grabs. The last time we were there 2 years ago during fhe same time, it was occupied by sister no 2 and her fiancee. DH's married sister and her husband plus her MIL plus 1 year old stayed at a nearby hotel in 1 room (don't ask me why her MIL tagged along).

We usually book a hotel room but in my early married years we stayed in fhe cellar. I didn't mind it as we were young and skint and didn't have a baby. However that was only for 1 year as we always had enough money that we didn't think much of booking a local hotel for 2 weeks. We had a 6 figure household income and our mortgage was 2% and we went on loads of holidays.

However I have been on stat maternity pay and dh is worried about his job (so worried he is spending lots of time looking for one). Baby is very attached to me so i plan to find a new job where it is easier to fit around childcare and also want to be at home for 9 months. We have a mortgage (1282 for our london flat) and it's been expensive with a baby. We have around 37k in savings but a lot of that is earmarked for the future . Also dh sister is getting married next month so we are also spending money on hotels for that.

Logically we should just stay in the cellar but I remember it being cold (dh says its heated, I only remember it being cold cos the floors are made of stone and I don't wear socks in the house- the steps in that house are really steep so I am never sure why dh wears socks). Dh's family aren't the easiest either, as you can see, given we probably have to stay in the cellar with a baby. Dh asked his mum and she said well your sister is staying in fhe bedroom. At that time her partner was only the boyfriend and he refused to stay in the cellar hence why the other sister with the one year old baby had to stay in a hotel (which i think she could only afford cos the MIL and her went halves). I find being a new mum stressful, the idea of doing night feeds and all with them around is causing me anxiety so much so that I almost want to volunteer to stay in the cellar but yet I am worried about health impact on my baby. It is a converted cellar but mainly used for storage.

It's also over Christmas so an overall expensive time to book hotels..

Cool not cold and damp.

Oh no not damp, sorry must have missed that. Xx

Oh my god I earn about 20k, we lived in a bedsit when in London, and I would just be paying for a hotel, but going for 3 nights. Just pay for the bloody hotel! There was no reason for you to stay that long. You could have stayed a few nights, left early, and husband can stay in the cellar for the remainder.

My mistake, just cold, no damp mentioned.

37k in savings yet stressing about paying for a hotel? Bloodyhell.
Wouldn't an airbnb be more comfortable anyway, with a baby, rather than a hotel?
Again, 37k in savings. Wow.

If you want to preserve your finances, then you are going to have to brave the cellar. Not what you want to hear but my reasoning is as follows:

Your husband survived it as a child.

You have survived it in the past.

You say that the house is generally well heated but you recall the stone floor being cold on your naked feet. Well of course it was. Nobody who lives with stone floors, walks on them in their bare feet, except perhaps in the hottest days of summer, for that precise reason. This is literally what slippers were made for. Buy/borrow slippers and dressing gowns/Oodies (other brands available) and make sure your baby has warm clothes. Problem solved.

When you need to be up and about caring for your baby, woman-up! It's what mums do. You can do this.

Enjoy your stay.

Can you rent an air bnb/holiday let which might be cheaper and more space and comfort for you. 11 nights in a hotel or that room with a 5 month old sounds tough.

You clearly dont want to stay in the cellar so book a hotel. You have savings and no doubt your husband will get another job in time and you will also be contributing again in the future.

If I had that amount of savings, I would definitely book a hotel so that it will be an enjoyable rather than miserable experience.

no to.cellar in December and tiny baby. don't go for 2weeks. go down for party, hotel one night from savings, back the next. Grandad sees baby, doesn't miss party. Best compromise. Other family can suit themselves.

Cancel your trip and book a later date when flights are also cheap.
Don’t sleep in a cold cellar with a newborn.

Why are you so adamant it's going to be his last birthday.

He is 93 and a heavy drinker, so statistically it could well be.

Your MIL's decision? Why can't your adult DH and your adult SIL decide between themselves where they sleep - just, y'know, cut MIL out of the equation because it doesn't involve her, doesn't impact her, has nothing to do with her? Will she physically remove your and your DH and your baby from that room and throw you down the cellar stairs?

What a load of nonsense. I don't know how you can be involved with such ridiculousness.

You cant have a newborn in a celler ok its converted but if its cold then no.
Either ask sister to swap or dip into your savings its your baby at the end of the day or dont go and stay home .Life changes with little ones they come first.
Seriously id expect other adults to give up the room for the baby or you need to get a hotel.