To think holidays rarely live up to expectations

[Tangerinetortoise]

Love the idea of holidays. Also try to keep expectations realistic. Always looking forward to break from mundane routine.

BUT holidays always seem to exhaust me on every level. So much effort. So much overstimulation. Someone is always sick. I find it hard to sleep well away from my own bed, so am either tired and crabby, or taking more sleeping pills than I would like to.

I know this is a first world problem and holidays are by no means a necessity, but AIBU?! And I want to have great family time and give my DC a variety of experiences, but I usually find the whole thing more stressful than enjoyable. 😩

Your holidays rarely live up to Your expectations

Not for me!

So much effort. So much overstimulation. Someone is always sick. I find it hard to sleep well away from my own bed, so am either tired and crabby, or taking more sleeping pills than I would like to.

sounds awful!!

what kind of holidays do you go on?

The last 2/3 holidays I have been on I have had a flu-like virus (whether actual flu or not, can’t say for sure) - so maybe that is colouring my experiences!!

Maybe plan a different kind of holiday. I love an Orlando theme park holiday but it's exhausting. So we do 3 weeks to keep it manageable with down days.

My eldest son and I also enjoy going to the sun, lazing by the pool and rarely even leaving the hotel. Total chillout time.

I have just arrived on holiday and it's bloody marvellous. But my children are adults now and it's just me and DH.

Some of the holidays when they were little were pretty rough. There's one I can't think of without shuddering - D&V bug making its way through all three of them on a roadtrip through France. That was a nightmare.

But mostly of the holidays have been good while some have been great.

On holiday at the moment and totally disagree
I love my holidays and am very rarely disappointed

Variety of types - Eurocamp-style mostly. Because plenty of things to keep DC entertained.

Sounds like I am the odd one out!

I love holidays so I don’t recognise what you are saying, I’m away now what terrible weather yesterday, horrible insomnia (ongoing issue) but still it’s lovely (though I’ll tell you later if I’m still enjoying it, my motorbike gear got soaked through yesterday and I don’t think it will be dry by 11am when we set off for the next stop )

May be time to try different holidays OP

because sounds like you’re describing a pretty unpleasant endurance test rather than a holiday

Maybe that’s why?

My holidays are either solo or with my sister & they’ve always lived up to my expectations so far.

Depends how old your children are. Going on holiday with babies and toddlers isn’t a holiday imo. Once they get past 3 it’s fine. But I went to hotels that had entertainment on to help amuse them and me.

They can be. But over the years I've fine tuned them to get rid of the stressors and improve the experience as much as possible. For example, no flights that involve getting up too early. No destinations with temps over 28. Locations must have at least a handful of must see/do things to make any effort/discomfort worth it. Easy access to food that's suits everyone.
Basically, remember what made it bad last time and be determined about factoring it out where you can. For your sleep one for example, maybe take your pillow from home, avoid siestas, keep active in the day and limit alcohol etc.

No the opposite. Sounds like you’ve been unlucky with illness though. Are your kids challenging? Love our holidays highlight of our lives.

At the airport awaiting a flight to Seville. Can't wait!

My DC are 5 and 9. Older one is no trouble. Younger one is challenging at the best of times, but can be extra hard work on holiday. Suspect he has undiagnosed ADHD, but doc says too early for diagnosis.

Have fun!!

Thanks. I don’t drink alcohol, but maybe that’s my problem!

Do you still have to do a lot of cooking, organising, cleaning, taxi-ing kids, etc with that type of break?

If so then it might be lovely for them but just another chore for you.

Are you flying? Planes (and airport) are full of viruses, they were found in the air in something like 95 per cent of flights when tested. If you try holidays in this country you can drive to that should cut down on illness which could help?

I still do some basic cooking. But all organising is done in advance.

I think I just get easily overwhelmed, and then feel guilty that I am not enjoying myself as much as I think I should be.

Thanks. We occasionally fly, but the last two times I was unlucky enough to pick up the viruses just before we went away. 🤕

If life is challenging at home simply moving to a different destination doesn't automatically mean these challenges will disappear. If u are the main organiser I can see how they can be stressful. Illness is horrible when you are at home, so feels even worse when yiu are on holiday.
Is there any way you ciukd try a hotel holiday with pool and kids' club? Also?, how about getting someone to look after your children and you and your partner go away for a weekend in this country, that would be an low sress break perhaps? Your 9 year old could go on school residential as their holiday

Totally agree. I'd say about 2/3 of the holidays I've been on have been mostly disappointing. I suppose if I could afford to drop huge amounts of money on them, they could be guaranteed to be fab. But that isn't an option.

They've all had some OK elements. But mostly, either the hotel, the area, the food etc etc, has been a let down.

I love holidays. Even when the kids were little it was still nice to get away. Now they’ve grown up, even better. Save your money and don’t go as they are very expensive and a shame to spend that kind of money and not enjoy it.