AIBU to think a cottage is not a holiday?

[Jogonpolly]

Looking to go away in half term (DH and 2DC age 7&10).

I'd ideally like a short haul all inclusive somewhere - good weather and easy for them kids to be occupied. But with the jet fuel issue I don't feel confident booking incase we lose our money.

I suggested going somewhere in Europe by train. A hotel, pool and play area some places to visit, maybe a city or something.

DH has suggested a cottage in the UK, Devon or somewhere. Problem is, I just don't see a cottage as a holiday - in a hotel someone makes your bed and cleans the bathroom. You can choose to eat out or in the hotel restaurant, you don't need to drive anywhere, decisions are easy, everything is easy. My experiences of cottages in the UK are of same shit, different (and more difficult)place. There will still be cleaning to do, breakfast to sort even if we do go out for lunch and dinner, there's more planning and organising. I think I'd just rather not go.

AIBU and a misery?

And before people say it, yes, DH will do some of the organising and cleaning but still, it's just like being at home!

I'd also be happy with a city break, sightseeing etc. doesn't need to be an all inclusive place!

It's a holiday but it's not a break. I really enjoy our UK and eurocamp trips when we do them but it's definitely just the same shit in a different (more inconvenient) location.

Also - when looking at holiday cottages it's worth checking out if there's a spa nearby, or a local complimentary therapist where you can book a treatment.

We've done premier Inn for city breaks, I actually think they're great value for UK hotels. We've got one booked for a sightseeing trip to London in October.

I wouldn't want to stay for a week in a Premier Inn, but I thought my OP was clear it was more about the sort of AI resort you get abroad, not a premier Inn

I’m sure this has been said, but you can eat out when staying in self-catering places as well. Almost all our holidays are UK cottages - better for the environment, private and peaceful, no messing around with airports and flights, etc. What’s not to like?

"I also only had these types of holiday as a child and, going against the grain here, didn’t even really enjoy them as a child either."

"My parents seemed stressed and were constantly cooking, cleaning and being irritable."

I just posted above about a similar sort of holiday that I usually had as a child - we usually went to a holiday camp (self-catering but with on-site restaurants).

I remember that my mum made breakfast and lunch but that we usually ate at one of the restaurants for dinner. That seemed to work out well as far as I recall.

"I never fancied resort holidays before children..."

I'm not too sure if you would count a holiday camp as a "resort holiday" but it can provide a sort of half-way between the two.

@Thistimearound, totally agree. I was so envious of my friends who had 'a proper holiday'. A cottage holiday in the UK with your parents and siblings is is not exactly fun. I am 50 now and the cottages we stayed in then were pretty basic, I know they are better now but cost ££££. We do stay in self catering in the UK as we have family every where and often want our own space. We have had some lovely breaks but it is not a holiday.

i think the biggest thing is the weather and then the cost of doing anything which is usually a bit shit. Even if self catering abroad we will always have access to a pool at least, better restaurants, and it is just more chilled and easy. My DC also wanted to meet other young people, maybe a mini disco, time in the pool/kids club with their new gang. This does not always mean an all-inclusive resort and even if it is one, you can leave and do other stuff.

People on these threads always get a bit sniffy. Fine if you love your cottage holiday but no need to be derogatory when people prefer to go abroad. It is often cheaper, better customer service and lots to do if you want to. Also fine for people with busy lives who just mainly want to stay by the pool and enjoy their children having a lovely time.

What I will say as an adult, I have very little interest in castles, statley homes, historic churches, NT gardens and historic churches in the UK. Feel like I have seen them all, mostly in shit weather conditions even if August.

I quite like a cottage break, but I do minimal "house work" Eat out or bring nice easy to cook stuff. We do a supermarket delivery. Treat cereals, croissants etc for breakfast (bacon sarnies if you cba), picnics for lunch, pizza, pasta bake, jackets and fillings, local pub, etc. Loads of snacks and booze
Make sure there is a dishwasher and make sure everyone helps!

I would definitely not do a holiday in the UK in a cottage. I don't care what anyone says. It's not a holiday, it's a stay away from home- staying away from home and a holiday mean two different things to me, although I accept this is very subjective. op has already said there are no activities to do nearby, What is the point in paying all that money to stay in somebody else's house with nothing to do but you still have to wash up and cook? And for those suggesting op does not have to do much cooking if she doesn't want to, She may not want to eat pizza's jacket, potatoes and packet noodles on holiday , that sounds awful just to avoid cooking ? Also, holidays in the UK are incredibly expensive. It's probably cheaper to get the training to Europe and have a short all-inclusive holiday. I wanted to book a hotel in Devon for a week in the summer to see a friend and it actually costs more if I flew to Cyprus with a hotel stay
And to be honest Op if you was to book a flight abroad and the flights were cancelled you would get your money back but I don't foresee any issues with you getting away. I'm all booked up for my summer holiday abroad and so are millions of others. It's just that they may be a bit more expensive this year if you leave it too late to book. I would suggest that you don't go on a cottage holiday because you've done them before and have not liked them. Therefore, what's the point in booking something you know you're not going to enjoy. Don't trains run on part diesel? Correct me if I'm wrong. Anyway, just book the holiday that you want by train if you're worried and enjoy yourself

I've never been on holiday in my life so I'd jump at the chance of this!

However I would insist that chores are shared, lots of eating out etc.

I can’t see the statue of Christ the Redeemer in the UK, I can’t absorb the hustle and bustle of Hong Kong from a cottage in the middle of the Lake District, I’d never have seen the Fjords of New Zealand, I wouldn’t have seen the alligators laid on the banks of the Panama Canal. That’s what’s not to like, for us, about a cottage in the UK.

We always self catering - in the UK or abroad. We only do breakfast at the cottage/apartment (unless it's horrendous weather or the kids are completely shattered) so there's not loads to clean up, much more convenient to do breakfast in PJ's than having to get everyone dressed and ready for a hotel breakfast. We eat out for lunch and dinner. They go to bed at a decent time even in holiday so we like having a nice place to sit, drink wine and watch a series without disturbing the kids.

I wouldn’t consider that a holiday either. I couldn’t help but behave as I do at home. Getting up, putting washing on, cooking breakfast, cleaning bathrooms. But I know that is a me problem and some people love staying in a cottage/villa/apartment. This is why I would never stay anywhere but a hotel.

We definitely find a cottage a holiday, but then again we don’t have kids and can do exactly as we please. If the weather is crap we can stay in in comfort and privacy. We don’t have to have hotel/restaurant food every night, we can have simple meals in if we want.

But so many people (and I’m not saying your one of them) get so focused on going abroad that they miss the beauty on their own doorsteps.

I didn’t go abroad until I was 16, we had a touring caravan and I am pleased I have been able to experience so much of the U.K. There is so much to enjoy and to me it’s a shame that some get so focused on the negatives they miss all the fantastic things to see, do and experience.

Look at pentewan sands in Cornwall, we have been the last two summers in a lodge and it definitely feels like a holiday. Onsite private beach, pool, restaurants, cafes and pubs near by, water sports etc and an onsite bakery for your breakfasts. I haven’t cooked one meal x

It depends is this hour only holiday? I totally get what you mean. However have just been in a UK cottage and it was great! I didn’t make any beds and didn’t do any cooking and could stumble to the pubs and restaurants! I will be abroad later in the year but that will be s/c as well purely because the location I am going to has amazing restaurants. But I get it if you want AI you want AI.

I love the beauty of the UK - I do a UK walking holiday every year with some friends and we camp once or twice a year in the UK. I'm a massive fan of the UK (I come from the Lake District and spend as much time as I can up there).

It's the kids I think. I find having a break with them difficult. We do loads of stuff with the kids - DC2 and I have a shared hobby we do 3 times a week and we rock climb as a family once a week and do some short walks together if the kids are up for it, family movie night etc. And they are good at entertaining themselves at home but I find being away from home is hard for them and me - the eldest gets anxious and the youngest struggles to entertain herself unless she can freely choose what to do (like at home).

I agree with you seeing the ages of your dc. When mine were small I needed 2weeks abroad with pool kids club and entertainment. Too tired to work all year and then do self catering. Now retired, love the privacy and chill of a cottage and just eat out. Horses for courses

This. If I’m still cooking and making beds and washing towels it’s definitely not a holiday!

I'm also making myself laugh because pre-kids the idea of AI was completely off putting!

Oh how we change 😂

Agree - I’ve had some amazing foreign travel, too - mostly before kids. But I do object to the majority of our trips being described by OP as ‘not a holiday’. I think travel is what you make it, wherever you go. Lots of people travel here to see the Highlands.

I prefer a cottage. Much more room. Less worry about children being noisy You can buy nice easy to cook meals. You have to plan what you do on holiday anywhere.

Just book the AI holiday abroad. Get really good travel insurance from the moment you book. 99% sure you’ll be fine and the holiday will go ahead. You really clearly want that so just go for it!!!

Yes, I did the West Highland Way in 2024, was one of the best experiences of my life. I didn't go self catering though. I did stay in a youth hostel and several bunkhouses though.

Can I be nosey and ask where you went??

I know that’s not the point of the thread!! 😂 but the combo of room layout and activities/pool etc sounds fab.

we do the cottage holiday thing because it’s cheaper and easier for us this year. But for me it’s not a true holiday. It’s a break from work and change of scene. And a beautiful setting. But not that relaxing. And can’t guarantee sun.