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!

I’m not loving that a few people have said that there will be fat people at an AI holiday. I can’t see how this will make any difference to the holiday … it isn’t as though you are required to pick the other guests up.

See I much prefer a self catering holiday - we always book a villa or an independent ski chalet (or a lovely house if it’s in the uk), because I like having our own private space. Not just a room and then all communal areas, shared pool, no garden etc.

But if you don’t like that sort of holiday and are more of an AI drinks on a sunlounger by a shared pool sort of person then you need to let your husband know you don’t enjoy self catering. There’s nothing wrong with either type of holiday, but you clearly have a preference for one rather than the other.

I prefer to be completely independent with a hire car and able to go out exploring and doing lots all day. We eat out but also cook at the holiday place but tend to keep it fairly simple so that there’s not a lot to do - we’re not big foodies though so in France for example we’d just have fresh croissants and pain au chocolat or a baguette with butter and jam. Not go all in for a full continental breakfast like my parents would self catering.

Which just shows that it’s different strokes for different folks! The last thing I want to do on holiday is socialise. I socialise lots at home, and we’re all so busy that I don’t see as much of my family as I’d like. Holidays are times for us all to spend quality time together, without other people.

I love a cottage holiday. Love the private space to properly unwind and really enjoy exploring a new area, local restaurants etc. An AI resort holiday wouldn't suit me at all- couldn't cope with us all crammed in a hotel room, feeling like you need to eat at the hotel restaurant all the time and use the hotel pool to make the most of it - it sounds really claustrophic to me! But we're all different and if a cottage wouldn't feel like a holiday for the OP, then of course they should do something else.

I can't imagine anything worse than socialising with strangers! But I'm very anti social normally anyway. I've not made friends on holiday since I was a child.

Look at potters? https://www.pottersresorts.com/?srce=%7B%7Bsite_source_name%7D%7D&med=cpc&cmpn=%7B%7Bcampaign.id%7D%7D&aud=%7B%7Badset.id%7D%7D&cont=%7B%7Bad.id%7D%7D&ad_id=%7B%7Bad.id%7D%7D&placement=%7B%7D&ad_format=%7B%7Bad.format%7D%7D&platform=%7B%7Bplatform%7D%7D&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=21614164307&gbraid=0AAAAAD57gv8haTsSEIqZHWk11swSqVBPA

We often do UK cottage holidays .
Yes I need to organise breakfasts , cups of tea / coffee and usually dinner too each day ( but it tends to be something very simple )
We usually have a small lunch out in a cafe and / or maybe a coffee / ice cream 🍦 out .
We need to go for a food shop to last us the week .
I need to make beds each day , clean the loos as needed , wipe down the kitchen counters , empty and fill the dishwasher, pick up after my disabled child , walk the dog .
Do the necessary ♻️ recycling, empty bins
So actually maybe it isn’t a holiday 🤦🏻‍♀️😂

I’m sure they allow kids but maybe ring to check!

Cottage in Devon was the worst holiday I’ve ever had, grim, I’ve never been so cold in my life.

I absolutely agree OP!! After several UK cottage holidays where I made breakfast, tided up, made lunch, tided up, made dinner, tided up, sorted everything, blah blah I refused to go on another holiday where I had to do an iota of cooking!!

Agree. I’m one of the people who prefer it.

AI is my idea of hell. Sharing a hotel room with my kids for a fortnight is not a holiday to me. I don’t like being aware of maids coming in and tidying up after me.

I like to go shopping on holiday and cook in a nice kitchen using local ingredients. I like having a whole house (or cottage) so the family has a bit of space.

I don’t like feeling hemmed in and constantly around a lot of people like in a hotel.

I don’t like having to go out to a cafe / restaurant everytime I fancy something to eat.

We spent new year in a cottage in Scotland and it was fabulous and very much a holiday. Will be doing similar in Cornwall in May, and will be staying in a beautiful remote house in Italy this summer for the fourth time.

I love self catering. More room than a hotel, you can get up when you want and still have breakfast. You can eat where and when you want or just have a light meal. You often get a washing machine so less to pack and less washing when you get home. Definitely my preference!

A cottage/caravan, always had great holidays in the UK. It's about being somewhere different, you can eat out, explore. You just need to choose the ideal area with fun activities and beach/countryside. A holiday is what you make it and hiring cottages and caravans has been up there with the best amongst long haul travel abroad.

We tend to do AI every other year. Dd (17) loves it as she can help herself to food & drink anytime (although she tends to do that wherever we are 🤣). The past 3 times we've had 2 bedroom apartments that are on an AI resort so best of both worlds for us. We would never stay anywhere where we're all in 1 room. The best one so far was in Turkey. Dds had an apartment to themselves & so did OH & I. There was a private beach with an AI beach bar so neither the pools or beach ever felt crowded. I'm a naturally sociable person but it doesn't bother me if we don't socialise with others. The last 2 holidays in particular we just got chatting to others that were doing the same activities as us, some younger kids with their parents & even groups of OAPs. We'd then bump into them again & have a chat. Nothing heavy

@Beaverwheels

why would you be stuck in a hotel? It’s not the doors are locked, you can leave, it’s not prison!

Apart from taking the rubbish with you, all the rules are perfectly normal. A dishwasher running means the cleaners can't check if all items are still there, it may take longer than they have to clean and it adds to their work to empty it.

I still remember the time you had to clean yourself, I always prefer to pay for it and it's just part of the booking price.

You can easily know if a property is remote or not just by checking google maps. I only book if I see consistent and up-to-date ratings and reviews of at least 4*s.

eh? how do you have to wash up if eating out?

…….and they are so expensive now too!!

Tea, coffee, breakfast, snacks.

This is a really personal thing. All my holidays are cottage holidays by choice. I like the privacy. I like having more space. I like to be able to choose to cook for myself or eat out or have a take away. I like having my own room and the kids being in the same building but separate so we get adult time. I just relax more. Hotels may be ok when kids are grown ups but even then I prefer to get suites, which are a lot pricier for a week than a whole house. But that's just me.

I love a UK break in a really nice SC facility.

Just budget to eat the main meal out every day with the money saved from not going abroad. Can be just as relaxing if you choose a location with places your family will enjoy.

We do mix of beach all inclusive, city breaks and UK coast and countryside hols. Must admit the latter is the most relaxing and our favourite as a family.

We choose rural national park type properties. Personal fave is North Yorkshire Moors national park. Great coastline too.

Have a great hol!

They do have hotels in England, who make your beds and cater for breakfast ! There are Cities here too which have lots of sites to explore.

Tell your husband. You will only consider going. If he does all the cooking,cleaning etc.. whilst you are there.

You are not a bonded skivvy/slave and want a good holiday where you can relax and be waited upon.

You deserve it.

👍😻
X

A holiday is being away from home, for leisure.
So as you're not at work and you're away from home, then yes, a cottage IS a holiday.
It's not an all-inclusive holiday. It's not necessarily abroad, but those are different aspects.

YANBU to want a holiday where you want to do as little as possible.
YABU to say that something that's fairly standard for many isn't a holiday.

There are holiday cottages in the UK where there are maids/cleaners/private chefs even butlers. Some hotels/spas have cottages and you can access all the facilities and eat in the hotel. We used to go to one when the kids were little and it was just easier for us as a family.