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 prefer a holiday cottage to a hotel. You have completely privacy and you don't have to sit on the beds when you are in the room, which is my biggest problem with hotels.

And abroad. We've stayed in some lovely villas /chalets with chefs and maids. Not cheap but definitely relaxing

But I would rather self cater and clean than stay somewhere with "evening entertainment"

i don’t think you’re being unreasonable at all. It wouldn’t appeal to me either , for me as a very time restrained working Mum, then holidays also have to be a holiday. It isn’t a break for me personally to just be going to a different dwelling to be doing the exact same things as at home. Not to mention how expensive these cottages are, plus all the food to buy and then bored kids when weather isn’t guaranteed and they don’t have their own home bedrooms etx . Abroad they are outside and in the pool from morning to night and happy meeting other new friends.

it Would be an absolute no for me to be driving hours down south just to be in the same routine as at home and still cooking and housework of that nature. I’d bein a foul mood upon return with tons of washing to do on top of the pissed off wasted money and not had a holiday mood!

perhaps if hubby insists on Devon or that kind of place how about an actual holiday park where there are other people and is and a pool and such as well as the family entertainment and holiday vibe with restaurants and such xx

Ive just been on holiday in devon to crealy park resort lol in a lovely lodge with your own private jacuzzi, self catering but only thing i cooked was some bacon baps for lunch one of the days as it was pouring down and didn’t want to go out, the restaurant on site was lovely, brilliant food, 2 little play parks on site and free pass into crealy park for duration of your stay so had something to do everyday, they also open the indoor play area after hours for people staying on the resort and evening entertainment, we stopped in the restaurant on the way back from the evening playzone and the restaurant was empty apart from us was great 👍🏻 xx

You can also have a hotel in the UK instead of a self catering cottage. You can also have all inclusive holidays in the UK, they do exist. Depending on what part of the UK you go to, there are areas which are rich in history, places to visit, things to do, etc. choose a hotel with swimming pool and a spa if you like that sort of thing. Try searching for inclusive UK holidays you may surprise yourself with what's on offer.

You are right. It's dull particularly for children. Also the UK is much more expensive than Spain.

I much preferred self catering when dc were young as a hotel room was a PITA when you’re all sharing a space. We never slept well. It’s too hot/cold, air con is on the fritz etc.

Yes, it was somewhat of a busman’s holidays re cooking, but if felt different as DH could help a lot more, you’d go out for meals, have a slow breakfast, no rushing.

Now I more or less have to go s/c as j have dietary needs. I do like a hotel abroad though with outdoor pool etc. In the UK you don’t get that so I’m not fussed.

The ones I know of very strictly don't - it's a selling point for those resorts.

We’ve just had a lovely UK holiday and none of my 3 kids found it dull at all, they all had a great time! We went paddle boarding, wake boarding, to a safari park, played cricket on the beach, went to some Roman ruins (elder 2 are history buffs), had some lovely meals out, went in the hot tub in the garden… why would it be dull? Staying in a cottage doesn’t mean you can’t leave the cottage!

Yeah we'd definitely go out a lot regardless of where we holiday, we sight see and do activities. The difference is that when SC in a cottage my kids would find the "down time" dull. Entertaining themselves when they don't have the same toys/ facilities etc as at home. Abroad we can sit around the pool and read whilst the kids play in the pool and park and games area, in a cottage we're on borrowed time of them entertaining themselves.

I'm not saying I won't engage with my kids - we had handstand competitions in the pool, jumping in competitions, played boardgames etc. it's just easier when there's lots for the kids to do without needing an adult or to go out.

Choose a lodge or caravan in a holiday park with a swimming pool and children's playground. If you use one of the big holiday cottage lettings sites they have filters so you can specify what facilities you want.

My view is also slightly skewed because I live in a gorgeous little cottage in a wonderful tiny hamlet in a beautiful area. So going away to stay somewhere that's just like my house is a bit of a busman's holiday. So hotels for me (unless the area I'm staying in is VERY different from my own, right beside the sea or something).

Ouch. She said 'holiday' sarnt major

Agree wholeheartedly. This is not a holiday. It’s a different house to clean and cook in with a different view. Definitely. It a break for you. Could you go to a hotel instead?

I know this isn't the point of your post, OP, but can I ask about the Rocrita hotel? It sounds like just what we're looking for, but the only one I can find matching that name is the Ella Rocrita, which appears to have only just opened! Do you know if the one you went to has changed name?

In answer to your OP, my personal opinion is a cottage absolutely can be a holiday, but it clearly isn't what you want or need at the moment and therefore you are not unreasonable to say it wouldn't be a holiday for you.

Definitely not being unreasonable. Ive had years of s/c both UK and abroad. The same expectations are there just a different location. Housework although a bit less of it, washing and cooking because DP said it was so expensive to keep eating out., organising days out and in if its raining. amusing the kids constantly because understandably they get bored. Go self catering and ask what he is definitely going to do because its your holiday too. People can be so self centred. Never again

Depends where you go really. We have dogs so always do self catering. There is a big difference between say remote cottage in the middle of nowhere and being on a holiday park. We once took an Airbnb in Blackpool for four days as the kids wanted to do the theme park, zoo, tower etc. We tend to eat out during the day and have more of a snack meal in the evening. When we have gone abroad, our kids were most bored during evening meals out so we never missed that.

These rules are normal … for self catering places. Don’t the rules about everything having to be washed up and put away mean you are rushing around and stopping everyone from using yet more glasses that need to be washed up? And then you still get charged £85 - £120 additional cleaning fee?

Depending on where you are staying, flights plus a hotel might work out cheaper than a UK cottage.

A holiday, is a break away from the norm, which does not include having to make food. A cottage wouldn't be so bad if it was in a holiday park with options for food and activities for the kids. If we go away to any self catering place I just say to hubby in advance we're buying a big box of cereal and milk, bread and butter (for toast), coffee/tea sugar and all I'm doing is breakfast in the accommodation. I don't mind doing a clear up of a few bowls and cups for breakfast, but that's it!

A holiday, is a break away from the norm, which does not include having to make food

My norm is not making food. So, would a holiday for me include making food?

Hi OP, totally get your preferences, even if mine are different. Two options to suggest: book a car on the ferry to France, and find somewhere you can drive to. We did Normandy a couple of years ago and our kids loved it - Bayeux Tapestry, WW2 stuff, cider and history, we were out and about every day. Loire is another accessible area (with more luxury hotel options). If you need something more exotic, Eurostar and the TGV will whisk you to the south within a day. I don’t do AI but am sure you can find what you want in a location accessible without flying. Good luck and I wish you a lovely relaxing holiday, wherever you end up!

I disagree. When my DH was ill abroad in an AI, our travel agent reps were absolutely rubbish. We used the hotel recommended Dr, but it was just such an unpleasant experience. Thankfully we were in an apartment suite with enough space that the kids didn't have to disturb him during the day... But entertaining 2 small children in a 1 bed + 1 lounge AI hotel room abroad, when I couldn't safely take them both swimming on my own and all they wanted to do was play at the pool/beach... It was pretty stressful. And would've been much more pleasant in the UK, where we could've just popped along to a pharmacy or seen an emergency GP/gone to a walk in.

We always have cottage holidays. It's fun to get away somewhere new, the cottage is clean when you get there so that's one up on home, we eat out some of the time and cook some of the time. You don't have to leave the place spotless. It just feels more relaxing to not have to deal with people all the time. Also it's nice for everyone to have their own bedroom.

You can always wash up the last few items by hand. I like the space and peace of a holiday house rather than just 1 room or a small apartment with thin walls

I'm with you. You'll end up camping if you allow this. Get a hotel. A nice one.