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!

Exactly.

I go on cottage holidays in Wales every year

I live in a flat, so to be somewhere with outside space I can enjoy, great scenery, no neighbours and peace and quiet is absolute bliss. I’m not bothered about it being self catering.

I also do bird and wildlife photography in my spare time, so a cottage in the Welsh countryside is a perfect base.

A hotel in a European city would be nightmare holiday accommodation for me. Noisy, lots of people about, traffic etc. I can still appreciate though, that for some people like the OP, they see that as a ‘holiday’, even though it’s not my idea of a holiday. Pity that the OP can’t see that.

This, I mean how much crockery and cutlery do people need? When we have a longer drive back we often just have a cup of tea and a yoghurt and then stop somewhere 1-2 hours later for a proper break and eat.

I hear you. We have a cottage holiday in Scotland every year. This year we are going to a lochside cottage on the northwest coast for the third year in a row. It’s beautiful (and has a hot tub). Also stayed in a cottage on Skye with wonderful views of the mountains on the mainland from the front verandah where we often sat in the evenings with a whisky. It’s nourishment for my soul. I also enjoy bird, wildlife and landscape photography!

Re: bus man's holiday with cooking...not so much in the UK but sometimes cooking is a fun part of the holiday. When we go to Italy to visit relatives it's nice to cook with different ingredients or have the time to make homemade gnocchi etc.

Ah hello fellow wildlife photographer! 👋🏼

I am itching to go to the Cairngorms in Scotland! I’ve heard the Isle of Skye is gorgeous too!

Hi! 👋 Skye is beautiful! Well worth the trip!

I just don’t get that people find clearing up after breakfast, tea and coffee making etc such a chore that it would ruin the holiday, but you clearly do, which is what is important here.
if the kids are old enough to take themselves off to the pool on your AI holidays, then they are plenty old enough to get themselves cereal for breakfast and clear up afterwards. If it’s too much work to make sandwiches for lunch, buy them ready made and take paper plates.
We always did self catering as the DC had their own rooms and we had living space and outside space. The thought of a week with the kids in the same room ; and AI as well is my idea of hell but as said we’re all different. (I know you said you always had two bedroom suite on AI, can’t imagine what that cost but can imagine this year that might be prohibitive)
Make sure you have a dishwasher in your property. Again, DC that are old enough to go off to the pool are old enough to stack and empty thr dishwasher.
You’ll have more space inside and outside for your drinks & nibbles after the DC are in bed.
i think the main issue will be entertaining the DC as I know how much time ours spend at the pool. Maybe start a thread under the UK holidays section asking people for ideas of things to do for your age DC in that area. I know you can google but sometimes locals or people who have holidayed there will have additional ideas
Take a load of books, playing cards and board games. Almost all apartments have access to Netflix, have a film night with microwave popcorn.
I think overall you really need to adopt a more positive mindset, else you will have made up your mind you’re not going to enjoy it before you go.
It is ok to be disappointed you can’t have the holiday you wanted but there are threads on here from people who are struggling to feed their kids, let alone afford any kind of holiday. A bit of perspective might help.

Can recommend Elgin, we went to a secluded cottage and few years back and it was bliss.

That’s what I was thinking, putting some cereal bowls and mugs in the dishwasher barely registers on my ‘chore’ radar to be honest! Especially as my kids are all over 5 so of course they (and my husband) can do their own.

I would prefer a cottage to an all inclusive resort personally. We always rent out houses/flats and yes we strip the beds before we leave out of courtesy and we wash the dishes, but we dont clean and hoover so its still a holiday. Its much better than being crammed into a hotel room

Off topic but I'd love a list of good AI places you've been to, especially any accessible by train! We have only done one AI holiday and it was fantastic and I'd be dead keen for another