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!

You could do self catering on a holiday park type site and then there are activities but personally I find them incredibly expensive.

It’s the going on holiday with children part that isn’t a holiday

Well it is a holiday

It's just not a holiday you want to go on

Totally agree! In a hotel, someone meets your bed you have breakfast made for you. Sure, going to a cottage is it away from home but I wouldn’t call it a holiday either.

We do camping or caravan holidays. You have freedom to come and go as you please, no restrictive menus or times, safety for me (medical dietary needs) and you can keep meals simple to avoid a lot of work. We arrange a delivery just after arrival to avoid having to go shopping. We're out sightseeing most of the time so not making a lot of mess to clear up.

I agree.... it's not really a holiday if I have to make my own bed 🤣
Why not a hotel in the UK?

A cottage holiday was ok for kids and we had a few whe. They were young but it was work for me and so no time off. I’m with you on this s op.

Most cottages I have stayed in have dishwashers. I have never cleaned the loo in a cottage in my life.

Its not my type of holiday but it is a holiday go abroad it will be fine

I agree with you but obviously many many others have a different opinion hence the rise of AirBnB.

If everyone in the family leaves the toilet as they found it, how does it require extra cleaning? Quick bit of bleach around the bowl if needed and hey presto.
And most holiday cottages come with dishwashers? So every cup, mug, plate etc gets chucked in there. I'm on holiday, so not going to be cooking a 4 star banquet every night with endless pots/pans etc.

I actually love cottage holidays but you are not unreasonable if you don’t enjoy them. That kind of holiday is about a change of scenery and a break from the norm. I do see your point though as self catering is not a complete break from housework/cooking etc. It’s a good cheap(er) option but I also enjoy a hotel break when we can afford it !

Now I'm a single adult I love a cottage holiday, so I can do my own thing. But when my (five) kids were small, their dad would always insist on self catering holidays. In other words, I did exactly the same on holiday as I did every day at home - cook, wash up, mind the kids, try to keep sticky fingers off the furniture...etc etc.

Self catering is only a holiday if your OH steps up and does at least 50% of the work. It is a holiday, but because it's a change of scenery. I used to call it 'washing up in a different sink' (because my XH never lifted a finger, at home or on holiday).

And they have cleaners who clean the cottage after you've left anyway... If it's a spotless holiday let to begin with you aren't going to need to hoover all week unless you walk mud in the porch or something!

Don't care for hotels personally although sometimes there's no alternative, if travelling between locations for example.

Never know when somebody is going to want to clean the room. Despite leaving the please make up the room sign on the door we often return to find the room is still as we left it.

Noisy people outside in the corridors. Bloody lights flashing all over the ceiling, TV's, smoke alarms and goodness only know what some of them even are.

We like to have our own rooms, far too expensive to have a hotel room each.

Get one with a dishwasher, you can leave it running after the final breakfast. Assign bed-stripping to others if necessary, but it's not the most onerous of tasks in reality. My DH always does the bins and beds too, so it never falls on me.

But if it's not worthwhile for you, don't put yourself through it.

😂

But you have that at hotels too, you’re not in jail.

Well I don't think it's much of a holiday if you have to all be on top of each other in a cramped room with less space than you have in your own home.
I don't want to eat in the hotel restaurant all the time.

I honestly don't get why this is such a big deal.
You eat out every night.

You all have cereal/toast for breakfast. At the ages of your children everyone makes their own. There is a bowl of soapy water and everyone washes their own dish afterwards. Yes, this is 30 seconds of effort.
Everyone makes their own sandwiches for lunch (or you buy out).

There is no need to do any cleaning.

Yes, you have to do the bins, but that's literally having one rubbish bag which you dump in the outside bin on your way out.

And you can find UK cottages with pools and games rooms, or on farms.

I agree. Choose a cottage or apartment with a dishwasher and a couple of bathrooms, linens are provided or you can add them for a small cost, and everyone leaves loos and showers ready for the next person to use just like they would at home. Eat out for all three meals, or buy breakfast for the following day when you’re out each day - treat yourselves to some nice pastries or something. The only bit of ‘housework’ we’ve ever had to do is put the bin out on the right day, and that’s hardly onerous.

You sound very pouty about this. Either you’re having a tantrum, or your family treats you like a slave whether you’re home or away. If you need to go AI to get a break from doing everything for everyone then I think fixing that is more important than the holiday.

Have you had a look at serviced apartments/ serviced cottages in the UK? You get the place to yourself with the option of self catering but there will be staff that can pop in to clean up, do beds etc

Just fly, there’s fuel, just not at a price we are used to. Apparently we have secured additional supplies of jet fuel from Nigeria this week

My family would holiday abroad, all inclusive, my whole childhood. I didn't think self catered holidays were much at all... Until we started going self catered. Now I love how relaxing they are! Pick somewhere rural... No people, no noise, no airports to navigate, no plane journeys or waiting, no need to be bound by timings... You can travel at your leisure, check in with a key safe, and it's soooo relaxing. The kids are happier because they're somewhere new. I love it and would choose it over going abroad any time. The only benefit of going abroad is weather and swimming pools.

I agree OP, my mum always used to book a cottage for a week as a holiday and when she talked about her “holiday” it sounded like they did the exact same shit as they did at home. Some days they just sat watching tv 😂 bloody pointless

I love a self catering holiday, and absolutely would consider it a proper holiday. It's not like it is camping.

Making your own toast in a morning, and running the dishwasher is hardly much effort. I have a set list of easy things to cook quickly on the hob for dinners too (to avoid using shit ovens).

I'd much rather have the flexibility, lots of space and avoid needing to chivy everyone into clothes and out to breakfast before it ends every day. Nothing worse than starting every day with nagging.

I think the key thing is the location though - are there lots of activities to do locally? The food and sleeping arrangements are probably the least important part of a holiday, IMO.