Is DH being unreasonable for not wanting to book a hotel?

[StripeyKnickersSpottySocks]

We have a 7:30 flight from Gatwick to catch, we're at least a 4 if not 5 hour drive from Gatwick. I'm guessing we need to check in at 5:30am at the latest.

He just says that we can drive down during the night. With 8yo DD, then a flight, then a 3.5hr transfer the other side.

Just because he doesn't want to spend £100 on a hotel which includes parking, we'll have to spend £50 on parking anyway.

Try here I just did a rough quote for hotel + 7 days parking in the New Year in a triple room and prices start at just over 40 quid

Stop buying the presents. Maybe if his mother and neices went without one year then he'd get the message.

Book him a night in a hotel as his Christmas present...

Thanks for that link, there are a couple on there that are cheaper than I'd found previously. So maybe he will agree.

The only thing that worries me is that they say transfers are on a first come, first served basis. If we can't get a transfer and we have to book a taxi will an ordinary taxi take skis in it (one pair)? Or are they funny about them?

Shockers - that did cross my mind. He's more likely to buy me one for my present though.

Still he didn't bother getting me anything for my birthday this year.

And you are going on holiday with this guy?

Well right now I'm wishing I wasn't.

There is far more going on here than an arguement about a holiday - why on earth are your finances split up like that?

SOUnds like there are underlying issues here and it's not all about a night in a hotel.

Well my advice is: Sit down and talk to him. Explain the reasons why the hotel is the far more sensible option - and very economical.

If he can't see sense pay for the hotel yourself and lose him on a mountain somewhere when you get there.

Oh dear, this sounds really horrible. I'll be honest, he sounds seriously worried about money. Do you need to have a proper conversation about how his job is going, are there redundancies in the offing etc?

The holiday sounds misery from the off, but then I think that about all holidays Do you have any friends or relatives you can stay with near Gatwick?

I don't think he's worried about money or his job. He has quite a lot of savings.

No friends or relatives anywhere near.

I understand totally about the not being to sleep in a car/plane. I was awake for around 30 hours when we came back from America. No way can i sleep on planes.

I earn more than twice what DP earns. Not as great a difference between your DH and you but I wouldn't dream of speaking to him or treating him like your DH has you. He would quite rightly tell me where to go.

Sorry but he's a twat. I guess he'll be claiming that he 'needs to sleep' when you arrive cos he did all the driving so you get landed with the childcare.

Tell him to stick it. You really need to have a chat with him about shared financial responsibilities. Sorry, but he is taking the piss.

Sometimes getting a room the night before doesn't help much you still have to wake the kids very early to actually get to the airport for 5.30 and put up with the moaning.
I'd actually prefer to drive through the night. We did it recently, a three and half hour drive then check in at 5, with a five year old and ten year old and neither was all that bothered. Both me and my sister were fine as well with no sleep as had my four month old dd with us as well so couldn't even sleep on the plane.
But do agree that you husband is unresonable for not letting you book a hotel when you would obviously prefer it and he has no reson not to.

Argh - but why are they his savings and not joint? Much more tax efficient to have them in the name of the lower earner.

Your H, for example, is a twat.

Are there trains on a Sunday Reality?

OK, those hotels weren't as cheap as they first seem. Because we need a triple room its £79, not £55. Then £20 for transfers.

Other option I've found is a Travelodge for £25, then APH parking for £35. Only problem is that Travelodge say they have limited parking of 60 spaces. We'd need to be able to park the car the night we slept there.

Thanks Reality, thats really nice of you but I don't think it would work time wise. Thanks for looking up the times though.

You haven't bought your Vespa just to piss him off then?

Get the hotel booked!

For us the holiday starts the day before... we flew from Gatwick this year, we live a 4/5 hour drive away. Our flight was at 11.10am on the Sunday morning, we set off at 2.00pm the day before on the Saturday, drove down and booked a table in a lovely village pub (I asked mners on here if they knew of anywhere) and had a lovely meal and then drove the 10 mins or so to the hotel and parked up. Checked in, went into the bar, had a nice glass of wine and then up to our room and we all got in our bed for an hour to watch tv, then lights out. We all didn't sleep in the same bed, the boys had their own!

All refreshed for the following day.

Oh and we had a lovely breakfast too in the hotel so it saved us queuing for naff breakfasts in Gatwick and then we had a lovely driver who transferred us by minibus to our terminal and picked us back up again when we returned.

Oh and our boys are 12 and 10.