Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Holidays

Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

Original poster

Weekends away aren't worth it or are they?

76 replies

Rayn22 · 26/04/2023 22:25

Been away for a weekend and realised they aren't worth it. Friday to Monday in a cottage. By the time I have unpacked it's time to go home again. Paid 350 for the cottage and spent around the same on eating out, fuel, attractions etc
That is 700 I could have put towards a holiday abroad. We normally have one or two a year weekends a year but decided not to bother.
Anyone else think it's just not worth all the hassle for a couple of days. Maybe if we didn't have kids. I just feel like I have blinked, missed it and back at work.

OP posts:
SophiaSW1 · 27/04/2023 13:23

I like it for half terms. It makes it special even if we are both still working during their week off school.

HamBone · 27/04/2023 13:26

I think the children’s ages are a big factor here. From 5-12, mine were lovely to go away with, curious about everything and we had lots of fun. Once DD hit 13, the sour expressions started.

Now she’s nearly 18, she’s back to her interested-in-new-places self, it’s her brother (14) who walks around looking funereal. 😂

Dinosauratemydaffodils · 27/04/2023 13:39

I love a weekend away. Kids are 8 and almost 5 and we must do at least 6 or 7 a year (but still have a main holiday). Never self catering though or anywhere I'm expected to properly clean up at the end.

Luckily we all like the same stuff at the moment. Kids are happy to walk up hills and wander around museums as long as there is food occasionally. I can imagine it getting harder though.

Orangeradiorabbit · 27/04/2023 14:36

I like long(er) weekends away - 3/4 nights - but abroad, not in the UK. I find the UK too expensive for what you get in return, especially self-catering: I'm paying to sit in someone else's house and cook and clean as usual. Train fare is extortionate, and I don't necessarily want a long drive. The price of a pint and a pub meal/takeaway has become ridiculous in many places.

Whereas, I can usually find cheap flights to a cheap European destination, where accommodation, eating and drinking out are cheaper than the UK. The weather is usually better too.

IDontWantToBeAPie · 27/04/2023 14:37

I often need a holiday after my holiday no matter how long

minipie · 27/04/2023 14:39

It sounds like you’re expecting it to feel like a longer holiday OP and have that same relaxing effect?

That’s not what weekends away are for IMO - they are for a change, see a new place, more interesting than the same old routine. Dare I say “make memories” 😆

Definitely more relaxing (and cheaper) to stay home. But more boring.

LuckyDipForTheEuro · 27/04/2023 15:58

Definitely hotels over cottages here! Agree Premier Inns can be very comfy.

I love a weekend away! I go hiking now and then with my partner, admittedly not with the kids but we drive up Friday night have a few pints in the nice pub, luxurious night in a hotel and a cooked breakfast then a day on the fells and a big dinner before another lovely night in a hotel, another cooked breakfast and a wander around the village before coming home on Sunday evening. Even in touristy place it doesn't come to 350 even including dinners etc.

Original poster
Rayn22 · 27/04/2023 16:03

BendingSpoons · 27/04/2023 08:24

We have decided not to do short breaks unless there is a reason e.g. going away for someone's wedding. Instead we will do days out more locally (driving up to 60/90 mins so not super local) and save the money to put towards bigger holidays abroad.

I don't like driving more than 2/3 hours for a weekend break, so the location is never that different from home or similar to places we have been before. I'd rather explore abroad for longer but less often.

This is what I think! Will just do a day out on future and save the Mk ye towards a longer holiday.

OP posts:
Original poster
Rayn22 · 27/04/2023 16:05

Oblomov23 · 27/04/2023 12:52

Completely disagree, but I think it's your attitude that is the issue. Been on many over the last 10 years, with Dh, best friend, 2 closest female friends, mainly European cities, a few UK. Had the best time, EVER.

Love a weekend away with the husband! Looks like it's my kids that are the issue! 👀

OP posts:
SleepingStandingUp · 27/04/2023 16:06

As a couple, yes, but we'd book a days leave and do Fri-Mon, didn't mind the travel, was good to just get a change of scene etc.
. With three kids under 8, nope. Nope. nope. Too much packing, disrupted sleep, faff. A week barely feels long enough

trrk · 27/04/2023 16:45

Used to love weekends away both in the UK and Europe as long as the travel time wan't too long but since the arrival of DD (now 10 months) it just doesn't seem worth the faff. Even 3 nights in the UK or 5 nights in Europe didn't seem worth the hassle. Used to just take a small bag each but now it feels like we need a full car just for a few nights and spending a night in a hotel room with a baby is way less relaxing than being at home. Have foolishly booked two long weekends away over the bank holidays 🙄

HydrangeaFairy · 27/04/2023 17:25

I like both. Not sure we ever did weekends when DC were little though, it's just DH and me now.
Going away tomorrow for 2 nights. Small apartment on the coast. We'll do lots of walks and eat out for every meal.
If I had to choose between holidays abroad or weekends here though I'd go for the big holiday any day.

BG2015 · 27/04/2023 19:38

We went to Edinburgh over New Year and spent £1k, that could have gone towards a holiday. But, we had an amazing time so it's weighing it up.

You can do things cheaper but if you've got kids it's different.

kikisparks · 27/04/2023 21:55

We’ve enjoyed 2-3 night U.K. breaks pre and post DD. Best have been when we get a spa hotel and (now DD is here) take turns going for a swim/ having a massage plus have a family swim together the three of us. We like to eat out and enjoy visiting castles, museums, beaches, country parks and going for walks.

drpet49 · 27/04/2023 22:08

BanditsOnTheHorizon · 27/04/2023 08:21

I agree tbh. Especially if you've got kids.

I love my home and would much rather spend a long weekend at home than the hassle of packing, shopping, unpacking, cooking, worrying about the cottage, cleaning before I left, packing, travelling and then all the washing when you get home.

This. I agree with you OP

emmathedilemma · 28/04/2023 11:54

I love a weekend away, it feels like a proper escape from work without the hassle of coming back to a week's worth of emails and work mounting up!

LemongrassLollipop · 29/04/2023 17:33

This bank holiday I've vowed I'm not spending it doing housework/sorting meals, laundry is other drudge
So I've booked a night in York. We'll be there 2 days. Weather forecast is crap but I don't care. 2DCs. 4 year old loves hotels.
Change of scenery will do us the world of good and if it is successful will plan another soon.

user1471554720 · 29/04/2023 18:11

I understand that a weekend self catering is not rekaxing. Also there is the trouble of getting dcs uniform washed etc for the following school week. If you work fullltime the weekends are the only chance to get housework done. After the weekend it is back to work while getting washing and unpacking done at night after work.

Would you consider taking Fri or Mon off work, doing 3 nights at a hotel at the start of half term. Then you are not shopping, cooking, dealing with dcs uniform for the next school week.

I only found weekends away relaxing when we had no dcs, went to a hotel and got all meals.

Since having dcs, we only go for weekends away if we are off for a long summer break at home and are not going abroad. I prefer to put the money towards a good holiday abroad. At least it feels like a holiday.

BeetleBailey · 29/04/2023 18:16

Depends how far the drive is

OneCup · 29/04/2023 19:31

They end up being really expensive so while enjoyable, they're out of reach for us

Hoppinggreen · 29/04/2023 22:03

We love them, we do 3 or. 4 a year. Sometimes just us 4, sometimes we take the DCs friends .
We rent a lodge or cabin or house no more than 3 hours drive away and head off around 4 on a Friday and back Sunday night.
It’s easier now the kids are teens so we don’t need to take so much stuff.
Would probably not do it if it meant giving up longer abroad holidays though

TheEverdelightfulsamantha · 30/04/2023 08:19

I love a weekend away, but when we stay in the UK we go for cheap and cheerful! A cheap hotel, hotel picnic the first night, then something like fish and chips out and about for the second night, plan a decent walk (beach, mountains, forest) for the Saturday, and then stops on the way home. And we just sort of loll about together - watch crappy TV, eat snacks and enjoy the fact that we aren’t doing laundry / cleaning / rushing everyone about to activities - I wouldn’t do a cottage for two nights, I could stay at home and cook and clean…

preEclampsiaMun · 30/04/2023 08:25

Honestly would never bother witj self catering unless its a long break

Hardly any time ti relax / see surroundings uf self xatering on a short break

ProfYaffle · 30/04/2023 08:25

I love a weekend away though we do tend to combine it with other things. Eg, had an appointment an hour's drive away on Friday so decided to stay over and make a weekend of it. Or if there's an event we want to go to we'll book a Hotel so we can have a drink and go home the next day.

Queenpetlover · 04/10/2024 02:07

Myself and DP don't have children we do short breaks alot sometimes as short as 2 days which feel rushed and hard but 3 days is fine we don't mind altho work sometimes gets in the way