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Terrible holiday! Need advice

255 replies

Fishy54 · 08/08/2025 04:16

We are currently on a road trip which is not going well.

the plan was to drive to though France to get to Spain but the journey is taking too long and we are ending up booking into cheap affordable accommodation in awful places to break up journey and we are all stressed. No exercise. Too much time on the road and stopping in places that are making us feel depressed.

we have done this sort of journey before through Europe but for one reason or another this year we have failed.

we all got really upset last night that we have experienced nothing and we are already 4 days into journey with only 7 days left, not where we planned on being plus having to take into consideration the journey back home.

we don’t know what to do. Driven too far. We are 2 hours from Biarritz and was meant to exploring the north of Spain. My son was upset and wished we had stayed at home but being very mature and helping with ideas, my husband has come to a standstill and tired from driving, I’m stressed do to driving passed all the beautiful places to get to where we currently are.

if we carry on we feel like our time will be spent r in much the same way when we get to Spain as we have not allowed enough time to relax and and just be in between visiting places.

we have driven so far that we are at a loss as to what to do. My heart is not in the journey. I don’t think anyone’s was really . It was my husbands idea a while back and my husband and son speak Spanish.

we discussed other more restful options before we left home. I feel awful
that we didn’t pursue them. Nothing I can do about that now. But what should we do now. My husband is suggesting we just stay put. Find somewhere in France and stay here for a few days then drive back home.

we have already lost one day of accommodation as w weren’t going to make it in time for check in.

Alternative is we move on and carry with the plan. Our accommodation for first few 2 days now is quite remote. Which we wanted but now we fed up with the driving. Then we have 3 more days booked elsewhere to explore a different area. Then we have to make our way home. The only way we can get home now in good time is to take the long ferry ride home. Which will kill another two days. My husband seemed to think we first left home that we had enough time to do a loop and drive back through France visiting some lovely places. we now can’t do that.

I can’t sleep and don’t know what to do.

I feel awful for my son. He needed a good break as much as we did.

we are all wishing we had just cancelled this idea and had a single location holiday somewhere peaceful.

what should we do?

OP posts:
SpaceRaccoon · 09/08/2025 19:49

@Fishy54 yes please update us, I'd like to hear how your adventure is going - I hope you're all enjoying your holiday.

JacknDiane · 10/08/2025 10:26

Hope things have improved for you and the family @Fishy54. If not, there's always next year and the hope that someday you can all have a laugh about this.

Fishy54 · 27/01/2026 18:34

I never did provide an update on our travels last year. So I can confirm that although we considered staying put and not continuing into Spain my son and I woke up one morning feeling positive and energised with a desire to keep going. We enjoyed Biaritz before moving in Northern Spain and making our way back to the UK by ferry from Santander.

OP posts:
BrickBiscuit · 27/01/2026 20:52

Appreciate the update, OP. So many never come back. Glad you found some positivity and energy despite the trials. Did you read up the Abilene paradox?

Fishy54 · 01/02/2026 18:16

I did. Interesting. Can apply to so many situations.

OP posts:
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