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Original poster

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:
Billybagpuss · 08/08/2025 06:26

TheaBrandt1 · 08/08/2025 06:04

Could you get that ferry from Spain to Plymouth home?

This is what I’d do in your situation. From memory though it only goes twice a week, so maybe extend a couple of days. Once you’ve reached your destination and started holidaying rather than travelling you will all feel better.

chachahide · 08/08/2025 06:27

I dont understand why you spent 2 days in La Rochelle, that’s what’s slowed you down! If I’ve read it right.

I agree I wouldn’t let me son down, Just get over the border now, you’re not far at all! Then you have the stress of letting your son down gone, and I think that would help.

thebraveryofbeingoutofrange · 08/08/2025 06:29

chachahide · 08/08/2025 06:27

I dont understand why you spent 2 days in La Rochelle, that’s what’s slowed you down! If I’ve read it right.

I agree I wouldn’t let me son down, Just get over the border now, you’re not far at all! Then you have the stress of letting your son down gone, and I think that would help.

They stayed in Rochelle for two days because the OP was tired.

applegingermint · 08/08/2025 06:30

It’s a 10 hour drive from Biarritz to Calais. This should take max 2 days.

If you’re not taking the toll roads, now is the time to start. The driving is much easier.

Sometimes you have to cut your losses and think a bit more strategically. Eg. St Emilion has a billion surrounding wine villages, use Google Maps and find a restaurant around them rather than driving in and wasting time parking.

Poppins21 · 08/08/2025 06:38

Fishy54 · 08/08/2025 04:56

Actually just checked we are 1 hour 11 minutes from Biarritz.

You can get a ferry from northern Spain back to UK and save all the driving home. But as others have said why did you choose to drive? Why has it taken do long? And why stop in places you don’t want too?

Poppins21 · 08/08/2025 06:40

thebraveryofbeingoutofrange · 08/08/2025 06:29

They stayed in Rochelle for two days because the OP was tired.

Show quote history

Yes i read that too but it’s the husband doing the driving so…?

Poppins21 · 08/08/2025 06:41

Brittany Ferries

ThePoshUns · 08/08/2025 06:42

What have you been doing?! We have driven from Caen to Biscarosse in a day ( v long day)
Can you just get to a nice resort and stay there? Biscarosse lake is lovely.

Amperoblue · 08/08/2025 06:54

I’m with everyone else who is asking how are you getting this wrong?
We drove all the way to Rome - a night in booked hotel in France ( lovely village great food). A morning drive to Dachau - a night there, a visit to the concentration camp in the morning, drive to Austria for lunch then drive down to Florence for a night in a random ( v posh last minute cheap ) hotel. In Rome by lunchtime
Not stressful at all even though we were booking stuff last minute. 3 nights but only 2 half days on the road.

Are you doing too many pit stops?

Get a good drive in . Several people have said San Sebastián is doable.

PermanentTemporary · 08/08/2025 06:56

I think I would get on Booking or something and search for accommodation with a pool near Irun - a border town. According to google Irun is 30 minutes from Biarritz. I’d just book it for 3 days and tbh I’d go into debt if I had to. Get there and have 3 relaxed days. See whether you want to go on to Bilbao, either stay there 3 days and get the ferry back, again it’s not cheap but it would be an adventure. You’ll need to book that too. Or if Irun is ok just stay there a bit longer. Even an ugly town has things to explore.

onstarboardquarter · 08/08/2025 07:00

San Sebastian is amazing, as are Bilbao and Santander - great food and sightseeing. If you can get secure parking in San Sebastian, there is a beautiful train ride that travels along the coast. Just 1-2 hrs more driving from Biarritz and you can make it - your son will love it!

Bingbopboomboomboombopbaam · 08/08/2025 07:02

I don’t understand, what’s going on so wrong with this trip exactly? Did you just happen to pick random generally boring towns to stop at?

If he wants Spain, just skip stopping in Biarritz and go straight to Galicia. The coastline is gorgeous, there’s plenty to see and plenty of nice places to eat. I could easily spend a week just visiting Galicia.

waddleandtoddle · 08/08/2025 07:05

You are in a wonderful part of France. Jump onto Sandaya or Eurocamp and book a good week around there or Messages. Surfing, yoga, great seafood, lots of children, activities. Then once more rested you can choose to go to Spain but there's also great forests, vineyards and gorges in that part of the world. Just stop ☺️

Original poster
Fishy54 · 08/08/2025 07:06

Amperoblue · 08/08/2025 06:54

I’m with everyone else who is asking how are you getting this wrong?
We drove all the way to Rome - a night in booked hotel in France ( lovely village great food). A morning drive to Dachau - a night there, a visit to the concentration camp in the morning, drive to Austria for lunch then drive down to Florence for a night in a random ( v posh last minute cheap ) hotel. In Rome by lunchtime
Not stressful at all even though we were booking stuff last minute. 3 nights but only 2 half days on the road.

Are you doing too many pit stops?

Get a good drive in . Several people have said San Sebastián is doable.

Yes we are experienced long distance European travellers and have done similar. Even driven through to brindisi and Venice taken ferry to Greece and driven all around.

We rushed.

Left U.K. tired.

I have certain eating requirements and unlike the past I have a condition that means I need more regular stops.

We are where we are now. Hopefully a good night sleep for all will make good judgement about what to do from now.

OP posts:
Peclet · 08/08/2025 07:06

The ferry from Spain back to England is very expensive.

tou said your dh doesn’t like driving at night…,,so do you do any night driving?

I can’t quite get my head around how this has gone so wrong.

we drive from Devon to the alps with one night in a hotel on each end of the trip.

Evergreen21 · 08/08/2025 07:07

I would be inclined to change plans and do what others have said in terms of location rather than just go home.

Once you get back home whatever option you choose it would be good to reflect on this holiday and then put it behind you. You've driven longer and further before but this time haven't been able to. Why is that? You haven't used a physical map, have been stressed by driving and your dh hasn't wanted to drive in the dark. You were tired and spent two days resting that you hadn't accounted for. Why was flying not an option and is such a holiday really a good fit for you going forward? With this kind of holiday, planning is so important and if you do, however go off plan, have to regroup, take stock of where you are and adjust. It sounds just like you aren't doing this?

thebraveryofbeingoutofrange · 08/08/2025 07:10

Poppins21 · 08/08/2025 06:40

Yes i read that too but it’s the husband doing the driving so…?

Show quote history

Yep.

beginalike · 08/08/2025 07:14

OP is only your husband driving, and is the issue that he doesn't want to drive too many hours a day, or is the issue that your medical condition means you're unable to wake up early and sustain long drives? Two days in La Rochelle because you were tired suggests this isn't about the driving really but about your health because being driven (and you don't mention driving) shouldn't be wearing you out this much. You also mention him not wanting to drive in the dark. That's very early / very late given you're in France in the Summer and shouldn't be restricting how much driving time you have - you can easily do 12 hours driving all in daylight.

I think it's worth you thinking through what the issue is - it sounds like for whatever reason you're not up for driving more than x hours a day, and possibly actually need a holiday with a lot of downtime. If that's the case then yes a driving holiday probably wasn't the best idea, but it is what it is. Once you've decided what is realistically achievable you can decide whether it's worth pushing on a bit so your son can go to Spain, or whether you cut your losses and find something to do in France. And if you have specific dietary requirements, you'll need to add those in as well (although honestly I still think this shouldn't be an issue unless it's very restrictive - supermarkets are everywhere in France and I recently spent time in France with a vegetarian eating low carb who was perfectly able to find something to eat every time!).

DollyPinkDaydream · 08/08/2025 07:15

@Fishy54 I have done the journey a few times. i really would recommend you go to Biarritz for a day or two (though it is expensive) and then power on to San Sebastian(just a couple of hours further). It will be worth it - our sons of similar age loved it. Surf and tapas (and a cute little theme park at the top of a vernicular railway they talk about to this day) = relaxation and happy memories. You will have a fab time and the trials of travel will be forgotten…

beginalike · 08/08/2025 07:16

Evergreen21 · 08/08/2025 07:07

I would be inclined to change plans and do what others have said in terms of location rather than just go home.

Once you get back home whatever option you choose it would be good to reflect on this holiday and then put it behind you. You've driven longer and further before but this time haven't been able to. Why is that? You haven't used a physical map, have been stressed by driving and your dh hasn't wanted to drive in the dark. You were tired and spent two days resting that you hadn't accounted for. Why was flying not an option and is such a holiday really a good fit for you going forward? With this kind of holiday, planning is so important and if you do, however go off plan, have to regroup, take stock of where you are and adjust. It sounds just like you aren't doing this?

Edited

Why is that? You haven't used a physical map, have been stressed by driving and your dh hasn't wanted to drive in the dark.

But this isn't a road trip through Scandinavia in December. There's around 14 hours of daylight in France at the moment! The not wanting to drive in the dark isn't the issue, the issue is why are they needing to drive in the dark at all!

Original poster
Fishy54 · 08/08/2025 07:17

Evergreen21 · 08/08/2025 07:07

I would be inclined to change plans and do what others have said in terms of location rather than just go home.

Once you get back home whatever option you choose it would be good to reflect on this holiday and then put it behind you. You've driven longer and further before but this time haven't been able to. Why is that? You haven't used a physical map, have been stressed by driving and your dh hasn't wanted to drive in the dark. You were tired and spent two days resting that you hadn't accounted for. Why was flying not an option and is such a holiday really a good fit for you going forward? With this kind of holiday, planning is so important and if you do, however go off plan, have to regroup, take stock of where you are and adjust. It sounds just like you aren't doing this?

Edited

We have regrouped and discussing. We just powered through as felt we should.

Dont really want to keep repeating reasons why we are where we are.

just needed a fresh perspective

OP posts:
BellissimoGecko · 08/08/2025 07:18

Next time, why not take the train? Eurostar to Paris, then TGV to the south or west of France? Or Spain - we have done that a few times.

agree with suggestions to stop where you are and stay there! You can rescue the holiday.

DollyPinkDaydream · 08/08/2025 07:18

Also Messanges in France is likely to be around where you currently are and if you truly feel you can’t go on, head for the Eurocamp there - there’s loads to do for teens and the plenty in the surrounding area to make for a fab holiday…

TouchOfSilverShampoo · 08/08/2025 07:19

Gone on a road trip holiday with someone who gets stressed easily and therefore won’t drive, and someone else who doesn’t want to drive in the dark?

Doomed from the start Op.

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