How to survive a holiday with the in laws

[sbookee]

I rather foolishly agreed to a week long holiday to a Greek island with DH’s parents. No kids yet.

They’re nice people but very different from DH and I. They argue a lot and very often do things in a different way to what we would. They’re also both vegetarian and fussy eaters beyond that.

How do I survive this holiday. We’ve rented a remote villa on a tiny island.

Take lots of books.

Will you have a hire car or better still two?

Gin

Let them do their own thing? I mean, you don’t need to be joined at the hip. What would you be doing if it were just you and your DH? Do that.

Save yourself and cancel

Make it clear you’ll be enjoying some quality time as a couple and agree in advance how much time will be spent together. Set expectations and ensure some meals are apart. Take books and headphones.

Rent a car and go out for the day, take books and headphones, agree about meals (cooking vs eating out ) in advance and a rota plus who is paying, so much easier if everyone is clear about expectations eg if they want no meat in the house, be clear you plan to eat out a few times and they can join you and bill will be split or pay for what each person has as whatever

Books, headphones & gin. Plan days out visit other islands. Get a game plan with DH & agree on safe words which will kick off exit strategies.

Hope they like hummus!
Book a day trip or couples spa day or just take off in your two seater rental car.

Have a chat beforehand about expectations, firstly work out what you would like from the holiday and then go from there. Would you like a day out with just your DH every other day, evening meals all together, time for yourself to go for a walk etc etc?

Who suggested it? Is your DH aware of what their behaviour will be like?

Alcohol, books and a 2 seater hire car

Your DH needs to have a conversation with them and tell them not to ruin the holiday by bickering for the whole week!

you on the other hand should not be burdened with having to broach the subject, they are his parents.

agree a routine eg mornings are for you and DH to have protected time in your own, and maybe meet up in the mid afternoon plus evening meal. Or however you want to split the time. But not 100% with them, you're adults so shouldn't have to toe the line and dutifully be with them the entire time.

A remote villa on a tiny island.
No pressure then.

Agree with Gin!! Also I find playing cards are really useful on holiday with family, gives you something to do! Maybe also backgammon, quizzes etc??!!

Playing cards always leads to rows in my family.

Cancel the villa - book a hotel where you have your space and options for going out without the in-laws. What you have booked is not going to end well!

Not alcohol.

i had a massive row with my in laws once after drinking a lot of wine.

maybe arrange that you do your own thing during the day and meet up for dinner? Get two cars.

Who suggested this?
Why are you going?
Cancel immediately, or get your own villa.

As a compromise I'd go to keep the peace, but I would NOT stay in the same house. No siree. Meet up when you feel like it. Do NOT tell them where your place is.

Get checking and find a nice apartment with a lovely terrace, or a little house preferably a few kms away from THE VILLA of DOOM. 😊

Apart but together is the best way.

Mw tio. How you love greek food that lovely fish and lamb. Suggest a few separate meals over the weekend so yih can all enjoy your food choices. Agree this before hand

Agree in advance that you can do different things in the day. If that's possible with the size of the island

Air pods, sun lounger, alcohol!

How to survive? Don’t go!

If you are absolutely committed to this…

Rent a moped. Not a car, a moped. Buy a beach umbrella. Spend every day exploring remote beaches and far flung tavernas.

Take headphones and have a podcast series/audiobook you are REALLY INTO.

Agree that dinners are in restaurants.
Or if dinners are at the villa, do a BBQ (does the villa have a BBQ?) and everyone does their own BBQ items.

Lunches can be very simple - make a greek salad, or if they are very picky have all the bits for it on the table and they eat what they like. Watermelon. Hard boiled eggs. Bread. We eat that on repeat for our greek lunches and then eat out for dinner.

Cancel. Say you are worried about WWIII breaking out. Too scared to travel etc

take up long distance endurance running