BCV trip, help...I may have requested the wrong thing

[Susieab]

We have a big trip planned for Christmas this year. A brief rundown. Myself, DH, DS 5, DD 7, My father and his wife, My DH's mother, sister and niece DD 7. My brother, his wife, their 3 kids DS 9, DS 7, DS 2. Boy when I line it all out I get scared!

Anyway what I booked were 2-2 bedrooms. I requested each of them to be lock offs. So this is my plan for sleeping arrangements.

Room 1
Me, DH in Master (of 1 bedroom lockoff)
Father, MIL (in studio part of lockoff)
My kids DS 5, DD7 (in LR of 1 bedroom lockoff)

Room 2
MIL, and SIL, Niece (studio part of lockoff)
Brother, SIL (Master of 1 BR lockoff)
Nephews (3 of them) (in LR of 1 BR)

Is this going to be too much? I was going to try for a GV plus a studio but no such luck.

Second Question: If we don't get the lockoffs how is that going to work with the bed situation, better or worse? I guess I am confused as to what type of beds will be in each room depending on if we get the lockoff or not.

Please help!

Thanks

 

[DebbieB]

With lockoffs, you will get a queen bed and a double sofabed in the second bedroom. The master will have a king.

If you could get a 2 bedroom dedicated with 2 queens, the only difference is there will be a second queen in the second bedroom instead of the double sofabed. This may be a better setup for you, but it may be too late to reserve one.

The only problem I see is the 3 boys in the living room on a sofabed. I would bring an aerobed for one of them to sleep on (or they could sleep on the cushions).

 

[BCV23]

The only other thing I see is that it might be more comfortable if your brother and his family were sharing with your father and his wife.

Then your MIL, SIL and neice could be with you.

Sort of the Jones in one 2BR and the Smiths in the other. Of course maybe I misunderstood the families.

 

[andriade]

I'm confused, you have your MIL in two rooms? Maybe I am reading your post incorrectly though.

 

[denecarter]

I think she put MIL instead of step-mother in the studio part of her room.

The way she has it, the families are grouped "correctly"... unless she wants to put HER father with HIS brother.

Now that I think of it, I HOPE she wasn't putting her father in the same room as her MIL... that would be a weird family.

 

[Susieab]

So even I got a little confused in typing this up. Yes it will be father and stepmother in a room. Our family is strange, but not to that to that point.

The only reason I put my brother and his crew with my inlaws is bc my kids are a little calmer and more wellbehaved than his and my step-mother is getting older and will need some quiet....so even with the 2BR my brother's kids would probably get on her nerves.

I think that is why I really wanted the lockoff so that if step-mother got too cranky she could close the door and have her "privacy".

Wish me luck, I am starting to think that I will need it.

Susie

 

[rocketriter]

Best advice I can give you:

• Have plenty of meals together at set times, but also arrange free times when different parts of the family can go in different directions.
• Arrange most events with the agreement that they start on time or with a 5-minute grace period. Don't make everyone wait for one laggard or hair-comber, or NOTHING will start on time.
• Don't arrange "linked" events (first we'll meet with so-and-so, then we'll walk together to here where we'll catch up with so-and-so...) because if one thing goes wrong early in the linkage, everything sprawls.
• Discuss some ground rules. Let the group decide them; don't decide them in advance. How handle lost kids? How handle messy rooms (or does anyone care)? How handle expenses? How handle unhappy kids? ...and so forth. This can be a pleasant discussion that leaves everyone feeling well-supported.
• Carry several cell phones (set on vibrate).
• Have a great trip!

 

[dianeschlicht]

Great advice, and I would also advise to have a pre-trip meeting again close to the travel time. When we went down with a group of 12, we traveled on the same flight, and did a lot of coordinating while waiting for the flight to board.

 

[BCV23]

What great advice, rocketriter. Like your idea as well, Diane.

OK, Susie. I had fun thinking about your family. Easy to plan when you don't have to live with the consequences!

But here is an idea for you if and only if your daughter knows her paternal grandmother and/or aunt and cousin well enough to camp with them.

You and your DH in master, brother and wife in that studio. Your son and one of his cousins in the living room and the other two boys in with their parents.

MIL,SIL, neice and your daughter in the other MBR and its living room. They could figure out who sleeps with whom as "girls" are a little pickier! Teach your daughter how to call room to room so she would feel secure that she could always reach you and your husband.

Your dad and his wife in that lockout studio. For everyone's privacy, it could be used as a seperate studio although I'm not sure if it is possible to do seperate room bills. I'm sure others here know that.

Your father would probably feel comfortable hanging out with his son, grandsons and your husband some of the time but his wife could still have quiet and privacy. You and brother's wife could visit the "girls" room when you need sanctuary or sanity.

But this would only work if it would be a treat for your daughter. I know at 7, I would have loved this arrangement with one grandmother and set of cousins. I didn't know my other grandmother as well at that age so I would have been a little leery. Of course, I did come to adore her as I grew up.

Anyway, I had fun thinking of permutations!

Have a wonderful family trip. It sounds like a lot of fun and what a great time to go.

 

[Susieab]

Your plan is somewhat how I am thinking. My daughter will probably want to stay some with her cousin which will be fine and then will probably want to see her Grandpa as well. My son is a bit more reserved and will probably stay with us. My brother's youngest may even sleep with them so that won't be an issue.

We aren't really planning to do a lot together as a group. I think really it is going to be more just meals if you want and then go to the parks/pools etc. with whoever. Nothing really firm planned. We all do have cell phones so that will help.

I think the trip will be a lot of fun. My DH and our kids are going a couple days early and are going to stay at SOG which will be a first for us but have heard it is nice. Then the rest of the group will come to join us. This is family get-together, early Christmas, and my celebration of finishing my Master's degree at all once so I can't wait.

Thanks for all the good advice!

Susie