How do I plan? #s may change

[mommymanda]

I'm going with the dream the nasty C is no longer an issue by 2022.

2020 my hubby and I lost our anniversary trip to Costa Rica.
2021 we lost a planned trip to Universal.

So I'm starting to replan both those trips. Hubby and I are going to Costa Rica in March. Family will be heading to Universal next August.

My problem is it's two years from the initial plans. My eldest is now 18, will be 19 at time of travel. She is in college, works full time and has her own life. I know it's still a long time from now, but how do I book? Of course I'm including her in the plans, but what if she's unable to join?

Lol just wondering how others plan family vacations as the family ages into their own life?

 

[pigletto]

Ugh .. I’m right there with you . I have one in grade 12 who can’t miss school when he’s applying for universities next year , and one who is 24 and working for a school board. Summer is out because youngest needs to work .

In our case we just pulled up the school calendar for next year , found two break weeks that might work and picked one. We were always off season travellers but I’d much rather go with my kids during crowded times than have to go without them at all .

I would also suggest with the way the last year has gone and booking with older kids that fully refundable options are the way to go. Things can change quickly .

 

[mommymanda]

Ugh .. I’m right there with you . I have one in grade 12 who can’t miss school when he’s applying for universities next year , and one who is 24 and working for a school board. Summer is out because youngest needs to work .

In our case we just pulled up the school calendar for next year , found two break weeks that might work and picked one. We were always off season travellers but I’d much rather go with my kids during crowded times than have to go without them at all .

I would also suggest with the way the last year has gone and booking with older kids that fully refundable options are the way to go. Things can change quickly .

I work for school board as well, but not a teacher. Since peak breaks like March and Christmas are normally too far from my budget we've always traveled in summer...but ya that doesn't help when my daughter now works full time April-September. We debated on the universal trip for March, but she will be un university, so wasn't sure about missing. I'm sure we will figure it out, but lol with everything else going on I'd hoped scheduling would be the simple part.
I will have to figure out the cancel/change policies for sure. Currently bookings have full refund insurance included. I doubt it will still be available for August bookings too.

 

[TammyLynn33]

Same . Single mom to 4 (19,15,8,7) and oldest is off to college in fall daughter is an okay student but I don’t know I’d be ok pulling her.. it’s really tough .. and I can’t imagine going without 19, he’s my R hand man..

 

[Silvermist999]

Same thoughts here as well, with our kids now in high school. We had to cancel our March break and Xmas break 2020 trips. Likely no 2021 trips. Our last chance for a family vacation will be March break 2022 before my oldest goes off to university. Summer 2022 will be out unless she can’t find a summer job. After that we will only have Xmas break for family vacations. We are losing so much valuable time!

 

[mommymanda]

Same . Single mom to 4 (19,15,8,7) and oldest is off to college in fall daughter is an okay student but I don’t know I’d be ok pulling her.. it’s really tough .. and I can’t imagine going without 19, he’s my R hand man..

I've joked with her for years that once she's working, she will have to pay her own ticket on our trips. Of course she should have had two more years of family vacations on me. That and I feel mom guilt even last summer when we were camping and she was hime for work.

 

[ellbell]

I take multiple trips with different kids. My 10 year old doesn’t want to do what my 20 year old does so I have never taken all 5 of my kids together unless it’s a camping trip or something. I choose 1 or 2 for the big trips and work around their schedule and then they get individual attention too.