How long should I wait??

[siestakeys04]

I am in charge of our grandgatherings next year. Which is fine for me. I was going to have a meeting this month but since my dd bday and school starts this month I thought it would be better to wait until sept. I will make reservations on the 13 of sept. Since the hold is only 1 week that will give everyone until the 20 to give me their deposit. I wanted to start early so everyone can take time to pay the trip off. If they don't have the money then. What Do I Do?

1. Book all the trips at a later date?
2. Book my families trip and then add them on later?

I don't want to leave anyone out but I don't want to miss waiting so long so we miss out. We tried this 2 years ago and everyone thought I was kidding about going and we went on. They were not upset they just realized that when I set my mind to something I am going to do.

What would you do???

 

[Rylee]

If you can't hold a family meeting prior to booking, I would send out an email to everyone, telling them when you plan to book and when you would need to have their deposits.

If your own family intends to go with or without the others, I would go ahead and book and take a chance of adding the others when they are ready to book.

 

[mncherokee]

We traveled with a large group this summer and wound up worrying the entire time that some of our party wouldn't come up with the money (we rented a house together)... we did have part of our group pull out and the entire trip wound up being much more expensive than we anticipated (I thought I would have it all paid prior to leaving and we are still paying it off )

I think part of our problem was that we had people who would not discuss budget with us... so we had to book things and then wound up fighting about money. I think you need to find out what people are able to spend and stick within those parameters. If people don't have the money available when your deadline comes, then they need to book on their own. Don't pay for someone else unless you are prepared to cover their expenses on your own without them paying you back. I covered expenses and later realized I wouldn't see the money from it.

 

[siestakeys04]

Well thank you two for some help. I did inform everyone what an expected total would be. They were ok with it. So if they don't have the money when I am ready to book I will just book mine and add them later. I am trying to make sure I don't miss anyone.

I don't want myself in a bind not being able to pay my trip off, that is why I am booking early.

 

[mncherokee]

Yes, when I go again... I want everything paid before I go and enough cash to cover everything while I am there. I can completely relate to giving yourself enough time to pay it off.

 

[siestakeys04]

Thanks All