How would you handle this one???

[EthansMom]

I have a different opinion. I would let her know NOW that there is a slight chance that your husband will not be home, and if so you CANNOT wake your children and get them out of bed at 4:30 AM. Tell her that to be on the safe side, she should budget for a shuttle or cab ride to the airport, and if you are feeling particularily generous, you could offer to split the cost. The other option is to priceline an airport area hotel for the night before.

This is exactly what I would do! I would tell her now, "DH may be out of town at the end of the week, and if he is, I won't be able to take you to the airport because the kids are still sleeping at that time, so you'll need to plan on possibly taking the airport shuttle."

You don't even want to know what my kids would be like if you woke them at 4:00 a.m. or so!

 

[disykat]

and if you are feeling particularily generous, you could offer to split the cost.

I just don't get this. The cousin is an employed adult. Why should she have relatives paying to take her all over town and entertain her for a week PLUS have them pay part of her transportation costs? The OP is being very generous already by entertaining her for a week.

I've BEEN a 20something single schoolteacher. I considered myself an adult, not someone who had to be taken care of. For goodness sake, tell her where to get the shuttle info. If $30 dollars is going to break her, she shouldn't be traveling.

 

[TLHB70]

Thank you all for your input.
I do feel that I am a good hostess. I do enjoy shopping with her and do not mind the visits at all. I am only hesitant about an early flight. Again, I would never ask or expect anyone to do it for me.......even my closest relatives (parents, brother, etc.). If DH is out of town, I will have her get a cab or shuttle. If DH is in town, he or I will take her. If I do it, I may just get a breakfast somewhere before heading home. The more I think about it, the more I have decided a cab or shuttle would be better than getting the kids up that early. I don't think it should offend her if we need to do that. I hope that she will be understanding.
By the way, I haven't even told all of you this one. When she came last year, she brought two of her friends with her. One of these friends was a high school senior. DH and I fed all three of them last year. Now I will admit, they shared the rental car expense and were gone more that year, but they did all stay at our house. She did ask ahead of time if that would be ok. I did say yes. I just didn't realize how hard it was going to be. We will not be doing that one again.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

You sound like a nice person. A car service is the way to go!

 

[barkley]

if the flights at 6:10, i'm thinking she's going to have to be there by at least 4:10 (at least at the airports around here it's a 2 hour advance arrival and even then if one of the security machines break down you're hoping to make the flight). so that would mean leaving at around 3:40-which for my kids would mean getting starting to try and get them up around 3 at the latest (unless i was going to carry them out to the car to sleep, which i'm not keen on cause they end up laying down and getting tangled in the seat belts).

i'de tell her up front that you can't do the drop off and she will need to arrange her own transportation for departure. it seems that since you and your dh provide not only food and lodging on these 'vacations' it's not at all unreasonable for her to be able to provide her own transportation. and i have to wonder how hard off financialy she truly is-a teacher even at entry level salary with no kids to support can do pretty well. better than many of the teachers i know who support their sah wives, their kids and still manage to foot the bill for vacations. you sure your not her 'econo' trip in between other traveling she does all year long when shes not in contact with you?

airport shuttle-i pay $40 for one person to go one way to the airport about 40 minutes from here (i don't even drive myself at that hour-i am not functional enuf to deem it safe to other motorists).

 

[TLHB70]

You sound like a nice person.

Thank you.

posted by barkley

(i don't even drive myself at that hour-i am not functional enuf to deem it safe to other motorists).

I thought about that too.

 

[kristen821]

If your dh will be home I would take her. It is only one day and everyone can handle one day of little sleep. Personally, I would take my kids if dh wasn't home, they can handle it too and sleep the rest of the day if they wanted. If you don't want to take the kids I would offer to get her a cab and hopefully she will pay for it.

 

[aprilgail2]

I just don't get this. The cousin is an employed adult. Why should she have relatives paying to take her all over town and entertain her for a week PLUS have them pay part of her transportation costs? The OP is being very generous already by entertaining her for a week.

I've BEEN a 20something single schoolteacher. I considered myself an adult, not someone who had to be taken care of. For goodness sake, tell her where to get the shuttle info. If $30 dollars is going to break her, she shouldn't be traveling.

I agree...heck my brother bought himself a really nice house on a school teachers salary, I don't really get why she would be considered poor on a schoolteachers salary LOL. On the other hand though if someone does come stay with me I would certainly drive them back and forth to the airport but they better come with some cash for going out etc. If I stay with anyone I make sure that I am taking them out to dinner and breakfast a few times and footing the bill for hte whole thing as a thank you for letting me stay there.
A car to the airport around here runs around 75-80.00, she could certainly afford at least that if you really don't want to get up and take her to the airport.

 

[annegal]

Call a CAB!!!!

 

[CJMickeyMouse]

If it were me, I would ask her to watch the kids one night in exchange for your early rising on that last day to get her to the airport. Seems only reasonable. Then you and DH can have a nice dinner/movie night out.

 

[shortbun]

I'd figure out a way to do it and also find a way to let her know to ask about timing of flights next time. She probably doesn't get the whole kids and husband thing as she is single. Nice of you to be her vacation btw. You're a great cousin!

 

[annegal]

I'd figure out a way to do it and also find a way to let her know to ask about timing of flights next time. !

FYI...Lots of people I know use expedia or other online services to book flights , for less. Often you have no control on the times of the flights & that is probably what happened to her.