If you can only afford to go to a vacation destination once...

[Paging Tom Morrow]

Remember that if you are waiting for your youngest to remember everything, you are losing some of the window in which your oldest will be willing to travel with you.

 

[disykat]

It depends why you're doing it. If you are planning it because you want to go, go. If you specifically want your child to remember it, wait.

My youngest has very few memories from his first trip to Hawaii, but the trip wasn't about him. It was for my brother's wedding. He certainly has heard enough stories about how cute he was on that trip though from family members!

We certainly took vacations when the opportunity arose and didn't consider ages other than what they might enjoy.

However, for our first trip to WDW with kids, we specifically waited until he was six so he would have some memories since we knew it was all the way across the country and we wouldn't be going often.

We also specifically waited to take our kids to Washington DC and New York when they were in their early teens. It was a first trip for everyone and we wanted us all to be interested in and able to do the same things in case it was a once in a lifetime trip.

 

[MrsPete]

Remember that if you are waiting for your youngest to remember everything, you are losing some of the window in which your oldest will be willing to travel with you.

This has not been my experience at all. My teens still LOVE to travel with us. I do expect that during college /once they start working, they may have work conflicts that'll keep them from being able to travel with us -- but that's not the same thing.

 

[rnorwo1]

The younger kids can stay at their grandparent's home, which is what we did last summer when we went to Germany. And although I was a bit miserable without them for so long, it was definitely the smart thing to do b/c they just would not have been into the things that we did there. And we loved having our oldest as an only child again for those 10 days! But that's not something I want to do unless we have to... the Germany trip arose b/c I was speaking at a conference there, I don't think right now I would plan a trip just for fun that they could not all go on. Except for the weekend we're doing this fall at F&W festival! We've never been and DH and I are so excited about that, we don't feel the least bit guilty about leaving them for a few days!!

As far as our "wants" out of a vacation, I want it all, ha ha! If we had unlimited budgets, we would go everywhere and then repeat the trips we love. I am choosing places that my DH and I want to go on, but I also want these to be enriching experiences for the kids... so that's why I had fallen into the trap of thinking that it's a waste of money to go if they don't all remember it. But you've all made very good points about living for today. My parents died young (31 and 50) and I know my mom in particular had a long bucket list left. So thanks for reassuring me that my kids won't hate us later, ha ha... I never thought about it being evened out over the years with each of them. Regardless, they'll get over it!

 

[rnorwo1]

Remember that if you are waiting for your youngest to remember everything, you are losing some of the window in which your oldest will be willing to travel with you.

My biggest fear! I am so not ready for teen years!

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

For us it really depends on what we wish to do as a family while on that vacation. We did England and Paris when my oldest 2 were very little. I have no idea when or if we will ever get back, but I am content with how we did our trip. We had never traveled overseas oustide of carribean cruises and an opportunity presented itself. My kids don't remember diddly about that trip. But they love hearing us talk about what they did on that trip. So while they don't have the memory--we,as parents, do.

 

[My3kiddos]

I have 2 teenagers 16 &17 and a 5 year old. If I waited to take my kids somewhere until the youngest was old enough we wouldn't get to go anywhere as a family because the 2 oldest would be away at college. We are going low key on vacation this year to save for a big Spring break trip next year since my daughter will be a senior. I do not think that your oldest will not want to go when he gets older. My kids love helping plan and looking up the cool things to do where we are going. We are planning for Puerto Rico next Spring because out of the options we had that's where my daughter wanted to go the most. The next year my son will get to be the deciding factor since it will be his senior year. Honestly I don't think my kids will stop going on vacation with us after they graduate because they love going on trips even if it's just for the weekend. I wouldn't wait to do the things you want to based on your children's age. We are never guaranteed tomorrow, so if you can afford it do the things you want to now.

 

[StephMK]

We go when it's convenient & just hope to make it back someday. We took all 3 kids to see the Grand Canyon even though DS was just 6 mo & DD was 2.5. It was not far from where the g-parents were staying that winter & we wanted to go. It would be nice to go back but not sure.

We have been very fortunate in that DD17 still loves to travel with us. She was as excited as any of us to return to Disney. It was very cute to see her so excited about spotting Rapunzel. Though she did not do the M&G, she got a few pics from afar. I think she will be very sad on the day that we travel w/o her.

Plus we thought Disney would be once in a lifetime but we are now sure there will be a 4th trip in our future. I say enjoy your travel experiences and take lots of pics!

 

[superme80]

Growing up I loved traveling with my family for the most part. There have been a few trips I don't remember, Hawaii, and Missouri, that I would love to do with my kids. We haven't traveled a lot with our kids, but we plan to. The oldest went camping last summer and for the most part loved it. He went on a hike and we just used his monkey backpack with the leash attached. He got to run and we made sure he didn't climb down the cliff.

 

[apnep]

We are in the same boat as you. I say, don't wait. Time is fleeting and if you want to go somewhere and have the funds then do it. I feel like time is slipping away and we want to have as many fun adventures with them as we can and show them what's out there. You never know when you will have the opportunity to do it again. At the very least your youngest will have the pictures to look at and you will have great stories to share. It's not just about our children remembering what they see though, it's also about what WE see through their eyes.

Go!! Explore!!!

 

[apnep]

I would LOVE to go to Hawaii next year (my sister found a great deal and wanted us to go with them), I will have mercy on the fellow airplane passengers and wait another few years before attempting that flight with DS2.

P.S. We took our oldest with us to Hawaii when he was only 18 months old. We purchased a backpack, carted him with us in that thing everywhere and had a great time! He had just as much fun!! We LOVED watching him experience the ocean for the very first time. If you found a good deal and wanna go, then go!

 

[DawnM]

You are close to 40? Yeah, you don't have much time left.

Personally, I plan to travel through my retirement! I am 45 and feel like I have loads and loads of time left!

We traveled when the kids were very small and we still travel now.

The traveling isn't all about the kids, I tell them this is Mom and Dad's vacation and they are just lucky they got to come along! That includes Disney trips!!!!!!! I am the Disney nut in our house and I would go alone if I could (I used to sneek down to Disneyland alone when I had day off and the kids were in preschool!)

Dawn

 

[mafibisha]

We go when it's convenient & just hope to make it back someday. We took all 3 kids to see the Grand Canyon even though DS was just 6 mo & DD was 2.5. It was not far from where the g-parents were staying that winter & we wanted to go. It would be nice to go back but not sure.

We have been very fortunate in that DD17 still loves to travel with us. She was as excited as any of us to return to Disney. It was very cute to see her so excited about spotting Rapunzel. Though she did not do the M&G, she got a few pics from afar. I think she will be very sad on the day that we travel w/o her.

Plus we thought Disney would be once in a lifetime but we are now sure there will be a 4th trip in our future. I say enjoy your travel experiences and take lots of pics!

ITA. Go when you can.
In the blink of an eye they're teenagers but so far ours still love traveling with us, too. They realize its a privilege to travel and see the world.
My brother's kids are young adults in college or just out, and still traveling together. Its a lot of work coordinating it, but worth it.

Hopefully you can go again when they're older. Like going to WDW or the beach several times. But go when you can because no one knows what tomorrow will bring!

 

[rnorwo1]

You are close to 40? Yeah, you don't have much time left.

Personally, I plan to travel through my retirement!

Ha! That remark was more about the loooooong list of places we want to go, not how old we are. It probably will be impossible to do everything we want to do. We also plan to travel through retirement, but it still seems like time is slipping away from us. Can you tell that my oldest "baby" turning 10 this month has really thrown me for a loop?!?

 

[MrsPete]

My biggest fear! I am so not ready for teen years!

I love having teenagers. Mine are great, and they're so much easier than they were as toddlers.

 

[MrsPete]

Can you tell that my oldest "baby" turning 10 this month has really thrown me for a loop?!?

My mom claims that she never had a birthday that "hurt her", but it almost killed her when her youngest turned 20. How could she be old enough that all her kids were out of their teenaged years?

 

[Marionnette]

Can you tell that my oldest "baby" turning 10 this month has really thrown me for a loop?!?

Ten is nothing compared to when they leave for college, turn 21, get married, have babies of their own, etc. You have many, many milestones ahead of you!

We traveled a lot with the kids. One son took his first flight when he was 6 months old. All of them love to explore new places and experience new cultures. But if I had only one opportunity to go some special place, I would make sure that the kids are old enough that I would not be so distracted with caring for them that I failed to enjoy all aspects of the vacation. I'm not sure that I would have had as much fun in Italy if I had to concern myself with where to buy diapers or if I had to control a rambunctious toddler in St. Peter's.

 

[sk!mom]

This has not been my experience at all. My teens still LOVE to travel with us. I do expect that during college /once they start working, they may have work conflicts that'll keep them from being able to travel with us -- but that's not the same thing.

This has been my experience, as well. It has become more difficult to schedule trips since we are now planning around 3 adults and 1 teen but DD15 is always excited for family trips. We include DS26 and he often wants to go. In the past year, he has joined us on a trip that included an Aerosmith concert and then a Spring Break trip and Bon Jovi concert. If we're heading to NYC, he's always in.

This year we have two big trips planned. Orlando for Harry Potter and Disney and Skiing in Colorado. DS hasn't been to Disney since he was 19 and had said that unless he one day has children- he wouldn't return. We've gone without him a couple of times. He wants to visit Hogwarts and likes us so he's going . We're going in August because it is literally the only time this Summer that we were all able to go. Our second trip is a big family reunion ski week over New Years. DS is not going on that one. He doesn't care for skiing, that's a difficult time for him to get off work, and the idea of sharing a condo and vacation with 25 people is not his thing.

All that to say that the teen/early adult years can be a great time to travel with your kids. Except for the scheduling- they're much easier than baby/toddler years. Now everyone does their own packing and lugs their own stuff. Adult children even spend their own money!

 

[PHXscuba]

Except for the scheduling- they're much easier than baby/toddler years. Now everyone does their own packing and lugs their own stuff. Adult children even spend their own money!

Uggh, the scheduling! That is one thing where traveling with younger children has an advantage. We have already had to knock the first day off our WDW trip this fall because DS15 has a competition he can't miss. I have told several friends that if they plan to take their kids out of school for vacations, do it before the oldest reaches junior high/high school ... it gets so much harder to make up or miss schoolwork/sports/jobs etc. that come with teenagers.

PHXscuba

 

[rnorwo1]

Ten is nothing compared to when they leave for college, turn 21, get married, have babies of their own, etc. You have many, many milestones ahead of you!

We traveled a lot with the kids. One son took his first flight when he was 6 months old. All of them love to explore new places and experience new cultures. But if I had only one opportunity to go some special place, I would make sure that the kids are old enough that I would not be so distracted with caring for them that I failed to enjoy all aspects of the vacation. I'm not sure that I would have had as much fun in Italy if I had to concern myself with where to buy diapers or if I had to control a rambunctious toddler in St. Peter's.

I love how this thread is turning into a lament about our children growing up! Right now, my two older ones are in their rooms for incessant bickering, so growing up doesn't seem too bad to me at this particular moment! I'm sure I'll be grieving it again tomorrow...

Good points about the scheduling issues. We missed the last day of school to go to WDW last month, trying to get out of WDW before Memorial Day, and my DS10 actually ended up missing quite a bit of stuff, including a test. And that's just 4th grade, I can't imagine what Jr/High school will be like.

I think this (above) is what we've decided on... we've had a lot of discussions over the last few days and I told DH about everyone's replies, and we're going to go ahead with some of the smaller trips and then work our way up from there. I do not want to do anything overseas until they can really appreciate it. My oldest was 8 when we went to Germany and he loved it, so maybe that's a good benchmark for international travel? Anyway, I'm now looking forward to Williamsburg next summer and Southern CA the next! We'll see about the year after that when the baby is 5, maybe HI will be possible then!
Thanks again everyone!