We,, this isn't about a Disney trip but it is about a family trip so I guess it belongs here.
We're going to Hawaii this summer. We are a family of four--2 adults and dd8 ds9. We first went to Hawaii 2004 and had a great time, our only regret was that it was too short--8 nights between two islands. This time I wanted more time,so we planned a 16-night trip, 5 nights Kauai, 6 nights Maui and 4 nights Oahu. However, the closer we get to our trip date, the more misgivings I am having.
It all sounds great on paper, but the reality of it is a different story. I'm mainly concerned about the length of the trip. It is a long time--16 nights to be constantly interracting with each other! Our first stay is a 2 bdr, 2 bath condo, which should give us plently of "breathing" space. The next stay is a one bdr, one bath condo, still, should allow for some space and privacy. The last 4 nights are just a standard hotel room, all four of us crammed in together. My kids are not exactly what you'd call "considerate" (at that age, I guess its normal, but still hard to deal with!). On previous trips they literally wake up at the crack of dawn--if they wait that long. They not only wake up, they start playing, fighting, whatever, so our rest is disturbed. Its not like there's anything we could do at 5 am except listen to them fight. Expecially my ds--he talks so loud! My dh says he talks like a cartoon character
Funny, except at 5 am on a trip where you do need to sleep sometime! I've tried talking to the kids about their "hotel" manners, that they're staying in relatively cramped quarters, its not like home, they have to learn to be considerate, etc., but it seems to have absolutely no effect. I guess they get excited on a trip (they never wake up at 5 am at home on a school morning 
).
Also, 16 days is a long time to spend money. We have the basics paid for--hotel, rent car, air fare, however, that leaves eating, sightseeing, souveniers, etc., which could easily add up to another $3000-$4000 total. Especially with my kids. They literally want (demand) every piece of junk they see. Of course, I can and do say "no", then they start pouting. Last trip I had dd scream at me in a gift shop "you're ruining my life!" because I wouldn't buy her something. Same trip, ds screamed at dh because he didn't come back with the right type of potato chips! We had some time between flights and dh went to get us some overpriced airport food. Well, ds wanted barbeque potato chips and dh came back with the regular type. They way that kid screamed at dh actually attracted a security guard! I have tried in the past to handle the "gimmies" by giving each kid a set amount of money for souveniers--once its spent, that's it. However, that just didn't work out. They kept losing it, blaming each other for stealing it, etc., so finally I put their purchases on a credit card and kept track. That didn't work, either. They kept accusing me of somehow "cheating" them. Starting to sound lovely, my dear little ones?
Well, getting back to the 16 day trip--I can keep costs down if I follow some budget tricks, but the howls from the kids makes it difficult to do. Here's my "budget" tricks--only order water with meals, no soda,soft drinks, iced tea, etc. That can easily save $10+ per meal. Eat breakfast in the room--use rent car to go to nearest WalMart and buy breakfast things, like cereal, coffee, etc. Take snacks with us in a cooler (we rent a van), so we don't have to buy high-priced water, snacks, etc. Have a late lunch for dinner--saves a bundle. Well, what's so awful about all that? Hey, its 16 days, we can't be epcected to bleed money.
Well, just last weekend we took an overnight trip. Just me and the kids. I ended up spending $100 just feeding them! They demanded to stop at every McDonalds (said they needed to use the bathroom), then demanded something to eat when I had packed snacks for the road. Refused to eat off the kids menu--insisted they wanted to "eat like an adult" then picked at it and barely ate it. I took the leftovers with me (our hotel had a microwave and fridge), but whined me into a restaurant dinner when we could have done fine with the leftovers and snacks we brought. Well, I did give in, but I shouldn't have. It just makes it harder the next time.
I realize I'm getting long-winded here and don't mean to ramble, but in general how long are your trips, expecially with kids? My main concerns are the stress of being "together" for 16 days and the costs. BTW, I really can't change the length of the trip without incurring substantial extra costs, mainly due to the airfare. Maybe just forget it, at least for this year, or until they learn how to behave on such a long trip?
We're going to Hawaii this summer. We are a family of four--2 adults and dd8 ds9. We first went to Hawaii 2004 and had a great time, our only regret was that it was too short--8 nights between two islands. This time I wanted more time,so we planned a 16-night trip, 5 nights Kauai, 6 nights Maui and 4 nights Oahu. However, the closer we get to our trip date, the more misgivings I am having.
It all sounds great on paper, but the reality of it is a different story. I'm mainly concerned about the length of the trip. It is a long time--16 nights to be constantly interracting with each other! Our first stay is a 2 bdr, 2 bath condo, which should give us plently of "breathing" space. The next stay is a one bdr, one bath condo, still, should allow for some space and privacy. The last 4 nights are just a standard hotel room, all four of us crammed in together. My kids are not exactly what you'd call "considerate" (at that age, I guess its normal, but still hard to deal with!). On previous trips they literally wake up at the crack of dawn--if they wait that long. They not only wake up, they start playing, fighting, whatever, so our rest is disturbed. Its not like there's anything we could do at 5 am except listen to them fight. Expecially my ds--he talks so loud! My dh says he talks like a cartoon character
Funny, except at 5 am on a trip where you do need to sleep sometime! I've tried talking to the kids about their "hotel" manners, that they're staying in relatively cramped quarters, its not like home, they have to learn to be considerate, etc., but it seems to have absolutely no effect. I guess they get excited on a trip (they never wake up at 5 am at home on a school morning ). Also, 16 days is a long time to spend money. We have the basics paid for--hotel, rent car, air fare, however, that leaves eating, sightseeing, souveniers, etc., which could easily add up to another $3000-$4000 total. Especially with my kids. They literally want (demand) every piece of junk they see. Of course, I can and do say "no", then they start pouting. Last trip I had dd scream at me in a gift shop "you're ruining my life!" because I wouldn't buy her something. Same trip, ds screamed at dh because he didn't come back with the right type of potato chips! We had some time between flights and dh went to get us some overpriced airport food. Well, ds wanted barbeque potato chips and dh came back with the regular type. They way that kid screamed at dh actually attracted a security guard! I have tried in the past to handle the "gimmies" by giving each kid a set amount of money for souveniers--once its spent, that's it. However, that just didn't work out. They kept losing it, blaming each other for stealing it, etc., so finally I put their purchases on a credit card and kept track. That didn't work, either. They kept accusing me of somehow "cheating" them. Starting to sound lovely, my dear little ones?
Well, getting back to the 16 day trip--I can keep costs down if I follow some budget tricks, but the howls from the kids makes it difficult to do. Here's my "budget" tricks--only order water with meals, no soda,soft drinks, iced tea, etc. That can easily save $10+ per meal. Eat breakfast in the room--use rent car to go to nearest WalMart and buy breakfast things, like cereal, coffee, etc. Take snacks with us in a cooler (we rent a van), so we don't have to buy high-priced water, snacks, etc. Have a late lunch for dinner--saves a bundle. Well, what's so awful about all that? Hey, its 16 days, we can't be epcected to bleed money.
Well, just last weekend we took an overnight trip. Just me and the kids. I ended up spending $100 just feeding them! They demanded to stop at every McDonalds (said they needed to use the bathroom), then demanded something to eat when I had packed snacks for the road. Refused to eat off the kids menu--insisted they wanted to "eat like an adult" then picked at it and barely ate it. I took the leftovers with me (our hotel had a microwave and fridge), but whined me into a restaurant dinner when we could have done fine with the leftovers and snacks we brought. Well, I did give in, but I shouldn't have. It just makes it harder the next time.
I realize I'm getting long-winded here and don't mean to ramble, but in general how long are your trips, expecially with kids? My main concerns are the stress of being "together" for 16 days and the costs. BTW, I really can't change the length of the trip without incurring substantial extra costs, mainly due to the airfare. Maybe just forget it, at least for this year, or until they learn how to behave on such a long trip?
