What do you think of this?

[grinningghost]

DD's friend's mother called me today to ask if DD could go with them to Mexico over Easter. She then told me it would cost $1040. I had to say no because I don't have that kind of money just laying around for surprise trips. I thought it was a little strange. If I wanted to take a friend along, I'd either pay their way or wouldn't ask. In fact, we are taking a friend to WDW in the summer and I'm paying. Does anyone else find this kind of strange?

 

[ebaynut31]

I took my friends daughter to disney with us this past december. My daughter and her daughter are both 9. I did ask her for $200 spending money for her but I paid for everything else. I thought that was fair. Asking for that much money is out of the question. If I couldn't afford to pay her way, she wouldn't have come with us.

 

[Kirby]

I've never taken anyone extra along on a trip yet but have thought about including a friend for each of my kids sometime. I thought that we would pay for hotel expenses but ask that they provide food and souvenier money. We would drive so there would be no travel expense for them.

 

[crazyme5kids]

Nope I don't think it is strange. Everyones financial situation is different. I think it is nice that they offered to take your daughter, more importantly that they like her enough to want her to join them.
I have taken others children with me and have paid for everything, but I wouldn't be offended or think it was strange if someone asked one of mine to join them without paying for them. I look at it as a chance to go somewhere that they might not get to go. If I can afford it they go, if I can't they don't.

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

<font color=navy>I don't see anything wrong with it, as long as they let you know up front how much it would cost.

My perspective is that if I'm going on a trip, can't afford to pay for one of my kid's friends to go, but want to give them the opportunity to join us, then I offer the opportunity to the parents. It's their choice whether or not they want their child to gain that experience.

We usually invite one of the kid's friends to go on camping trips with us. I like to invite kids who wouldn't have that opportunity otherwise. I let the parents know what the extra costs are - horseback riding, kayaking, etc. We've taken three kids with us, so far, and their parents were more than happy for their children to join us -- they got to do something that they wouldn't have been able to otherwise (their parents don't do that stuff). Everytime has been a positive experience. (We go to Sequoia & Yosemite). If I had the money I would pay for it, but, frankly I don't. My opinion is that at least we're giving someone a chance to do something. The parents also offered to pay for food, etc., but I told them I had that covered, and not to worry about it.

If someone invited my kids to go somewhere, I would expect to cover my own children's expenses.

 

[disneyjunkie]

Nope, not strange at all.

I'm planning a trip to WDW with a parent who has a daughter in my son's class. We going to find out if any other parents want to join us. ( The more the better) If we don't get any takers, I'm thinking about taking one of the boys in DSs class with us.

If his father says yes, I'll expect him to pay for his son's park tickets, Amtrak tickets, and spending money. I'll take care of the resort and all meals.

I think it would be nice for my son to have a boy to pal around with, but I'm not willing to break the bank in order to do it.

 

[SeaSpray]

Originally posted by grinningghost
DD's friend's mother called me today to ask if DD could go with them to Mexico over Easter. She then told me it would cost $1040. I had to say no because I don't have that kind of money just laying around for surprise trips. I thought it was a little strange. If I wanted to take a friend along, I'd either pay their way or wouldn't ask. In fact, we are taking a friend to WDW in the summer and I'm paying. Does anyone else find this kind of strange?

I agree with you 100%. When we invite DSs' friends to go anywhere with us, we pay their way. All I would allow their friends to pay for would be souvenir type stuff, that's all. Otherwise, when we invite, we pay.

 

[daughter_of_amid_chaos]

When my best friend came to disney with us 2 years ago we asked her family to pay for the air fare and then my parents paid for the hotel, meals, etc. and she brought money to pay for shopping.

 

[Kermit]

Personally, I would offer to pay if inviting my child's friend, but I don't think it's too unusual. My first trip to WDW was with my bestfriend's family when I was in high school, and I paid for my own tickets and food. We drove, so I didn't have to pay for air fare.

I do think that it's kind of short notice. When I went with my friend, they asked me over a year ahead of time.

 

[vald1977]

I agree with Kermit. It does seem like short notice to come up with that kind of money. So that part strikes me as strange.