Would you go?

[RadioNate]

This might get long.

My sister-in-law lives in Europe and my inlaws are going there for Christmas this year. They would like us (me, DH, DS8 and DD2) to come. My DH has a mandatory 2 week vacation at the holidays.

We had initially said no because it was just way too expensive to fly the 4 of us there. We just flat out can't afford the flights, lodging and other expenses.

Well now my inlaws have generously offered to pay for the flights and lodging. We would just be responsible for food and any touring expenses. We have the money however right now our 'extra' is earmarked to pay for DH's business website redesign. We would need to tap into savings to pay for one of the expenses, either the trip or the website.

Doing the trip would mean the kids would not be home at Christmas and there would be no Santa and only small gifts. I don't think my 8 year old believes in Santa and the 2 year old will have just turned 2 Dec 1, I'm not sure she 'gets' Christmas yet.

There is also the issue of a 2 year old on a 14 hour flight, jet lag and food issues with her.

Would you go?

 

[Papa Deuce]

Probably not, unless Seeing some of Europe was / is a big dream for you.

Personally, I have about 10 other places I want to go to before seeing more of Europe. I have been to England for 9 days.

 

[AKL_Megs]

I would!!!

But, I can't imagine a flight like that with a 2 year old, although I know people do it EVERY day!

What are your food issues? They do feed you, usually twice, on International flights... either usually breakfast and dinner, or lunch and dinner, and it is usually GOOD food.

Plus, your DD would probably sleep most of the way.

 

[NMAmy]

I really think I would simply because it's a wonderful opportunity that may not arise again.

 

[EthansMom]

I don't like traveling at the holidays.... flights are overbooked, weather is iffy, people are stressed out and cranky, and illnesses are rampant (and easily spread in close quarters like an airplane).

Honestly, I just won't travel at the holidays with my kids. I've always had a policy that my kids would wake up Christmas morning in their own beds... and that has worked very well for us.

Including the fact that you would have to tap savings for some of the expense, I would tell the family, "Thank you for the generous offer, but it isn't a good time."

 

[RadioNate]

To add, I've been to London and Ireland. I went for 10 days 16 years ago. However my DH has never been to Europe at all.

The trip is centered around Spain which isn't a life long dream for me. I'm not sure of the entire itinerary but I don't think the entire 2 weeks will be in Spain.

 

[Piglets Mommy]

I've kind of been in your position. My parents live in Hawaii. There is NO WAY we could afford to go on our own....both time and $$ considered. They have offered to fly us out, and of course we would stay with them, but I just didn't think the kids could handle the flight. DS9 went out with them this summer and had a blast, but did have a hard time witht he flight. We might try it with both kids in a year or 2, but I can't see it with a 2 YO. I took DS9 out to visit them when he was 14 months and said NEVER AGAIN (but that was by myself...if DH had gone, it would have been easier)

 

[KristinBelle]

We would go in a heartbeat, what an amazing opportunity.

 

[~disneydiva~]

What does your DH say he wants to do?

 

[RadioNate]

I would!!!

But, I can't imagine a flight like that with a 2 year old, although I know people do it EVERY day!

What are your food issues? They do feed you, usually twice, on International flights... either usually breakfast and dinner, or lunch and dinner, and it is usually GOOD food.

Plus, your DD would probably sleep most of the way.

The flight is a big concern of mine. It does not sound fun. Plus like someone else mention, there is the sickness factor. I would make sure every one had flu vaccines etc.

I'm concerned about the eating because while she eats regular table food, being 2 (newly 2 at the time) she is picky. It isn't terrible but I don't know how limited our access to the 'old standbys' will be. I can bring stuff but I'm not carting 2 weeks worth of meals to Europe!

 

[My2Cinderellas]

I'd be on that plane in a heartbeat! but my dreams do include lots of travel. More importantly - how does your DH feel? it's his family and his business - the decision is going to greatly impact one or both of these.

 

[LuvOrlando]

I am in a similar predicament. I love WDW and the NJ shore and like to go every year. My In-laws despise the WDW and boycott the Shore claiming to only love Aruba. They have wanted the kids to go to Aruba with them for ages but I just couldn't see spending $2000 on airfare plus expenses to go to a place I couldn't care less about...I don't like to be hot and it sounds like a dreadful bore. Also, the no child left behind laws made taking them out of school almost impossible. Anyhoo, this has worked for me for the past 10 years. But then, 2 years ago my in-laws bought a week of timeshare June in Aruba just for us. The kids want to go, my DH wants to go but I still couldn't care less. Anyway, I just bought the tickets and am going next year for them... all of them. The way I see it my In-laws are getting older, and so are my kids. I don't want to deny either set wonderful memories. Since wherever my family is happens to be my favorite place on the planet, I suppose it will be fun in the end. Sometimes in order to have a happy family we all have to do things we don't REALLY want to do, just because it's the right thing to do, KWIM.

I guess I have to vote I would go, I wouldn't want to go, but I would go and keep a smile on my face the entire time for my DH and kids because I love them.

 

[RadioNate]

What does your DH say he wants to do?

He wants to go if we can work it out. Like I mentioned, he has never really traveled anywhere and never to Europe and that is definitely something he wants to do. I'd say he is at 85% go.

I'm still down around 50/50. I'd feel like a jerk to turn down a generous offer, which I'm not sure will ever be made again. But I also know that we are in a position to save and take the kids to Europe on our own when they are older and can both enjoy and remember it.

 

[EthansMom]

He wants to go if we can work it out. Like I mentioned, he has never really traveled anywhere and never to Europe and that is definitely something he wants to do. I'd say he is at 85% go.

I'm still down around 50/50. I'd feel like a jerk to turn down a generous offer, which I'm not sure will ever be made again. But I also know that we are in a position to save and take the kids to Europe on our own when they are older and can both enjoy and remember it.

Do you all have passports? You'd need to be working on getting them NOW and have to pay to have them expedited just to be sure, if you want them in time.

 

[Angelhalo]

I wouldn't go because I don't like feeling indebted to people.

 

[RadioNate]

Do you all have passports? You'd need to be working on getting them NOW and have to pay to have them expedited just to be sure, if you want them in time.

We all have them.

 

[jen0610]

If DH was game, I'd go in a heartbeat.

Not just to visit with family....but to see and experince the sights and sounds of the holidays as they are done somewhere besides how we ( the USA) do it.

We spent one Christmas over seas, Panama, while DH was in the Army. It was so different from what we were use to. Both of use were from the Midwest. It's a white Christmas here, so being there it was so different for us to see the decorations we associate with snow, being displayed in the tropical heat. Listening to Bing sing about a white Christmas, while sweating in a 90 degree humidity heat filled car, trying to get from one post to another. Going to the local festivals. While it's not what I would want every year, it was a life experiance that I would not trade.

 

[Rora]

I voted yes! Seems like a great opportunity and if your kids don't really get/believe the whole Santa thing, go!

 

[Papa Deuce]

Do you all have passports? You'd need to be working on getting them NOW and have to pay to have them expedited just to be sure, if you want them in time.

Not really... my wife's expired and she got a new one in just a few weeks... The nightmares of 3+ months really are not still valid.

 

[2girlsmom]

That's a tough one. I have flown to/from Japan with a 4 month old first time, 7 months second, 1 year 3rd time, and 15 months last time, I have to say that taking a baby/toddler is actually really not as bad as people make it out to be. Mine at the last two trips was really pretty easy to handle, we took color books and such, of course, and bought her the kids meal for the plane.