WWYD- visitors for DD's 4th birthday

anna7602

We've never been this far away from both sides of the family before. In past years, the ILs flew up for DD's bday and stayed with us for a few days and my family drove up for the party or the day of the birthday itself or both and then either went home, or stayed with other people they know in the NY area.

Now we're in Paris and both ILs and my parents are coming. My parents already booked their tickets and are staying for 2 weeks. ILs are asking how long they should come. I'm leaving it up to them, but I am already a little stressed about having everyone here at once for a long time. I also don't know what to do about accomodations. We have a guest room and I guess we could blow up an air mattress or something to put elsewhere (or have DD sleep in our room and give one set of grandparents hers), but that feels like a lot of people in a tiny Parisian apartment. On the other hand, hotels are outrageously expensive here and I also feel like it's not fair to ask one set of grandparents to stay elsewhere...

Maybe this is more of a vent. It seems like the only answer is to have everyone here and figure it out.

tokenhoser

It's hard being so far away! Do you know anyone well enough to ask them to host someone for you, even for part of the time? When we've gone to visit my sister (in Australia), she has managed to scare up some accommodations for us through her church. It is a bit weird all around asking someone you don't know super well to do it, and then staying with strangers... but there are people that are willing to help, sometimes, and you don't get help you don't ask for.

Alternately, could you rent a vacation property somewhere near Paris but cheaper and all go there for part of the time? We also did that in Australia.

Temp123197812503460

I was also going to suggest a short term rental. If the inlaws get along they could even share to save .

sucredee

Have you checked out www.homeaway.com? Someone on the IN board had suggested that some time ago. We haven't actually used it but I had checked it out for our stay in Paris. There are a ton of places on there. Can't remember what pricing was like though. If your apartment is anything like my aunt's (hers is a 2 BR that is probably bigger than your average place but still small) I can't imagine being there with 7 people for 2 weeks. 1 or 2 nights I can see but anything more than that no way. I am a little surprised either set of grandparents just expects to stay with you knowing that your space is limited. Can you split it up: 1 set stays with you 1 week then finds other accommodations and the other set first stays elsewhere for the first week and then stays with you?

jsugrin

I would have DD room in with DH and I.  I think it's awesome that they are all coming for her birthday but definitely can see why that's an awful lot of people all at once.  I second checking out home rentals, my favorite site is VRBO.com.  I'd guess DH has to work but could you even do something where you take a week of your parents visit and either stay in the country, hit up another country ect.  Maybe your parents there for about a week, then get a rental for a week with everyone and then a week back at the apartment with his a parents (with some overlap I'm sure).  That might make you a little saner, only one set of parents there at a time (or at least not more than a couple days of everyone) and a fun vacation too.

My other thought would be to priceline a hotel room for you and DH for two nights and leave DD with the grandparents .  I'm a major priceline fan, I dont' think I've paid retail on a hotel is 10 years.  My dad and I went to Madrid and even the Best Western was 150 euros and was outside of city center, we ended up at the Westin Palace Hotel through priceline, awesome location and best of all it was $150  when the rack rate was almost 400 euros.

TiffanyBerry

It's not outrageously expensive for them to find a room to let, however.  When we stayed in Paris, we looked for B&B's and hostels (that take adults!) and it really wasn't as ridiculously priced as a hotel.  Alternatively, you could host each set of parents for half of the time of their trip.  I agree - pack too many people into a small place (and I remember how small those places are!) and you'll go *insane*.

anna7602

Well, DH's parents got ahead of me and just wrote to me saying they booked a hotel room because it seemed like we had a full house already. Now DH is pi$$ed at me and wants me to call them and talk them out of it, while I'm thinking, "what for?" since they offered to stay at a hotel. I don't see the point of talking them into staying here in a full house of 7 (where the hot water runs out after 1.5 showers/day, did I mention that?). The best I can do is send an email back saying "oh, you really didn't have to, but that hotel is really close by, etc etc etc" I don't think talking them into staying here is the answer to anything.

Gaaaa. Adjustment issues to life abroad. DH and I are both testy 4 weeks in after dealing with lots of bureaucracy, etc. and this whole family visiting thing is just one more in a long list of blow-ups this week. I'm hoping we settle in to a nice, pleasant routine soon. Thanks for reading, if you've made it this far.