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Babies: 9 - 12 Months
This stupid vacation...
This discussion has been closed.
Re: This stupid vacation...
I just got back from Africa with my daughter (30 hour travel day) alone to visit family. that's a +9 hour time change for me. She was FINE. A little crabby the first couple of days, but they can nap. You'll be fine.I promise.
Also, my DH and I travelled Europe for 30+ days with a budget of 8k. That was for decent places to stay. You can defintely figure it out.
Have you looked at Domincan Republic too? We are going in May to a Dreams resort with waterslides etc for the kiddos for 4k for a week and DD is free. Great reviews on TA too.
Good luck! Feel blessed.
try this one
Interesting. My issue is they're charging full freight for Liam, which doesn't make sense to me. Is that standard?
Usually they only charge if they are going to be in their own seat. Not sure about hotels though.
No, I wouldn't be frustrated. I would be freaking thrilled if someone gave me $6k to take a vacation with. I wouldn't look a gift horse in the mouth and would instead find the stipulations as a challenge to take a vacation that I wouldn't have planned otherwise.
FWIW, when it comes to places like TripAdvisor, most often only people who have something negative to say will take the time to write a review. I looked up one of the places we stayed on our HM to write a review of it and couldn't believe the sh!t people said. We had an absolutely fantastic time.
DH and I are currently planning a trip to Europe for next year. We have Spain, Portugal and Austria in our sites. 10 days. $5k budget. The hardest part has been deciding where we want to go, not trying to stay on budget. I think you have high standards. How often are you planning on staying in that resort, anyway? If you're hanging out there the whole time you're missing the point of international travel.
I also think you're over thinking the jet lag situation. DD and I went to CA this year and she was fine. There and back. She didn't even know we were in a different time zone.
DD2 8.22.13
MMC 1.4.17 at 16w
Expecting #3, EDD 1.29.18
International flights for lap infants are 10% of the adult fare normally. If you choose to put him in a chair (good luck with that- there is no way DD would have stayed in a seat staring at another seat for hours on end) then it is full fare.
You have a year. I have four months, during which I have a birthday party to plan and budget by myself, a trip with me and Liam to NY to see family, and a trip to Disneyworld with my mother (which is completely last minute, but she has a timeshare there, and I am trying to please her by going) by car, with a child who hates a carseat. Hence the frustration, and the need to stay within the budget.
It has nothing to do with having expensive tastes. I don't want bedbugs and soiled linens. If anything I want to avoid expensive, because I would be uncomfortable with a baby in a pricey place.
I don't know if I am overthinking jet lag, though it is moreso DH than myself. Wasn't there a bumpie who recently got back from Germany and has made multiple posts on how horrible her baby has been affected by jet lag?
That's what I thought - I'm looking at one of the previous links and they're assuming he needs a seat, and no option to change it.
It sounds like you need to limit the amount of time you spend researching, pick some options you/DH are interested in, and sit down with him and choose *something* before it's too late to do *anything.*
Don't be derailed by what you MIGHT be able to do if you had more time/money/etc., or by doing endless research. Focus on the positive, b/c it sounds like your DH is focusing on the negative and putting practically as many stipulations out there as uncle is. Take a step back and realize that it's an adventure, it may not go flawlessly, but this is not some awful burden to plan a free vacation!
It would be a sad waste to go nowhere when you guys have that kind of generous offer in front of you. And I'd consider asking DH to email uncle and reiterate his gratefulness instead of complaining about the stipulations. Yes, it'd be nice to not deal with them, but I would try to focus more on the possibilities than the restrictions!
I like you, J, but this is verging on "my diamond shoes are just too darn tight!" territory.
DD1, 1/5/2008 ~~~ DD2, 3/17/2010
I guess I mis typed. I forget that we're in January already. It's for this year that we're going. On top of a trip to FL, a trip out West and three OOT weddings, hence the $5k budget.
Seriously though, it sounds like you can't handle it. Don't go.
DD2 8.22.13
MMC 1.4.17 at 16w
Expecting #3, EDD 1.29.18
I can see how it could be coming across that way. I'm just not enjoying the planning - some people like this sort of thing, I'm the type who would prefer an itinerary put in front of me telling me where I am going.
Right now, I opened up google maps, found Rome, found a park, and am looking at hotels nearby. All of them seem to be 300 euros a night, which is more than we want to spend. I am trying, though.
I agree with this.
I also think that you can go to the same cities as them and stay at a different hotel if it's too expensive for you. That doesn't work if you don't want to be with them, but I thought I'd bring it up.
BFP(4) DD2 born 2.14.13 @ 35w5d due to pPROM
Um, they're doing a whirlwind trip of Italy. Staying in a hotel for one night and moving on. That wouldn't be very practical with an infant.
I very much so want to go. What I should do is tell DH that he should plan it out, if he has as many stipulations as his uncle, or at least volunteer to help. However, as usual, I'm trying to make life easier on him.
And really, what excuses am I coming up for not being able to go? I've tried two travel agents (both went above the budget, and one was trying to rip us off), and now DH is trying to change the destination.
You've gotten a lot of good and helpful advice over the past few days. You can do this!
DD1, 1/5/2008 ~~~ DD2, 3/17/2010
Good lord, planning a vacation should not be this stressful. You seem like you're letting the situation really get to you, when it's honestly a freaking awesome opportunity. I went to Europe in 2008 for 3 weeks, spent about 5k and stayed in awesome places. I'm positive you can have a fabulous vacation for your family within a 6k budge.
I don't have anything going on today, so why don't you reply with your requirements, places you'd like to go, and I'll come up with some options for you.
Back when we first discussed this, DH and I wanted to do 14 days (including travel) with London, Rome, Paris (in whichever order). We've never been to Europe, and no idea when we would be back, so we'd be perfectly happy looking at the standard touristy stuff, I am sure. I'd like to be somewhat near a park (I don't mind a walk, but not miles away) so that we can look at touristy stuff in the mornings, come back to let Liam nap and eat around 1pmish, then go to a park to let him play and run around outside of a hotel room. I don't need to be in the center of things, but not out in the boonies either.
And thanks.
I'm just slightly skeptical since they are counting Liam as an adult. Every time I tried to search, they keep saying I need an additional room. I gave the link to DH and now he is playing around with it.
I agree. All I see are excuses as to why you can't go. If you don't want to go, tell him thanks but no thanks. I think you are sounding very ungrateful.
There are many, many options in Europe. Europe is not only England, France, and Italy. Eastern Europe is really cheap. You can get around on trains. You do not need to stay in premier hotels, you can stay in a pension. They don't have all the amenities and are not fancy, but they are clean and usually near city centers. You could stay at a bed and breakfast, or rent an apartment. If you really want to go cheap, some hostels accept families. There are tons of accommodation options in Europe that do not exist here. While in Europe, you really just need a place to lay your head. There is no reason you cannot go for less than $6000. I was there for almost a month for less than that.
In regards to Trip Advisor, if you think about it, most people will not write on a website unless they have something to complain about. They might post something if they had a phenomenal experience, but the general run of the mill experience is very rarely described. I always take those reviews with a grain of salt. I have stayed at several places with less than stellar reviews and had a fine experience.
As for the reduction in the amount of money he is willing to give, I don't see a problem with it. He is being realistic. An average trip to Europe is more expensive than a trip to Carribean. It makes sense that he would offer less for a trip that should cost less.
Perfect, I've been to London once and Paris multiple times, so this shouldn't take me too long. Are you open to staying in a rental flat? Or do you need to have a hotel? I almost never stay in hotels in Paris, they are crazy expensive for someplace really nice, but you can get awesome deals on really nice condos.
H is on his way home with LO (he had an overnight stay last night), so it might take me a couple hours depending on when he goes down for his nap. But, I should have some options for you today
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[url=http://www.thebump.com/?utm_source=ticker&utm_medium=UBB&utm_campaign=tickers][img]http://global.thebump.com/tickers/tte03a3.aspx[/img]
DH has no interest in eastern Europe, whatsoever. We had that discussion earlier this week. He also has no interest in cruises, or that would be my choice, if only because they seem super easy to arrange. We were both able to agree on London, Paris, and Rome, though now he is balking because he thinks Liam will have a hard time with the time change.
I never, ever said I couldn't go for $6000, so I am not sure where you read this. I cannot pay $15,000 to follow along my BIL's itinerary, nor would I want to since he is in a different city every night or so. Considering they are doing all-day tours which are not conducive to infants (and are the main reason they are spending that much, all private tours), what would be the point of following them? I would normally love to vacation with them, I adore my BIL/SIL. My issue is that I suck at planning vacations. I'd prefer a year to be able to do this, but that's not in the cards, due to the aforementioned stipulations.
I was discouraged by the Caribbean because the resorts I searched on (not high end) were pretty much booked for their lower end rooms, likely due to honeymooners in May. I am not continuing to search that, because I am trying to find places in Europe first and telling DH to just deal at this point.
Hmm, well it sounds like your DH needs to start doing some searching of his own. There is nothing I hate more than doing all the work and having someone torpedo my plans with a flick of their hand. I find once the work load shifts, expectations become more reasonable.
Honestly, I don't understand what the real problem is. Sure, it can be annoying to have plans change...but when you are getting a FREE vacay, that's totally awesome and worth dealing with a bit of hassle.
I've done plenty of traveling and making the arrangements are not as hard as you think. Pick a place ( and really, of the MILLIONS of places in the Carribean, your H wants to only go to TWO of those? Eff him) who cares what everyone else thinks and book the effin trip. Plain and simple. Go and have fun.
Do you have any stipulations for the Carribean? I can look into those for you while the other pp looks into Europe. God knows, I'd love a vacay now and I'll just pretend for a little while I'm in your lucky shoes. Let me know and I'll give you some ideas.
miaomi - I'd like something with a nice beach, that's all.
I just caught DH looking at Hawaii and griping about "$500 a night and not all inclusive, wtf!" Do you see what I am dealing with? Is Hawaii just stupidly expensive, or is he looking in the wrong places?
And the more I read about this, the dumber it becomes. Looking at Europe and Hawaii. I want to go to sleep and wake up when it's all over, lol.
What are the dates you can go and for how long would you like to go? Also, how old will your LO be?
Preferably May or June, maybe April, though not the week leading up to Easter. Possibly late or early March (His birthday party is the 19th).
I'd like at least 10 days.
This chick did Hawaii. They rented an apartment (instead of staying at a resort) and I'm pretty certain they did so on a budget.
https://roadtotheaisle.blogspot.com/search/label/hawaii
DD2 8.22.13
MMC 1.4.17 at 16w
Expecting #3, EDD 1.29.18
This, this, and more this! Without actually going online and pricing it out like onislandtime did, I KNOW you can find a vaca to either Europe or the Caribbean for that budget, easy. In fact, you can likely do it for much less. Don't take the reviews on Trip Advisor to the bank. Not everyone has the same standards as you, and although I would not want to stay somewhere with soiled linens, I would think the minority of places actually have problems like that. So, most likely, if you find a place you like, it will be just fine.
It takes some time and some research, but vacationing on a budget like that,is certainly attainable.
I love Negril. But, DO NOT go during spring break. It will not be baby appropriate.
May is not typically sprink break, at least not around here.
I think I blocked out the May part of the conversation.
Ok, here's a first go for London/Paris/Rome. Total is $4800, so that gives you about $1200 play money. Breakfast is included at all hotels. Transfers are included, but everything is for 2 adults, so it assume you'll be holding LO. All hotels are 3+ stars, the dates are May 13 - May 25.
Details: https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0B6PfZMlAkJzAMGE2YjNjYmItYWY3Yi00ODE5LTljNDEtMTYzNWRjODRiMTgx&hl=en&authkey=CMb34fsK
That's the easy option, I'm working on figuring out prices and dates for staying at vacation rentals, that'll probably free up enough $$ so you can get an extra seat for LO on all flights and still have at least $1500 extra to play with. Plus, the nice thing about rentals is you can cook, so you don't have to eat out for every meal. That'll probably take me a bit, so I'll post it here probably late tonight, I'll PM you too.