Otter2569 Posted August 6, 2015 Posted August 6, 2015 Ooops I meant SPLURGE Has anyone ever splurged on a super family vacation and was it worth it? I'm not talking about Disney or a cottage on the beach. I am thinking about going to foreign country or somewhere where the experience may be once in a lifetime. My boys are both in high school and i have been thinking about taking them on a super vacation like traveling through France. First off I am not wealthy - I got lucky and lost my job, got a good severance package, lived modestly and managed to save some before I got another job. My thought is that i want my boys to see that there is life outside of small town USA and there is a lot of adventure sand discovery to be had. At the same time I would be beside myself with disappointment is the trip was a bust and they bitched about the food, being bored and never put down the Ipad. Trying to weigh in my mind if we would get enough out of it...besides me wanting to do something really cool. Thoughts?
WhatYouWantToHear Posted August 7, 2015 Posted August 7, 2015 (edited) Sounds like you want them to want this. Also sounds like you know what their level of enthusiasm is going to be towards it. Have they ever talked about this? Have you discussed a grand vacation with them? You mentioned Ipads, sounds like you've had a similar experience where they have dissappointed you with their non-engagement. How about you go to the source and see what they want? No offense but I think you have this idealized vacation that not only are they not into, but will not turn out like you want. Edited August 7, 2015 by WhatYouWantToHear
CarrieT Posted August 7, 2015 Posted August 7, 2015 Backstory: When I was 15, I got a music scholarship to play in a summer orchestra in Cambridge and my parents let me go to England with my French Horn teacher and his wife for three weeks, including an additional week in Paris. 20 years later, I was finishing my Master's in Art and I had always promised myself that if I was successful in getting an advanced degree, I would return to England. Having worked multiple part-time jobs to just get by and get through school, there was no way I could afford such a trip. Seeing the light at the end of the tunnel with my degree, I figured out how I could take out one last student loan to pay for the trip. I shouldn't have, but I did and never regretted it. My then-BF and I arrived in London and we promptly rented a car and drove to York and then Bath and then back to London where an international enclave of fellow occultists were meeting. I was able to spend an amazing three weeks with close friends who had arrived for the meeting at the culmination of my trip. I never regretted it taking out the loan. I ended up deferring the payments for years and with interest, that simple loan blossomed exponentially and I still never regretted it. 1
Gold Pile Posted August 7, 2015 Posted August 7, 2015 As far as slurging goes....I'll leave that for the adult only section. I did get stuck in the mud on a vacation, so ya could say I sludged . Minor splurges are ok, just don't go into debt.
Author Otter2569 Posted August 7, 2015 Author Posted August 7, 2015 When I was 20 I went to Europe - courtesy of the US Army. It was the best experience of my young life. I traveled as much as I could for 2 years and was fortunate to be able to go back a few times since. Great point about asking the boys and I definitely plan on that...afteral the point is to bond and have a great experience versus drag them around and end up disappointed. They are great kids and i'm pretty sure they will like it - especially my older guy who likes history. It just seems like such a lofty and expensive trip...but if they get something out of it then its worth every penny. I do not spoil them so this would be a once in a life time thing. slurge...yeah i know! Couldn't figure how to go back and fix that. Hopefully you can figure out what i was trying to say? 1
road Posted August 7, 2015 Posted August 7, 2015 I would not spend a dime in France. Long live freedom fries. I would suggest a coast to coast road trip across the US.
Els Posted August 7, 2015 Posted August 7, 2015 How old are the boys? If they are of reasonable age, I'd propose the novel idea of telling them you want to take them on an overseas trip and they can provide input on where they would like to go, but they have to do something to work for it. Like chores done on time every day for the next month or something like that. If they can't be bothered to put in the effort, I'd save your money.
Author Otter2569 Posted August 8, 2015 Author Posted August 8, 2015 Elswyth, we are thinking along the same lines. i'd like them to research places to go, learn something about the places we would visit and definitely work towards the trip. Why france - it is awesome thats why! I was anti French until I went there a few years ago. honestly even then I only went to see the D Day sights and some castles because I am a veteran and a love history and photography. My thought was F them, i just want to see some cool ****. The people were amazingly nice, the sights were awesome and the food was fantastic. The experience was the best. 2
anna121 Posted August 8, 2015 Posted August 8, 2015 I think it's a great idea, but teenagers can be tricky about this. France may not do it for them - and you will be crushed. So be as sure as you can that it's something all of you will enjoy. 1
Radu Posted August 8, 2015 Posted August 8, 2015 Best vacations are the ones where you are not forced to see the sights by some amphetamine inflated guide.
Author Otter2569 Posted August 8, 2015 Author Posted August 8, 2015 Its just an idea right now and obviously they need to have an interest. Otherwise we can go to the beach like always and I will go myself I just remember the thrill and excitement when I landed in Germany for the first time...it was a whole new world and the start of an amazing adventure. Would hope they would feel the same.
Radu Posted August 8, 2015 Posted August 8, 2015 It's such a shame you didn't write 'splooge' in the thread title, then we could have called it a Freudian slip.
turnera Posted August 10, 2015 Posted August 10, 2015 I am of the same mind as you. American kids SO need to see that there's more to the world than the US. I would get them to help you plan it. That said, you need to come to a compromise on limiting the amount of time on electronic devices, or they'll miss the whole point. We took DD24 on a cruise around the coast of Italy for graduating college and she now wants to go back for her honeymoon. My only regret is that I didn't take her on MORE such trips before she found her boyfriend; now, going with him takes center stage, and not going with her parents. 1
GorillaTheater Posted August 10, 2015 Posted August 10, 2015 I guess it might depend on how the Rand is doing now, but back in early 2001 I went on the trip of a lifetime to South Africa with my oldest daughter, then 12. Saw Cape Town, the wine country east of there, Durban, Ixopo, South Broome on the beach just south of Durban, and Umfolozi game reserve near Mozambique where we saw a lioness take down a warthog from WAY close up. Accomodations and food were quite inexpensive. You had to pay attention to your surroundings, but I never felt unsafe. And you'll never fly a better airline than South African Air. 1
SoleMate Posted August 11, 2015 Posted August 11, 2015 Do it. See the world. You will make memories for a lifetime. 1
Eighty_nine Posted August 11, 2015 Posted August 11, 2015 Ooops I meant SPLURGE Has anyone ever splurged on a super family vacation and was it worth it? I'm not talking about Disney or a cottage on the beach. I am thinking about going to foreign country or somewhere where the experience may be once in a lifetime. My boys are both in high school and i have been thinking about taking them on a super vacation like traveling through France. yes yes yes yes yes yes. Always yes. Experience > money. always. I've been all around the world and have not regretted a dime of it. And especially for your kids, this will seriously impact their lives.
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