Holidays so different now

[Decisionsagain]

We have five beautiful, gorgeous children. We wouldn't change anything for the world. Life is so much fun.

The only one thing I miss is our holidays. Dh and me used to go on such exotic holidays eg Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia. Plus the States, Oz etc etc. We used to go on about 4 holidays a year.

Now we manage to get away usually once a year. But somewhere more modest. Eg. Tenerife. Minorca etc.

I love my life and being at home is the bulk of the year afterall. But I'm really wanting to travel again. Has anyone felt the same and what have you done to assimilate these feelings? Or have you managed to keep it up? A lottery win would help.

[dontsufferfools]

I too have five children.

We are lucky enough to still holiday every year. Depending on our finances depends on where we go.

Holidays regardless of where we go are really expensive for us. DH & I work full time and save really hard as we both find holidays really important. We don't have much of a social life per se because of our holidays.

This year we are doing Florida. The children's holiday of choice. Its costing us a small fortune because there are 7 of us going. And we are going "cheap".

Last year we went to Ibiza because but that was all where we could afford.

Next year? Who knows. We will make the decision nearer the time.

I am not sure I could give up travelling. Its a really important part of my life and I am desperate to show my children some of the world.

[Decisionsagain]

Thanks for posting. I share the same view as you. Travel is so important to me and I miss it greatly. I am so wanting to share these amazing places with my children now. I think you hit the nail on the head when you said you both work. I am about to go back, partly to get money for travel. How do you find working with five children!!! Mine are still very young, all below 8.

[imip]

I only have four, aged between 2 and 7.

I've also done a lot of travel, more than dh, but we've done some pretty cool things together also, and he is quite keen to travel.

Only recently has the travel bug really come back. And certainly I feel far too old to lug a back pack around the world and stay in hostels! However, I also struggle with how hard it is with 4 young dcs. Is that an issue with you also, op?

I'm australian, living in the uk for the past 11 years, so I suppose in some part, that desire to travel is constantly being met. But i am keen to do some travel in Europe. Last year we stayed at some camp sites it France. It was good, though undeniably hard with kids. Took the easy route and stayed in Normandy both times, saw lots of ww2 war history, we are quite keen on that, so lots of compromises: look kids, a beach; look kids, a bunker!

Is Europe too 'tame' for you? I'm planning eventually when the kids are older, getting a camper van for the summer holidays and spending six weeks in Europe. We are building up to it as dd2 is being assessed for asd, change can be problematic with her.

Likewise, I have a plan of getting a campervan around the states at some point.

We plan to go back to oz in three years time, so I plan to travel as much as possible in Europe, then perhaps taking time off school between two countries and perhaps doing two blocks of six week travel in Europe. We need to do it cheap, camping all the way :-)

Another plan is to get the overnight ferry to Spain, camping from there.

I do have lots of itineraries in my mind, I guess it is all European since our time in the uk is finite. A friend of mine, also australian, speaks highly of Latvia for holidays. Went there pre dcs with dh but in winter, spectacular beaches. Maybe an easy beach holiday, just off the beaten track?

[imip]

Crikey, sorry, long post..

Clearly I do think a lot about this....

[Decisionsagain]

Thanks for posting. Some interesting thoughts. No, I don't find it that hard with the children although I think camping would be very hard. You've got some good ideas. Have to admit though it's far flung destinations I miss. Again, I absolutely love having a big family; it's just I miss the buzz of travel. The smells and sights of Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, Dubai etc etc. Off to buy a lottery ticket.