Sabbatical Planning

[preppy]

Next fall I will be eligible for a 10 week paid sabbatical. I can do anything I want, no specific restrictions from work, just a perk for staying with our org long term.

I’m starting to think out ideas and want to do an extended 3-4 week family trip as part of my time. The girls will be 3.5 and 5 that fall, but I can take it anytime so I could wait till that summer if I wanted, just has to start anytime after Oct 1 2020. I would prefer not to say domestically. We like locations with beaches/water and not super into cities and think the max we could do with the girls on flights is prob 10-12 hours or so and we are coming from the northeast.

Possibilities are endless and I am looking for some ideas to start researching!

[waverly]

It’s not super ideal for amount of time spent traveling, but we did Australia for 3 weeks. We were both between jobs and went that far away because we likely wouldn’t have another 3 weeks once we were working. I have friend that live there and they come back to visit family so it can be done.

It is 5-6 hours to California and then what a 12-14 hour flight there. It was way longer going than getting back. We watched 4 movies and still had hours to go. But once you are in Sydney you have beach, city and you can go up the coast to the Great Barrier reef or down to Melbourne. The time change was brutal going to bed at 5 pm and waking up at 2 am but we adjusted after about 3-4 days.

Otherwise, my second choice would be Europe. For that time frame you could do your top 3 countries.

I’ve done Spain, France, Germany. When I go back I would like to do the UK. Another trip could be Sweden and those surrounding countries.

[vtdiamond]

A blogger I follow is doing 6 weeks in Nice, France with her daughter which looks amazing, and she keeps saying it’s family friendly. Her name is capecodmama, I’ve been following her on IG.

[preppy]

Jul 19, 2019 20:22:00 GMT -5 waverly said:

It’s not super ideal for amount of time spent traveling, but we did Australia for 3 weeks. We were both between jobs and went that far away because we likely wouldn’t have another 3 weeks once we were working. I have friend that live there and they come back to visit family so it can be done.

It is 5-6 hours to California and then what a 12-14 hour flight there. It was way longer going than getting back. We watched 4 movies and still had hours to go. But once you are in Sydney you have beach, city and you can go up the coast to the Great Barrier reef or down to Melbourne. The time change was brutal going to bed at 5 pm and waking up at 2 am but we adjusted after about 3-4 days.

Otherwise, my second choice would be Europe. For that time frame you could do your top 3 countries.

I’ve done Spain, France, Germany. When I go back I would like to do the UK. Another trip could be Sweden and those surrounding countries.

I would LOVE to do Australia but I don’t know that I want to do that flight with a 3 year old. Europe is prob a good idea cause we could hit a few places.

[preppy]

Jul 19, 2019 20:25:35 GMT -5 vtdiamond said:

A blogger I follow is doing 6 weeks in Nice, France with her daughter which looks amazing, and she keeps saying it’s family friendly. Her name is capecodmama, I’ve been following her on IG.

Thanks I will follow her. Another blogger I follow has her kids in San Sabastien Spain for a month and that looks amazing so I’ve looked into that too. Maybe I need to follow more travel mom bloggers for inspiration.

[Mrs.flang]

This is a little different but what about South Africa? DH and I went on our honeymoon to Kruger National Park, Victoria Falls, and Cape Town which has nice beaches. We went a little too early to enjoy summer there which I think is more November-December.

Otherwise for more beach, I’d want to look into Greek/Croatian islands, or Hawaii (I’ve never been), or rent a convertible and drive up the California coast.

I’m also curious how you plan to spend the rest of the 10 weeks! What a great perk!

[preppy]

Jul 19, 2019 20:45:07 GMT -5 Mrs.flang said:

This is a little different but what about South Africa? DH and I went on our honeymoon to Kruger National Park, Victoria Falls, and Cape Town which has nice beaches. We went a little too early to enjoy summer there which I think is more November-December.

Otherwise for more beach, I’d want to look into Greek/Croatian islands, or Hawaii (I’ve never been), or rent a convertible and drive up the California coast.

I’m also curious how you plan to spend the rest of the 10 weeks! What a great perk!

I went to South Africa and Botswana in college and an amazing time but I don’t think I want to commit to that flight with 2 young kiddos. Greece and Croatia is a good idea! Croatia has always been on my list. We went to Hawaii before we had DD1 for a “baby moon” and I would def think of taking them there. DH would be in for Hawaii easy, lol. Ideally I want to try a new place but we will see.

I don’t really have any specific plan for the rest of my time yet. I would like to do a girls trip and something with just myself and DH. If I delay to summer it would lead into when DD1 starts Kinder and I’ve considered that it might be nice to be around home for a few weeks as she starts school. We also live in a resort beach town in New England so if it’s summer I would prob spend a lot of time at the beach.

[cricketwife]

I was going to suggest Hawaii. I know it isn’t as exotic as you could be, but it’s just got so much for kids, and at least for me, it’s all stuff I would enjoy as well. It’s easy... and well, 3 year olds are not, so I’d want something easy!

[preppy]

Jul 19, 2019 21:06:25 GMT -5 cricketwife said:

I was going to suggest Hawaii. I know it isn’t as exotic as you could be, but it’s just got so much for kids, and at least for me, it’s all stuff I would enjoy as well. It’s easy... and well, 3 year olds are not, so I’d want something easy!

This is extremely true! Lol. I loved Hawaii and we could mix up islands we have been and new ones since we have long chunk of time.

[Velar Fricative]

Croatia is wonderful but the fall isn’t great for the beach unless there’s a heat wave. Seems like too much of a gamble if you really want beach weather.

[loira]

Brazil, Uruguay and Argentina.

Or just Brazil: Rio de Janeiro, Ilha Grande, then up to Fortaleza and over to Jericoacoara.

[dreamcrisp1]

Depends when you go but I’d do Croatia and Italy (but in like May/June) or Spain and Portugal (in September/early October or May/June). You can get the best of many worlds and the weather will be good. Italy would also work for October but Croatia wouldn’t really because that’s typically rainy season.

[mccallister84]

Will you have this opportunity again when your girls are older?

I’d probably just deal with the flight and go to Australia. At least you’d have the time there to make the flight worthwhile.

[lovelyshoes]

South of France and Spain, or just Spain.

[boiler717]

Jul 19, 2019 20:30:01 GMT -5 preppy said:

Jul 19, 2019 20:22:00 GMT -5 waverly said:

It’s not super ideal for amount of time spent traveling, but we did Australia for 3 weeks. We were both between jobs and went that far away because we likely wouldn’t have another 3 weeks once we were working. I have friend that live there and they come back to visit family so it can be done.

It is 5-6 hours to California and then what a 12-14 hour flight there. It was way longer going than getting back. We watched 4 movies and still had hours to go. But once you are in Sydney you have beach, city and you can go up the coast to the Great Barrier reef or down to Melbourne. The time change was brutal going to bed at 5 pm and waking up at 2 am but we adjusted after about 3-4 days.

Otherwise, my second choice would be Europe. For that time frame you could do your top 3 countries.

I’ve done Spain, France, Germany. When I go back I would like to do the UK. Another trip could be Sweden and those surrounding countries.

I would LOVE to do Australia but I don’t know that I want to do that flight with a 3 year old. Europe is prob a good idea cause we could hit a few places.

I wouldn’t let the flight discourage you. By 3 she will be entertained with shows! It’s such a small part of an overwhelming awesome trip, I think Australia sounds perfect!

[miamigirl]

How fun! I’d do the Amalfi coast and Greek islands. We were there in 2017 for a couple weeks and it’s amazing!

[lacey]

Jul 20, 2019 6:02:21 GMT -5 mccallister84 said:

Will you have this opportunity again when your girls are older?

I’d probably just deal with the flight and go to Australia. At least you’d have the time there to make the flight worthwhile.

I'm here. If you will have the opportunity to do this again than wait and do Europe. But Europe is such an easy flight from your location that I would prioritize something that requires a longer flight/more time. I would do Australia and/or New Zealand this time. Even if you do have the opportunity to do this again in 10 years I think I'd want to do something like the Galapagos+a couple other South American countries or something in Africa that they are too young for right now.

If you want to do Europe we did an amazing vacation a couple years ago with 4 nights in the Swiss Alps, 3 nights in Beaune, France, 4 nights in Paris, and 4 or 5 nights in London. You could do Croatia, parts of Italy, and Nice or somewhere on the Mediterranean in France. If you want a change of pace from the beach head up into the Alps for a short section of the trip, it is so beautiful there.

[ellipses84]

I’d do Italy and Greece. If you love the beach, I’d pick a home base on the Mediterranean and take shorter trips other places from there, maybe tacking the furthest things at the start or end.

[magneta]

If you are on FB there is a group I belong to called Travel with Kids. You may find some great suggestions on there.

[preppy]

Jul 20, 2019 6:02:21 GMT -5 mccallister84 said:

Will you have this opportunity again when your girls are older?

I’d probably just deal with the flight and go to Australia. At least you’d have the time there to make the flight worthwhile.

You get one every 8 years but I am not sure I will stay for 16 years, but possibly? 

[preppy]

Jul 21, 2019 8:19:31 GMT -5 lacey said:

Jul 20, 2019 6:02:21 GMT -5 mccallister84 said:

Will you have this opportunity again when your girls are older?

I’d probably just deal with the flight and go to Australia. At least you’d have the time there to make the flight worthwhile.

I'm here. If you will have the opportunity to do this again than wait and do Europe. But Europe is such an easy flight from your location that I would prioritize something that requires a longer flight/more time. I would do Australia and/or New Zealand this time. Even if you do have the opportunity to do this again in 10 years I think I'd want to do something like the Galapagos+a couple other South American countries or something in Africa that they are too young for right now.

If you want to do Europe we did an amazing vacation a couple years ago with 4 nights in the Swiss Alps, 3 nights in Beaune, France, 4 nights in Paris, and 4 or 5 nights in London. You could do Croatia, parts of Italy, and Nice or somewhere on the Mediterranean in France. If you want a change of pace from the beach head up into the Alps for a short section of the trip, it is so beautiful there.

We are planning a trip to switzerland next year outside of this trip as my brother recently moved there - I am so excited for that and we plan on going up into the mountains during that trip. Croatia, Italy and coastal france and portugal are really high on my list right now. 

[lacey]

Jul 22, 2019 10:33:25 GMT -5 preppy said:

Jul 21, 2019 8:19:31 GMT -5 lacey said:

I'm here. If you will have the opportunity to do this again than wait and do Europe. But Europe is such an easy flight from your location that I would prioritize something that requires a longer flight/more time. I would do Australia and/or New Zealand this time. Even if you do have the opportunity to do this again in 10 years I think I'd want to do something like the Galapagos+a couple other South American countries or something in Africa that they are too young for right now.

If you want to do Europe we did an amazing vacation a couple years ago with 4 nights in the Swiss Alps, 3 nights in Beaune, France, 4 nights in Paris, and 4 or 5 nights in London. You could do Croatia, parts of Italy, and Nice or somewhere on the Mediterranean in France. If you want a change of pace from the beach head up into the Alps for a short section of the trip, it is so beautiful there.

We are planning a trip to switzerland next year outside of this trip as my brother recently moved there - I am so excited for that and we plan on going up into the mountains during that trip. Croatia, Italy and coastal france and portugal are really high on my list right now. 

You'll love Switzerland! You could do an awesome coastal trip around Spain and Portugal: San Sebastian, Porto, Lisbon, somewhere on the Mediterranean in Spain. You could probably add in a few days in Morocco if you wanted something different.

[isabel]

What about Vietnam and Cambodia? Plenty of great beaches and food.

I would also throw out New Zealand, but I think that would be more fun with older kids.

[badgergrl]

Having just been to Iceland I would stop there too. It’s super kid friendly and just beautiful. The people are so nice. We have travelled all over Europe and I can’t wait to get back to Iceland.

[aliciabella]

Costa Rica hands down. Shorter flight. Inexpensive to live and have beautiful beaches, the jungle, amazing people and ability to travel within central and south america.

[elleblue]

I spent six weeks in Europe one summer during college and it was the best trip I ever took. Granted it's different with kids in tow, but with a large amount of time to devote to a trip you'd be able to see and do so much.

[preppy]

Jul 28, 2019 15:52:25 GMT -5 aliciabella said:

Costa Rica hands down. Shorter flight. Inexpensive to live and have beautiful beaches, the jungle, amazing people and ability to travel within central and south america.

This is very high on my list. We have to figure out how much time DH can take off total but I am hoping min 3 weeks! 

[preppy]

Jul 28, 2019 23:12:58 GMT -5 elleblue said:

I spent six weeks in Europe one summer during college and it was the best trip I ever took. Granted it's different with kids in tow, but with a large amount of time to devote to a trip you'd be able to see and do so much.

That sounds amazing! I am also wondering if I can convince DH to fly home with the girls alone and have a friend meet me out there for another 4-5 days after they leave so I can do some adult only time out there. 

[aliciabella]

Jul 29, 2019 12:05:38 GMT -5 preppy said:

Jul 28, 2019 15:52:25 GMT -5 aliciabella said:

Costa Rica hands down. Shorter flight. Inexpensive to live and have beautiful beaches, the jungle, amazing people and ability to travel within central and south america.

This is very high on my list. We have to figure out how much time DH can take off total but I am hoping min 3 weeks! 

The good thing is if he can't stay that long those flights will only take up a day, max, in flight time both ways and is within a close timezone to you. I think you would enjoy it there.

Would you consider taking me over dh instead?lol.

[rupertpenny]

Honestly flying for 12 hours isn't that different than flying for 16-20 hours. It still sucks, but the kids will likely sleep most of the flight. Jet lag is jet lag, it's going to be hard with an 8 hour difference in Europe or a 13 hour difference in Asia.

I'd do SE Asia, probably Vietnam and Laos plus maybe Cambodia. People there love kids and it's relatively affordable so you can stay in nice places without spending a ton of money. Plus Asian hotel breakfast buffets are the best thing on Earth. If you want to move around a little less I think it would be easy to spend a month in Bali without getting bored. There are even lots of agencies where you can hire a temporary nanny for your time there, and there are so many nice villas to rent. Actually I think I've talked myself into Bali now, as much as I love Vietnam and Laos.