Vacation WWYD?

[luvmagoldn]

H and I have been planning to go back to Italy next fall for our 10th wedding anniversary. To provide some background, we were married in Florence and said we would go back every five years. For our 5th anniversary we had just had the twins so we didn't go.

So now it's time to start planning for next year and while I would LOVE to go I am getting cold feet.

H wants to go for 10 -14 days which I am all about. Except that means someone else will have to stay with the kids for that amount of time. My parents have already offered to come stay but I have reservations about that. They are 72 and I think shuttling 3 boys around will exhaust them. The twins will be in first grade then and #3 will be in preschool. My parents will have to do drop off and pick up at two different schools, as well as get them to sports practice/games in addition to the keeping them fed, bathed, etc.

The other thing that makes me nervous is the kids' food allergies. My parents "get" the allergies which is helpful but they live a few states away so they haven't had an opportunity to manage the allergies on their own. They would have the epi pens, of course, and the hospital is close by but it all just makes me nervous.

So, would you figure out all the logistics and still go to Italy? Or would you bag it and instead take the kids with you on a Disney Cruise? Both would be great vacations but obviously are on opposite ends of the spectrum.

BTW - Disney has a cruise that includes Italy which I got excited about as the perfect compromise However, they only sail in the summer. No way in hell am I going to Europe in June, July or August. Boo.

What say you MMM's?

[vanillacourage]

I would wait on Italy until your kids are older and aren't so much for caregivers to manager (and when they can advocate for themselves when it comes to allergies). DH and I have said we want to go to Europe, but are going to wait until our kids are both in 2nd/3rd-ish grade and well past the little kid stage.

I know if it were me, I'd have a hard time relaxing and enjoying myself if I weren't fully confident in the situation I'd left behind.

[CloudBee]

Honestly, Europe in August isn't that bad. I would take the entire family and go in late August. That's typically when we hit up Europe, and it's pretty quiet.

[h]

We went on a cruise to Greece, Croatia, and Italy in August, and it was awesome. I have also traveled to France and Italy in July and had no problem with that either, so I wouldn't rule out a Disney cruise to Italy.

Could you scale back the trip to 7 days? I would probably shoot for a vacation without the kids, but I don't think I would do two weeks if you have concerns about your parents' ability to handle it. If not, I would probably do the Disney cruise. At least you would be able to get some alone time with the kids' club and babysitting offered.

[CloudBee]

Also - does it have to be Disney, and are your kids in school over Labor Day week? That week prices really drop on cruises. We usually do a trip in late August, and sometimes aim to hit that week as well.

[Deleted]

I think you need to take your kids where ever you go under those circumstances. 10-14 days is too long to ask your parents at 72 to watch them. You can do a shorter trip with just the 2 of you in addition or instead.

[Deleted]

I'd probably do a shorter trip without the kids and recruit or hire extra help for your parents (high school or college student aged person to do some of the running around).

Or I'd just do a cruise as a family. DH and I want to do a big 10th anniversary trip, but it might get pushed to 15. We'll see - it's hard to judge what would be the most enjoyable. At this point, I didn't enjoy leaving DS at all.

[ECB]

Dec 6, 2012 12:42:26 GMT -5 vanillacourage said:

I know if it were me, I'd have a hard time relaxing and enjoying myself if I weren't fully confident in the situation I'd left behind.

This. I have to deal w/ food issues too, and no way could I leave DS in the hands of someone who I wasn't SURE would get it. Honestly- we don't let my IL's watch him alone ever partially because of this, and they see him every couple weeks.

[luvmagoldn]

Taking the kids with us to Italy would be fun - but I just assumed managing DS#3's allergies (especially dairy) would be a nightmare. I need to look in to that some more though.

If we did a cruise I would have the dietary issues ironed out for on the ship (I've heard Disney is fantastic about this in their parks and on their ships) and would only have to worry about food on excursions.

Hmmm....more things to consider.

[CloudBee]

Disney Cruise!

[Deleted]

We did a Med cruise in July and it was wonderful.

[barefootcontessa]

Can you go during the summer and spread the kids out over different relatives? I agree it sounds like a like for your parents to manage -- and I can see how a short trip is less ideal.

[luvmagoldn]

I have not been on a cruise before but I would imagine the excursions to Rome and Florence would be hot and crowded - no?

[egishere]

Don't take the kids! This is for your anniversary right? I would hire a college girl to help out the grandparents with some of the running around and have specific meals planned out to deal with the food allergies.

[luvmagoldn]

Dec 6, 2012 16:29:59 GMT -5 egishere said:

Don't take the kids! This is for your anniversary right? I would hire a college girl to help out the grandparents with some of the running around and have specific meals planned out to deal with the food allergies.

YES!!! Man, I'm still so confused...

Thanks for all the input ladies. So much to think about.