So is anybody going home to visit this summer?

[dulcemariamar]

I think I am going to stay in Europe this summer but is anybody here going home? If not, when do you think you will be able to visit next?

Are you going home?
Where is home? (If you don't mind sharing)
How long?
Any cool plans when you get there?
Things you are going to bring back?
How much was your ticket (If you don't mind saying)

[ktkl09]

Are you going home? No we're going to Thailand instead.
Where is home? (If you don't mind sharing) St.Louis, MO
How long?
Any cool plans when you get there?
Things you are going to bring back?

We decided against going back to the US this summer since one plane ticket is $1,700. We decided we can spend less than that on a trip to somewhere we've both been wanting to go. So we're going to Thailand instead for 8 days! I'm very happy with this decision. We'll go back to the US this winter.

[anna7602]

I was considering it for about a nano-second due to lack of childcare in Paris (I could have enrolled DD in the summercamp she loves back in NYC). However, as my post below states, it now looks like a bunch of people I know will be in Paris or in Europe, so I'd rather stay here and make a push to finish up a bunch of work this month.

As DH pointed out, this is a rare chance to just relax and hang out with DD all summer. I'm sure she'll be in summer camp or other activities in future years, regardless of whether I am working or not. After a certain age, hanging out with mom every day is less exciting for a kid.

I guess for a lot people, though, going "home" is exactly that chance to just hang out. For me, it would have been a series of meetings with NY-based editors and time to work.

[dorothyinAus]

Are you going home? -- Not until December

Where is home? (If you don't mind sharing) -- New Orleans, LA

How long? -- about a month

Any cool plans when you get there? -- my Dad's retirement party, his last office Christmas party (adult children of employees are always welcome), Christmas, my parents' birthdays, catching up with some old friends, and hopefully a cruise

Things you are going to bring back? -- to there, the next in series books for my Dad and some ANZAC biscuits for my brother, as well as a few gifts for my friends' and cousins' children

How much was your ticket? -- just checking out prices, it's looking like right around $1800 roundtrip to SF or LAX and then I have free tickets on Southwest to get me into NOLA.

[americaninoz]

I'm going to Minnesota in 5 days with dd!!
Plans are just to catch up with family and friends, we are going for 2 1/2 weeks
I'm planning on bringing back another years worth of clothes for dd, jeans for me & other misc stuff that's cheaper in the us
My ticket was $1500, which I think is a very good deal (sydney to mn return )

[bugabean]

My parents said they had million zillion SkyMiles that they were going to give to me so that we could come to the States. I spent about three months reminding them to transfer me the miles so that I could plan the trip, and they didn't. I have decided it's not my problem anymore. I don't really want to fly with two kids across the Atlantic, if I'm honest. I'd like to see my family, but I'm ok waiting until next year.

I suspect that we will not be going this year because one of the following things will happen.
1) They completely forget to transfer the miles, and then one day assume that it was done a long time ago and I dropped the ball by not planning a trip.
2) They remember to transfer the miles, but there aren't nearly as many of them as they thought, and it will barely pay for my pinky toe to fly in cargo.
3) They remember so late that DH has no chance to ask for the vacation time, and/or I get a job and can't take time off right after I start.

[clogged]

Are you going home?
Yes. Sort of.

Where is home?
Here. I am a permer.

How long?
Until I win the lottery and buy a castle somewhere.

Any cool plans when you get there?
We are popping the inflatable pool on the deck for wading, eating a ton, and alternating between bitching about the heat and about the rain.

Things you are going to bring back?
Mosquito bites

How much was your ticket
FREE lol

[popcorn]

Are you going home? Yes. This is the first summer in a few years that I'll be back--last time (over a year ago) was Christmas
Where is home? (If you don't mind sharing) Seattle
How long? I am going to my sister's wedding in Maryland, then to stay for two weeks in Seattle before making my way home to Frankfurt
Any cool plans when you get there? My sister's wedding, hopefully renew my driver's license, eat lots of American foods
Things you are going to bring back? This list used to be long, but now I pretty much just bring burt's bees chapstick. I may bring butter popcorn and sour candy this year too. Yum!
How much was your ticket (If you don't mind saying) A lot, but I got two one way tickets on Condor airlines and a one-way ticket from maryland to seattle with my family. I think the two one-way tickets added up to a little over 1000 euro. I waited way too long to buy the ticket becuase of all the uncertainty surrounding this move and I was only able to get them about a week ago.

[Deleted]

Are you going home? Yes, in September.

Where is home? Home is here, Rome is my hometown.

How long? Two months, give or take.

Any cool plans when you get there? Working! I also have plans to audition in Milan and Torino, not sure though. Then a trip to Capri to visit friends and I might go to Sardinia for a few days. If MH joins me we'll drive up to our favorite "terme" near Siena for sure. Oh and I'm going to pay a visit to the place where we're thinking of holding our vow renewal. Maybe my mom and I could even have lunch up there.

Things you are going to bring back? Lots of lingerie from Intimissimi! I also hope to be able to bring back some artwork we received as a wedding present last year. I have just the right spot for it

How much was your ticket? Haven't bought it yet. Can't be less than $700. Bleh.

[popcorn]

Jun 4, 2012 7:28:22 GMT -5 @jewels6711 said:

Things you are going to bring back? Lots of lingerie from Intimissimi! I also hope to be able to bring back some artwork we received as a wedding present last year. I have just the right spot for it

Does this store only cater to smaller-chested women? I am truly curious because in Spain every Intimissimi I ever tried to buy something in only had up to B cup sizes. Is that true in all their stores? I am much larger than a B cup and chalked it up to it being Spain and the average woman is smaller (this is true! I was a large there, but am a medium here in Germany--there I can't find shoes my size, here they have shoes up to two sizes bigger than my size).

[azure]

Are you going home? Sadly, no. I want to go for a visit, but the tickets are way too much at this point. I should have booked back in March when I could have flown M and I for under 1000 Euros.

We will do some small trips in Europe/France though.

Where is home? Here, but I'm from Toronto

[anna7602]

Jun 4, 2012 7:29:19 GMT -5 @publius said:

My sister and I have plans to go out to Assateague Island while I'm there (shout out to Anna for suggesting it),

Yay! This is on our top ten when-we-live-in-the-US-again list.

[GilliC]

Are you going home? If not, when do you think you will be able to visit next?
Not planning to go home this summer. Luckily, I'm able to visit just about any time I want, but it's not a high priority for me. I'd rather save the money and vacation days for other trips.

Where is home? (If you don't mind sharing)
Central Indiana (Since I limited ties to my parents, I really consider my home to be here in Oslo now.)

How long?
If I do go home this year, it will be for 2-3 days. I can't handle my parents for much longer than that.

Any cool plans when you get there?
My best friend is almost due with her second, and I would love to go visit her, meet the new baby, and spend some time with my godson.

Things you are going to bring back?
Pro-Activ from the US with benzoyl peroxide.
The big 2-lb bags of Jelly Belly for my good friend here.
Moisture-wicking clothes for traveling.

How much was your ticket (If you don't mind saying)
I obviously don't have a ticket, but if I was headed home this summer, I'd expect to spend around $1200. If I go back this fall, I'll try to find something around $850.

[blushing]

Are you going home? I am going to South Africa in December for the first time in 5.5 years
Where is home? (If you don't mind sharing) I am from South Africa, but I consider the UK home, we are lifers
How long? 2 days short of a month
Any cool plans when you get there? See family and friends I have not seen in 5.5 years and introduce DS to them, meet their kids, etc. Have a IN GTG. Take DS to the places I love in Cape Town
Things you are going to bring back? Lots of memories
How much was your ticket (If you don't mind saying) I don't know, MIL has paid for them, she is tired of waiting for us to come visit and wants a big family Christmas? I think they were in the region of £2500 and those were the cheap flight via Istanbul

[jupiter2311]

Are you going home? Not for summer, we're going to Greece, but I'll head home in late October and maybe late December, both of us will go back

Where is home? (If you don't mind sharing) Texas (and my ILs live in Kansas)

How long? in October, I'll be there for about 10 days. In December, it will probably be late Dec and we'll spend about 3 weeks there, splitting time b/w each set of parents and some friends we haven't seen in awhile

Any cool plans when you get there? I'm going back in Oct b/c my bestie is getting married, my mom is also trying to get us to take a trip to Vegas or NYC, we'll see...not much time!

Things you are going to bring back? Clothes. Claritin. Emergen-C. I usually make a small list of things I think about wanting, but don't decide til I get there.

How much was your ticket (If you don't mind saying): TBD, we'll probably use miles for my Oct trip, and not sure about the December one

[Deleted]

Jun 4, 2012 7:30:59 GMT -5 popcorn said:

Jun 4, 2012 7:28:22 GMT -5 @jewels6711 said:

Things you are going to bring back? Lots of lingerie from Intimissimi! I also hope to be able to bring back some artwork we received as a wedding present last year. I have just the right spot for it

Does this store only cater to smaller-chested women? I am truly curious because in Spain every Intimissimi I ever tried to buy something in only had up to B cup sizes. Is that true in all their stores? I am much larger than a B cup and chalked it up to it being Spain and the average woman is smaller (this is true! I was a large there, but am a medium here in Germany--there I can't find shoes my size, here they have shoes up to two sizes bigger than my size).

Hmmm I'm not 100% sure... Spanish and Italians are similar in build but I don't see why they wouldn't have anything bigger than B sizes... I'll be sure to inquire when I get there, Popcorn!

[mrsukyankee]

Are you going home? I'm going to the States, but not "home". My parents, step-parents and brother/SIL are coming to the beach house we are renting.

Where is home? (If you don't mind sharing) NEPA is where I grew up, but home is here (I'm a lifer too).

How long? 2 weeks

Any cool plans when you get there? 2 weeks at the beach, visiting one of my H's relatives in DC

Things you are going to bring back? who know...probably some clothing and a few items from Target

How much was your ticket (If you don't mind saying) we used airmiles plus some cash (I think £700 per ticket for business class)

[expatjen]

Are you going home?
Yes! We're already here and have been since April.

Where is home? (If you don't mind sharing)
Hawaii

How long?
Been here since april 10 and leave June 17.

Any cool plans when you get there?
Just hanging out with family and friends.

Things you are going to bring back?
A bike for DS. Clothes and lots of shoes!!!

How much was your ticket?
About 3,000 round trip

[oneslybookworm]

Are you going home? - Considering going home for my best friend's sister's wedding in August. Not sure if I can swing it with vacation time, however.

Where is home? (If you don't mind sharing) - Indiana

How long? - Probably only a week, it'll be a short trip.

Any cool plans when you get there? - Hanging out with my best friend, a wedding, etc.

Things you are going to bring back? - Clothes that fit and are half the price of what I'd find here, Aleve in large amounts, vitamins

How much was your ticket (If you don't mind saying) - Haven't bought one yet, but was looking just a minute ago and it's looking to be around $1k.

[Deleted]

Are you going home? Not this summer, but at Christmas
Where is home? Texas
How long? two weeks plus 4 days in NYC after
Any cool plans when you get there? We are going to try to do more touristy stuff this time! Visit museums and the big ball tower
Things you are going to bring back? clothes
How much was your ticket: for the two of us, about 2000€ including the flight to NY

[allibally]

Are you going home?
I will drive to visit a few times when I feel like it. Probably 2 times a month. I's nice to be close to do this.

Where is home? (If you don't mind sharing)
Wisconsin. 2 1/2 hours from Chicago and a hour north of Milwaukee.

How long?
Usually I stay 2-3 nights.

Any cool plans when you get there?
Eat at my favorite local drive-in. Spend time in the backyard. Go out to favorite restaurants. Ironically, do some shopping since the sales tax is almost half there vs. IL.

Things you are going to bring back?
Spotted Cow beer for DH. Some grocery items that are cheaper there. Cheese. My mom always packs a cooler of leftover for us. Wisconsin gas... I usually save .40 cents a gallon by filling up before crossing the boarder.


How much was your ticket (If you don't mind saying) $40 for gas round trip. Plus my mom usually sneaks my car away and fills it up.

[Cheesecake]

Are you going home?
Depends on definition of home. We're going to where 90 percent of DH's family is.

Where is home? (If you don't mind sharing)
Again, depends on who in our family you ask. NL for both, Colorado for me and Italy (Milano) for DH. We're going to northern Italy

How long?
3 weeks is the plan

Any cool plans when you get there?
Eat! We're (well, I'm) planning on making Milan our base camp and doing a few days here and there, Cinque Terre, Toscana Verona, Venice. My favorite part of my plan is going to this tiny little town (really truly tiny, 1 street, the big city nearby has a population of 5000 or maybe even less) where DH used to spend his summers as a young child. His nonna still owned the family home there (which is where she and her mother and her nonna were born.) I really want to see it.

Things you are going to bring back?
Food, glorious food! Cheeses, Guanciale, Saffron, sausages are among the things I always bring home. Bringing home tomatoes unfortunatly doesn't really work that well. While in Milan, I'll likely do some clothes and shoe shopping as well.

How much was your ticket (If you don't mind saying)
It will be between 100 and 125 euros per person. Going away from Milan and buying train tickets, renting cards and paying for hotels in those other cities and towns is what'll make it more expensive. In Milan we'll stay at my MIL's house (and won't go out for every meal).

[Deleted]

Foodie, when are you going to Italy? And what's the name of that town? It sound exactly like the one my grandma is from
I don't mean to be nosy, you don't have to answer me if you don't want to!

[Cheesecake]

Jewels, probably first 3 weeks of September. I want to avoid the terrible mid summer heat, but not have it start to get less than perfect in the mountains/at the coast. So it was May or September, we missed May
The place we want to visit where nonna was from is outside Sarripoli, near Pistoia (aka when he was a child from Milan they took a train to Poggibonsi, transfer to train to Pistoia, take a bus that only goes a few times a day and takes quite a while and then a long walk up-and-downhill to get to the estate.)
I also want to visit my friend who lives in Colle Val d'Elsa (near Poggibonsi/Siena)

I can't wait! All the family history, seeing family and eating tomatoes with actual flavor (and well, all other things with flavor! - too bad we'll be too early in the season for necci, as I'd love to eat those in Sarripoli!)

[bail229]

Jun 4, 2012 6:00:10 GMT -5 dulcemariamar said:

Are you going home? Not this summer, but we are going in Oct.

Where is home? (If you don't mind sharing) New York

How long? We will be going for about 3 weeks

Any cool plans when you get there? My family will get to meet DS for the first time. We are going to my cousins wedding and will be going to Florida for about a week.

Things you are going to bring back? Lots of clothes for the 3 of us, sneakers, makeup, NyQuil and a few other things from cvs.

How much was your ticket (If you don't mind saying) including travel insurance it was about 5k for the 3 of us. It was a bit more expensive since we are flying into NYC and out of Florida but then we only need one way tickets to Florida so I figured it basically evened out.

[Deleted]

Jun 7, 2012 17:40:38 GMT -5 Cheesecake said:

Jewels, probably first 3 weeks of September. I want to avoid the terrible mid summer heat, but not have it start to get less than perfect in the mountains/at the coast. So it was May or September, we missed May
The place we want to visit where nonna was from is outside Sarripoli, near Pistoia (aka when he was a child from Milan they took a train to Poggibonsi, transfer to train to Pistoia, take a bus that only goes a few times a day and takes quite a while and then a long walk up-and-downhill to get to the estate.)
I also want to visit my friend who lives in Colle Val d'Elsa (near Poggibonsi/Siena)

I can't wait! All the family history, seeing family and eating tomatoes with actual flavor (and well, all other things with flavor! - too bad we'll be too early in the season for necci, as I'd love to eat those in Sarripoli!)

Oh I know what you mean about the tomatoes!
No, my grandma is from the north so it's not the same town... it sounds idyllic though! MH and I like to go up to the Senese for the Terme, especially San Gimignano, which is really close to Poggibonsi. Fun fact, an old friend of mine went to Poggibonsi to give birth in the water. I went up to visit her with another friend and really enjoyed our stay/ [totally random anecdote]

Have so much fun! Maybe we'll cross paths and won't even know it!

[Cheesecake]

Jun 8, 2012 8:34:05 GMT -5 @jewels6711 said:

Oh I know what you mean about the tomatoes!
No, my grandma is from the north so it's not the same town... it sounds idyllic though! MH and I like to go up to the Senese for the Terme, especially San Gimignano, which is really close to Poggibonsi. Fun fact, an old friend of mine went to Poggibonsi to give birth in the water. I went up to visit her with another friend and really enjoyed our stay/ [totally random anecdote]

Have so much fun! Maybe we'll cross paths and won't even know it!

Where in the north is your grandma from, DH's father's family is from the north for many generations, always near Milan. I think nonno's father was the first one who was actually born in the city of Milan, generation wise. I think his nonna actually moved to Milan as a girl, keeping the tuscan estate as the summer home.

My friend from Colle Val d'Elsa was born in Poggibonsi. I need to plan a separate trip to visit her at some point. She does food tours and stuff in her area, visiting Cinta Senesa farm, going to markets in all the small towns in that area.

Ugh, I really need to win the lottery so I can retire already and spend half the year in Italy like my ILs do.

[grosnl19]

Jun 4, 2012 6:00:10 GMT -5 dulcemariamar said:

I think I am going to stay in Europe this summer but is anybody here going home? If not, when do you think you will be able to visit next?

Are you going home?
Where is home? (If you don't mind sharing)
How long?
Any cool plans when you get there?
Things you are going to bring back?
How much was your ticket (If you don't mind saying)

Going home the begining of July for 10 days.
Home is Chicago
10 days (me possibly longer)
No cool plans...just visiting everyone
I always bring back a lot...this time probably mostly baby related.
Not purchased yet...DH's company is paying

[Deleted]

Going home in December although the UK is home, been here 11years. Lifer.
Home in oz is middle of NSW though we'll meet in Sydney
3 weeks!
Seeing family and friends.
Snacks!
£1100 per ticket

[dutchgirl678]

Are you going home? No, not any time soon. We just went in late Feb - early March for two weeks
Where is home? (If you don't mind sharing) The Netherlands.

My parents are coming this fall. Next year we may go but not necessarily to the Netherlands. I have a professional conference to attend in the south of France in August.