How often does your family go on vacation?

[Rosyrain]

For the last couple of years we have been saving our money to pay off bills and get a house and I feel bad that we have not been able to have a family vacation. Is it normal to go a year or 2 without any real family trips. I guess I am just concerned about the memory making part that I feel my kids are missing out on...

 

[thebeardlesswonder]

We have been doing "mini" vacations for the past few years. Instead of going on week long vacations we have been taking a few long weekends and going somewhere closer and having a good time. Its actually worked out really well for us because we dont spend a huge amount of money and a few days is a good amount of time to relax versus an entire week or longer.

 

[Trellum]

Not often enough if you ask me! We haven't had a vacation in a long time, my trip to the Netherlands doesn't count as a vacation, by the way, because I really didn't go there to rest! Didn't have the chance to relax that much either, but it was good I guess there were times it did feel like a holiday, but it was for short lapses of time, soon enough I had to go back to reality and making dinner, lol.

 

[Alicja Burnette]

We go about twice a year but one is always a trip to the east coast to see family, so hardly relaxing and rarely fun LOL. While we were getting ready to buy our home and doing major renovations we only did little in-state trips for a couple years. Nothing wrong with that. A home is something your kids will remember for years to come. The majority of your children's memories will happen at home. I say take your money and put it to good use until you're satisfied and have "extra" for vacations. That is what we did and boy do we enjoy our home more than a week long trip (which are typically stressful with small kiddos anyway).

We will be skipping any and all vacations in 2015 and most of 2016 as we're heading to Europe with our children (who will be almost 8 and almost 4) in the fall of 2016 for our ten year anniversary.

Take day trips...water park, mountains, lake...I feel like small trips are so much more enjoyable. You know how it is by day 4 of vacation and all you want is your bed and all the conveniences of home...

 

[H.C. Heartland]

We do not go on family vacations often but when we do we try to make it nice. This summer in July it will be the first time in 2 years we travel as a family. My brother is coming from Iowa and we will be traveling from Michigan. My Nana lives in North Carolina and has a large yard that needs a lot of work. Her garden is beautiful so we are looking forward to working with her in it. Last time we had a lot of trees to trim. My mom says she has a list of things for us to do outside. There is just something magnificent about gardening with those Great Smokey Mountains hovering over you. I can't wait! I'm not sure if that is the type of vacation you meant but it will feel like a vacation to me.

 

[Cheesy Potatoes]

For the last couple of years we have been saving our money to pay off bills and get a house and I feel bad that we have not been able to have a family vacation. Is it normal to go a year or 2 without any real family trips. I guess I am just concerned about the memory making part that I feel my kids are missing out on...

When I was a kid, my siblings and I used to complain never having to go to places during summer or Christmas. We used to complain not having "real" vacation like everybody else. I guess it all depends on how your kids perceive what vacations and family trips are all about.

My parents took us to nearby places like the beach and nearby resorts where we could have fun. We went for a trip to the nearby cities and towns and just get a feel of the place. We didn't need to go somewhere very far nor did we need to stay for a day or two. Often, we'd just spend a few hours there. We'd also visit relatives from time to time, so even though we never got to go to really beautiful and breathtaking places like our other friends, we still had a great time because we made the most of what we had and because we had each other.

To us, we didn't go on trips or vacations, we went on adventures together. It was so much fun and we made so many memories.

 

[Pat]

I like day trips better than week trips by the end of the week I am usually ready to run and hide some place. As a kid I didn't get to do the family trip thing, but my girls had lots of trips when they were little. I would let them take turns deciding what we would do each month, we lived in California so that was easy. Now we live on the east coast so we need to consider the weather more but we still take a trip once a month close by.

 

[R.R.]

Vacation? What's that?

 

[ongongong]

Never till now.

 

[stardisgate]

My family hardly goes on vacation. I never went much as a kid and now I don't have the money to take my family. I should save up though. I have a few ideas on way to do it. Going to try my best

 

[NaturalBeauty_35]

My family and I go on vacation all the time, especially around Thanksgiving and Christmas. Every year my family and I will plan a trip to Antigua for carnival in August. While we're there we all enjoy doing lots of fun activities together like snorkeling, scuba diving, parasailing, jet skiing, boating, and going to the beautiful sandy beaches, resorts and casinos. Most of all we all enjoy being around our relatives and friends in Antigua. I can't wait until august!!!

 

[Philphine]

haven't been anywhere in about 5 or so years. i'm by myself, and it wasn't something we could afford as a family when i was growing up, so i guess it's something i don't really miss. i joined the national guard and took those two week (or longer during an activation) trips but they weren't always enjoyable. and when i was married my wife liked to go places and i tried to accomodate her, but could have stayed home just as easily.

i think that's part of why i like working on my backyard. i think i could be just as happy doing the staycation thing.

 

[Rosyrain]

Well I don't feel so bad now for not going on a lot of vacation. I do not like taking long vacations because I feel more tired than before I left, but a couple days is a good time for our family.

 

[kammy]

I don't think my family go on vacation enough; at this point we are renovating our home and my fiancee and I are planning to start a business so we are somewhat on a tight budget. The good thing though is that the beaches are not far away so the children enjoys that luxury and we do road trips occasionally.

 

[headfullofbees]

I'm fortunate enough to own a static caravan, right on the shoreline of SW Scotland, and my wife and I spend alternate fortnights at home and by the sea.

My wife is disabled, and, as her carer, I don't have formal employment.

I know how lucky we are, and I'd wish that luck on the rest of you.
I think holidays are important, and I'd make my best effort to get at least one proper one every year, if circumstances were different.