https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sun, 17 May 2026 09:49:08 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/annual-family-trips-w-extended-family#post-2901366 Sat, 02 Nov 2019 10:44:44 +0000 erinbaderin 2901366@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Honestly, I would just lay it out - say that the new location is impossible for you, and see if you can find a third option. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/annual-family-trips-w-extended-family#post-2901365 Sat, 02 Nov 2019 10:29:22 +0000 cake2017 2901365@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@DesertDreams88: I’ve been looking and suggesting and they’ve said no to the choices.</p> <p>DH and I aren’t about driving that long(to us). The flights to the original location was reasonable for us financially and a quick flight so we can enjoy the day. Driving 9 hours all day and then get to a location to only sleep and enjoy one day and drive back the third day the same time is useless to us. We just hope family can understand and try to work with us. We are willing to come to them and spend time but the options keep changing with no thought of our party of four. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/annual-family-trips-w-extended-family#post-2901354 Sat, 02 Nov 2019 08:48:47 +0000 DesertDreams88 2901354@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Unless a house in the new location has been decided on, maybe you could help look for houses in the old location? Between vrbo and airbnb there are usually so many options.</p> <p>Also, I wouldn't spend 2K on a 3 day trip. I am very pro-vacation and pro-family vacation BUT there does have to be a line for time vs. money. My personal goal is usually about $150 a day, ALL expenses included. </p> <p>You know your kids better than me, but we have done a bunch of 5-8 hour drives with kids under age 3, and even under age 1, and it was always better than flying. I nursed many times hanging over the car seat or pumped then bottle fed. And even though my son is SO ACTIVE (😴😩) he was /is happily occupied with lift the flap books, music-playing books, little new toys, facetiming relatives in the car, etc. So again. You know your kid best, but MAYBE don't write off the car ride option completely. Plane rides are so much more expensive. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/annual-family-trips-w-extended-family#post-2901351 Sat, 02 Nov 2019 07:37:31 +0000 cake2017 2901351@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So we are still planning and it’s becoming so stressful. We are the only one with kids and they are young and cannot sit still in the car. Flights are better for us. However family planner has changed the location and the only way for us to cut the flight so our kids aren’t screaming is to fly in a smaller airport. More money. It’s causing a 3 day trip to be over 2k for us. I’m so frustrated and no one cares. </p> <p>We’ve suggested closer location so the drive from the major airport is only 1.5 but they say they don’t like the rental houses. Ugh. DH and I are frustrated. Any suggestions on how you would deal with it? </p> <p>Driving is not an option- it would take all day to get there cause we would need to stop have little one run, nurse at least 2-3 times. When flying is an hour. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/annual-family-trips-w-extended-family#post-2901009 Tue, 29 Oct 2019 12:21:25 +0000 Beebeeholiday 2901009@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We do this every year with both of our families. </p> <p>With DH’s family, we go to a town on the Oregon Coast. In the past, we all rented one giant house, but it just got too hard with all the kids (I have almost 4, BIL has 4, plus one other sibling and my MIL). So, we have transitioned to all renting a unit in the same condo building directly on the beach. I like it a lot better. It’s nice being with everyone but also having my own space when I want it.</p> <p>With my family, we usually rent a big lodge in the mountains. It’s 11 adults and 6 kids. We usually only do 3-4 nights and everyone is pretty flexible with sleeping arrangements and helpful with the kids. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/annual-family-trips-w-extended-family#post-2900802 Sun, 27 Oct 2019 19:53:29 +0000 Littlebit7 2900802@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yeah. We’ve done several but we don’t do them every year and don’t do them with the same people. But we have done:<br /> My parents, my inlaws, my BIL and SIL and their kids, my BIL ajd GF, my sister and her BF all went to Austria. So many ppl we did hotel rooms at the same hotel<br /> We’ve done OBX several times with my side of the immediate family<br /> We’ve done OBx or another beach with my in-laws and their immediately family<br /> We don’t have huge families on either side (immediate family) which makes this doable. Only 5 little kids combined. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/annual-family-trips-w-extended-family#post-2900761 Sun, 27 Oct 2019 12:35:28 +0000 cake2017 2900761@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Pretty cool what all of you do! </p> <p>We are going to start doing this so waiting to hear what the first trip Spring 2020 will be... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/annual-family-trips-w-extended-family#post-2900760 Sun, 27 Oct 2019 12:03:43 +0000 charm55 2900760@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We do Disney World each March with extended family and multiple generations. There’s usually between 20-35 of us who go. Each immediate family has 1 person who does the bulk of the planning for their group. We don’t do everything together. We meet up for some meals and some rides. It’s really fun watching the cousins have a blast together. Already counting down the days until March 2020! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/annual-family-trips-w-extended-family#post-2900713 Sat, 26 Oct 2019 16:59:00 +0000 Mrs. Champagne 2900713@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We haven’t since kids but we used to go with<br /> Me and my husband<br /> My husbands parents<br /> My husbands brother and sister and sister in law<br /> Sis in laws dad<br /> My mom and step dad </p> <p>It was great. We stayed at “wannabe by the sea” in South Carolina. Soooo nice. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/annual-family-trips-w-extended-family#post-2900674 Fri, 25 Oct 2019 19:35:15 +0000 jhd 2900674@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@cake2017: for us it has worked really well with one side of the family and not as well with the other side. It works best for us when there is clear communication about who is responsible for what and everyone has similar expectations or is at least willing to make some compromises or split up for a bit and come back together for dinner etc. I doubt we will travel with the more difficult to travel with side of the family anytime soon, which is a shame! The kids love the cousin time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/annual-family-trips-w-extended-family#post-2900668 Fri, 25 Oct 2019 18:43:59 +0000 MrsSCB 2900668@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We do! My family (me, my parents, my sister) have all stayed at a house in the outer banks of North Carolina since we were babies. We still go annually, now with my husband and two kids and my sister’s fiancé as well. OBX is a great place to go with kids! We stay for a week and always have a great time. There’s enough room for each couple and the kids to have their own rooms. We do a combo of cooking at home and going out to dinner, and mostly hang out on the beach every day. We all look forward to it! We all live in the same area now, and we’re pretty used to spending time together. Plus the houses are usually large enough that you can get time to yourself somewhere if you need it. Another plus—babysitters. We usually get out alone a couple of times. I’m sure we’ll return the favor when my sister has kids. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/annual-family-trips-w-extended-family#post-2900667 Fri, 25 Oct 2019 18:30:34 +0000 muffinsmuffins 2900667@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have a couple times with DW’s family. Cottage type places each time. 8 adults, 6 kids. It’s fun for the kids for sure because they don’t get to see the cousins often, but I find my BIL’s kids a little too wild...like jump on furniture, not sleeping, screaming, etc. So it was better the last time where we had 2 adjoining cottages and our own section of space. Agree with the meal planning and I would definitely only do like 2-3 days max :silly: we all tend to be outdoorsy and like similar activities which works well. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/annual-family-trips-w-extended-family#post-2900661 Fri, 25 Oct 2019 15:15:50 +0000 misolee 2900661@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We did this once with my moms side of the family a couple of years ago to Orlando over Christmas break. We rented a super big house. All the dads went golfing, moms did spa days and shopping, my single childless cousins all went together to see Harry Potter world, and my little family took my two year old to Disney. It was fun. We sometimes did dinner together but some days didn’t but always grabbed wine and dessert in the house together. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/annual-family-trips-w-extended-family#post-2900658 Fri, 25 Oct 2019 14:44:37 +0000 Jess1483 2900658@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We travel with my parents a lot, but not with my (single) brothers. Too many personality clashes, plus they just don’t want to spend all their relaxing time with my tiny children, awesome as they are. </p> <p>Occasionally we travel with my ILs and often end up with siblings along. We used to stay in one big house, but lack of any help from any siblings with cooking/cleaning/anything meant I put a stop to that. I don’t mind cleaning up after other people’s kids, but I don’t clean up after grown adults ;) This year we got our own place, but others will likely stay nearby. I’m looking forward to this vacation more than others because of that. If you do stay with a large group, it needs to be very clear what the division of responsibility is. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/annual-family-trips-w-extended-family#post-2900656 Fri, 25 Oct 2019 14:22:21 +0000 newlypregnantlady 2900656@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We do this. Not every year but maybe every 3 years? Typically all the people with children get a big rental house and all the older generation get hotel rooms (or their own house). We usually have 30 people (including kids), and it’s a blast. But we also plan it at least a year in advance and we only plan 1-2 events with the “whole” family (this usually means we do one big family lunch and then a dinner at a rented banquet hall). Meals and plans are never everyone together. Usually it’ll be like “hey we’re going to a botanical garden/splash pad/ the beach/ the mall, anyone else want to go?”. Typically we also try to rotate babysitting so various couples can do a quick date. Sometimes we pool money to do a grocery run and get things like bread, eggs, peanut butter, coffee. </p> <p>It works out well for us because we all get along. And all of us can be trusted to contribute the money. I also really like that we have 1-2 main “events” so we don’t feel bad just doing our own thing most of the time. </p> <p>We’ve done it with both sides of the family and I think the best plan is to not try and do everything together with everyone the whole time. I find you waste so much time trying to decide everything it takes forever. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/annual-family-trips-w-extended-family#post-2900649 Fri, 25 Oct 2019 13:28:10 +0000 cake2017 2900649@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mommy Finger: Id be bitter too! there’s always one person though :/ </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/annual-family-trips-w-extended-family#post-2900648 Fri, 25 Oct 2019 13:27:27 +0000 cake2017 2900648@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>thank you guys! </p> <p>I’m going to suggest each family bring their own food etc cause we all have different tastes, diets etc. </p> <p>our first time and only doing 2 days so i think it will be good. We all get along anyway </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/annual-family-trips-w-extended-family#post-2900645 Fri, 25 Oct 2019 13:22:14 +0000 Mommy Finger 2900645@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We do this every year for a long weekend. I have mixed feelings on this. We have 20 people total (10 adults and 10 kids ranging in age from 17-1) and it's tough to find things that appease everyone. </p> <p>My parents take care of the house and their "kids" (me and my brothers) are in charge of the food. Let's be honest, it's me and my sister in laws. Usually we split it up so that one "family" takes dinner (cooking and cleaning) for one night. One person usually takes charge of ordering all of the food to be delivered to the house and then we split the cost. We all tend to be BYOB but usually share that as well.</p> <p>Most of my family is pretty chill but I have one sister in law that's a total fun vacuum and ruins it for everyone. There are issues over who gets what room, what we're going to do (she forgets or doesn't care that she has young nieces and nephews and makes plans that only her family would enjoy and gets pissed if other suggestions are made), what food people ask for, I could go on and on and on. I spent the majority of my time making sure the boys don't fall into the lake and staying out of her way that it's exhausting and I don't have much fun. The guys all have a blast b/c they tend to just sit around and drink beer and not lifting a finger. It's a cliche. Do I sound bitter? But it makes my parents happy so we do it every summer. </p> <p>We're all in the Midwest so we tend to rent houses in Wisconsin or Michigan. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/annual-family-trips-w-extended-family#post-2900593 Fri, 25 Oct 2019 08:57:09 +0000 Silva 2900593@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We don't do it with the WHOLE family and we don't all stay in the same place. My mom's family is incredibly lucky to share a house on the coast of Maine- it was left to her family by her grandfather. It is a 3-bedroom house.<br /> My family (husband, me, 3 kids) and my parents usually stay there together for a week in the summer. My brother, his wife and their daughter typically are also there for about half the time. Then for 2-3 nights my dad's brother &amp; sister in law, and sister &amp; brother in law (so 2 sets of my aunts/.uncles) come, but they stay at an Inn thats about 15 minutes down the road. </p> <p>I LOVE it. I know that my brother's wife finds the whole thing a bit stressful, and my mom does too, but once you surrender to the absence of a schedule, and get comfortable with the messiness of relationships it works well. If my mom and I drink too much we sometimes have one big fight, but she and I are very close and its kind of just how we relieve tension in the relationship.<br /> usually we plan one-2 group activities (going to a beach, a playground, a hike, etc) each day depending on the weather and whoever wants to come along can. Then we plan dinners and each family takes turns cooking. Some people go off on their own (fishing, shopping, whatever). We try to babysit so my brother &amp; SIL can go out for a night. My parents used to also babysit for us to go out but now that we have 3 its a lot- maybe when they are older. </p> <p>If you communicate well, and if people can generally adopt the "let it go" mantra, it can be so fun. Especially for the kids. It makes me feel so happy to see my kids playing with my aunts/uncles. I wish there were more kids there but I'm doing my part in that area and hopefully my brother will step up his game soon ;) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/annual-family-trips-w-extended-family#post-2900592 Fri, 25 Oct 2019 08:54:52 +0000 DesertDreams88 2900592@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We did it a lot growing up, every other year on my dads side, and alternating years with my moms side.</p> <p>My dads side had 12-18 adults and 10 kids. Our most recent one had 22 adults and 4 kids 😱 3 floor house, 3 bedrooms each floor. And thats only half of the family now!</p> <p>My moms side has 10 adults and 5-7 kids. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/annual-family-trips-w-extended-family#post-2900588 Fri, 25 Oct 2019 08:12:57 +0000 Ajsmommy 2900588@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have such mixed reviews on this topic. I wish I could just say we have and we do and we love it. But that's just not truthful. LOL. We used to vacation with my aunt/uncle/cousins when I was in school and it was great! </p> <p>When we got married and had our first LO we went on a family trip with DH's parents and his 2 single sisters. We "thought" it would be fun... boy were we wrong. We survived but will never to that again! </p> <p>I've gone on a family female trip with my aunt's, mom, cousins and it was a blast and we tried to plan a second one but come to find out there were some that were not "as happy" apparently and we all started fighting and it got really bad so we will no longer be doing that either. Pretty sad actually! </p> <p>With all that said I think it will truly come down to the personalities in the group and if you all mesh well then it'll be a blast.... if there are any tensions or issues going in you can bet they will be magnified and possibly blow up in that close environment so just be aware of that. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/annual-family-trips-w-extended-family#post-2900585 Fri, 25 Oct 2019 06:45:25 +0000 Pollywog 2900585@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>For the past 25 years my husband's family has done a trip to Emerald Isle, NC. We get several houses because there's 30 of us and we do better with our own kitchens and a little space. They have big mansions as well.</p> <p>ETA: overall, I'd say people like it, but if it wasn't super important to my MIL we wouldn't do it. It's really hard to be with family that long, especially if you have different parenting styles. Honestly, what makes it fun for some family makes it torture for other family members.</p> <p>We do a trip with my smaller family and it works better. We get separate hotel rooms and do some separate activities and some joint. What doesn't work is sharing a larger space </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/annual-family-trips-w-extended-family#post-2900581 Fri, 25 Oct 2019 06:03:58 +0000 Madison43 2900581@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@cake2017: isle of palms SC. Giant houses, reasonable prices, really nice beaches :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/annual-family-trips-w-extended-family#post-2900580 Fri, 25 Oct 2019 05:16:22 +0000 Becky 2900580@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We did it a few times when I was a kid and I loved it! We split into 2 houses but had about the same amount of adults and a lot more than 2 kids. One year we went to Rhode Island and another year we went to Virginia Beach. </p> <p>We kind of do it with my family now, but there are only 6 adults and 3 kids since it’s just me and my sister. When I was growing up we went with my mom’s side and she’s one of 7 so it was a lot of people (and so fun). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/annual-family-trips-w-extended-family#post-2900579 Fri, 25 Oct 2019 05:08:33 +0000 bloved 2900579@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We do! We go to OBX with my entire family - 9 adults and 5 kids. It’s so much fun ... everyone kind of does their own thing during the day, and then at night we all do dinner together and board games. Two years ago we did our OBX trip and Disney (just is) in the same year and my son (4 at the time) asked to go back to OBX waaaaay more! He loved all the cousin time he had. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/annual-family-trips-w-extended-family#post-2900577 Fri, 25 Oct 2019 04:47:43 +0000 caitcat 2900577@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We've done a trip with varying combinations of my extended family almost every year for the last decade or so. It's evolved over the years and has changed depending on kid-situations, but is usually sometime in the summer or fall for a week at my aunt's beach house. Some years, there are 20+ of us in all, other years it's more like 10. I love it! </p> <p>We rarely all go out to do the same things during the day, but usually spend our evenings in together. I think a while back, we used to go out to dinner some...but it's just been so much easier for us to order in or cook something simple with a large group with little kids at this stage. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/annual-family-trips-w-extended-family#post-2900570 Fri, 25 Oct 2019 02:12:03 +0000 cake2017 2900570@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Does anyone travel once a year with the whole family? For an example, everyone staying in a mansion somewhere for the weekend????</p> <p>If so, where did you all stay, how did it go?</p> <p>My side of fam is looking to do 2-3 days with entire family ( approximately 11 adults and my 2 young kids).... it will be a large house rental with hanging out and spending time w/ each other. </p>