Family Trip

[Lillywight]

I'm trying to plan a family trip for my 16 year old daughters and I. Next summer, they will be getting ready to go off to college, so I feel like this is the year to do it. I have vacation in June and again in August, so either month would work.

I want desperately to take them to JA, but that seems a bit selfish -- because my time wouldn't be all theirs, so I'm considering a 7-night cruise out of Tampa that visits Grand Cayman, Belize, Roatan, and Cozumel.

Anybody got any other suggestions for me to consider???

[ECO]

Lilly,

Do they want to go to Jamaica? If so, take them and let them have a blast!

I can't speak for cruises since I've never been on one. Something in me doesn't see the logic of rushing to get out to sea only to rush to get into the ports and repeating the process.........not my idea of a vacation.

[Lillywight]

Lilly,

Do they want to go to Jamaica? If so, take them and let them have a blast!

I can't speak for cruises since I've never been on one. Something in me doesn't see the logic of rushing to get out to sea only to rush to get into the ports and repeating the process.........not my idea of a vacation.

I'm not a fan of cruising either, Eco. You spend most of the time getting dressed, waiting in line to eat, then eating. UGH.

I want so much to take them to Jamaica and show them the places I love, but . . . they are reluctant to go with me because they know that I'll be preoccupied with somebody and my attention won't be theirs. In 16 years, they haven't seen me with anybody . . . so it would be rather uncomfortable for them in JA to share me with somebody else. I want this to be a "family vacation" -- and not include anybody else. And, I know I can't go to JA and not include Corey.

[Lillywight]

Take them to Mexico!

Or take them on a tour of Europe

Europe is way out of my price league!!!

I've been checking out some all-inclusives in Mexico and the Dominican.

[Lillywight]

All-Inclusive Hoteles in Dominica are always on "Holidays From Hell" Programmes over here.

People seem to suffer a lot from Dodgy Food resulting in Dodgy Bellies!

I've heard the same thing about the DR.

[Jelakins]

Take them to Mexico!

Or take them on a tour of Europe

Europe is way out of my price league!!!

I've been checking out some all-inclusives in Mexico and the Dominican.

Its so ironic.... your accessible holidays are out of our (my) price range!!!
LOLOL

[Lillywight]

It's all about location, location, location!

[ECO]

I'm not a fan of cruising either, Eco. You spend most of the time getting dressed, waiting in line to eat, then eating. UGH.

I want so much to take them to Jamaica and show them the places I love, but . . . they are reluctant to go with me because they know that I'll be preoccupied with somebody and my attention won't be theirs. In 16 years, they haven't seen me with anybody . . . so it would be rather uncomfortable for them in JA to share me with somebody else. I want this to be a "family vacation" -- and not include anybody else. And, I know I can't go to JA and not include Corey.

If your teenage kids want to spend time with you that's a great problem to have! Most kids want as much space as possible when they vacation.

I've been to Cancun a few times and in my opinion it's a cheap place to visit. Even with all of the kids going wild (drinking, smoking, snorting) you can have a great time for small money.

If all else fails, how about Disney (kidding).

[Lillywight]

I know I'm lucky that the girls still wanna be with me, but sometimes it gets under my skin. I want to drop them off at the mall, but they tell me "it's just no fun without you, Mom." Same with the movies, mini-golf, etc., etc., etc. I know I could have worse problems to complain about so I'll just shut my mouth and enjoy them while they're still around.

I'll check out Cancun. Thanks, Eco.

[Tequila and Lime]

I vote for Mexcio too.

We have priests in Belize. It's beautiful, Lilly.

Did you try some other islands like Aruba? GG spoke highly of it.

[Lillywight]

Flights are like $500 per person to get to Aruba.

[ECO]

Flights are like $500 per person to get to Aruba.

First class? Sounds really high IMO.

[Tequila and Lime]

Damn $500 just for the flights? OUCH!

[LadySizzla]

it sounds like you americans are quite spoiled in respect of flight prices - or maybe everything is just so much worse in UK. Unless im translating dollars into pounds wrong those prices seem normal.

[Lillywight]

Damn $500 just for the flights? OUCH!

I live in Central Florida!!! It's only $250 - $300 to JA. Why another $200 to Aruba?

[Lillywight]

Waiting to hear about my "bonus" to determine what, if anything, I can afford.

[Tequila and Lime]

I suppose we are spoiled in prices from where you are coming from Sizz. I always get so mad cause from St. Louis, I pay what seems like a lot more then people from further away pay for similar flights.

[ECO]

I suppose we are spoiled in prices from where you are coming from Sizz. I always get so mad cause from St. Louis, I pay what seems like a lot more then people from further away pay for similar flights.

You all manage to have the cheapest gas in the nation so it should be cheaper to fill up the planes there.

[Wahoo]

I know I'm lucky that the girls still wanna be with me, but sometimes it gets under my skin. I want to drop them off at the mall, but they tell me "it's just no fun without you, Mom." Same with the movies, mini-golf, etc., etc., etc. I know I could have worse problems to complain about so I'll just shut my mouth and enjoy them while they're still around.

I'll check out Cancun. Thanks, Eco.

You and the girls would have a great time in Cancun, Lilly. Lots to do (tours of the Mayan ruins and so on) and you get a lot of bang for your buck. Been there twice--first time in spring of 1988 when my elder son was only 4 years old and the second time about 5 years ago when I took both sons with me. Both times are very memorable trips. On the first visit we'd taken the day trip to Isla Mujeres (a fun cruise to a nearby island), and our first stop was the southern end of the island to snorkel in the black coral reefs. It was my first time ever snorkling, and I'd swum just outside the reef and was snorkling in probably about 20 feet of water. Looking down in the crystal clear water, with schools of amazingly colored fish, I was startled to see an anchor protruding from the sand, and then nearby a cannon. I snorted in disgust, thinking, "How chintzy of them to place those props there like that to attract the tourists," then it dawned on me that I was actually looking at the real thing--probably the remains of a wrecked Spanish galleon.

So if you go to Cancun and take the booze cruise to Isla Mujeres (Isle of Women), snorkel out just outside the reef and scan the bottom, and you'll see it, too. It's still there.

[Lillywight]

Sounds sweet, Wahoo! My daughters have pegged Cancun as a place of interest, so I'll see what I can conjure up. Waiting to hear about my bonus and then I can figure out if it's gonna work.