Out of control vacation expectations - (new to) Bethesda teens

[Anonymous]

We do a lot of international trips, though more so in the summer because we can go for longer. We don't stay in top hotels generally -- we keep to a budget so we can travel as much as possible. It's our passion. We drive an ancient car because cars aren't a priority for us. I get sick of the luxury late model car drivers complaining they can't afford to travel. For most people in the world, there isn't a choice. But for the DCUM set, it often is. We choose travel. You do you. I'm not jealous of your car and I don't complain about it, so please don't claim I'm a braggart about my choice to travel. That says more about you than me and how you feel about your own choices.

[Anonymous]

A lot of people in the dc area have family abroad. They are often just visiting family and taking a couple side trips. We will swing by Paris because it is just a few hours from grandmas’s house. I wouldn’t draw too many conclusions.

[Anonymous]

And to add, my husband and I came to DC because we're travelers. This is where there is interesting work, people, culture, and opportunities. When we travel abroad, the Americans we meet are disproportionately from DC and San Francisco. I do think there are a lot of adventurers here. We left home and moved someplace new and we continue to explore. Being more progressive on average, I think many end up in the District and some to MoCo inner suburbs.

[Anonymous]

It’s so bad at my Arlington elementary school that the Principal has to reprimand families by email and newsletter for missing so much school. People think nothing of pulling kids out during school or extending every long weekend/holiday break. Nobody stays in town except the people stuck in travel sports—but then they are out of town a lot for tournaments. They are a lot of exotic trips. It’s asked “where are you going” anytime theee is a break.

It’s crazy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We live in central Georgia now, but we still do this kind of thing, too.

First, our families don't live near us, so some of those trips include visiting grandparents, cousins, etc..

Second, a ski trip that's a day's drive away isn't a big deal. If you've decided against private school, a $500 weekend (hotel, lift tix) 3x a year isn't much. I assume by now they own their ski gear ...

Also, DC is on a coast, so ditto about a weekend/week at the beach, or a trip to NYC or Boston.

Things are close by, and really not that expensive. Now, there will be people who do Hawaii/Aspen/Paris/Bahamas, some of them with their own boats and vacation homes. But that is not the norm, even in Bethesda.

Also, take all of this with a grain of salt. Your kids know a lot of other kids. While it may seem like they are all doing this, some are doing it each time, not every time.

OK - $500 is food for the weekend, but where is your budget for the hotel/lift tickets/ski gear this family probably doesn't own, gas? Ha!!!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s so bad at my Arlington elementary school that the Principal has to reprimand families by email and newsletter for missing so much school. People think nothing of pulling kids out during school or extending every long weekend/holiday break. Nobody stays in town except the people stuck in travel sports—but then they are out of town a lot for tournaments. They are a lot of exotic trips. It’s asked “where are you going” anytime theee is a break.

It’s crazy.

It's because those parents don't have the money to buy plane tickets during peak time, so they have to pull their kids to travel on the off days.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A lot of people in the dc area have family abroad. They are often just visiting family and taking a couple side trips. We will swing by Paris because it is just a few hours from grandmas’s house. I wouldn’t draw too many conclusions.

Not really. Only people i know who do this frequently are Indian families. We just love Germany at Christmas. Family hasn't lived there since WW2.

[Anonymous]

I haven't met too many Arlington kids falling behind in school because their parents take them out to travel to somewhere other than Orlando.

[Anonymous]

Im sorry, OP. Yep, this is why we bought in a cheaper neighborhood than we could afford. I did not want my kids to feel poor when we are so far from poor.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A lot of people in the dc area have family abroad. They are often just visiting family and taking a couple side trips. We will swing by Paris because it is just a few hours from grandmas’s house. I wouldn’t draw too many conclusions.

This isn’t us too - we moved here from Europe, and like a PP said, one of the things that attracted us to DC was how international it is, with both people from overseas and Americans who like to travel. We spend a couple of months in Europe each summer, mainly based in our apartment in our home country and visiting grandparents in a nearby country, and then we add on side trips which are usually just by car or train, around France, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, the UK, etc. It probably sounds v glamorous but since we are rarely paying for accommodation and just need to cover flights, it’s not an expensive trip. We are lucky enough to be able to work remotely too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:Baltimore to Reykjavik is $310 round-trip right now, only 4 months in advance. Departing 6/14 on the 12:45am flight, returning 6/22 (on the 9:10pm flight). Yes, you have to pay for checked bags but with a family, just consolidate into 1-2 suitcases.

But then you'd be in Reykjavik.

NP: it's beautiful and worth a trip.

And a hotel will cost you at least $250/night (more for anywhere nice), meals are at least $15/PP (more for anywhere nice), $50 per checked bag...

It's one of the most expensive countries on the Planet.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Were you unaware that you moved in among rich people?

If I could, I would take more vacations.

Um -- I lived somewhere comparable in NY and I imagine OP lived someplace comparable in Chicago, so don't act like there aren't rich people outside this area. But the desperation to run away every time there is a day off is definitely exclusive to this area.

We have three major airports that offer international flights for less than $400 round trip. Any savvy person could travel with their kids for a fraction of what they spend on club sports every year.

Serious here. I have not been able to find this from Dulles or national. Occasionally from bwi.

Are you really able to find $400 rt during spring or winter break?

You just need to be open to all option and always be on the look. Two years ago when Norwegian air started to flight from Baltimore, we got a direct flight to Martinique $90 round trip/each for 4 people.

Really? You went to Martinique during high season when kids are out is school and travel is at its peak?

Sure, I find deals ALL THE TIME on skyscanner, but those great deals are always when kids are in school. We fly down to Charleston to our house at IOP and even that traditionally cheap direct flight out of Regan is 300-400 during 3 day weekends, SB, and Christmas.

We went there during the spring break, which i don't consider high season because it is different week for different schools even in this area.

For me if you go for three day vacation, take kids out of school. We just did several one-two day trips in the middle of the week to go skiing in West Virginia. No people on the slopes, no waiting lines, cheaper housing. One day of school instruction is nothing for one day of skiing in the fresh air.

We are the parents who pull kids out of school often (but they all A students, with a lot of AP classes who easily catch up on one missed week). We fly a lot on Christmas eve, or Christmas morning too as we are not too religious to celebrate it.

Yes, you have to sacrifice something when you are not super rich, but all of us love to travel, so we do it all the time.

[Anonymous]

It’s because they can’t wait to get out of town. Hate living in DC
— used to be one

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Im sorry, OP. Yep, this is why we bought in a cheaper neighborhood than we could afford. I did not want my kids to feel poor when we are so far from poor.

We did this too. I experienced being one of "the poor kids" in a richer neighborhood and it wasn't fun.

On the plus side, there is a lot to do and enjoy in the DC area so we have fun here instead of traveling too far away.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I haven't met too many Arlington kids falling behind in school because their parents take them out to travel to somewhere other than Orlando.

And this is the crux of the matter. UMC kids will stay at grade level even if they miss 25% of the school year. It's really hard to argue to my kid that we can't miss school when half the time he's "working independently" anyway. He can read a book and write a report on the plane. Or do math worksheets. Or whatever.