How is everyone affording all of this international travel?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m more curious about how much time people have vs the cost. Between parents’ work and kids’ activities and school; how is everyone traveling every freaking break? My high schoolers don’t want to jet set somewhere for a 4 day weekend, they want to catch their breath with school work. 6 weeks off in the summer and you work in the U.S? How? No, like really. Tell me your secrets.

Same question! Someone was on here a few weeks ago saying their company gives 14 weeks of vacation. Like, where is this and what company?! I get about 6 and that feels average to generous.

Normal is one week during the first 5 years. 2 weeks thereafter. 4 weeks when you're senior.

Many (I can't say most) mandate 30 days of leave per year after your first year. 45 when you're senior. Unfortunately, companies require you take it all at once. A mix between the two makes most sense.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m more curious about how much time people have vs the cost. Between parents’ work and kids’ activities and school; how is everyone traveling every freaking break? My high schoolers don’t want to jet set somewhere for a 4 day weekend, they want to catch their breath with school work. 6 weeks off in the summer and you work in the U.S? How? No, like really. Tell me your secrets.

Same question! Someone was on here a few weeks ago saying their company gives 14 weeks of vacation. Like, where is this and what company?! I get about 6 and that feels average to generous.

I get 12 weeks. I've been at my company for 20yrs. But it's PTO--I just use it as I need to. It also helps that the company shuts down the last week of Dec so that's a week that I get off but I don't have to take PTO. I include that in my 12 weeks number.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m more curious about how much time people have vs the cost. Between parents’ work and kids’ activities and school; how is everyone traveling every freaking break? My high schoolers don’t want to jet set somewhere for a 4 day weekend, they want to catch their breath with school work. 6 weeks off in the summer and you work in the U.S? How? No, like really. Tell me your secrets.

I'm one of the points travelers from upthread. The answer is a combination of having liberal leave policies at work, and having children who are preferably in elementary school and maybe middle. Once your kids are in high school, you are limited to winter and summer break for longer trips, and MAYBE thanksgiving for a short break.

My kids are 7, 10 and 14. I've been traveling mostly with the older two for a few years, but now that the oldest entered high school, I know the config will change. He will have commitments during spring break and will want to use T'giving break to recharge. So, I won't be planning for his travel outside of winter and summer breaks. I will switch to traveling with the younger set of kids at other times.

I’m confused… you left the youngest home while traveling with the older kids? Isn’t that super unfair? And now the oldest gets left home? You do you but it sounds like you never adjusted to having kids and full-time parenting if you’re forcing your kids to adjust to your travel schedule and leaving specific kids out if it doesn’t work for you.

The youngest is not old enough for intense international travel so he stays home with my husband. I don't have enough points to support tickets for five people, and the youngest is not fit for that type of travel yet. We usually have car trips to the beach or shortish domestic trips for all five of us at some point during the year.

I don't look at fairness as giving everyone the same thing at the same time - it wouldn't be fair to keep the older two homebound just because the youngest isn't fit for travel yet, and it is boring to make everyone function at the speed of the youngest one. The oldest will be heavily into his high school stuff in a year or two and unavailable for traveling much, and then I will begin traveling with the youngest and the middle one instead. Everyone gets their turn...

I don't quite understand the point about forcing kids to adjust to my travel schedule - if anything, they are forcing me to adjust to theirs since I have to schedule travel during their school breaks.

How intense is your international travel? Are we talking like Western Europe or hiking the Inca Trail? I can't imagine leaving one kid behind.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m more curious about how much time people have vs the cost. Between parents’ work and kids’ activities and school; how is everyone traveling every freaking break? My high schoolers don’t want to jet set somewhere for a 4 day weekend, they want to catch their breath with school work. 6 weeks off in the summer and you work in the U.S? How? No, like really. Tell me your secrets.

I'm one of the points travelers from upthread. The answer is a combination of having liberal leave policies at work, and having children who are preferably in elementary school and maybe middle. Once your kids are in high school, you are limited to winter and summer break for longer trips, and MAYBE thanksgiving for a short break.

My kids are 7, 10 and 14. I've been traveling mostly with the older two for a few years, but now that the oldest entered high school, I know the config will change. He will have commitments during spring break and will want to use T'giving break to recharge. So, I won't be planning for his travel outside of winter and summer breaks. I will switch to traveling with the younger set of kids at other times.

I’m confused… you left the youngest home while traveling with the older kids? Isn’t that super unfair? And now the oldest gets left home? You do you but it sounds like you never adjusted to having kids and full-time parenting if you’re forcing your kids to adjust to your travel schedule and leaving specific kids out if it doesn’t work for you.

The youngest is not old enough for intense international travel so he stays home with my husband. I don't have enough points to support tickets for five people, and the youngest is not fit for that type of travel yet. We usually have car trips to the beach or shortish domestic trips for all five of us at some point during the year.

I don't look at fairness as giving everyone the same thing at the same time - it wouldn't be fair to keep the older two homebound just because the youngest isn't fit for travel yet, and it is boring to make everyone function at the speed of the youngest one. The oldest will be heavily into his high school stuff in a year or two and unavailable for traveling much, and then I will begin traveling with the youngest and the middle one instead. Everyone gets their turn...

I don't quite understand the point about forcing kids to adjust to my travel schedule - if anything, they are forcing me to adjust to theirs since I have to schedule travel during their school breaks.

How intense is your international travel? Are we talking like Western Europe or hiking the Inca Trail? I can't imagine leaving one kid behind.

I think their statement that “I don't have enough points to support tickets for five people” tells you everything you need to know.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m more curious about how much time people have vs the cost. Between parents’ work and kids’ activities and school; how is everyone traveling every freaking break? My high schoolers don’t want to jet set somewhere for a 4 day weekend, they want to catch their breath with school work. 6 weeks off in the summer and you work in the U.S? How? No, like really. Tell me your secrets.

I'm one of the points travelers from upthread. The answer is a combination of having liberal leave policies at work, and having children who are preferably in elementary school and maybe middle. Once your kids are in high school, you are limited to winter and summer break for longer trips, and MAYBE thanksgiving for a short break.

My kids are 7, 10 and 14. I've been traveling mostly with the older two for a few years, but now that the oldest entered high school, I know the config will change. He will have commitments during spring break and will want to use T'giving break to recharge. So, I won't be planning for his travel outside of winter and summer breaks. I will switch to traveling with the younger set of kids at other times.

I’m confused… you left the youngest home while traveling with the older kids? Isn’t that super unfair? And now the oldest gets left home? You do you but it sounds like you never adjusted to having kids and full-time parenting if you’re forcing your kids to adjust to your travel schedule and leaving specific kids out if it doesn’t work for you.

The youngest is not old enough for intense international travel so he stays home with my husband. I don't have enough points to support tickets for five people, and the youngest is not fit for that type of travel yet. We usually have car trips to the beach or shortish domestic trips for all five of us at some point during the year.

I don't look at fairness as giving everyone the same thing at the same time - it wouldn't be fair to keep the older two homebound just because the youngest isn't fit for travel yet, and it is boring to make everyone function at the speed of the youngest one. The oldest will be heavily into his high school stuff in a year or two and unavailable for traveling much, and then I will begin traveling with the youngest and the middle one instead. Everyone gets their turn...

I don't quite understand the point about forcing kids to adjust to my travel schedule - if anything, they are forcing me to adjust to theirs since I have to schedule travel during their school breaks.

How intense is your international travel? Are we talking like Western Europe or hiking the Inca Trail? I can't imagine leaving one kid behind.

The reality of large families is that not everyone can be everywhere at once. I've always done enough things separately with one, or two, or the other two that it is our normal, and I suspect will be for quite some time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m more curious about how much time people have vs the cost. Between parents’ work and kids’ activities and school; how is everyone traveling every freaking break? My high schoolers don’t want to jet set somewhere for a 4 day weekend, they want to catch their breath with school work. 6 weeks off in the summer and you work in the U.S? How? No, like really. Tell me your secrets.

I'm one of the points travelers from upthread. The answer is a combination of having liberal leave policies at work, and having children who are preferably in elementary school and maybe middle. Once your kids are in high school, you are limited to winter and summer break for longer trips, and MAYBE thanksgiving for a short break.

My kids are 7, 10 and 14. I've been traveling mostly with the older two for a few years, but now that the oldest entered high school, I know the config will change. He will have commitments during spring break and will want to use T'giving break to recharge. So, I won't be planning for his travel outside of winter and summer breaks. I will switch to traveling with the younger set of kids at other times.

I’m confused… you left the youngest home while traveling with the older kids? Isn’t that super unfair? And now the oldest gets left home? You do you but it sounds like you never adjusted to having kids and full-time parenting if you’re forcing your kids to adjust to your travel schedule and leaving specific kids out if it doesn’t work for you.

The youngest is not old enough for intense international travel so he stays home with my husband. I don't have enough points to support tickets for five people, and the youngest is not fit for that type of travel yet. We usually have car trips to the beach or shortish domestic trips for all five of us at some point during the year.

I don't look at fairness as giving everyone the same thing at the same time - it wouldn't be fair to keep the older two homebound just because the youngest isn't fit for travel yet, and it is boring to make everyone function at the speed of the youngest one. The oldest will be heavily into his high school stuff in a year or two and unavailable for traveling much, and then I will begin traveling with the youngest and the middle one instead. Everyone gets their turn...

I don't quite understand the point about forcing kids to adjust to my travel schedule - if anything, they are forcing me to adjust to theirs since I have to schedule travel during their school breaks.

How intense is your international travel? Are we talking like Western Europe or hiking the Inca Trail? I can't imagine leaving one kid behind.

The reality of large families is that not everyone can be everywhere at once. I've always done enough things separately with one, or two, or the other two that it is our normal, and I suspect will be for quite some time.

Ma’am 3 kids and 2 adults is not a large family by American standards. It’s slightly above the median. You’re talking like you have 6 kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m more curious about how much time people have vs the cost. Between parents’ work and kids’ activities and school; how is everyone traveling every freaking break? My high schoolers don’t want to jet set somewhere for a 4 day weekend, they want to catch their breath with school work. 6 weeks off in the summer and you work in the U.S? How? No, like really. Tell me your secrets.

I'm one of the points travelers from upthread. The answer is a combination of having liberal leave policies at work, and having children who are preferably in elementary school and maybe middle. Once your kids are in high school, you are limited to winter and summer break for longer trips, and MAYBE thanksgiving for a short break.

My kids are 7, 10 and 14. I've been traveling mostly with the older two for a few years, but now that the oldest entered high school, I know the config will change. He will have commitments during spring break and will want to use T'giving break to recharge. So, I won't be planning for his travel outside of winter and summer breaks. I will switch to traveling with the younger set of kids at other times.

I’m confused… you left the youngest home while traveling with the older kids? Isn’t that super unfair? And now the oldest gets left home? You do you but it sounds like you never adjusted to having kids and full-time parenting if you’re forcing your kids to adjust to your travel schedule and leaving specific kids out if it doesn’t work for you.

The youngest is not old enough for intense international travel so he stays home with my husband. I don't have enough points to support tickets for five people, and the youngest is not fit for that type of travel yet. We usually have car trips to the beach or shortish domestic trips for all five of us at some point during the year.

I don't look at fairness as giving everyone the same thing at the same time - it wouldn't be fair to keep the older two homebound just because the youngest isn't fit for travel yet, and it is boring to make everyone function at the speed of the youngest one. The oldest will be heavily into his high school stuff in a year or two and unavailable for traveling much, and then I will begin traveling with the youngest and the middle one instead. Everyone gets their turn...

I don't quite understand the point about forcing kids to adjust to my travel schedule - if anything, they are forcing me to adjust to theirs since I have to schedule travel during their school breaks.

Well...yeah. You're a parent. You "forced" them to come into this world, and now have to adjust your own life to accommodate theirs. This is such a weird, myopic take.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m more curious about how much time people have vs the cost. Between parents’ work and kids’ activities and school; how is everyone traveling every freaking break? My high schoolers don’t want to jet set somewhere for a 4 day weekend, they want to catch their breath with school work. 6 weeks off in the summer and you work in the U.S? How? No, like really. Tell me your secrets.

Same question! Someone was on here a few weeks ago saying their company gives 14 weeks of vacation. Like, where is this and what company?! I get about 6 and that feels average to generous.

I get 12 weeks. I've been at my company for 20yrs. But it's PTO--I just use it as I need to. It also helps that the company shuts down the last week of Dec so that's a week that I get off but I don't have to take PTO. I include that in my 12 weeks number.

But that's sick leave plus vacation time right? So if you get sick or disabled it's also 12 weeks, and I assume no one takes the 12 weeks as "vacation."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:People can say what they want but the answers are as follows:

1) people make a lot of money
2) people go into debt

Someone probably said this already but I'm not reading 19 pages of backbiting and status-flaunting. I'll add a 3rd: WE SAVE.

Kids wanted to go somewhere exotic, so we set up a savings account and funneled money into it for about a year. They asked to see the balance a couple times a month. They watched me transfer money into it every time we ate at home instead of going out. There was lots of "if I get this $50 dress instead of the $80 dress, can we put $30 into the Japan account?" Sure! And by the end of the year, we'd made enough little sacrifices to afford a cool trip (with miles for the airfare.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People can say what they want but the answers are as follows:

1) people make a lot of money
2) people go into debt

Someone probably said this already but I'm not reading 19 pages of backbiting and status-flaunting. I'll add a 3rd: WE SAVE.

Kids wanted to go somewhere exotic, so we set up a savings account and funneled money into it for about a year. They asked to see the balance a couple times a month. They watched me transfer money into it every time we ate at home instead of going out. There was lots of "if I get this $50 dress instead of the $80 dress, can we put $30 into the Japan account?" Sure! And by the end of the year, we'd made enough little sacrifices to afford a cool trip (with miles for the airfare.)

or a 4th) we go to countries that are significantly cheaper to vacation in than the USA. Flights may be costly, but once you get there, hotels and food and activities are cheaper.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People can say what they want but the answers are as follows:

1) people make a lot of money
2) people go into debt

Someone probably said this already but I'm not reading 19 pages of backbiting and status-flaunting. I'll add a 3rd: WE SAVE.

Kids wanted to go somewhere exotic, so we set up a savings account and funneled money into it for about a year. They asked to see the balance a couple times a month. They watched me transfer money into it every time we ate at home instead of going out. There was lots of "if I get this $50 dress instead of the $80 dress, can we put $30 into the Japan account?" Sure! And by the end of the year, we'd made enough little sacrifices to afford a cool trip (with miles for the airfare.)

I love this!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m more curious about how much time people have vs the cost. Between parents’ work and kids’ activities and school; how is everyone traveling every freaking break? My high schoolers don’t want to jet set somewhere for a 4 day weekend, they want to catch their breath with school work. 6 weeks off in the summer and you work in the U.S? How? No, like really. Tell me your secrets.

I'm one of the points travelers from upthread. The answer is a combination of having liberal leave policies at work, and having children who are preferably in elementary school and maybe middle. Once your kids are in high school, you are limited to winter and summer break for longer trips, and MAYBE thanksgiving for a short break.

My kids are 7, 10 and 14. I've been traveling mostly with the older two for a few years, but now that the oldest entered high school, I know the config will change. He will have commitments during spring break and will want to use T'giving break to recharge. So, I won't be planning for his travel outside of winter and summer breaks. I will switch to traveling with the younger set of kids at other times.

I’m confused… you left the youngest home while traveling with the older kids? Isn’t that super unfair? And now the oldest gets left home? You do you but it sounds like you never adjusted to having kids and full-time parenting if you’re forcing your kids to adjust to your travel schedule and leaving specific kids out if it doesn’t work for you.

The youngest is not old enough for intense international travel so he stays home with my husband. I don't have enough points to support tickets for five people, and the youngest is not fit for that type of travel yet. We usually have car trips to the beach or shortish domestic trips for all five of us at some point during the year.

I don't look at fairness as giving everyone the same thing at the same time - it wouldn't be fair to keep the older two homebound just because the youngest isn't fit for travel yet, and it is boring to make everyone function at the speed of the youngest one. The oldest will be heavily into his high school stuff in a year or two and unavailable for traveling much, and then I will begin traveling with the youngest and the middle one instead. Everyone gets their turn...

I don't quite understand the point about forcing kids to adjust to my travel schedule - if anything, they are forcing me to adjust to theirs since I have to schedule travel during their school breaks.

Well...yeah. You're a parent. You "forced" them to come into this world, and now have to adjust your own life to accommodate theirs. This is such a weird, myopic take.

I don’t really understand the fight you’re trying to pick.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m more curious about how much time people have vs the cost. Between parents’ work and kids’ activities and school; how is everyone traveling every freaking break? My high schoolers don’t want to jet set somewhere for a 4 day weekend, they want to catch their breath with school work. 6 weeks off in the summer and you work in the U.S? How? No, like really. Tell me your secrets.

I'm one of the points travelers from upthread. The answer is a combination of having liberal leave policies at work, and having children who are preferably in elementary school and maybe middle. Once your kids are in high school, you are limited to winter and summer break for longer trips, and MAYBE thanksgiving for a short break.

My kids are 7, 10 and 14. I've been traveling mostly with the older two for a few years, but now that the oldest entered high school, I know the config will change. He will have commitments during spring break and will want to use T'giving break to recharge. So, I won't be planning for his travel outside of winter and summer breaks. I will switch to traveling with the younger set of kids at other times.

I’m confused… you left the youngest home while traveling with the older kids? Isn’t that super unfair? And now the oldest gets left home? You do you but it sounds like you never adjusted to having kids and full-time parenting if you’re forcing your kids to adjust to your travel schedule and leaving specific kids out if it doesn’t work for you.

The youngest is not old enough for intense international travel so he stays home with my husband. I don't have enough points to support tickets for five people, and the youngest is not fit for that type of travel yet. We usually have car trips to the beach or shortish domestic trips for all five of us at some point during the year.

I don't look at fairness as giving everyone the same thing at the same time - it wouldn't be fair to keep the older two homebound just because the youngest isn't fit for travel yet, and it is boring to make everyone function at the speed of the youngest one. The oldest will be heavily into his high school stuff in a year or two and unavailable for traveling much, and then I will begin traveling with the youngest and the middle one instead. Everyone gets their turn...

I don't quite understand the point about forcing kids to adjust to my travel schedule - if anything, they are forcing me to adjust to theirs since I have to schedule travel during their school breaks.

How intense is your international travel? Are we talking like Western Europe or hiking the Inca Trail? I can't imagine leaving one kid behind.

The reality of large families is that not everyone can be everywhere at once. I've always done enough things separately with one, or two, or the other two that it is our normal, and I suspect will be for quite some time.

Ma’am 3 kids and 2 adults is not a large family by American standards. It’s slightly above the median. You’re talking like you have 6 kids.

She may be counting her husband as a child.

How we travel was definitely a consideration when deciding how many children to have.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m more curious about how much time people have vs the cost. Between parents’ work and kids’ activities and school; how is everyone traveling every freaking break? My high schoolers don’t want to jet set somewhere for a 4 day weekend, they want to catch their breath with school work. 6 weeks off in the summer and you work in the U.S? How? No, like really. Tell me your secrets.

Same question! Someone was on here a few weeks ago saying their company gives 14 weeks of vacation. Like, where is this and what company?! I get about 6 and that feels average to generous.

Normal is one week during the first 5 years. 2 weeks thereafter. 4 weeks when you're senior.

Many (I can't say most) mandate 30 days of leave per year after your first year. 45 when you're senior. Unfortunately, companies require you take it all at once. A mix between the two makes most sense.

Wow I just can’t believe all this leave. I am a lawyer working for a private equity owned company and I have taken 9 vacation days this year so far. 6 weeks? What???

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m more curious about how much time people have vs the cost. Between parents’ work and kids’ activities and school; how is everyone traveling every freaking break? My high schoolers don’t want to jet set somewhere for a 4 day weekend, they want to catch their breath with school work. 6 weeks off in the summer and you work in the U.S? How? No, like really. Tell me your secrets.

Same question! Someone was on here a few weeks ago saying their company gives 14 weeks of vacation. Like, where is this and what company?! I get about 6 and that feels average to generous.

Normal is one week during the first 5 years. 2 weeks thereafter. 4 weeks when you're senior.

Many (I can't say most) mandate 30 days of leave per year after your first year. 45 when you're senior. Unfortunately, companies require you take it all at once. A mix between the two makes most sense.

Wow I just can’t believe all this leave. I am a lawyer working for a private equity owned company and I have taken 9 vacation days this year so far. 6 weeks? What???

+100. I’ve never even heard of people having 45 days of PTO. Is that real?