Spring Break 2018 Review

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How does one get a charter yacht for the Carribbean and who much does that cost! I would like to do that if the budget is fair.

Contact a charter company on the specific island, or an agency in South Florida. Starts from several thousand per day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I traveled with my husband & 3 kids (ages 3, 6, and 8) from NOVA. Given the late snow, we made a last minute decision to go to Camelback in the Poconos for 2 days (Sun - Tues). We skied one day and went to the waterpark one day. Everyone in the group really liked Camelback so this was a good last minute addition.
Tues - Sat we rented an Airbnb in Hoboken. En route from the Poconos to Hoboken we visited a niece and nephew at college.
DH and I lived in Hoboken before kids and I decided to do Airbnb for the first time to give us more space / stay cheaper than Manhattan. Hoboken was good because there are a lot of playgrounds we visited.
One day I took the 8 year old to see Aladdin and DH took the younger two to the liberty science center - everyone enjoyed what they did that day.
One day we went to the Central Park zoo and ate at serendipity. Everyone liked what we did that day.
Friday night we had a Passover Seder in NYC and to illustrate some not relaxing moments of the vacation, DH took the 8 year old into NYC early while I stayed back to have the younger two nap so they could make it through the Seder. I ended up taking the NYC subway at rush hour with a 6 year old and a 3 year old bc traffic was so bad, it would have taken longer to take a cab.
I got a bad cold. Despite getting the Airbnb for more room - I didn’t sleep well - neighbors and the street were loud.

In hindsight I think I wish we went somewhere warm I need a vacation from this vacation

Did I meet you in the hot tub on Sunday? My daughter and I also started our trip at Camelback. Then road tripped around Connecticut, New Hampshire and Massachusetts. It was great, but right before I opened this thread I told someone that I need a vacation after that trip.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How does one get a charter yacht for the Carribbean and who much does that cost! I would like to do that if the budget is fair.

Contact a charter company on the specific island, or an agency in South Florida. Starts from several thousand per day.

LOL. You can find charter boats for much less than that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Nine days in Utah visiting the big 5 National Parks: Zion, Bryce, Capitol Reef, Arches and Canyonlands. All were awesome, but Capitol Reef blew my mind - did not know much about it before this trip, but it was hands down my favorite. 9 and 11 yos did a minimum amount of bickering, and a surprising amount of hiking with not too much complaining. So overall an "A" trip. Was surprised to see that we drove about 1,500 miles all in, including a few side trips and of course to and from the airport (LAS).

This is exactly the trip I want to take next year. How far in advance did you have to book everything? Do you have recommendations for hotels?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How does one get a charter yacht for the Carribbean and who much does that cost! I would like to do that if the budget is fair.

Contact a charter company on the specific island, or an agency in South Florida. Starts from several thousand per day.

LOL. You can find charter boats for much less than that.

Maybe a boat, but not a yacht. LOL.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I traveled with my husband & 3 kids (ages 3, 6, and 8) from NOVA. Given the late snow, we made a last minute decision to go to Camelback in the Poconos for 2 days (Sun - Tues). We skied one day and went to the waterpark one day. Everyone in the group really liked Camelback so this was a good last minute addition.
Tues - Sat we rented an Airbnb in Hoboken. En route from the Poconos to Hoboken we visited a niece and nephew at college.
DH and I lived in Hoboken before kids and I decided to do Airbnb for the first time to give us more space / stay cheaper than Manhattan. Hoboken was good because there are a lot of playgrounds we visited.
One day I took the 8 year old to see Aladdin and DH took the younger two to the liberty science center - everyone enjoyed what they did that day.
One day we went to the Central Park zoo and ate at serendipity. Everyone liked what we did that day.
Friday night we had a Passover Seder in NYC and to illustrate some not relaxing moments of the vacation, DH took the 8 year old into NYC early while I stayed back to have the younger two nap so they could make it through the Seder. I ended up taking the NYC subway at rush hour with a 6 year old and a 3 year old bc traffic was so bad, it would have taken longer to take a cab.
I got a bad cold. Despite getting the Airbnb for more room - I didn’t sleep well - neighbors and the street were loud.

In hindsight I think I wish we went somewhere warm I need a vacation from this vacation

Did I meet you in the hot tub on Sunday? My daughter and I also started our trip at Camelback. Then road tripped around Connecticut, New Hampshire and Massachusetts. It was great, but right before I opened this thread I told someone that I need a vacation after that trip.

No, we arrived late on Sunday but that would have been funny!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:‘Kids, you are staying in your bed room all spring break. If we happen to go or do anything else, consider it a bonus’

Lol, I love this.

This is funny!

We went to Florida and stayed in a friend's house, and our kids wanted to do nothing but hang out in their rooms and read!

I gave them a hard time about not wanting to get out and do things, but after reading these comments I'm feeling glad that they weren't bickering and ungrateful. I am glad that we did still take them out to do things, though, since when I ask them now what they liked best, it is things like kayaking that are their favorite memories.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How does one get a charter yacht for the Carribbean and who much does that cost! I would like to do that if the budget is fair.

Contact a charter company on the specific island, or an agency in South Florida. Starts from several thousand per day.

LOL. You can find charter boats for much less than that.

Maybe a boat, but not a yacht. LOL.

Yeah, this “crappy” boat is $3k/day during peak season.
http://www.mainsailcharters.com/yacht-display/?ybid=1212#rates

$2k/day
http://www.mainsailcharters.com/yacht-display/?ybid=4146#rates

For “several thousand a day” do you get a happy ending massage each evening?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Amazing week, as usual. We chartered a small yacht from Bermuda. Had a chef on board, and the captain docked at interesting little places each night. The boat was very high-end, and had luxury cabins for DH and me, one for DS (8) and one for DD (10). Chef made delicious meals each night. We did some amazing shopping.

Wtf? I say this in good humor. How much did this trip cost? I've been there before, have family there, but never traveled there like this.

Bermuda at this time of year? Must be cheap because it's too cold to swim in the ocean.

I've looked into doing charters at warmer spots this time of year (Aguilla, St. Lucia). It was over 20k for a week.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Amazing week, as usual. We chartered a small yacht from Bermuda. Had a chef on board, and the captain docked at interesting little places each night. The boat was very high-end, and had luxury cabins for DH and me, one for DS (8) and one for DD (10). Chef made delicious meals each night. We did some amazing shopping.

Wtf? I say this in good humor. How much did this trip cost? I've been there before, have family there, but never traveled there like this.

Bermuda at this time of year? Must be cheap because it's too cold to swim in the ocean.

I've looked into doing charters at warmer spots this time of year (Aguilla, St. Lucia). It was over 20k for a week.

We were in St. Thomas last week, and we did a day trip on a boat. I asked the captain how much it costs to charter a boat (think: catamaran through Moorings), and he said $10k+ for a week. He also told me that SJP was on the Necker Island yacht a couple weeks ago, and it runs upwards of $300k for a week.

[Anonymous]

We live in Seattle. DDs are 12 and 15. We went to Vancouver for a long weekend.
Stayed at the Fairmont Pacific Rim in a two queen bed room with our dog. It was tight but a suite would have been too $$$$.
DDs pleasantly surprised us with manners and respect at every turn. Dog was also on excellent behavior.

We let them order room service (for the first time ever) while DH and I went out for Tim Horton's.
We enjoyed walking about the city, Stanley Park and a hockey game.

(Perhaps we are in a sweet spot on terms of ages.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Nine days in Utah visiting the big 5 National Parks: Zion, Bryce, Capitol Reef, Arches and Canyonlands. All were awesome, but Capitol Reef blew my mind - did not know much about it before this trip, but it was hands down my favorite. 9 and 11 yos did a minimum amount of bickering, and a surprising amount of hiking with not too much complaining. So overall an "A" trip. Was surprised to see that we drove about 1,500 miles all in, including a few side trips and of course to and from the airport (LAS).

This itinerary is on my bucket list. I was planning it for the summer but I think my kids (7 and 4) are too young. But your post gives me hope!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Nine days in Utah visiting the big 5 National Parks: Zion, Bryce, Capitol Reef, Arches and Canyonlands. All were awesome, but Capitol Reef blew my mind - did not know much about it before this trip, but it was hands down my favorite. 9 and 11 yos did a minimum amount of bickering, and a surprising amount of hiking with not too much complaining. So overall an "A" trip. Was surprised to see that we drove about 1,500 miles all in, including a few side trips and of course to and from the airport (LAS).

This itinerary is on my bucket list. I was planning it for the summer but I think my kids (7 and 4) are too young. But your post gives me hope!

After this post, I seriously think I am going to do Zion and Bryce next year - with kids ages 9, 7, and 4. It will be an adventure! I'd love to go to all 5 parks listed here, but I feel like with kids those ages it would be too much for our group in one trip if I can't take more than a week off work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Nine days in Utah visiting the big 5 National Parks: Zion, Bryce, Capitol Reef, Arches and Canyonlands. All were awesome, but Capitol Reef blew my mind - did not know much about it before this trip, but it was hands down my favorite. 9 and 11 yos did a minimum amount of bickering, and a surprising amount of hiking with not too much complaining. So overall an "A" trip. Was surprised to see that we drove about 1,500 miles all in, including a few side trips and of course to and from the airport (LAS).

This itinerary is on my bucket list. I was planning it for the summer but I think my kids (7 and 4) are too young. But your post gives me hope!

After this post, I seriously think I am going to do Zion and Bryce next year - with kids ages 9, 7, and 4. It will be an adventure! I'd love to go to all 5 parks listed here, but I feel like with kids those ages it would be too much for our group in one trip if I can't take more than a week off work.

I think you are going too soon. 4 is very young for the amount of walking. My kids were 9 and 11 when we went. I spent a couple months getting them in condition for walking (i.e. I had them walk in the summer sun for a few times a week -- carrying their backpacks with water for 40 min.) in Bryce and Zion. I think you are going to be carrying the 4 yr old a lot. It's a great trip (we did Bryce, North Rim Grand Canyon, Page AZ, and Zion in a week). But, I think you are better off doing it when everyone is at least 8 yrs old.

[Anonymous]

We went to Taos and Santa Fe, skiing 3 days in Taos. It was lovely and relaxing. NM is beautiful.