When you host a group of teens on vacation:

[Anonymous]

We are considering bringing 2 or 3 of 15 yos friends on a vacation. We would pay for travel and lodging, but would we also be expected to pay for all other expenses, as well? Souvenirs, activities etc.

[Anonymous]

When you invite, be extremely clear on what you want to cover, and what you won’t cover. Put it in an email to avoid misunderstandings.

[Anonymous]

Activities seem integral to the vacation. If they don't have the cash, are you going to leave them sitting outside the mini-golf place while your son plays? I ask this as someone who would absolutely send my kid with money. But if you want the other parents to pay for activities, I think you would need to be clear about expected costs. We could afford the mini-golf but might not want to shell out for bungee jumping.

[Anonymous]

Yes activities that you are present for or arrange, no to souvenirs. Yes to food.

[Anonymous]

Souvenirs, no. Basic meals, snacks, and activities? Yes. If the teen goes off on his own for fries/coffee that’s on him. Also be clear about what they can order during meals (your kid too. Say “appetizer and main or main and dessert, but not all 3.” If you are worried about restaurant budget.

How about you invite 2 instead of 3 so you don’t have to worry about cost stuff.

[Anonymous]

I take kids all the time and people take mine as well. We pay for lodging, food and activities. We don't pay for souvenirs. Sometimes, the kids will want to do things like go to Starbucks that aren't family activities and sometimes we pay for that and sometimes we don't. My kids are treated the same by others.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are considering bringing 2 or 3 of 15 yos friends on a vacation. We would pay for travel and lodging, but would we also be expected to pay for all other expenses, as well? Souvenirs, activities etc.

Curious, how old are they?

[Anonymous]

My response will change based on whether these teens will be immunized by the time this vacation happens.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When you invite, be extremely clear on what you want to cover, and what you won’t cover. Put it in an email to avoid misunderstandings.

+1

You should be paying for all meals, snacks, and activities. You don't have to cover souvenirs.

Personally, I wouldn't invite friends of my child on vacation and then stick the parents with part of the bill. You don't know the financial situations of the other families. When when you invite a kid on vacation then expect the other family to pay for a portion of their child's bill, you're kind of asking them for money more than you are treating them. It comes off like you're looking for their kids to entertain your child so you don't have to deal with your own teenager.

It is tacky to accept money from anyone you're hosting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When you invite, be extremely clear on what you want to cover, and what you won’t cover. Put it in an email to avoid misunderstandings.

+1

You should be paying for all meals, snacks, and activities. You don't have to cover souvenirs.

Personally, I wouldn't invite friends of my child on vacation and then stick the parents with part of the bill. You don't know the financial situations of the other families. When when you invite a kid on vacation then expect the other family to pay for a portion of their child's bill, you're kind of asking them for money more than you are treating them. It comes off like you're looking for their kids to entertain your child so you don't have to deal with your own teenager.

It is tacky to accept money from anyone you're hosting.

Yeah, it's kind of like being invited to a destination wedding.

[Anonymous]

PP here. On the food issue, remember that teens eat a lot of food. One thing I always do is make sure I have plenty of groceries with me -stuff for sandwiches, even if it is just PB&J, canned spaghetti if there is a microwave, etc. My kids eat a lot but some of their friends eat even double what my kids eat. It gets really expensive if you try to buy all of your food out.

[Anonymous]

When we do this, we pay for everything unless the child is bringing something home as a gift or souvenir.

So a tee shirt? guest pays
Small light up toy for sibling: kid pays

The only exception is if the item is something the kids want together (matching shirts, for example) - then I pay. Precovid - when we flew- we also didn’t pay for airfare.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When we do this, we pay for everything unless the child is bringing something home as a gift or souvenir.

So a tee shirt? guest pays
Small light up toy for sibling: kid pays

The only exception is if the item is something the kids want together (matching shirts, for example) - then I pay. Precovid - when we flew- we also didn’t pay for airfare.

You don't pay for airfare!?

[Anonymous]

When my kid was invited like this, I insisted on paying for airefare. It was too much from another family. We also treated (DD had our credit card) for an activity we knew they would do.

If you invite I would assume you are covering food..

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When you invite, be extremely clear on what you want to cover, and what you won’t cover. Put it in an email to avoid misunderstandings.

+1

You should be paying for all meals, snacks, and activities. You don't have to cover souvenirs.

Personally, I wouldn't invite friends of my child on vacation and then stick the parents with part of the bill. You don't know the financial situations of the other families. When when you invite a kid on vacation then expect the other family to pay for a portion of their child's bill, you're kind of asking them for money more than you are treating them. It comes off like you're looking for their kids to entertain your child so you don't have to deal with your own teenager.

It is tacky to accept money from anyone you're hosting.

+1, I'd pay for everything but as a parent I'd say no to my child going except if I knew you really well and supervision. Plus covid. I have no issue buying a kid a shirt or something small. Even if I was ok with mine going, I wouldn't put out a few thousand for expenses and prefer to take mine instead.