Anonymous wrote:Can you give the reservation to a friend or family member so it's not wasted? Or even try to sell it at a discount on your local listserv to someone who might be able to travel last minute?

It's a VRBO so I doubt it.

Anonymous wrote:Go alone. Leave kids at home with dad.

I'm creeped out at the idea. Moot, though, since he's been working 16 hour days and doesn't have childcare outside of my working hours.

Can you give the reservation to a friend or family member so it's not wasted? Or even try to sell it at a discount on your local listserv to someone who might be able to travel last minute?

Go alone. Leave kids at home with dad.

It’s not that I think you’ll be attacked, I just don’t think it’s safe to have one adult and two preschoolers without cell service or a landline. If you can’t avoid it, sure. But not by choice.

Agree with others, is there another mom or family you could invite to go, even if they come part of the time? Or have you checked to see if they will let you have a credit for another time period?

I can’t remember but how long is the cabin booked for? Could your husband go to help you set up and then come home to work? Or could he telework from an hour away, where internet connection is great but spend the nights with you. My other thought is, you could go and see how things pan out as far as comfort, security, weather and if it doesn’t work out, go home.

I'm a husband and no way would I be comfortable with my wife taking my two preschool children by herself to an isolated cabin in the woods with no cell reception. When my kids were preschoolers, they were overactive and prone to injuries. And many happened when we were traveling because we were in unfamiliar locations/rentals where we didn't always have time to childproof the locations. If there are two parents, it's safer. If the one parent is injured, you can't just call 911 or the front desk for help.

For me, giving up the money and keeping my family home would be the only answer.

Thanks. We have no friends available on short notice, and DH can't quit. It is what it is. Just wanted to make sure I wasn't being silly. I'm good traveling with them alone, but this particular situation sounds like the start of a true crime novel.

I would either get a friend (with kids) to come along or not go at all.

It’s probably fine but won’t be that fun. Maybe you can transfer the reservation? You could also get some kind of satellite phone/device.

Anonymous wrote:Its sunk cost at this point, stay home where you are comfortable. You can't put a price on your comfort and safety.

Is it big enough so that you could invite another family to come with you?

I would skip it just because traveling to New England with two preschoolers only to be solely responsible for them all weekend in a remote cabin sounds terrible. The safety question is irrelevant, but I think you’d be safe.

Can you ask the employer for reimbursement since they canceled the vacation?

If your kids were any older i'd say just go, but a $1000 is not that substantial when it comes to staying safe. It is what it is.

Also, I'd look for another job If I were your husband.

Its sunk cost at this point, stay home where you are comfortable. You can't put a price on your comfort and safety.

A year ago, we rented a primitive cabin in New England to enjoy the fall color. We are supposed to leave tomorrow for a week, but DH's employer has cancelled his vacation. I'm not comfortable staying alone with two preschoolers in a pretty isolated cabin with no cell phone reception and want to stay home, but because we're well past the cancellation deadline, we'll be out over $1000, which is substantial for us. What would you do?