No. Family vacations are for sibling and family bonding. Also, we spend a lot on vacations (it’s our big splurge) and I am not sure other parents would be comfortable with our bringing their kids along even if we could afford it.

I’m an only child, and my parents did this often - but only with 2 very close friends, who were also family friends - all travel within US. We took my daughters best friend for a family weekend trip - adjoining hotel room for tween girls, our younger son in our room. They had a blast - I will do again, but only where we know parents very well. If we had a beach house, I too would invite kids friends over often!

I would only consider doing that with family friends; kids whom we have known for years, and whose parents are our close friends.

We have a beach house that we use a lot. We take my kids’ friends all the time. They are with us anywhere from 2 to 11 days.

We pay for everything. We try to accommodate their food preferences and interests. Occasionally we have a kid with medical issues so we sometimes have medications to deal with.

They sometimes need a break from each other. When I see that I just ask one of the kids to help me with something or I set them up in an activity. But they can always also read or play on heir phones. Plus I have three kids and most of our guests will hang with any of my kids.

I’ve take. Kids as young as four and as old as HS. Never had any issues, not even homesickness. I think FaceTime helps with that. A few times it was the guest’s first time seeing the ocean. That is always fun.

I got in invited on vacations with friends. The absolute best was going to a remote cabin on a lake (which had leeches) in Canada which had been in my friend's family for a while. There was no electricity, no indoor plumbing and heat came from a wood burning stove. I must have gone with them twice a year for about 5 years. The last time, was after high school graduation. It was just me and my friend and we spent a month up there.

Of course! Spring break trips to a beach (driving not flying), long weekend camping/cabin trips, college visits (other family pays their flight, we cover meals/recreation, etc.). Kids enjoy having friends with them, it's a nice dynamic to see them with friends - they are still with us, just a few more bodies at dinner and whatnot.

Anonymous wrote:I was the kid that got invited along a lot on other people's vacations. These are some of my favorite memories from my childhood.

Me too! We do one trip a year that the kids can bring friends. This year it’s the Caribbean for spring break. We also have a vacation home on the West Coast and the kids bring friends there too

I was the kid that got invited along a lot on other people's vacations. These are some of my favorite memories from my childhood.

I have a much younger brother and my parents always invited a friend for him on family trips that I didn’t go on because I was off at college etc. The friend was treated to everything meaning my parents did not ask for food money etc But I am sure the attending child’s parents offered and still gave their child some money. Trips were usually to beach and one was to Disney. The trips were great because my brother would have been lonely by himself. The friend going was a good playmate match and my parents would gave him call once a day -today most kids have phones. Child would also attend mass but knowing my parents they would have skipped if child was different religion or not religious. Today I would do same thing as my parents but would probably ask about food allergies or preferences because many kids have food allergy and some kids are vegan. There are also more kids today with daily medicine for add etc so I would want to make sure I had that situated. For example I now know that some kids take add med 2x a day and also are more affected by food dye and sugar. Not a big deal for me to handle but helpful. If we are talking older teens though they may completely self manage.

I was an only most of my childhood and these were my favorite vacations. My eldest is in elementary so a little young but I’d gladly do it with the right friends.

Anonymous wrote:Nope. We’re done it and no plans to be responsible for somebody else’s kid on a family trip.

We’re should be never

Nope. We’re done it and no plans to be responsible for somebody else’s kid on a family trip.

No, we use vacations for family/sibling bonding time.

No absolutely not and will never, ever do this ever in my life.

I was taken on trips with friends as a kid. And I hated it.

Can you tell me more about taking your child’s friend on a family trip with you? What kind of trip? Why? What are the logistical issues to consider, what problems may arise? Don’t the kids get sick of each other at some point? (That’s a lot of togetherness!) General pros, cons, and words of wisdom?