Kids do benefit from time with other family, independence, and parents with a strong marriage.

Surprisingly, you can have a strong marriage that includes keeping your kids close by. Personal choice--not right or wrong.

We had no family who could watch our kids and took them on our 10th anniversary trip to Bora Bora. They were ages 2 and 5. It was magical though mind blowingly expensive. All the hotels catered to couples but loved our kids since it was novel ? Used sitters to have a night or two out.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP here. We are also celebrating 10 years this fall and absolutely plan to bring the kids on a celebratory trip. Not everyone wants to go on vacation without their young kids, even for an anniversary.
OP, we were thinking of something like NYC. Depending on time of year, you could also consider staying in a lodge within a national park somewhere out west.

NP, those are great ideas! Also, Montreal, San Francisco. As for myself, I don't mind taking short weekend getaway trips away from my kids but for a "vacation" - I'd want to bring them. I don't get to travel that offen and when I do, I'd want all of us to benefit.

Kids do benefit from time with other family, independence, and parents with a strong marriage.

Anonymous wrote:NP here. We are also celebrating 10 years this fall and absolutely plan to bring the kids on a celebratory trip. Not everyone wants to go on vacation without their young kids, even for an anniversary.
OP, we were thinking of something like NYC. Depending on time of year, you could also consider staying in a lodge within a national park somewhere out west.

NP, those are great ideas! Also, Montreal, San Francisco. As for myself, I don't mind taking short weekend getaway trips away from my kids but for a "vacation" - I'd want to bring them. I don't get to travel that offen and when I do, I'd want all of us to benefit.

Anonymous wrote:

Again, some more: it doesn't have to be elderly parents! Siblings, close friends, cousins, nieces nephews...

You have no idea what their family situation is.

They may not have family members they trust=--they may even not have family members. They may not have close friends who would be willing to watch the kids. They may not feel comfortable leaving their kids with a babysitter. There are lots and lots of reasons that this could occur. I know, because I was in that situation when my kids were young. Elderly parents, siblings who lived far away and had their own struggles to deal with, etc. We had just moved here and our friends were not in a position to watch our kids, etc.etc.

Neither do you.

Again, some more: it doesn't have to be elderly parents! Siblings, close friends, cousins, nieces nephews...

You have no idea what their family situation is.

They may not have family members they trust=--they may even not have family members. They may not have close friends who would be willing to watch the kids. They may not feel comfortable leaving their kids with a babysitter. There are lots and lots of reasons that this could occur. I know, because I was in that situation when my kids were young. Elderly parents, siblings who lived far away and had their own struggles to deal with, etc. We had just moved here and our friends were not in a position to watch our kids, etc.etc.

NP here. We are also celebrating 10 years this fall and absolutely plan to bring the kids on a celebratory trip. Not everyone wants to go on vacation without their young kids, even for an anniversary.
OP, we were thinking of something like NYC. Depending on time of year, you could also consider staying in a lodge within a national park somewhere out west.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why are you taking kids on an Anniversary trip?

Not judging, the thought would never enter my mind.

Read the OP, nobody to leave kids with.

I would fly them to wherever family is, drop them with family and vacation close by or fly somewhere else.

Yes, everyone has money for that as well as family who is willing to do that.

Except ... No, that's not true.

They are talking about flying everyone regardless, and most likely by dropping kids at family they will save money on activities, lodging, food. Makes sense to me.

Yeah but that is an extra cost and may cut into their vacation money if their family isn't in a good vacation place.

Also, who is to say they have family willing and able to take the kids? That is a HUGE ask of elderly parents.

Again, some more: it doesn't have to be elderly parents! Siblings, close friends, cousins, nieces nephews...

Anonymous wrote:Not all grandparents are equipped to care for young children. And many more simply aren't interested...especially for a week.

We always bring our kids with us on big trips. It's called "building memories."

Who said it has to be grandparents? Aunts/uncles, best friends from college, cousins...

We take plenty of family vacations together. But milestone anniversaries are couple time. It's called "prioritizing romance and marriage."

OP asked for suggestions on where to go, not how to avoid bringing their kids.

+1 on a cruise.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why are you taking kids on an Anniversary trip?

Not judging, the thought would never enter my mind.

Read the OP, nobody to leave kids with.

I would fly them to wherever family is, drop them with family and vacation close by or fly somewhere else.

Yes, everyone has money for that as well as family who is willing to do that.

Except ... No, that's not true.

They are talking about flying everyone regardless, and most likely by dropping kids at family they will save money on activities, lodging, food. Makes sense to me.

Yeah but that is an extra cost and may cut into their vacation money if their family isn't in a good vacation place.

Also, who is to say they have family willing and able to take the kids? That is a HUGE ask of elderly parents.

Not all grandparents are equipped to care for young children. And many more simply aren't interested...especially for a week.

We always bring our kids with us on big trips. It's called "building memories."

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why are you taking kids on an Anniversary trip?

Not judging, the thought would never enter my mind.

Read the OP, nobody to leave kids with.

I would fly them to wherever family is, drop them with family and vacation close by or fly somewhere else.

Yes, everyone has money for that as well as family who is willing to do that.

Except ... No, that's not true.

They are talking about flying everyone regardless, and most likely by dropping kids at family they will save money on activities, lodging, food. Makes sense to me.

I agree with the Disney cruise. I went on a Norwegian after Disney and kid activities were not even close. Disney does kids club right.

If you are looking for a trip that includes childcare, then disney cruise is the way to go. We've done two disney cruises, and they were our best family vacations. Why? Because they kids were entertained 24/7. You can feel comfortable leaving your kids with the disney kids club staff...who are young, energetic, and must be super smiley and fun 24/7. It's not like leaving your kid on a third-world island with a stranger (which I wouldn't feel comfortable doing).