Anniversary Trip - Take kids or leave kids?

Next year will be our 10 year dating anniversary (Feb), 6 year wedding anniversary (May) and my 35th birthday (May).

This is the one trip I can pick wherever and DH will say yes.

Would you go on a trip alone with DH or with the kids?

Which would you pick?

A. Maldives alone with DH - This was my first pick for honeymoon but we went to Bora Bora instead - $$$$, long commute and lots of time away from kids (neither of us have been to the Maldives. if we don't go now, i will probably have to wait until my 40th birthday)

B. Hawaii with DH alone - We got engaged in Hawaii 7 years ago

C. Hawaii with kids

D. Short (3 nights) caribbean getaway alone with DH

E. Caribbean week vacation with the kids

F. Mediterranean cruise with DH alone (DH has never been to Greece. I've been on a Mediterranean cruise but DH has not. I have never been to the south of spain, france or italy, only inland cities.)

G. Disney Mediterranean cruise with the kids

Message edited 9/24/2012 11:39:34 AM.

Re: Anniversary Trip - Take kids or leave kids?

I would go alone with DH- but only for a short time and someplace not too far.
I think the short Carribean getaway would be great.

I say shorter because I know myself, I would feel guilty leaving my mom and dad alone with my DD for too long. She's hard to deal with.

Re: Anniversary Trip - Take kids or leave kids?

How exciting!

I would pick D

I would want to be alone, but I couldn't be So far away from my kids for so long at this point. Maybe when they are older, but right now mine are little. I could never take a cruise and be "stuck" in the middle of the ocean with no quick way to get to them if needed.

Message edited 9/24/2012 11:45:41 AM.

Anniversary Trip - Take kids or leave kids?

H. Any of the above. All sound awesome.

Re: Anniversary Trip - Take kids or leave kids?

Def go without the kids.... Remember, you two had a life before them and its always good to get away and rekindle that relationship every once in a while! As for where to go and for how long, totally dependent on you and how far away and how long you can be without the kids

Re: Anniversary Trip - Take kids or leave kids?

Posted by MaZz

Def go without the kids.... Remember, you two had a life before them and its always good to get away and rekindle that relationship every once in a while! As for where to go and for how long, totally dependent on you and how far away and how long you can be without the kids

Re: Anniversary Trip - Take kids or leave kids?

Why not go somewhere together that has a kids camp or babysitting services? That could be the best of both worlds for you. We went to Beaches Turks and Caicos and many people used the Kids camp to do stuff day and night alone. You can also have a sitter in your room if you prefer.

Re: Anniversary Trip - Take kids or leave kids?

I say take a trip alone. DH and I did this for 5 nights and it was amazing. Very good for us and DS loved being with his grandparents. I probably wouldn't do the cruise though because it is harder to stay in touch/be reached/fly home if there is an emergency. We were in the carribbean and were able to facetime with DS so I felt better being able to see his face every once in awhile.

Re: Anniversary Trip - Take kids or leave kids?

i say alone!!! Me and DH went away for our 30th bday to Puerto Rico this year for an entire week and left DD with my parents!! Sure we missed her but we also enjoyed an adult only vacatino (we went with other couples)

Re: Anniversary Trip - Take kids or leave kids?

Alone....

I may be in the minority here, but I feel it is NECESSARY as a couple to vacation without the kids.

I have NO problem leaving my kids for as long as a week.

DH and I just came back from a week in California without the kids (he had a work conference), and we are going away for our anniversary in November to Costa Rica for a week without the kids.

For ME as a SAHM, I need the occassional time away from my kids to be a better parent, and a better wife. My life with two toddlers 18 months apart is as hectic and chaotic and now that my DD doesn't nap, I get NO down time. It has started to not only affect how I interact with my kids, but how I interact with my husband.

We do 1 vacation alone each year. We need that time to not only recharge our own batteries, but to reconnect as a couple.

Anniversary Trip - Take kids or leave kids?

I hear Disney cruises are WONDERFUL. I know two of my clients who are childless (empty nester and the other is CF) and utterly unrelated they've both told me they are taking the Disney Cruise. They love it. The retirees say that they do it every year.

So for me, I'd do the cruise with the kiddos.

However. I LOVE Hawaii!

Re: Anniversary Trip - Take kids or leave kids?

If you have people you are comfy leaving the kids with - go with just DH!

We are taking a 7-night cruise next yr for our 10th anniversary (and 40th birthdays). Kids are staying with my parents and we can't wait!

Re: Anniversary Trip - Take kids or leave kids?

How old are the kids?

Dh and I are planning Hawaii for our 10 year anni, I want the kids, dh does not

If they are a little older I would choose Hawaii

Re: Anniversary Trip - Take kids or leave kids?

Posted by Onemoretime

How old are the kids?

Dh and I are planning Hawaii for our 10 year anni, I want the kids, dh does not

If they are a little older I would choose Hawaii

Re: Anniversary Trip - Take kids or leave kids?

I'd go away without them. As much as you'd miss your kids, I'm sure you'd enjoy reconnecting with your DH.

Re: Anniversary Trip - Take kids or leave kids?

I would go with:
F. Mediterranean cru
ise with DH alone (DH has never been to Greece. I've been on a Mediterranean cruise but DH has not. I have never been to the south of spain, france or italy, only inland cities.)

You need 10 days for this so if it isnt doable, I would..

C. Hawaii with kids

If I went to Hawaii I would definietly bring a Nanny so you and hubby can have alone time.


We are actually thinking about going to Hawaii with the kids for 10 yr... but only because we cant get someone to watch all 4 of them for that long. So we are going to bring a Nanny on the trip with us. Maybe vow renewal while we are there... kids will get a kick out of it.

Message edited 9/24/2012 2:20:12 PM.

Re: Anniversary Trip - Take kids or leave kids?

I would choose a brief trip ALONE to the caribbean. I could not go across the world without them (as tempting as Maldives is!) and I think HAwaii as a family could be alot of fun when they get older.

Re: Anniversary Trip - Take kids or leave kids?

Anniversary trip = no kids. Go anywhere, but def leave the kids home..

Re: Anniversary Trip - Take kids or leave kids?

I would choose G. Disney Med Cruise w/kids

Best of both worlds.

Re: Anniversary Trip - Take kids or leave kids?

def the med. cruise..

I Would love to do that...and it seems like something diff than the other things you have done!

It will prob be hard at first..but if someone is offering to watch them for a week..i say go for it! Enjoy some alone time !!!

Re: Anniversary Trip - Take kids or leave kids?

Re: Anniversary Trip - Take kids or leave kids?

My choice would be to leave the kids for a short amount of time or bring a nanny for a longer trip. I wouldn't take a 2 and 4 year old on a plane ride to Hawaii if I didn't have to, though.

Anniversary Trip - Take kids or leave kids?

I would do away without the kids. DH and I are going away next May for our 5 year wedding anniversary. We are going 2 weeks after DS turns 2 and DC # 2 will only be 2 months. We are going for a long weekend only, being that the baby will be so little. But, you have to do what makes you comfortable. I have no problem leaving my kids sometimes, I went on a girls weekend to Newport when DS was 3.5 months old. If you have people you trust your kids with, then go and have a good time. But if you will not enjoy yourself because you will miss them so much, then it would not be worth it, and I would do the Disney cruise with the kids so at least you have the kids clubs for some alone time.

Re: Anniversary Trip - Take kids or leave kids?

To be honest.....I'd probably try and go alone. I definately would not do Hawaii with kids. It's a LONG flight. It is nice to have that alone time for a few days where you can reconnect. It doesn't have to be a long trip.....just for a few days if you want.

Re: Anniversary Trip - Take kids or leave kids?

I would do a trip with the kids BUT, bring the sitter or maybe one of the moms. Durning the day everyone is together and having a good time and then at night it is just you guys.

We did this once with my mom, then one year the other couple we went with brought there sitter so she watched the kids for us a few nights and this year my inlaws are coming.

We don't go out every night alone but it really makes it enjoyable and not just about the kids.