gruezi

Sue,

You just made me smile because I travel alone a lot - always have - and lots of people just don't "get" that. In fact I've been asked 'your husband "lets" you go away alone?' many times over the years.

Just the other night we were at a dinner of ex-pats and somebody asked me (I'm a trailing spouse who had to leave her job behind) what I do all day. I said I travel about once or twice a month and listed some places I've been.

One of the men looked at my husband and said with a sneer, "so you work all day while your wife travels?"

My husband smiled and made light of it, but I know he is proud of me for taking advantage of our situation.

I guess working out at the gym and joining the PTA would have been the "right" answer...

BTW, your family could team up with mine! Husband - golf and tennis, D1 - great traveler, D2 - not so great unless beach and water involved...

g.

suec1

Gruezi - I always say I add up all the time and $$$ DH spends on the golf course and "cash in my chips" once a year for a two week trip to Europe with a friend or daughter. I am thankful that he is gracious about it but then again, he plays more golf than almost any husband I know!

nona1

Spain is extremely popular with European families, especially those with younger children, so it's a great destination at their age.

to cut costs considerably you could look at doing something like Eurocamp. These are family campsites where everything is all set up for you - big frame tent with real beds in, kitchen, etc, not really 'camping' in the normal sense. Very popular and in good family holiday spots. Their tents sleep 6, you get an outside patio area, all sorts. A good budget option. 2 weeks in one of those in August only costs from around £600 ($1200-ish) - depending on site and exact dates.

maureencol

Nona1...wow that Eurocamp looks really great! I know it might not appeal to some of the travellers that enjoy a luxury hotel but I checked Spain and for 7 nights in Aug. for a family of 5 it would be around $650. And they have a pool and beach and a lot of activities for kids. I would like to stay there and my kids are all grown. I am saving for when I can take my grandbabies!!

cherrybomb

I'm with the leave all the kids at home opinions expressed. When was the last time you and your husband were able to spend some time ALONE as a couple without the kids?

If you are not comfortable with traveling alone, take them all--regardless of what the girls say, I think you will stir up some jealousy and resentment upon return, especially if your son has a fantastic time and, as kids are wanton to do, talks endlessly about it. Kids don't have the self-mute button that (many) adults have.

I think Stu T.'s advice was aces. Stu are you my father-in-law?

WTnow

This is our second winter in Andalucia and bringing our child to Europe was the best decision of our lives and has been an incredibly enriching experience for all of us.

My child was 5 when we started and is 7 now and she loooves Andalucia and the sights we have seen here ( not to mention the flamenco that she takes).

I don't think I would want to be here in August because it is crowded and hot, but one can live VERY well in a small village in the winter for very little. The weather is gorgeous!

We are less than an hour away from the Alhambra and near one of the prettiest beaches in Europe and we live on 33 dollars a day for a family of three in a beautiful ocean view 3 bedroom village house with huge terrace.

So Spain can be very cheap and absolutely wonderful for children and families.

Let the kids help with the research and help prepare them by getting books on the topic too. Rentals are easy to get here and very cheap in the off season...perfect for families. You can probably bargain most people down as housing is tanking here and many are left empty as Spain is way over built. Lots of the landlords are Brits, but with the pound falling, fewer are coming now and they need renters to pay the mortgage.

Buy at local outdoor markets from farmers and hypermarkets and go out to lunch instead of dinner if you want to eat out some.


Personally, I would never take a vacation away from my child. Her education and the shared joy of bonding and experiencing new things together as a family is our main motivation for travel.


There is such rich history here and these kinds of experiences done well can enrich them for life. 9 is not too young.Get books before and after the trip and take lots of pictures and video to help them remember it forever.

You might want to check out our website for ideas and ways of making the most out of family travel in Spain ( and around Europe):

http://www.soultravelers3.com

nona1

Maureencol - yep it's a good bargain. As a single parent I'm used to hunting these out - we're not fussy about exactly what we stay in, we just like to be there!

travelgourmet

<i>We are less than an hour away from the Alhambra and near one of the prettiest beaches in Europe and we live on 33 dollars a day for a family of three in a beautiful ocean view 3 bedroom village house with huge terrace.</i>

Yes, but you can't necessarily travel to a destination as cheaply as you can live there.

And, since our OP has already said that she can't go in low season, and isn't moving to Spain for any sort of extended period, I'd caution against trying to estimate costs based upon quite different circumstances. In particular, don't lose sight of the impact of the flight costs - for a family of 5, the OP is looking at somewhere in the neighborhood of $5k to $7k just to get to Andalucia from the US.

gruezi

Well, and from Momplaygroups position, traveling with one female child is way different than with twins and a 10 year-old boy...Not that it can't be fun - just a bit more of a challenge.

WTnow

yes, you have good points travelgourmet and gruezi. I realize we have quite different circumstances, but I am also a big believer that if there is a will there is a way.

I know moms and families of 3 that have done it on little. But you are right air fare is the most expensive thing in travel, so if you can stay longer and fly when things are cheaper, you are way ahead.

I do not see why more people do not take children out of school in the off season, or do a long stay with them. They would save a lot of money, miss the crowds and heat, and the kids would learn much more than they are in school during that time. They could bring school work with them if need be.


I guess I think like a homeschooler and family budget traveler. I think travel is extremely enriching for children at any age, especially by 9 and 11.

Experts seem to think Mozart would not be who he was without the extensive travel he did as a young child ( extremely unusual at that time).

Yes, we have found ways to travel really well on little and some of that is because we do not have to pay for flights and we live like natives. No, her budget would not be the same as ours because yes she has a bigger family and shorter time.

But my bigger point was that there are ways to travel well and cheaply as a family and also to enrich young children and your family through the travel.


I think with creative thinking and lots of research and planning, anyone can find ways to make the most out of the travel and do it on little.

Hopefully, some of my ideas might help her or others with their planning. Maybe consider taking the week after xmas and add another week there ( so the kids just miss one week of school)?? The weather is great and festivals too.

MomDDTravel

I am taking my youngest daughter solo for 5 weeks in the fall. We have done both- traveled with all 4 children, traveled with one or two. Based on the family dynamics it works out okay for us.

Salamancagirl

The euro is high, but not ten thousand dollars for two weeks high. I lived in Spain for four years back in the late seventies and have been running trips there with my husband for the last twenty years. Spaniards love children and you miss a powerful opportunity for your family and your kids if you leave them home.

Southern Spain in the summer is hot, though, you may want to go north. Also, it depends on your plan. Spain is a country to be lived so I would recommend going somewhere as a base and doing day trips from that spot. If you must be in the south - which is beautiful - pick a place like Malaga or near it so you can get trains and busses easily. Torremolinos, Hotel Melia, is nice and it has a great pool and is across the street from the beach. The kids will love it and relax there, but use pleanty of sunscreen as the sun is very hot and they could get a bad burn. Cover up after a short while or use lots of sunscreen. There is a great little train that goes back and forth from Torremolinos to Malaga and you can go everywhere else you want from there (Sevilla, Granada, Madrid).

If you really want to see and experience Spain, however, I would suggest just going with the family to a small village, like Nerja and spending the whole time there with the family. Go on a site like www.toprural.com and you can pick these things called &quot;casas rurales&quot; which are great homes in villages which you can rent for very little. Your children will play with the children there and will learn so much Spanish and you will be well received.

Another idea is spending the time in a city like Salamanca,a university town, west of Madrid, with a vibrant cultural life and many, many pedestrian walkways. Salamanca was recently honored as the European Capital City. It's beautiful. The kids will have a ball licking ice cream cones and exploring. You can enter the many cafes and bars with them and nobody will blink an eye as they do it every day. At night, the Plaza Mayor is awash in stars and strolling minstrels and much to see and enjoy. You can sit with your husband and the chilren can play in full view of you till the wee hours in the morning (really!) because all of the families are out and having fun. They sleep in.

This must sound weird to you, but I have raised my kids going to Spain for a month every summer since my son was six and have recommended that others would do it too. They have all loved it. The children grow up with this experience and they begin to see it as normal and along the way, acquire a great love of travel. They also learn that real contact with a country is exciting and fun. On a side note, the city of Salamanca has five large municipal pools which cost almost nothing and have bar, cafes with great food. As for hotels in Salamanca, I'd recommend Aba Fonsecca, Salamanca Plaza Mayor or Hotel Emperatriz for a real bargain in a simpler place. Apartments are also available for rent online. Check out a map and stay close to the Plaza Mayor, if you go, as it's the heartbeat of the city.

Hope you decide to bring the family and that you have the time of your life. It will be a trip like none you have had and will be unforgetable for you and your whole family.