Holiday and leaving children at home (With grandparents)

[Fedupofballs]

DH and I were supposed to be going on a child free North American city break this year to celebrate my 40th in addition to our usual family holiday. These are both now cancelled. I’ve now got in my head that I’d like to go to South Africa next autumn for 7/8 nights, perhaps 4 night city break and 3 nights game reserve. Grandparents will look after the children (13 and 9). Are we crazy to even think about doing this? Is there any reason to stick to the city break originally planned?We will still have a summer family holiday.

If the family holiday has been cancelled as well then it would be nicer to the kids if you all went together?

@TimeWastingButFun

If the family holiday has been cancelled as well then it would be nicer to the kids if you all went together?

OP specifically said they will still have a family summer holiday. Reading - it's a dying art.

If you were planning on leaving them for a break what’s the difference to change the destination?

Go for it. Kids are at an age where they don't need constantly looking after.

I'd probably pick south africa over North America and that age should be fine to be left for a week.
But not to sure on the reality on thinking that the pandemic would be done by then. Likely far more controlled. So which place is likely more safer for travelling?

At those ages I would take my kids with me.

Either is fine OP. I suppose kids will be at school anyway when you go?

Go for it. Kids will be fine. We had a child free camp this weekend just gone. It was bliss!

Kids will be at school, we’re thinking Autumn 2021 (not this year). The thinking (and saving) time make you reevaluate what you plan to do. I don’t think it would work as a family trip as the children are the age that they will want to do some activities but will also want plenty of pool time.

We left DS with his beloved DGM while we went to Malta. He was about 6 at the time.

He's 16 now and still wistfully mentions how he's never been to Malta

@TreacherousPissFlap

We left DS with his beloved DGM while we went to Malta. He was about 6 at the time.

He's 16 now and still wistfully mentions how he's never been to Malta

Brilliant!

@OnlyFoolsnMothers

If you were planning on leaving them for a break what’s the difference to change the destination?

That's what I was wondering?

I suppose the difference is North America seems ‘closer’ if we needed to get home (several flights a day) compared to South Africa where we’d be a few hours from the airport and 12 hours away.

Go where you want to go as long as gps are fit and well and in term time DC will have their school and friends. Good age for them.

S Africa seems a long way for a week, In terms of Flight hours and £s/days but it’s your holiday.
take a look at CO2 offsetting maybe?

Personally I couldn't go that far away without DS, even though I know he would be fine with grandparents. For me, holidays like you've described are for either pre kids, with your kids as a family or post kids.

Having said that, we were all set to go to a European city for 3 nights for DH's 40th which got cancelled. To me that seems different as it's closer and potentially not as 'exciting.' At 13 I probably would have loved to go on a safari holiday!