Should we cancel this expensive holiday??

[RNBrie]

7 years ago, my brother and his wife moved to New Zealand. They've since had two children I've never met.

They had holidays booked back in the UK a couple of times but everything got cancelled because of covid.

I've never been able to afford to visit him as we have 3 DC, I could have afforded to go alone but didn't want to use up annual leave to go away without my family.

6 months ago I was given an unexpected large bonus from work and DH and I agreed we'd spend it all on a once in a lifetime trip to NZ. It's all booked and paid for, we go at Easter. It's costing a fortune, about the cost of a wedding for flights, accommodation, all in.

I've just found out that a month after we get back, my brother is coming here with his family. My parents are paying for it because they miss them too but don't want to travel there.

My DH and I are discussing cancelling our holiday because the main reason we booked was that I was just desperate to see my DB after all this time. The money is gone, but we checked yesterday and everything is cancellable, there will be a small charge for cancelling the flights.

Our NZ trip is fancy. We stay near my brother for a bit then we have a week at a luxury resort near some other friends we've not see for years, then back to near my db and then home. This is not the sort of holiday we have ever taken and the cost of it is making me uncomfortable, we could save a bit by changing resorts but more than half the cost is the flights.

So what would you do? Go on our fancy holiday, or get our money back? We'd probably spend half of it on a much cheaper but still fancy holiday closer to home...

Maybe move the dates to next year or the year after and also stay at a cheaper resort. Did your parents not tell you their plans?

i am in team holiday BUT..is NZ somewhere you dreamed of always seeing ?
If yes go..but i would change plans to stay less around your DB as you will be seeing him soon after trip anyway and iwould be making sure i had travelled all over NZ to see all the bits I wanted to.
Otherwise its a lot of money to sit in a fancy resort and then hang out around where your brother lives.

If NZ is not your absolute dream location for a holiday and you have built the trip around the fact it is seeing your brother then i would definitely cancel and spend the money on a trip to a location that all of you want to see/go to.

Maybe your dc and/or DH would love to see somewhere else in the world ?

I have travelled extensively and while i love outdoor sports/activities frankly i found NZ tedious and dull. A lot of it is rather like Wales...

I’d cancel it. Why spend an arm and a leg when you can see them a month later costing nothing. Maybe treat everyone to a meal out, it would still be a lot cheaper than flying to NZ.

I wouldn't cancel, you absolutely deserve this trip in of a lifetime and you probably won't be able to do it again. NZ is AMAZING! Change the dates and go next year and you are see DB 2 years in a row, yay!

Definitely go! It’s an amazing country and if you delay the oldest will be doing exams then it will be another 10years before you go.
just see the fact your brother is coming back here as a bonus. Have an amazing trip!

I’d do this!

Take the holiday. You might never get the chance again. Believe me, NZ is fantastic. You won’t regret it.

But did you see the bit where she said the cost of booking it now would be much more expensive? So it may well cancel out or cost more, even if you did invest it in fairly high interest.

Do it! Life is short. Who knows what will happen in a year or two. If you all want to go, go and enjoy it. Have a great time and make lots of cool memories.

Our kids still talk about when we RV’d around the US. They were only 5 and 9, but they still remember it.

I would cancel and go somewhere else!

I would go. You can afford it
A few years ago me and my dh spent over 15k visiting four countries in Asia. We went with our three dc. It was amazing and the dc still talk about this holiday years later

The old cliche of life being too short is correct

Would you ever want to travel to New Zealand if it wasn't for your brother and his family? Yes? Then go! No? Cancel and book a nice holiday in a place you really want to visit!

I'd cancel

My thoughts exactly! I guess some people want to see the world and some don't

Have your holiday, New Zealand is amazing and you'll never regret going x

Quite clearly you've never been to NZ!

Perfect ages to go!!

I would rearrange it for the year after or maybe for 2 years time. Use my annual leave to see my DB while he's here and then have the once in a life time holiday in 2 years time and see my DB again.

There’s a very high possibility that the interest will not cover the increased costs so you would end up paying g way more, doesn’t seem worth it

Cancel. Do your bit or the planet.

I'd go I think experiencing your brother's new lifestyle will help keep you close. You can afford it and I thinknyour kids arevof an age where they will appreciate amd get a lot from the experience.

With the financial situation in England at the moment, are you really financially secure?

Mumdiva99
Go. It's booked and paid for. It will be the trip of a lifetime. If covid has taught us anything it should be to enjoy the moment - responsibly - you can afford it. You've booked it. Who knows what will happen in the future.

this ^ and maybe consider doing more travelling round than you originally planned as you will be seeing your brother in the uk. New Zealand is amazing -I lived there for 4 years and had some of the best trips of my life.

I have close family that live a (very) long haul flight away. This has happened to me before, but thankfully I’d only mentally planned the trip rather than booked it. I rescheduled for a year or so after. But I would also book another cheaper holiday for the same time as your original holiday so you don’t feel like you’re missing out x

Excellent decision. You will have a wonderful time.