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...

I would go, you can afford it and its a once in a lifetime opportunity.

Your dh should not be annoyed at your parents, surely it's understandable why they are paying for your brother to visit.

I would cancel but only because New Zealand is not somewhere on my bucket list to visit so I'd use the £20k to go to places I REALLY want to visit!

But if you are really keen on NZ then go!

I would ask to transfer the same trip to 2024, you'll be desperate to see them again by then.

Go. Prices are rising so fast who knows what this might cost in three years time. It will be more difficult for your children to miss school time when they are older.

Lockdown taught me that every minute spent with those you love is presious. This way you get to spend even more time with your brother.

None of us are promised tomorrow and since you are financially fine then you should go and enjoy the trip you are so excited about. I bet your kids are excited to go too - they will be disappointed if you cancel.

I would go.
You don’t know what’s round the corner.
Live your life, do amazing things

Life is too short!
Go, you won’t regret it.

I would postpone for 2 years time. You want to spread out the time that you are see your brother and his family

This is a good point as well.
When we went to NZ one of the main reasons was to spend time with a close friend and her DH, but they didn't seem to be prioritising spending time with us and Auckland is the least interesting bit of NZ.

If you have the opportunity to do a bit more sightseeing, I'd squeeze that in and cut down on the time spent with relatives.

Second thoughts…maybe go in 2024 after you know what’s happening with your Mortgage (you said it was going to be reviewed then)..a roof over your head is more important than a holiday…

I think go. Your kids are a great age for a BIG family holiday. A few years time and you might have 1 or 2 of them in moody ungrateful teenager mode. 😆 Or Covid might come back. Or one of you might be unwell. Anything can happen. So there might never be a better time!

GO!!!

You never know what's around the corner, so seize the moment and enjoy a fabulous holiday!

I wouldn’t cancel. If COVID has taught us anything, it’s to seize opportunities when we have them. Who knows where we’ll all be in 2-3 years’ time.

Go for it and enjoy every minute; NZ is an amazing country!

I think your DC are brilliant ages to do a once in a lifetime holiday. The youngest is old enough to remember is properly and take part in everything and your eldest won't want family holidays for much longer.

It sounds an amazing holiday, even if you take your brother out of the equation.

Go! I’m going in 2 weeks. It’s cost a bloody fortune. But for us it’ll be the first time really that mils seen dd (age 3). And mil will have all her grandkids at her house for Christmas. Never happened before.

so proper adventure.

Cancel. The 24 hour flight alone would put me off - I’ve done it before…it’s horrific. Can’t imagine doing it with kids too arghhhh. Not a holiday.

It's a very long flight with 3 children. Unless you have a burning desire to see New Zealand I would cancel and have a family holiday somewhere easier - South Africa maybe, no jet lag - with half the money.

The flight is hard and the jet lag I do agree on that

Go!

If the main reason to spend all that money was to see your brother, cancel.

Go. Life is for living.
Maybe tweak your plans so that you see more of the country and see less of your DB.
Who knows what's going to happen down the line? Your children are a perfect age with no exams etc to worry about.

I’d 100% go - NZ is supposed to be beautiful and you’re seeing other friends too.
your bro might not be able to come back for whatever reason.
if you’re not financially strapped then do it!

It’s the things you don’t do in life that you regret not the things you do

That really is nonsense.

Go, life is short and NZ is an amazing place.

I'd change it to something else. Still fancy but half the cost

If it was me I’d still go! It sounds like an amazing trip and one you’d only ever do once, but for me I think travel is exciting and fun so it is something me and my DH choose to prioritise - we do only have one child though so our situation is different.

you will have an amazing time if you go and your children will have the opportunity to explore a different country so far away from home!