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'd go but rebook for when there has been a gap so you see your brother twice

....did your parents know you had booked this?
I'd be a bit pissed off at their timing tbh!

Go! After the pandemic and everything I think you should just grab these opportunities when they arise

I’d cancel and rebook for the following year. That way you’ll have time to get excited about seeing your brother again rather than not knowing.

I would cancel and book somewhere cheaper for the Easter break? Book an alternative that will save you money x

I would cancel next year and plan to rebook it for a year or 2 later. That way you get to see your brother again after not seeing him for year or 2 and still get your great trip.

Seeing your brother twice in a shaker space of time is a bonus. Life is unpredictable - you have the opportunity to you and your kids an amazing experience. You want to go, can afford it, and are sensible with your finances. What is that you will regret if you go?

No, I would go

I'd still go even if my brother had decided to move home in the meantime tbh

Opportunity of a lifetime stuff.

I would go, New Zealand is amazing

Just go, have an amazing holiday. You could bloody die at any point so whilst you are alive just do it.

push it back a year - but. I longer as you will then be paying adult fare as well for your middle child.

New Zealand is a stunningly beautiful country, but if you're main motivation was to seenyour brother and you were doing on the more expensive end of the scale and nkt touring round the islands anyway, probably worth cancelling. Could always save a visit for a few years time, it really is a gorgeous place and worth visiting.

Sorry, that should have said but NO longer.

I'm guessing most the people who are saying cancel haven't ever been to New Zealand! It's an absolutely incredible country and you will not ever regret going!
I shouldn't think the flights cost more than £1k per person so are you spending £15 while you're out there?
If your DH wants to cut the cost then maybe swap to a cheaper resort.
But the memories for you and your kids will last a lifetime and that's priceless!

Go for it! It will be an amazing holiday and I think you’ll regret it so much if you cancel.

I love a holiday but saying that the main aim was to see brother who you will be seeing anyway - I would rebook for a year or two later so you have it to look forward to and another change to see brother in a few years -

Late to the party
I would still go.
To be honest I think it will be relationship building for the kids. They always just get used to people then leave. It will give them a great chance to spend time with your brother's family. They will be excited to see them again.
I can't fault your parents. It probably just motivated them to have their children and granddads in one place. My parents desperately want the same too.
Your kids are a great age for the trip too. If covid has taught us anything is to take all the chances we have to see family.

My disclaimer is that I live on the otherwise of the world from my family. My parents have just bought us tickets for a visit because they want is all together in one place. My sister and her family loved her trip here to see how we live and I really appreciated she came all that way.

Go. Who knows what will happen in the future. Another covid to stop travel? Some sort of eco restrictions with flying?

Considering the reason you were going is kind of moot now I’d cancel. You could have an amazing holiday somewhere more interesting and without the ridiculously long flight for half of that.

I would go. Life is for living especially after Covid. You never know what’s around the corner for you or for your brother. How would you feel if he cancelled coming back. Probably gutted you never went. He’s got young kids. The cousins deserve to know each other in both sides of the world.

go and enjoy it. Make lots of memories.

I'd go. It's pretty much paid for now and you say that you'd like to go. You're just having a wobble at the cost now you'll also see your brother a few months later.

I wouldn't cancel if I didn't need to. A special holiday with your family will be lovely and something to enjoy together, and something to look back in afterwards with, hopefully, great memories,

life is short, go! children are a great age to appreciate. we did a similiar type trip in 2019. covid came, etc, now have children either over 16 or heading that way and don't think we'll ever have a trip like it again. go!

I agree with pp's who say go, enjoy the holiday of a life time, life is for living!

It's four years since I went to NZ, and I still dream about it. Literal, dazzling dreams about the adventures we had there.

I still remember the moment when we were driving away from Mt Cook and I kept stopping to look back. And drove on past an enormous field of lupins at the golden hour. And I swore to myself that I was going back. I literally cried when I left.

My only advice would be to not waste too much time with your brother if he's coming back soon after!

How much would you save by going down a bit with the accommodation?

If it's say £2-3k then that's another holiday in the bag for a future occasion. NZ is fab, so you won't be spending a lot of time in your hotel or airbnb anyway.

Would your flights for 2024 be a lot cheaper than what you have paid if you're able to book them as soon as they come out ? That would be the only reason I'd reschedule I think, if I could do it more cheaply in the future.