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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To holiday the other side of the planet with an 8 year old?

54 replies

Wanderlust1984 · 24/08/2017 20:18

When I was 16 I went to stay with family for a month in New Zealand. It was AMAZING! I have quite a lot of family members out there, they own multiple properties, beach houses and campers (yeah how the other half live ay Grin) and they're constantly saying we could stay in any of them if we ever wanted to visit. I'd love for my daughter to experience it but I've felt she's been too long for the flight times, associated jet lag etc. But she'll be right next year, should I drag her over there? She's not keen on the flights but you get your own TV on the plane etc and I'd split it with 3 nights in Thailand or Koala Lumpur there and back. My exH (dd's df) isn't too keen and says she'd hate the flight... but surely 3 weeks in NZ would make up for it!! What ya reckon??

OP posts:
WildBelle · 25/08/2017 18:48

It'll be fine! I took mine to Thailand (15 hours flight with stopover) on my own for a month 2 years ago when they were 4 and 11 and the flights were no problem...just downloaded stuff onto iPads for them, and they slept well too. At 8 I guess your dd is old enough to take a book to read, plus electronics to watch/play on, and I know the flight is longer than Thailand but hopefully a good chunk of it she might sleep.

BhajiAllTheWay · 25/08/2017 21:47

Go for it. We've gone long haul a few times to Canada and Australia and it really wasn't that bad. Plan things to do on the flight and allow some time to get over jetlag at the other end. Definatley worth it.

WritingHome · 25/08/2017 21:51

I think your dd will have a fantastic time and I wouldn't think twice about it. The flight will be an adventure! dd is 11 and has been to Australia 6 times as well as Bangkok, Canada and USA. We have been travelling with her since she was a baby and have never had an issue.

She generally sleeps as they are usually night flights part of the way.

Go! Have fun!

arethereanyleftatall · 25/08/2017 21:55

When you get on the flight you will see new borns , 1 year olds. 2 year olds, 3 year olds etc etc
This is a normal, lovely, thIng to do.
Go.

JessieMcJessie · 26/08/2017 09:02

I know you know this but you will be going in their summer presumably? I have been to NZ a few times and it can be a bit grim and boring in winter (sorry Kiwis 😳) but is just paradise in summer.

Best thing I did was rafting through glow worm caves in an inner tube in Otorahanga.

user1493059174 · 26/08/2017 09:10

Defo go. Lived over there for 10 years so regularly did the flight with 2 girls. We found Singapore airlines was by far the best. Stopover for a few hours - swim and re-fresh in roof top pool, massage and then hop back on for next leg, no drama! She will love it - a mixture of eating, sleeping and watching movies will soon see the hours tick by. Enjoy!

BarbarianMum · 26/08/2017 09:10

We did similar last year with an 8 and an 10 year old. They still talk about how amazing it was now. Flights were no ones favourite bit but were fine.

manicinsomniac · 26/08/2017 09:17

Yes, absolutely go. I've been dragging mine all over the world since they were babies. Never got as far as NZ but that's my issue, not theirs. They have no issue with travel but I'm terrified of flying and I think that's because I never flew as a child. My first flight was long haul to South America aged 18 and I had no idea what to expect - completely freaked me out and I've never got over it. In fact it's got worse. I think if children have the opportunity to see flying as a normal and safe thing they do with parents from the off then they're less likely to develop a fear.

ivykaty44 · 26/08/2017 09:21

I travelled to Australia with DDS when they were 3 & 9
They didn't get jet lag, they slept on all but one flight
9 year old has great memories and lived Thailand - as we stopped over on the way.

I'm thinking perhaps your dh is not wanting you to go and making excuses

PigletWasPoohsFriend · 26/08/2017 09:24

I'm thinking perhaps your dh is not wanting you to go and making excuses

Well as he is the OPs ex I'm assuming he isn't going anyway

EssexCat · 26/08/2017 09:26

We're doing it next year with 13, 9 and 8 year olds. We've specifically waited until the youngest was 8 to make it worth it so I say go go go!

ememem84 · 26/08/2017 09:34

Second the glow worm caves. And rotorua.

Make sure you go to cathedral cove - bloody stunning and totally worth the walk down and up. Beautiful.

Dh is kiwi so we've been a fair few times. We visited White Island volcano the last time I was there - which is off the coast of either whangerai of whakatane (I forget which). But that was super cool. Expensive to do (about nzd300) but worth it - great day out. On the boat there we saw dolphin, sun fish and whales.

ivykaty44 · 26/08/2017 09:36

Piglets you never can tell on mumsnetGrin

coconutwater1 · 26/08/2017 09:47

No reason why you should not go!

Just have plenty to keep daughter occupied maybe take some food treats as well and all will be fine.

Spent a few weeks travelling around NZ and it will be great in a campervan.

With regards to a stopover (Koala Lumpur?? Just call it KL...) I would prefer Singapore rather than KL but depends on which airline you planning to use, I lived in SE Asia and used all the airlines of the region, but really there is not than much of a difference in economy.

Have fun planning

PigletWasPoohsFriend · 26/08/2017 10:05

Piglets you never can tell on mumsnet

True Grin

TestTubeTeen · 26/08/2017 10:14

I certainly wouldn't let the flight put you off!

But do go in their summer...

Can you get the time off school!

amousehaseatenmypaddlingpool · 26/08/2017 10:26

100% go!

Cantchooseaname · 27/08/2017 20:02

Actually, I disagree about the summer. We have done August and Dec/ Jan in NZ. I love the quiet of out of season- no need to book ahead, just go with the weather/ where you fancy. We campered for a fraction of the cost of summer, drove where we fancied, when we'd had enough- drove a bit further. We went to hot water beach- there were 8 people on the beach. It was 20 degrees, and absolutely beautiful. The biggest disadvantage is the dark nights- but camper/ motels were always fab, bottle wine, pack of cards!
Also- ski-ing!! Some amazing ski fields a world apart from Europe. Empty, cheap and friendly. Love it. Trans alpine train in the snow!!

Primrose06 · 27/08/2017 20:12

Go . Just make preparations for the journey.
My motto is grab every opportunity and enjoy and travel as much as you can.
You will make stacks of great memories and have fun.

LyannaStarktheWolfMaid · 27/08/2017 20:50

God, do it. I've taken my two to various long haul destinations since dd was three. The in-flight entertainment is so good the flights are really easy. You might have a bad nights sleep when you get there, but that's no big deal. It's totally worth it, and really not nearly as hard as you would expect.

blackteasplease · 27/08/2017 20:57

I would if I only had my 8 yo

Summerlovin24 · 28/08/2017 06:45

If you have the money for the holiday dont hesitate. Just go

Aebj · 28/08/2017 07:06

You can only go if I can come with you!!!
My boys did their first big flight when they were 3&5. ( we emigrated to Australia)
Perth to Hawaii ( 16 hours) when they were 7&9
Perth to U.K. When they were 12&10.
We've also done Perth to Bali( 4 hours)Gold Coast (5 hours )and Canberra (5 hours however this was a cool flight apparently as we had driven over to Canberra!!)
Children travel well. Have a fantastic holiday.

Cailleach666 · 28/08/2017 07:16

Koala Lumpur

Love it. I have fuzzy bear images in my mind

Toyslayer · 28/08/2017 12:17

You will need written permission from your DDs DF if you're travelling from the UK.
This may be a problem if 'not keen' means he really doesn't want her to go xx