Holiday or Hell ?

[notonmybucketlist]

Warning , major first world problem !

DP and I have been saving up holiday days and money for a trip of a lifetime with DC 15. We have 4 weeks. I was envisioning warmth, sun , different culture, delicious foods, to expose our DC to something new.

We have both become increasingly aware that flying is terrible for the environment and it's hard to justify contributing to climate change just for amusement, so we want to choose something that is less heavy on carbon emissions. I was thinking overland to Morocco.

DP is now really set on going to and from Japan via the trans Siberian railway, bearing in mind this will be in winter. It sounds like an adventure but I fear in reality its 2 weeks on a train with a probably very bored teen and 4 ferry crossings on rough, winter, possibly frozen seas.

DP thinks I am negative and putting a downer on what could be an amazing adventure. He says I'm full of resistance and not open to how great it would be. AIBU in thinking days in a train travelling across frozen Russia in winter with a teenager will be an experience I could live without.

I think if your DH and teen want to waste 2 weeks of their 4 week holiday on a train then they can go for it.
But I'd be on that plane.
I'd be chilling and enjoying the well deserved rest and then see them for a couple of weeks then fly back again.
How often do you fly?

I have been convincing him this is the best idea for our honeymoon.

It might be. Two weeks shagging in a (more or less) heated bed compartment sounds quite appropriate for a honeymoon.

We did a similar trip. overland to Hong Kong, including the trans Siberian. We did in April, before we had kids. I'd suggest stopping off in a few places to break up the journey. We stopped in Moscow, Mongolia and Beijing. It was amazing. The longest train journey was 5 nights. Admittedly, we were pretty grotty by the time we got off but we made lots of friends, played cards in the restaurant car, drank vodka and read books. The scenery was gorgeous and it was warm and cosy on board.

It really depends on what kind of teen you had. There'll be other young European people on board. If he's the type to sit and chat with strangers, play cards, read etc he might love it. The experience was fantastic and we're planning on doing it again when our kids are older.

If you decide to go ahead, feel free to pm me.

Just fly and enjoy yourselves ffs.

I would love it but probably not at 15 and not as a "holiday of a lifetime".

I've done it twice - once in January and years before in July and August. January was much, much better - more atmosphere and less tedium in the landscape. I would say, though, that it's definitely for travellers with a bit of experience. If you have spent your life in resorts or on European city breaks, or even further afield but not completely independently, it will be a bit of a steep learning curve.

But clearly, your DH is underwhelmed by your notion of a trip of a lifetime (tbh, I'm with him on that) and you dislike his as well: so it's back to the drawing board on the overland front, or accept the need for flying.

I'm now googling thinking 'THIS SOUNDS AWESOME' - thank you OP

DS1 and I went on a train trip to Amsterdam this summer and then met DH/DS2 elsewhere in Europe, so maybe if I train (!) him up now he'll be ready for this sort of thing in 6 years' time.

Your one trip isnt going to be make a jot of difference. That plane will still be leaving without you. For a once in a lifetime trip I would go with your original plan. Your dh plan sounds like hell. Not much of a holiday and you really wont be making a difference.

Ive done both journeys (almost) and I would recommend them both but you would need to prep so as you're not bored or hungry. Bring dry shampoo I implore you.

You could part fly perhaps, fly to Moscow and then train from there? I did it in the winter and actually it was magical. Russian winters are harsh but the scenery is fabulous. Make time for Mongolia and the national parks, they are fantastic. TBH, I would speak to a trans Russia specialist who has done it and get their take on it. Each carriage has four beds so unless you book all four, you'll have company. Locals use the trains so you'll have folk to talk to but it helps if you speak German or Russian. There will be no wifi unless things have changed since I was there 10 years ago.

The trip to Morocco is significantly easier. I loved Tangiers and had a brilliant time there. The trains are very good and it makes life easy.

I hope you love Japan though. I used to live there and I adore the country and the people.

Wow ! So many of you have done this. I'm really appreciating hearing about the experiences and all the tips ammunition ! to bring to our next discussion !

I went to Japan earlier this year and if I could have spent a month there I could. You could get the shinkansen (bullet train) everywhere!

We looked at this. IIRC, we found it was either a really grim, basic train with 1 loo per c. 50 passengers or it was super expensive. Either one was not a goer. I definitely wouldn’t do it in winter. We flew to Japan instead & it was fab.

Why dont you and DC fly to Japan directly and have a lovely week on your own exploring. DH can take the train and meet you there. Problem solved.

why not get a train to somewhere closer like Istanbul? I second (third? fourth?) the not using the TSR in winter, it's just too cold.

How about the train which runs along the Rockies instead - I would love to do that. You can choose where you get on and off so can be a long or short journey but the scenery is stunning!

Admittedly our children are younger but....

My train mad husband wanted to do something different.

I suggested that we did a practise run doing doing the overnight sleeper to Glasgow.

Daddy is the train expert so I bowed to his expertise in every question etc.

We aren't doing the other trip.

Just a thought. Seriously if your teen loves it jobs a good. If bored, sulky etc then...,.

You could send the two of them so as not to need two cabins. You head for a spa break

Don’t waste your time travelling to japan. Go there. It’s an amazing place.

How about the train which runs along the Rockies instead - I would love to do that. You can choose where you get on and off so can be a long or short journey but the scenery is stunning!

This is my plan for next year.
Train from Toronto to Vancouver with various stops on the way.
It would mean flying though and the OP doesn't want to fly.

The Trans Siberian in December and January is on my bucket list - but it's niche - I would not convince anyone else to do it!

The trans Siberian is amazing. It will be a great adventure. I love trains

This suggests that winter trips are fine - www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/forums/europe-eastern-europe-the-caucasus/russia/trans-siberian-summer-vs-winter

However, the issue of hours of darkness is undoubtedly significant, and I strongly suspect that your husband's romanticised picture of sharing samovars with the locals just isn't going to happen. If your son isn't into days of watching the scenery, it isn't going to be the trip of a lifetime for him.

How old is he? Can he actually takes four weeks off school?

In the winter in that part of the world you get a bitingly cold wind that blows from north Siberia, really really cold.

I wouldn’t spend 4 weeks of precious holiday-of-a-lifetime if I were you.

I would LOVE to do the TransSiberian railway, but probably not in winter seeing as there'll be a lot of darkness.

I think overland to Morocco sounds wonderful too. Is he opposed to that? Could you do Morocco now and the TransSiberian in a better season for it? without the teens

Get your DH to read this!

www.wanderlust.co.uk/content/how-cold-is-too-cold-on-the-trans-siberian-express/

Why do you want to take a 4 week trip with a 15 year old who doesn't seem all that keen? And if DC is keen then where is their view in all of this? It sounds hellish to me personally - I'd rather take a flight and spend the time off actually sightseeing, rather than stuck in a cold train with 2-3 hours of daylight for weeks!