Monterey with young DC?

[stillworkingitout]

DH travels a lot. We (me plus DC ages 2&4) usually stay home. DH has trip to Monterey in June and not sure if I want to go or not. DC will be just 3 and 5. Not compulsory school age yet so no fines to worry about, plus trip is over an inset day long weekend so missing 4 days of year R for a 10 day trip. Financially will be part paid for by work (just our flights plus activities plus supplement for food to pay).

I’m worried about the long flight and the time difference. It seems insane. I’ve been to SF and Monterey before so I know it’s very nice, I know the kids would enjoy the place but I’m not sure about how they would handle the travel (and whether everyone on the plane would hate us).

Anyone done this? Am I mad to consider it?

Would you have DH to fly with or would you and the kids meet him there?

Assumibg an overnight flight I think in many ways long haul seems easier then mid length. They get a full night sleep with a bit of excitement either end and you don’t have to wake them when they’ve only had four hours or so.

Good question - I am definitely not prepared to do long flights with two small children alone. So would all be together

I would try and do it. I greatly prefer Carmel to Monterey if you could swing it! Does Minterey have decent beaches? I’ve only been whale watching from there. Carmel is fantastic for families.

If you go business then other customers might be upset if your DC are badly behaved and keep them awake. Just do your best and entertain them. I think you will be fine if you want your DC to enjoy it and are aware of the needs of other passengers.

That’s interesting - I think we would have the weekend before and after, plus a week in Monterey while DH is at a conference. So time for us to be in Carmel, but probably some time in San Francisco too (we’ve seen the Golden Gate Bridge on Go Jetters, after all )

Flights wouldn’t be business - we have to pay for them. DH could possibly fly business because of the distance but we couldn’t afford for the rest of us to (so he will have to slum it with us). Our children are generally the kind of semi feral that most people seem to find amusing/cute. Not actually badly behaved (pretty good usually) but boisterous and chatty.

Funny thing is, DH has been trying to persuade me for months - we’ve just come back from the zoo and he may be changing his mind...

I would give it a go particularly if DH travels with you both ways. As you are aware, it will be a daytime flight departing, the overnight flight will be the departing one to the UK. In my experience children manage jetlag better than adults do.

I would not rely on the airline to fully provide, take their favourite foods with you for the flight and leave anything uneaten behind in the aircraft.
At the ages they are, they will have their own seats.

Thanks Attila - yes I found the outbound flight pretty gruelling last time I went. I suppose it might be possible to encourage them to nap on the plane, then have dinner when we get to the hotel and try to keep a sensible bedtime. But the thought of being up for the day at 2am is a concern!

I think most children are ok with flying and I rarely meet awful ones! Keeping them amused is key! So definitely books, colouring and anything else you know works! The only two things that get on people’s nerves is constant crying and kicking the seat in front!

I think DC would like a beach town and I would do that so they can play! It will be warm so give them a chance to be children. There are sure to be activities for children too.

They will love the beach. We live on the south cost here and manage to get to the sea fairly often, and I grew up in west Cornwall so know they love the sea and the sand. I know they will love it once we are there but the travel is the bit that I think might be hideous. Neither have flown before as we have always holidayed in the UK since having the kids - DH travels so much for work already and I haven’t felt the urge to take them abroad yet

When I took my daughter to NY when she was 5. I wrapped up lots of activities and every hour she had something new to unwrap and it definitely worked at keeping her entertained.

We took ours long haul at 5. Yes, it worried me too! Just keep them busy! If DH is there too, you will manage. It’s a great opportunity!

Yes take them !

Lots of films etc on flight and likely they may get some sleep too.

They will love the aquarium at Monterey and the beaches at Carmel !

I think I’m more worried about the 3 year old than the 5yo! And the possibility that they may just stay on UK time in California. And the possibility that what DH thinks is a fantastic idea right now might turn into a nightmare if our being there interferes with his work. It’s not a holiday for him, but often on conference there is some free time. So I have to see what the programme is likely to be like...

Basically I’ve been against the idea for weeks, I’ve finally come round to it, and now he thinks it will be a disaster

We went to California, including Monterey as part of a big road trip from San Fran to La Jolla, when our kids were 1 and 4 and it was fine, but they were pretty good travellers. The first couple of days were a bit mind bending, but luckily we could take it easy, as staying with DH's cousin, and kids adjusted quickly. Monterey was a very nice place to visit with young kids. And obviously my husband was on hand full time, though.

I think it's doable, there's things to see and do to keep them entertained.

We did SF to LA about 10 years ago, waaay before children. It’s a really beautiful drive, but I don’t think ours are up to the car trip (eldest has a history of car sickness, generally better now, but still). We stayed in some really cool little cabins in the trees at Big Sur.

We have the opportunity to do Hawaii late next year, so perhaps we should just wait and so Cali on the way out...