Help - do it or wait?!

[NoMoreBrownSofas]

We are looking at a big holiday in the West Coast of the US next summer. About 3.5 weeks. It's a lot of money.Kids will be almost 6 and almost 8. Would include two days at Disney.

Part of me feels they are too young, the other part of me feels our eldest is so into wildlife and he will love Yellowstone and our youngest is plucky and up for adventure.

Do it? Or wait?

Long flight and long car journeys. How will they take to that? Also, in all honesty, no matter how good a time you all have, it is you and DH that will have the memories. Not the children. They honestly won’t remember.

We've been to south Africa before and they were fine with the flights and cars, and the itinerary means not very long drives.

When do you think the memory thing changes? Should we wait for just do it?

Thanks so much for replying btw!

Did a 3000 mile US roadtrip with my almost 7 year old and she remembers a surprising amount of it!

Go for it! My family did a 7 week trip around the west coast when i was 8, including Disneyland, and had a ball. Remember so much of it plus we made scrapbook of our trip so that's always great to look back on.

I'm not sure I buy into the 'they won't remember therefore it's not worth it' vibe.

My kids still talk about the big USA holiday they had, and my youngest was 6 at the time (she's 20 now). Obviously we have photos, so of course their memories are partly based on those, but there were so many funny stories and amazing things we did that have kind of passed into family folklore as our shared experiences.

It's such a lovely memory - and even if no one but me remembered, I would say it was totally worth it for capturing a moment in time when they were little and excited and life was magical and all that sweet stuff

(Of course, memory is also brilliantly selective for forgetting the tantrums and the jetag and the arguments - there probably were, but I only remember the good stuff!)

Well this is encouraging (less so when we've been quotes 30k... But hey ho....)

I guess theres not a huge difference between 6 and 8...

I don't think this is too young, make a photo album to help keep the memories alive. The holiday is for you too surely? Have an amazing time!

Oh I wouldn't spend 30k on it though. Organise it yourself.

Do you think that would make a significant difference to the price? This quote is for 24 days, Yellowstone then California, includes flights as well as an internal flight, car rental and excursions and activities including a two day pass for Disney.

30k?!!! It’ll be nowhere near that doing it yourself. It wouldn’t even be half.

Look at BA fly drives in the sale and then shop around for places to stay. The fly drive means you’re atol protected if that’s a concern for you.

U think? Even for that length?

Any suggestions of where I can start - forums etc?

Well, it depends what standard of accommodation and flight class you’re considering, but that does sound rather steep.

Where are you flying from/to? If all the way to/from Jackson Hole flights are going to be pricy, but if you’re driving from Seattle or even Boise, less so.

Are you fixed on Yellowstone? It’s not really coastal… What else are you doing in California? The Oregon coast is absolutely stunning.

List your itinerary. There are plenty of amateur travel agents who like booking holidays vicariously on here…😁

The price is based on economy seats and a range of accomodation.

Flight was to denver then internal to Jackson hole, then 10 days in Yellowstone then an internal flight from Gallatin Field to San fran, journey south then depart for home from LA

Oh includes Yosemite and Redwoods as we went down

From which airport in U.K.?

Redwoods NP is North from SF, practically Oregon, and Yosemite is a 3h drive East, not South.

10 days at Yellowstone seems a lot.

How far are you prepared to drive in a day?

Yellowstone and grant Teton

From Heathrow

Sorry wasn't clear I meant between arriving in SF and leaving from LA thats where we were scheduled to go.

The plan as I have it atm doesn't have huge drives in one go which is better I think for us

Longest one ATM is 4 hours

Very sensible.

How long (how many nights) are you in the other locations and whereabouts are you staying? For example, at Yosemite which lodge have you been quoted for?

It's 17 nights from when we arrive in San Fran to when we leave.

The Yosemite cabin is Tuolumne, from looking at it theres a range of accomodation

If that’s Tuolumne Cabins it’s 90 minutes from the valley floor and pretty sure there’s no air con. Groveland might be a better choice.

If you really want advice you’ll need to state your itinerary. I’m just guessing here.

Sorry I'm worried I might get in trouble for posting it publicly. Can I DM u?

I just meant a run down of where you are going and for how long, rather than the actual quotation. Eg

25 July Fly LHR-DEN-Jackson Hole
25-28 (4 nights) July stay in one room in hotel at JH
29-31 July (3 nights) stay in 2 bed apartment in Big Sky etc.

Other people could chip in then.

I’ve not been to Yellowstone and Grand Teton yet. Are you doing guided tours while you’re there? 10 days seems a lot. I guess that would increase the price.

I’d be thinking somewhere in the region of £400 per night (some will be less, Disney more if you’re in a Disney hotel) plus £2k each worst case for flights plus £1500 car hire, which takes you to £20K ish? Another £2K for Disney?

However you may think it’s too much hassle to plan it all yourself.