International move - packing up house followed by longhaul flight. Argh. What would you do?

[Mimsy2000]

Just wanted your opinion

DH, two small boys (6 months and 3 years) and I are immigrating to the States. Practically speaking we have all the headache of a massive move coupled with a longhaul flight to the States just as we hand the key back to our landlord.

I have been arguing with DH that we should get a hotel the night before so that we can get the kids out of the house for the final, brutal move stuff - ie turning off the refrigerator, throwing rugs in the skip, giving beds away to families members, etc. etc. I just don't think the place will be livable with two small children.

DH, who is not a cheapskate or anything like that, can't see the point. He thinks we should stay and make it a bit like camping. Sleep on old linens that we will throw away, drink from plastic cups, etc. He truly doesn't see the point.

I just think it will be grim enough on the flight that getting the all of us out of there and into a hotel the night before will ensure we are better rested and less stressed.

What do you think?

Hotel will be better. Travel a lot with small kids and it's a good move.

No, definitely stay in a hotel, an international move is v stressful at the best of times (voice of experience!), let alone with two small children! Good luck in the US of A

definitely go for a night in the hotel, it will make life much easier

ds and I stayed at pil's overnight after waving off the truck. The last few days while everything was packed up around us were pretty grim and didn't sleep properly.

thanks

Deffo stay at a hotel. Preferably at the airport so you're right there and ready to go. Much more comfortable too.

Good luck!

agree about near the airport (an hour and half drive already!) but think we might have so much last minute stuff that we'll need to be close so hubby can come to hotel later....

thanks again

We had 2 nights in a hotel before we flew out. Definitely made life easier, grandparents looked after the kids for a day while we did the last minute clearing out of the house, we had a good nights sleep after emotional goodbyes to family, then flew out the following day. Well worth the money to make a big life change a little less traumatic.

When we moved last year I took the dc's to my parents for the last few days while dh cleared up the house, sprted everything out for the tenants etc.

I think we'll do the same for this year's move.

We are hoping to not have to move at all next year.....

Def hotel. Just book it. Men sometimes have no idea of logistics and hassle of moving out of a house much less getting packed for first few weeks in new country etc.

When we moved from Bulgaria to Hungary I insisted on first 2 nights in a hotel. DH only felt we needed one but he was so glad that we had the second night as we didn't have to break our backs getting boxes unpacked and beds made up in a rush.

Once all your stuff is packed up and in boxes you will need to clean the house etc. Much easier if you are not staying there.

We had a night in a hotel before moving from Germany to Switzerland, and that was only a 2 hour flight. Your DC are going to be excited and possibly a bit upset at leaving their home, don't add a sleepless night to it.

When we left our UK flat moving to Australia (ds was 19m, I was 6m pg) we stayed a night with friends (instead of a hotel) - it was essential as there turned out to be far more stuff to be thrown out at the end than you can imagine. Plus the cleaning malarky. And if you're anything like us you will still be sorting out your suitcases at 3am the night before you go . I can't imagine if we'd tried to stay in the flat...

Blimey - we were still packing until 3am on the day that we returned to UK!
I'd say staying at a hotel would be a much easier option for you, although we were fine with what we did (and with a 2 year old kid).

En route to Oz both sets of grandparents stayed with us for a few days before leaving day and went back to the house for another night (or two?) after we had left to do the end of cleaning, washing, packing - it was invaluable.

En route home after a year away we moved in with close friends for 4 days whilst I packed/cleaned/emptied our rental house and dh did night shifts... couldn't have stayed and left from there ... would think fairly impossible so if you can't do our scenario one then def stay in a hotel for at least one night.