MizFiz
02-25-2004, 12:41 PM
Posted by MizFiz on June 10, 2001 at 09:20:14:
22 years ago I became a single parent with 3 boys aged 5,7,8 yrs on a teacher's budget. I wanted to travel with them as much as possible so that they could see that there was another world out there, beyond our small college town. Here are some of the things that worked for us: bargain cruise trip for (eldest son counted as the second adult), other two went free all in the same room, we had our meals together and they had a group of 40 kids on ship to play with. They LOVED it. I couldn't get them off the ship to tour the islands unless I insisted! (Caribbean, Royal Cruise line, 10 days for $1300 total) We also tried American Cruise Lines in Hawaii (5 islands in 10 days); I rented a jeep at each port and ended up driving a jeep load of kids around- everyone wanted to come with us -to places like QUEENS'BATH (swim hole not much advertised on big island)My Dad helped out with this trip; I remember eating at the big Hawaiian hotels and paying $25 for my meal and kids were free and my sons were super polite and welcomed! WE stayed in economy condo at Kona and saved money by staying 10 days instead of just one week (same price); In 1986 we hitched a second-hand (hauled wood) trailer to our Toyota van, loaded bikes on and made a trip from northern California to Vancouver, alternating campsites with a motel site and/or family (one stop) so that we could have a decent shower/bed ; we stayed in university housing for the World's Fair and then left the rig and backpacked on the ferry over to Victoria, Buchart's Gardens; That was a 3 week trip that none of us will ever forget. What fun. Another summer (making more money by then)we flew to Albuquerque, rented a Winnebago and added my cousin's middle child (4 kids) and drove through New Mexico and Colorado, parking in front of relatives' houses rather than staying inside with them, camping at Mesa Verde, Red Rock, Taos - the kids had a ball and so did I. Hope this helps someone. My sons are now 26,28,29 and traveling as much as they can! And I am enjoying Europe trips on a budget, sans children :)
22 years ago I became a single parent with 3 boys aged 5,7,8 yrs on a teacher's budget. I wanted to travel with them as much as possible so that they could see that there was another world out there, beyond our small college town. Here are some of the things that worked for us: bargain cruise trip for (eldest son counted as the second adult), other two went free all in the same room, we had our meals together and they had a group of 40 kids on ship to play with. They LOVED it. I couldn't get them off the ship to tour the islands unless I insisted! (Caribbean, Royal Cruise line, 10 days for $1300 total) We also tried American Cruise Lines in Hawaii (5 islands in 10 days); I rented a jeep at each port and ended up driving a jeep load of kids around- everyone wanted to come with us -to places like QUEENS'BATH (swim hole not much advertised on big island)My Dad helped out with this trip; I remember eating at the big Hawaiian hotels and paying $25 for my meal and kids were free and my sons were super polite and welcomed! WE stayed in economy condo at Kona and saved money by staying 10 days instead of just one week (same price); In 1986 we hitched a second-hand (hauled wood) trailer to our Toyota van, loaded bikes on and made a trip from northern California to Vancouver, alternating campsites with a motel site and/or family (one stop) so that we could have a decent shower/bed ; we stayed in university housing for the World's Fair and then left the rig and backpacked on the ferry over to Victoria, Buchart's Gardens; That was a 3 week trip that none of us will ever forget. What fun. Another summer (making more money by then)we flew to Albuquerque, rented a Winnebago and added my cousin's middle child (4 kids) and drove through New Mexico and Colorado, parking in front of relatives' houses rather than staying inside with them, camping at Mesa Verde, Red Rock, Taos - the kids had a ball and so did I. Hope this helps someone. My sons are now 26,28,29 and traveling as much as they can! And I am enjoying Europe trips on a budget, sans children :)