Traveling to family reunion on east coast

So a family reunion in and of itself is a stressful thing, especially with a very large Italian family . The drama has already started and the reunion is 5 months away. I'm not looking forward to the majority of this trip, but I'm excited for my grandparents to see their first great grandchildren again (they came to visit when the babies were 4 months old). Anyhoo - I'm desperately in need of advice on a few key things that I think will really impact the level of stress we experience during the trip. My husband is not going but I will have the luxury of another adult traveling with me to our destination as my aunt is flying here from Hawaii and traveling to the east coast with me - YAY! However, more than likely, I will be flying solo with the twins on the way home. At the time of the trip, the twins will have just turned 2 years old in May and the trip is the first week in June.

The major things I've been thinking about and need advice on are:

Flight:

• Should I book a red eye flight on the way there so that they sleep as much as possible or should I just get a morning flight out. We'll have a layover in NC regardless of what flight time/airline.

• Should I take their car seats on the plane and have them sit in them? If so - how do I juggle all this if on the return flight it's just me and the twinkies?

Hotel vs. Grandma's:
My grandma said it's ok to stay at her house, but the more I think about it, I'm not sure whether to stay there or at a hotel. Her house tends to become the hub for the family during events like this, so there will be no escape. At the same time, it will be nice to not have to worry about loading the kids in to a car at the end of the day, driving to a hotel and then trying to get the bedtime routine down. Plus, there will be lots of aunties that might be inclined to babysit more readily at grandma's .

Finally - do you think 5 days will wipe the three of us out? I can't decide if 4 days is too little or 5 days is too much. Also, how long did it take for your kiddos to get over jetlag/travel disruption to routines and get back in to a normal schedule once you returned home?

Thanks so much for any help!

 

Well, let me first say it will probably wipe you out, but it's definitely doable and don't stress about it. Take the 5 days to visit with family. I know that when I am around my family, I rarely see my kids (they are in everyone else's laps!)...especially because they don't get to see them much. I would probably stay at your grandma's house. Since it is the hub, there will be people there to help you with the twins and that will be an escape in itself, plus like you said you won't have to pack up the kids, haul them to the hotel and worry about a bedtime routine (which in my experience goes out the window on vacations).

Second, I would check the carseats. My mom lives in AZ and us in Louisiana and she bought car seats for relatively inexpensive, but we also visit often, so we didn't have to worry with them. When they were smaller, we took their snugrides with us and just gate checked them with the stroller, chances are.....they will probably sit in your lap for part of the trip and getting small kids, carry ons and car seats down a jetway and onto the plane will prove cumbersome (just the kids on their own will be enough!) When you are by yourself, I would definitely check them.

Also just take the morning. The kids will be refreshed with a good nights sleep and hopefully that will be better although it's a toss up. I have noticed the later our flights and more tired they were the less apt to sleep they are, especially on a plane that is something new and they aren't used to.

My experience with flying is that it is very hit or miss whether they will be in a good mood or we turn into one of "those" families.
HTH!

 

I went to Seattle last year when the girls were about 21months and I am planning a trip again for this year again. They will be a little over 2.5yo at the time.

Flights: last year I took the Jet Blue redeye flight from JFK to Seattle. Although I did have the girls car seats they ended up sleeping on me and my mom. So I found carseat travel bags and the carseats went home as baggage. I also came home on a midnight flight out of Seattle and the girls fell asleep again on me and my mom. For both flights I bought airline seats for them to give us some more room. On one side of the plane we had all three seats (my mom & dad and one of the girls) and then we had 2 seats on the other side of the aisle (for me and my other girl).

When we got to Seattle the girls immiediatly adjusted to the time change. We stayed in a Hotel and they slept great there at night and did naps at my brothers house. They took a little bit crankier adjusting to cmoing home but not that terrible. I really think the red eye flights helped with adjusting to the different time zones.

I stayed at a Hotel and I found it to be fine. Just followed the same routine we do at home for going to sleep once we got back to the rooms. I also found the hotel to be a nice place to go to have some quiet time from my brothers house.

Hope this helps.

 

Thanks so much Serena. For the age of 2, do I need to purchase a seat for each of the children? I think from what I've seen on the airline sites that I need to at that age, regardless of whether or not one may be in my lap (or my aunt's on the way there) at any given time?

 

Hi -

Sounds like it really will be a rewarding trip. I prefer overnight flights, but with a portable DVD player, even waking hours on flights are not that bad.

I fly with todderls alone (there are many of us here who do regularly) and I stopped using car seats at 2. Some disagree because of the safety issue and because it's easier to confine them, but at that age, their feet end up pressed against the seat in front of them, along with the hassle of lugging them around.

You do have to book seats for each of them after the age of two. Book far in advance so you can pick your seats (the airlines actually have put us in different rows before, even knowing their age!).

Beg, borrow or steal a portable DVD player. It will be your best friend on flights. That plus little toys and lots of snacks (I save the worst junk food for flights - my girls love having their own little tube of Pringles, lollipops, etc.)

You'll get lots of great advice here. I did!

Best,
Mia

 

We have made two international trips with our twins and have another one planned for May when they will be 17 months. Since we have a 10 hour flight we went ahead and bought them each seats so we can all be comfortable. If they are over 2 then you do have to buy them seats. Instead of taking car seats on the plane I am going to buy them these safety harnesses that have recently been approved by the FAA. See this website: http://www.kidsflysafe.com/
They are the only non-car seat safety device that is approved. I will feel much better knowing they will be strapped in and safe.

As for the jet lag my pedi told me it takes one day for each hour of time difference to adjust. I'm not sure how it will work now that they are older but last year it did take about a week to get back on schedule for a 6 hour time difference.

 

Sounds cool! If you plan to visit New Hampshire, Waterville Valley Resort is a great place to stay. I've heard that waterville valley resort customer service is excellent and can help make your trip more enjoyable. They offer a variety of activities and comfortable accommodations. Anyone else planning a trip or have recommendations for places to visit?