Am I Crazy? Vacation Planning

Flying is stressful, but driving wastes so much of your vacation time.

Southwest boards families after the A group, so I really don’t think you’ll have a problem sitting together.

We only fly southwest.

I have to vote with your hubby here. 3-4 days vacation and driving 10 hours in each direction. It's just too much time out of what is already a limited time. And 4 kids bored for 10 hours straight in each direction. That would be stressful.

Pay for early bird check in.

If you’re only going for 3-4 days, surely everyone can pack in their carry on plus personal item. That eliminates checking bags and retrieving luggage.


I have to agree with your husband, though. Short vacations are only worth it if you fly.

Can you consider doing things like this to make airport travel easier?

- Each of the oldest teams up with one of the youngest. The oldest of the team is responsible for helping the younger one get through the security line, go the bathroom, eat, drink, sit next to on the plane, etc.
- Each family members packs ONE suitcase and ONE personal item (no bigger than a 20L backpack). That way everyone can take their suitcase onto the plane so you don't have to do the luggage tango. Just watch your liquids.
- Pay for EarlyBird check-in on SWA.
- Don't set your expectations of getting three seats together. Work for two-seats together. It's an airplane - no one is going anywhere. Refer back to the buddy system in my first point
- Get two adjoining hotel rooms with a lock on the door so you and DH can have some alone time.
- If this doesn't help consider hiring a "nanny" to go with you to help manage the younger kiddos so you and DH can relax. Heck, get a friend of your 14 year old teenager to go with you to be the extra set of hands and eyes you need on the 12, 9, and 5 year olds.

Driving is going to suck all of your time away from what could be a really cool vacation.

In my 15 years of flying SouthWest for business I have NEVER seen a child this young fly in a seat by themselves if the parent kindly asks another passenger to switch seats.  If the passenger is that much of an asshat and won't switch usually someone else steps up.

Is there any way you can take the train somewhere? Chicago? I'm not sure where you are from, but that would be a new experience for the kids and nobody has to drive.

I'm sorry but spending my 20 yr wedding anniversary with my 4 kids and dealing with all of that sounds like a nightmarish time. No thanks. I would find someone to take the kids. Split them up with friends? or drop them off with family.

Yeah, forget that. 

Can the in laws not watch the kids while you all take a short trip? What about friends if you split the kids between families.

The thing about flying is that you know ahead a time that it is what it is. You take a few deep breaths and get through it and then you are at your destination. To make it easier each person is responsible for their own stuff they will need while at the vacation destination. Each person carries or rolls their own bag.(yes this includes the 5 year old)Then take advantage of the free bags that Southwest offers and check them. All the kids can have a small backpack with their activities/food they want ON the plane stored in them

If you are worried about sitting with the 5 year old buy two early birds and get on with him/her and secure a seat. Everyone else can sit somewhere on the plane. No need to all be together.

We fly often with our three kids so they are seasoned...I gave up being responsible for all their stuff (and the stress of that) long ago. Everyone packs for themselves and I just give them reminders.

The trip will be as fun as you allow it to be without thinking of all the negatives.

Honestly I'd rather not go. I'd rather stay home and have some days/evenings out, some time with the kids and some without.

I have 4 kids - two teens and two 8yos. We fly SWA and haven't had any issues. I don't pay for pre-boarding and we no longer qualify for family boarding. I check-in right at the 24 hour mark and typically get A boarding passes or some of the first B group passes. We have always been able to all sit in 2 rows. Sitting 2X3 wouldn't have been an issue either.

We do assign one older kid to be responsible for a younger kid. And checking luggage with SWA hasn't been a big deal either.

Sounds like maybe you just don't like to fly. And that's fine too .

That does not sound like a fun trip! (And we took our kids on our 20th anniversary trip to Cape Cod where we rented a cottage.). The quick turn around and the cooking in a kitchenette. No thanks. And shows for 6 people is going to cost up the wazoo! And I wouldn’t have left my kids home alone overnight with the eldest only 14.

I get it. We are a military family and have never had family to stay with our kids. We hired sitters or stayed home. It’s ok to celebrate with your kids—I’d just really recommend at least a dinner out alone.

I’d say stay home and go out for the night. Find a show locally and go to that. If you are in too small of a town, go to the city and get two hotel rooms. Let the kids order pizza and go out to a show or dinner. The 14 year old should be able to keep them all alive for a few hours.

As much as I think flying is a highly overrated hassle, I wouldn’t want to spend 2 days in a 4 day trip driving. But it doesn’t sound like much of a vacation for you.