should i insist??

pukkamum

My DH is coming into some money soon (an inheritance) and we have decided we are definitely going to use it for a holiday.

Originally we were thinking of just two weeks in the sun, however, we were chatting about my dad (who lives in California) and how good it would be to go over there and see him.
Now i have looked into it and for around £2,500 we could fly there (DH,dd,ds and i) and then hire a camper van for two weeks.

My dad lives in Redway which is a beautiful town north of San Francisco and although i am not suggesting we spend the whole two weeks with him it would make a good 'base' for us to travel round from.

I became really excited about the whole idea last night as i have always wanted to go to America and also i have not seen my dad for four years, he is an old hippie who lives in a bus and survives doing odd jobs.
The last time i saw him he came over for my wedding (he literally scrimped and saved for a year and had some help from friends to get here).

I really believe that if i don't go over there i will never see him again and after losing my step-dad very suddenly and horrifically 3 years ago this thought really upsets me as well as the fact he has never met dd (2).

My DH now is saying that he thinks we should go somewhere 'safe' that we know we would enjoy such as the canaries etc.
My argument is that we could travel to all the wonderful parks and cities in the area such as san francisco and also take the kids to disney.

My question is should i push the point?
I am very aware that it is his inheritance and that we haven't had a foreign holiday for four years and he was really looking forward to 2 weeks lazing by the pool in the sun.

flutterbyuk25

Can you not compromise and do one week staying with your dad then the 2nd week somewhere else in California by a pool?

San Fran is amazing, and there is loads to do, and would be even better with a 'local' guide like your dad.

x

whitewing

I wonder if another possibility would be to go on a holiday that DH wants, but pay for your dad to fly over and stay with you for a bit at another time (maybe Xmas)?

Our holidays are few and far between, and always seem to incorporate other things - eg our actual wedding last year - and it would be sooooo lovely to go somewhere without any kind of duty or expectation.

MrsTinks

I have to say that the money is your DHs and not yours. My vote would be for him to do what he wants and then you could maybe fly your dad over to see you again if there is anything left?

Js_Other_Half

San Francisco is lovely, I think it would a great place for the kids to visit. They'd adore the cable cars, and you'd really enjoy Alcatraz. I'm with Flutterbyuk25 - go in the nicer weather, spend a week in LA doing Disneyland Resort and then spend a week with your Dad.

pukkamum

Thanks for all you replies i'm afraid we simply could not afford to fly my dad over.
The inheritance is only£3,000 so we would still have to save for spending money.
I really like the idea of doing the two different holidays a week with dad and a week by the pool but yet again am worried by the cost.
DH was more up for it when we talked about staying in a hotel til we looked at hotel prices!
Especially with the pound so weak against the dollar now.
I think part of the trouble is that our hols for the past four years have been camping ones and he thinks this would be just the same.

pukkamum

p.s what would the weather be like early september?

Pssst

I love the idea of your old man being an old hippie and living in a bus.

As stated,the money is really your DHs though of course,as a couple,there is a certain amount of sharing to be had and so a mutual agreement should ensue.

If i had the choice of Canaries or going to California i know which id choose.

Theres plenty to see in CA and up the coast toward where your father is staying. Budget hotels such as days inn and others are fairly cheap. Avoid motel6 as they are at the bottom of the pile.

I was in CA around September and it was fine,,quite warm and pleasant inland,especially in AZ,cooler at the coast and in SFO.

PolishBigSpender

You couldn't afford 300 pounds to fly your father over?

If you can't get two weeks in the Canary Islands for your family for less than two and a half thousand pounds, something is very wrong. Use the rest to fly your father over - voila.

Janepig

California vs Canary Islands? Errrrrr, it's a no brainer ain't it?

Jxx

starbump

pukkamum wrote: »

My question is should i push the point?
I am very aware that it is his inheritance and that we haven't had a foreign holiday for four years and he was really looking forward to 2 weeks lazing by the pool in the sun.

Only if you would be willing to spend the same amount of money visiting DH's parents. I agree with the other posters: it would be better to expend a few hundred pounds on a plane ticket for your father (and agree on a vacation that both you and DH will enjoy). Your in-laws simply don't engender the same feelings as your own family - which is only natural.