New Zealand at Christmas - any MSE ideas please?

blindman

Pandora205

I think you are approaching this in the totally wrong [MSE] way.

Facts
You want to visit your daughter [in NZ]
Fair enough
BUT
She' coming back [to UK?] in 12 momths
You can't stay at her place and save money whilst in NZ
You're limited to travel at the most expensive time of the year
You're limited to stay a very short time (less than 3 weeks...)due to the 15 year old who wants to come?

IMHO I'd think why you are doing this.

My advise:

Wait until the daughter returns to UK and see her.Throw a party with the money you save by doing the following:.

Travel to NZ in the shoulder season and go fo 5 weeks. Stop off on the way there AND back.

If you take the 15 yr old then choose a non-critical exam time and ask the school to let her off early\return late.

Enjoy life.

pandora205

blindman wrote: »

Pandora205

I think you are approaching this in the totally wrong [MSE] way.

Facts
You want to visit your daughter [in NZ]
Fair enough
BUT
She' coming back [to UK?] in 12 momths
You can't stay at her place and save money whilst in NZ
You're limited to travel at the most expensive time of the year
You're limited to stay a very short time (less than 3 weeks...)due to the 15 year old who wants to come?

IMHO I'd think why you are doing this.

My advise:

Wait until the daughter returns to UK and see her.Throw a party with the money you save by doing the following:.

Travel to NZ in the shoulder season and go fo 5 weeks. Stop off on the way there AND back.

If you take the 15 yr old then choose a non-critical exam time and ask the school to let her off early\return late.

Enjoy life.

Let me clarify - my elder daughter is returning in January/February 2010 so a month or two later (probably) so I can't go later in the year. I could throw her a party when she gets back, though I rather wanted to see New Zealand and her bfs family as well as her.

In fact I've managed to book flights for just over £1000 via cheapticket.co.uk Although this is more than they state on their website it's still a good deal, and that's flying with Singapore Airlines on Sat 19th and returning Sat 2nd Jan. It seems to be a very useful website if anyone else is thinking of going.

richardw

Perhaps work out what your 15 year old DD academic needs are and consider if this holiday is going to get in the way.

pandora205

richardw wrote: »

Perhaps work out what your 15 year old DD academic needs are and consider if this holiday is going to get in the way.

Well we're going to have lots of flight time to do some revision! She won't miss any school so as long as she brings some books and we can access revision websites when we are there she should be okay.

olias

With so little time, I would reccommend not having a stop over or breaking your journey. I have done the journey myself half a dozen times, and it really is not as bad as the scaremongers will have you believe.
I don't know what exact flight you have got, but I guess with Singapore Airlines there will be a stop at Singapore airport (it's usually a couple of hours).

Singapore airport is great, there are chill out rooms that are darkened and have full length recliners, and you can have massages etc. On the flight itself, the food with Singapore airlines is quite decent, the seat pitch is OK and there is a good entertainment system. Youll be there before you know it!

Just had a quick google, and here is one potential hostel

www.ahiparamotorcamp.co.nz

This is pretty much the quality of accommodation you can expect at hostels and you can't go wrong for the prices. Even the deluxe 2 bedroom self contained cabins work out at only £50 per night (that's for two, so only £25 each!), even less if you go for one of the smaller units.

Olias

blindman

pandora205 wrote: »

Well we're going to have lots of flight time to do some revision! She won't miss any school so as long as she brings some books and we can access revision websites when we are there she should be okay.

Sounds like a fun holiday for her NOT:eek:
So you've spent £2000 on airfare for two weeks holiday?

Sat 19th and returning Sat 2nd Jan

IMHO not very MSE, but there's nowt as queer as folk.

Hope you have a good time.

richardw

blindman wrote: »

Sounds like a fun holiday for her NOT

Was waiting for someone to comment, children hate doing revision on holidays away from their usual resources.

olias

TBH, my view is that travelling abroad is every bit as educational as any academic work (I'm obviously not talking about two weeks by a pool in costa del chav!). To experience different cultures/architecture/landscapes/wildlife etc helps to develop a much more confident, knowledgable and grounded individual. Unfortunately I don't have kids, but if I did, I would not hesitate in taking them travelling, even out of school (whatever the authorities say!).

I don't think missing two weeks of revision in what is after all her Christmas break, is going to harm at all. After all it will be about another 5-6 months until her exams.

Olias

pandora205

Thanks everyone. I know it's not the most moneysaving holiday ever but the flight price is still good for Christmas and New Year. We'll have a great time and I don't suppose that much revision will get done. My daughter does have exams in the January, as GCSEs are modular these days, but she works hard so it won't be last minute cramming anyway. And I agree that travelling is an education in itself - at least as useful as going to school in its own way.

jackieblack

pandora205 wrote: »

Thanks everyone. I know it's not the most moneysaving holiday ever but the flight price is still good for Christmas and New Year. We'll have a great time and I don't suppose that much revision will get done. My daughter does have exams in the January, as GCSEs are modular these days, but she works hard so it won't be last minute cramming anyway. And I agree that travelling is an education in itself - at least as useful as going to school in its own way.

Pandora, I've read through this thread becoming increasingly dimayed by the negative posts from a couple of people who felt they could chip in and critcise what you're planning. You asked for ideas! Not criticism.

Obviously there are cheaper times of the year to go, but your dates aren't really that flexible. For you, the dates are a greater factor than the cost.
It might well be better, ideally, to go for three weeks, but you don't have three weeks! So it's better, for you, to go for the length of time that you have got than not at all.

Maybe your daughter will get some revision done, maybe she won't, but she will get to see her sister who, presumably, she hasn't seen for several months, and have an experience that alot of girls her age would give their right (and left!) arms for!

Some things in life are more important than money (or moneysaving!) or exams!

Who knows what the future will hold - if you have the opportunity to go, go!

I hope you both have an absolutley fantastic time.