Going away with another family.

busiscoming2

We are off to Mallorca in a couple of weeks there are three of us me, dh and ds (13) and we are going with a friend of my dh, his wife and their three children aged between 4 - 8.
I know the guy a little, but have only met the family briefly, in a shopping centre about a year ago!! :eek:.

We are sharing an apartment (we have used it before) what I am asking is does anyone have any tips or ideas that might help it go smoothly?

katieclampet

How about arranging to meet up for a meal and a chat before you go, and sort out a few things? Are you actually having a holiday together, or just sharing the accomodation? Who is buying/paying/cooking the meals, will you be eating together, tidying, cleaning, cooking that sort of thing, might be easier to sort out a few ground rules before you go.

katiex

ankspon

DON'T throw your keys in a bowl,they might get the wrong idea

busiscoming2

davidhwdn wrote: »

DON'T throw your keys in a bowl,they might get the wrong idea

Might make it a memorable holiday!!

busiscoming2

katieclampet wrote: »

How about arranging to meet up for a meal and a chat before you go, and sort out a few things? Are you actually having a holiday together, or just sharing the accomodation? Who is buying/paying/cooking the meals, will you be eating together, tidying, cleaning, cooking that sort of thing, might be easier to sort out a few ground rules before you go.

katiex

I hadn't really thought about that! I have insisted we hire two cars and have told my OH I don't want to spend all the time with the other family.

Magnolia

Make the ground rules before you go! We did this with friends and before we went we told them what we wanted out of our holiday. We would be on the beach every day and if they wanted to join us then fine. We would go out for a meal every evening and if they wanted to join us then fine.

If we were going to do something the next day we would discuss it the evening before and if they wanted or did not want to do it then fine.

It is their holiday as much as it is yours and you do not have to please them nor do they have to please you.

Make sure they understand that the ground rules are for the benefit of both families and you should be ok - I hope!

Oldernotwiser

busiscoming2 wrote: »

I hadn't really thought about that! I have insisted we hire two cars and have told my OH I don't want to spend all the time with the other family.

Why should you spend any time with total strangers, whose children are so much younger than yours?

(How large is the apartment?)

minxtress

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

Why should you spend any time with total strangers, whose children are so much younger than yours?

(How large is the apartment?)

Totally agree, I think holidays are a time when it should be family only, a time to chill out together and not have to think of anything or anyone else.

piglet74

i have been away with another family before, they had 5 kids, we only have the one, we were in the same hotel but didnt share anything in terms of paying bills, cooking, etc, but i would not recommend it, or ever do it again, but maybe thats just me, their kids were a range of ages, so there was clashes with different things with them, i think its hard enough with another family you do know, never mind a family you hardly know, it will be hard, but its your hard earned holiday, so have fun and put yourself and your family first,

nickyhutch

I can't imagine why you'd agree to go on holiday with people you don't know. I've been with family, and that's bad enough!

I really think you need to meet up at least a couple of times before you go, and work out what you both (families) want from the holiday, and set some rules.

It's going to be difficult with the kids being such different ages.

Dr.Shoe_2

On the otherhand it might be one of the best holidays ever.

I remember when I was a kid we went on holiday with another family (he had been the best man at my parents' wedding). We did a lot of things independently but it also meant that if one pair of parents wanted to do something on their own there were built in babysitters, not that they were really needed as I was 16, and bro was 14 and their daughter was 15. It was also good for us kids to be there with someone we knew too.

My suggestion is that you get together for a series of days out first.