Should we stay or should we go now?

[Emma09]

(darn lack of multi-quote on tapatalk!)

That's what I'm worried about - that it'll take hours and we'll be completely wrecked before we even get there.

Maybe FIL could drive up and get us from Sydney. I don't think they could take car seats up for us but possibly we could take car seats on the plane...

Might need to google cheap accommodation ideas...

You can take carseats.
And if I remember correctly, it wasn't a huge amount of money in the grand scheme of things.

[~ Zarava Flutterby ~]

Also I'd find it really hard to have someone say no to my invite and them then go on a holiday interstate anyway.

Really? I would actually accept this as a reason not to come?
If someone said look sorry we had already booked a family holiday before we knew about this and we don't really have the $$ to make 2 trips, I would totally understand.

You need to do what your comfortable with hun, you should be able to take car seats on a plane if the IL's can pick you up.



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[sloane]

I'd drive Friday night, stop halfway in a motel, then go the rest in the morning. Stay overnight up the in a cheap motel and do a day trip back with lots of stops.

i would do this (or peanutter's option!). i don't camp so it would have to be a motel or a cabin. but a cabin could be good fun with the kids.

if you decide to go, i'd be looking at it as a chance for you to get away as a family & have a little break & you just happen to be going to a family function as well. and think of things to make it fun for you guys. no, i have no idea what these things may be at the moment, but we have a couple of months to help you think of things

[Amity]

Is there a train? Kids love trains.

[Traveller]

I'd go with a lovely gift, and a sincere apology that you can't make it. It's a lot of disruption for you and TBH if they had wanted you there then I'm sure they would have given some suggestions for accommodation seeing as they have no room for you themselves. For example in that situation if I was asking a lot of people to travel for an event I would have approached a local business to find out their rates and let them know this could be a regular thing for my family from interstate, hence got some special rates for you.

Don't worry about the holiday. You booked that before you knew about this so don't need to feel any guilt. In fact you could mention that had you known you would not have booked the holiday to allow yourselves the time/money to come up for this day instead.

[LionsandBears]

The train from Melb to Syd is 13 hours I think. Stay close to Central (backpackers??) then train Syd to 'Gong. Then back again.

Sounds like my idea of hell but then so does camping

I think PN's idea is a good one. A pre-arranged trip & a limited budget is a good excuse.

Btw - a naming day is a secular Christening. I didnt go to my neice or nephew's Christenings when I lived interstate and nobody seemed to mind.

ETA - the next line in the song is "if we stay there will be trouble, if we go it will be double" which seems fitting to your situation the Clash rock

[Cass72]

I say "too hard basket" stay put!!

DS1 was supposed to be in the wedding party for my brother. We were all going to go but the wedding was in Victoria and we were living in Western Australia. Then I got pregnant and couldn't be stuffed. Was going to just send DS1 but then looked at the airfares: who the hell gets married 5 days before Christmas??!!!

Rang my brother and said, sorry, no can do. You know what? The wedding went off well and we weren't talked about (well, my mum said we weren't).

The moral of the story:

DO WHAT'S BEST FOR YOU AND YOURS .... BUGGER THE REST I SAY!!

Oh, and what Peanutter said: buy a really good present and send it in your stead. A naming day is a non-religious christening/baptism thing. Never understood it myself

[Pholi]

I agree with the 'too hard basketers'
Sincere apologies, prebooked holiday and limited budget, a really, really nice present with some clear time and effort going into it and a vague suggestion that you get together some other time.

[Ginger]

have you made any decisions OP?

[feeb]

Ok then I need some ideas for making it a fun adventure!!

Lots of stops
Lots of snacks
Portable DVD player and lots of kids dvd's!

[beansbeans!]

If you decide to drive up then drive up through albury. We drove from here (southern highlands) to melb last year it took 6.5hrs with the girls. Much shorter trip, and from here, the gong is only 40mins away if that. the coastal way is beautiful but much longer and harder on the kids, as we've done that way too.

I would put you up here if you wanted, granted not in the gong, but close enough, yet far enough away

But realistically I would be putting a lovely gift in the post and sending apoligies for not being able to make it. its a long way to go for a couple of days especially when you have a holiday so close afterwards.

[Little Chicken]

If it helps, your DS would fly for free cause he is under two, however, he would have to sit on your lap. The benefit of having an infant fly is all the stuff you can take for free. There are also cheap car rentals around, and a lt will provide appropriate child car seats as well.

[Heaven]

If this is the same SIL who didn't invite you to the circle then poo to her and don't go at all! lol

[xXHopeXx]

Really? I would actually accept this as a reason not to come?
If someone said look sorry we had already booked a family holiday before we knew about this and we don't really have the $$ to make 2 trips, I would totally understand.

You need to do what your comfortable with hun, you should be able to take car seats on a plane if the IL's can pick you up.



Sent from my iPhone, more than likely while I should be doing something else!

I Agree with this, a family holiday, especially to the gold coast it's exactly cheap, let alone having to go interstate again two weeks prior.

If it would make you strapped for cash, I would be inclined not to go, but send a lovely thoughtful present and card etc. and let SIL know that finances just simply don't allow two trips in two weeks...

However, if it is financially viable, id be inclined to fly up, for the same reasons others have mentioned about being able to spend time with cousins, it's much quicker flying, and if you fly up Friday morn, and fly back Sunday arvo/night, they'd have plenty of time to play
Hiring a car for that long isn't *too* bad if you can google cheap car hire or something similar, even consider not actually getting it from Sydney airport if time permits (I.e. when flights land/depart)

That way there's less hassle of potentially having the trip from hell up there if the kids don't like it, and you get to spend more time, and thus make it abit more worthwhile ITMS?


Sent from the mobile world of iPhones - while no doubt i should be elsewhere!

[xXHopeXx]

If it helps, your DS would fly for free cause he is under two, however, he would have to sit on your lap. The benefit of having an infant fly is all the stuff you can take for free. There are also cheap car rentals around, and a lt will provide appropriate child car seats as well.

Sorry to take away from your post OP, but little chicken, what can you take for free with an infant? Do they get their own 7kg of luggage? Or anything really?


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[Little Chicken]

When I flew, no luggage allowance, but things like a pram, portacot, car seat etc. in fact more now then I could then.

ETA: QANTAS allows three infant items, according to the website Adults accompanying infants are entitled to check in up to three infant items for each travelling infant. Infant items can include; collapsible stroller or push-chair, collapsible cot or bassinet; or car seat or baby capsule. Charges will apply for any baggage carried in addition to the checked baggage allowance and three infant items.

Domestic Flights
Children up to 12 years of age, are permitted one car seat and one collapsible pram, stroller or push chair in addition to the checked baggage allowance.

[~ Zarava Flutterby ~]

When I took DD2 she was 2mths old she was allowed a nappy bag as carry on and I could have taken stroller etc free, not sure if all airlines do that though.


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[xXHopeXx]

Oh nice! Do you have a certain amount of things you can take? Or?


Sent from the mobile world of iPhones - while no doubt i should be elsewhere!