I am enjoying reading your trip report and i like your honesty ...
I travelled to Scotland 4 year ago and loved it a lot.
Are people not enjoying the report? My goal is an honest warts and all report. If I just seem like a grouch, then I am missing my mark.
As one who has traveled extensively with a small child - and with a husband and grown child who occasionally act like small children - I’m finding your report both enjoyable and hysterically funny. OF COURSE the mom gets stuck getting up early with the kid, giving up her preferred activity, and caring if the kid is happy. Not that dads don’t try, but it seems, at least in my life, it’s usually the mom.
Over stimulation and unmet expectations (no matter how unrealistic or if we had anything to do with setting them) are recipes for a meltdown in any kid. It’s just part of travel, and learning to roll with it takes time and repeated travel. Which leads to a big kid who is a joy to travel with. Meanwhile, a mom knows she will be called on to sacrifice some of her time, energy, and emotional capital while in the midst of a great trip.
The thing I loved about ABDs was they drastically reduced the amount of “momming” I had to do. Someone else planned the itinerary, someone else brought the water and snacks and bug spray. Someone else presented a little gift that provided distraction. So I could deal with the meltdowns as they came up and get back to the regularly scheduled program of fun.
I’ll be interested to read your final verdict on group travel, but either way would encourage you to go again.
And funny story about meltdowns - on our Italy ABD, I was the one who had one after a particularly difficult morning (not ABD related, this was time on our own). My DD 17 at the time calmed me down using all the techniques I used to apply to her, including telling me “it’s ok to be upset sometimes,” offering to get me some juice, and talking about the fun thing we would do next. They learn!
Even as I was reading, I thought to myself I love your honesty! I think often these things can get glossed over, leaving me to think why aren't my kids so perfect?? Mine whine or have grouch face. But in the end, we all still have a great trip.
I have been thinking about this as well, in the sense of "family" meaning "traveling with children." It didn't occur to me until our Iceland trip. Based on those already signed up I feel pretty confident our Greece trip will be parents and grandparents with kids around the same ages as our kids. But because this is something that's important to us in this particular stage, it's something I'll confirm going forward.Your question does raise a question that I have been pondering since we took our trip, which is whether ABD really is a family travel company.
I have been thinking about this as well, in the sense of "family" meaning "traveling with children." It didn't occur to me until our Iceland trip. Based on those already signed up I feel pretty confident our Greece trip will be parents and grandparents with kids around the same ages as our kids. But because this is something that's important to us in this particular stage, it's something I'll confirm going forward.
I have been thinking about this as well, in the sense of "family" meaning "traveling with children." It didn't occur to me until our Iceland trip. Based on those already signed up I feel pretty confident our Greece trip will be parents and grandparents with kids around the same ages as our kids. But because this is something that's important to us in this particular stage, it's something I'll confirm going forward.
This is definitely an interesting question. We have done three ABDs so far, and there were lots of kids on each, although I'm not sure there have been any children younger than age eight on the ABDs we've done. We leave for Backstage Magic next week, and I am very curious about our group size and makeup. We did the Austin Adventures Yellowstone Family trip last winter, and my kids (ages 13 and 15 at the time) were the only actual children in our group of 15. There was only one other actual family (the rest were couples and we had one solo traveler), but their kids were both over 21. We had a great time, but it does really seem to be hit or miss as to whether a family trip actually includes true families or groups with kids.
I also have been wondering about the feasibility of "families with kids only" departures on ABD trips, the way that they do adult-only departures.
I also have been wondering about the feasibility of "families with kids only" departures on ABD trips, the way that they do adult-only departures.
ABD advertises itself as a family travel company. My expectation is that it is okay to take children on a trip that is advertised as such. Your question does raise a question that I have been pondering since we took our trip, which is whether ABD really is a family travel company. We were told by others in our group who had been on other ABD trips that they had never seen so many junior adventurers as they did on this trip and that groups with just one or two people under 18 were a regular occurrence. To me, that is contrary to what I would expect based upon the "Let's Adventure Together" slogan that ABD uses.
I have been thinking about this as well, in the sense of "family" meaning "traveling with children." It didn't occur to me until our Iceland trip. Based on those already signed up I feel pretty confident our Greece trip will be parents and grandparents with kids around the same ages as our kids. But because this is something that's important to us in this particular stage, it's something I'll confirm going forward.
This is definitely an interesting question. We have done three ABDs so far, and there were lots of kids on each, although I'm not sure there have been any children younger than age eight on the ABDs we've done. We leave for Backstage Magic next week, and I am very curious about our group size and makeup. We did the Austin Adventures Yellowstone Family trip last winter, and my kids (ages 13 and 15 at the time) were the only actual children in our group of 15. There was only one other actual family (the rest were couples and we had one solo traveler), but their kids were both over 21. We had a great time, but it does really seem to be hit or miss as to whether a family trip actually includes true families or groups with kids.
Did you ask the waiter / waitress or Head waiter for a different meal ( within the price range of the set meal ) ?
Did you ask for potatoes & veg ?
Any Hotel will have a kitchen that will make up a meal for you if asked .
I know because I do not eat Fish or Chicken I am a Meat person .... beef or pork .
In the many hotels & restaurants all over Europe that I have stayed in over the last 35 years I have
never failed to have a meal served to me.
I think it depends on the ABD and also depends on your kids. My kids who are now 6 and 8 have done 3 ABDs- NYC, Wyoming and the Rhine. We have had a great time on all of the trips. A coufindple things that I have done that I think have helped is I have always called in advance and ensured I booked a trip with other junior adventurers. My kids have still been the youngest or one of the youngest but we have always had other kids of relatively similar age. I honestly don't think I would book one where there are not other young kids. This has sometimes meant switching our dates a bit or considering different options but for me it's been worth it.I have enjoyed your report, but I, too, was reading it thinking that your son's enjoyment (and thus the family's enjoyment) was impacted because he was too young for the trip. Having been on the Scotland trip before (the original itinerary), I think it is definitely geared toward older kids/teens as are many (most?) of ABD's trips.
But to your point, when I went back to check the age requirement for this trip it says at least 4 but recommends 6 and above. IMO, even 6 is too young for all but the extremely rare child. I thought ABD used to say minimum 6 and recommended for 8 and above, but I can't find any or my older itineraries (i.e. from Ireland in 2007). I can definitely see how the marketing is misleading, and I personally would like to see them use stronger language and adjust the ages up. But I think they get a lot of pressure from people who are dying to bring their your kids on a "Disney" trip. In our 7 ABDs, we've had a lot of junior adventurers, but we've only had two kids in the 6-7 range. Both had issues, and I think would have had much more fun doing something less intensive.
I think the mix depends on the time of year, too. We did Greece in summer and had a ton of junior adventurers, but most of them were in the tween/teen category. We haven't had a lot of grandparents on our trips because I think--like very young kids--the trips we've done have been a little too intense for older folks. The only one we had grandparents on that I can remember was the ABD Baltic add-on, which was a totally different beast. Our trip in the shoulder season/early summer didn't have as many kids as our other trips.
Funny that you said 8 because I think that's my number/age, too, where I think kids are best in a position to succeed on a trip like ABD. And this is coming from someone who has traveled extensively with her kids from the time they were born. My son had ten+ round-trip flights under his belt in his first year of birth I think my kids were almost 8 and 10 on our first ABD.
I've done Backstage Magic, and we had one young kid (6?) on the trip who as too young. I think BSM is best for kids 10-12+. Contrary to what people think a large part of the trip is *not* going on rides at DL and GC! There is a lot of behind the scenes, studio stuff that probably won't interest young kids. One of the younger kids was so anxious to get to DL and do rides by time we finally got to the park, the family ended up taking off and not doing some of the activities. I felt really bad for the kid. It was like we were holding out a cupcake and telling them they couldn't eat it, LOL.
Oh, geez. I hope this is not going to come out wrong.Are people not enjoying the report? My goal is an honest warts and all report. If I just seem like a grouch, then I am missing my mark.
To answer your questions:
ABD advertises itself as a family travel company. My expectation is that it is okay to take children on a trip that is advertised as such. Your question does raise a question that I have been pondering since we took our trip, which is whether ABD really is a family travel company. We were told by others in our group who had been on other ABD trips that they had never seen so many junior adventurers as they did on this trip and that groups with just one or two people under 18 were a regular occurrence. To me, that is contrary to what I would expect based upon the "Let's Adventure Together" slogan that ABD uses.
The only activity that I did not get to do that I wanted to do was the canoeing and that was because we did not sign up for it. As I mentioned, I regret that. I was accommodating my husband's irrational fear of canoes when I should have just told him to get over it.
As to whether other people were affected by my son, I can only go by what the rest of the group told us. We had more than 1 person tell us that they were very impressed with how well-behaved and pleasant my son was. I suppose it is possible that the group secretly felt that my son was a terrible disruption -- but I don't see why people would go through the trouble of seeking us out to complement us if that was the case. I think it is more likely that they were holding him to the standard of a 5 year old based upon their own experience as parents and found that DS came out ahead.
I did revise the description of the Loch Ness lunch because I understand after re-reading it why you interpreted my recounting as though my son were being noisy. He was actually sulking and I did not get to listen to the speaker because I was trying to cheer him up. I can't imagine that anyone else in the group besides me cared that my son wasn't enjoying himself -- but I suppose I could be wrong.
I am saving my wrap up (including whether we would travel with ABD again) for the end.
Oh, geez. I hope this is not going to come out wrong.
It's not that I'm "not enjoying" your report. It's just that it's pretty depressing to read, because, based on what you wrote, it sounds like none of you, in particular your son, are having a good time. The vast majority of what I'm reading seems negative and critical (especially of your son, and a bit of your DH) and only 10% sounds like a good trip. I totally agree that the way to get yourself a kid who is a good traveler is to start them traveling early, but you need to start them with a trip that's appropriate for the kid's maturity and attention span. And the Scotland ABD just doesn't seem to have been that trip for you. You blame ABD for not making the trip family friendly, but the truth is, ABD's are not a one-size-fits-all vacation where all itineraries will cater to everyone from a 5 year old to a 95 year old. Some trips may fit that, but Scotland is definitely NOT one of them. ABD has a lot of different itineraries that fit a lot of different people and a lot of different styles of travel. You can't just assume it will all magically fit because of the Disney name or a slogan. "Family" has a lot of different definitions, not just a Mom, a Dad and a 5-year-old kid. ABD *may* not be perfect for your family, but that does not make them not a family travel company. They're maybe just not *your* family's travel company, at least at this stage of your family.
The other thing is, if your son really is a good traveler, it feels to me like you're doing him a huge disservice with your trip report, because it makes him sound whiny and bratty and disruptive. Your report focuses on his behavior, not on the trip. And it just doesn't present his behavior in a very nice light. This is obviously all my opinion, based on my reading of your report. I may have it totally wrong, but I can only go by what I'm reading.
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