View Full Version : Advice required please
Has you all probably know, me and my family, hubby, me and 2 sons are off to Florida in July 2007.
We will also be joined by my brother and his 2 daughters, we went away with them last week to the Isle of Wight, in seperate caravans (our own tourers not statics) for a trial as to how we all got on.
Well we got on ok, some things irritated me, such as, us wanting to do what we wanted to do and my brother not likeing it and making us feel guilty about doing what we were doing, for eg, we have been before, 3 times now, we like going to the beach or just relaxing at the van and in the pool which was on site.
My brother and his daughters like being up and doing all the time and usually stay on sites with clubs etc, also he likes going round the seaside towns and shops ( we don't mind on the odd day if the weather isn't too good, but not every day!) He did have his own car, I suggested many a time that he go and look round on their own.
My question is, when we go to Florida, we have been before, they haven't, we want to do different things now, were as they are beginners (I remember what it was like and you want to do everything) I know that it is a bit daunting driving in a foreign country for the first time, so do we go with them everywhere and not have relax time or steer them in the right direction and let him get on with it?.
KarenScott
09-09-2006, 16:52
I must admit my advice would be to hire cars per family. Then you can go somewhere together if you wanted and seperately if you both have different ideas.[msnwink]
I am assumming they haven't been to US before so maybe are a bit daunted but at least they can follow you from the airport initially and after that it becomes quite natural, I think[msnembarrased]
Are you staying in the same home?
Hi Vicky,
Some friends of ours shared accommodation in Florida with another family a couple of years back and they had one people carrier between the two families. My friend says that if he was to do it again they would hire separate cars as their interests were different and it caused a little aggravation when they would have preferred to do something different.
(Another small source of disagreement was the air conditioning. One family preferred it on during the night - the other family found it too chilly....but I think they managed to compromise on that!)
I would certainly agree with Karen about getting separate cars so you can do your own thing.
Have a brilliant time when you go.[msnsmile2]
I must agree separate cars both parties can then please themselves what they do and what time they come and go. I am sure you will have a fantastic time.
Definitely hire 2 cars!!! This is a relationship-saving decision for sure. Having 2 cars will go a long way toward keeping the peace. And hopefully you'll all still be speaking to eachother once you're back home!![msnwink]
heathercobbett
09-09-2006, 18:23
You will find a Florida vcation much different to a UK one,Vicky
You will have such an exciting time that you will not get on one anothers nerves.Also a rental house and pool gives you so much more space and often a TV in every room that you will not feel on top of one anotherWhen we take friends and I have had enough I retreat to my comfy bedroom and chill out for a while Sunshine day after day helps a lot too
2 cars is a must;then you can split into many different combinations according to what people want to do.I always suggest to my guests that they consider that
A little discussion before you about each doing their own thing helps as well.I would let your family draw up a day by day schedule of what you want to do and then it is a fait accompli and they can decide to join you sometimes We always put $50 pp into a kitty and then refund ourselves when we have shopped,so that doesn't cause bad feelings There is lots of advice on the OV site about places to go and things to do,so while they are at the parks,you can explore other options
DON'T WORRY,you are going to have a fabulous time,the only time I ever stayed in a caravan I felt like murdering EVERYONE!!!!
Seperate cars gives you the option to do whatever you wish.
Totally agree, it has to be two cars for everyones sanity.
When we take family or friends we have two cars & we allways have a kitty for the food
You will have a lot more room than a caravan so you wont be under eachothers feet
Have a great time [msnsmile2][msnsmile]
We have been twice with my sister and her family, the first time we had seperate villas on the same street and seperate cars, the 2nd time we shared a villa, but still had seperate cars, there was plenty of room in the villa so as not to get in each others way. The first trip was their first time in the states, but had we only had one car I think there would have been a lot of unhappy people. We sat down before we went and made lists of what we wanted to do. We then drew up itineries that meant some days we were doing things on our own and others we either spent the whole day together or met up somewhere, this works very well.
wrightbuxton
09-09-2006, 21:08
If you are hiring two cars. Why not hire one that will fit you all and one smaller one. That way some times you can all go together to some of the attractions and save a little on parking and petrol and then there is always the other car if you want to go your separate ways.
If one driver is more experienced than the other then they would probably feel ok driving the bigger vehicle - leaving the smaller one for the novice.
Julie
Thanks all for you replies, we will be hiring seperate cars no doubt about that, we were going to hire a voyager for us and they have the 4 door, but after last week and his kids wanting to come with us and do different things from their dad ( we have a four wheel drive), we have decided to hire the chrysler 300c, we went to have a look at one today[:O] They are very big cars, I think as far as doing our own things I will have to be the firm little sister and say he does his thing and we will do ours.
We are hiring a 5 bed villa with a seperate family room, games room and study room so should be ok for space, I am sure we will be fine, once again thanks for the replies.
wrighbuxton's idea is an excellent one, but having the option of two cars is essential. You could also organise sat nav for him as, dependant on the age of his daughters, he may not have a navigator in his car.
When you are over there I would also invest in some walkie-talkies (don't buy them over here and take them as the frequencies used aren't globally legal). If you get three handsets then you and hubby can split up as well. This also makes rendezvousing at a destination easier. If you have mobile phones you could also always use texting as long as they are tri-band handsets with global roaming enabled.
I would just make it a ground rule that you can each go your seperate ways on some days as well as going to the same places on some days, but if you try to plan everything to be done together then it will only end up with everyone being miserable and feeling like they are the ones compromising their wishes to keep the group happy.
Have you directed him to this forum so he can gain some info and opinions for himself?
tezz7628
10-09-2006, 02:14
suggest two cars
on reading above about one larger car, that might work out for the luggage to and from the airport also [msnwink]
Definately 2 cars. We have travelled several times as a party of 13 family and friends. The best thing you can do is sort out as much as you can before your hols. Say that although you are really looking forward to spending a lot of time together there will be times that you will all want to do something different and nobody should take offence about this. When you do want time doing different things that is the beauty of booking a villa, you will have the space to get away from each other and do your own thing. Chances are though that you and your party will want to spend as much time as possible in your own private pool.
Karen
Could you agree in advance on the things that you want to do together (maybe your fave parks or something) and then do your own thing on the days that you are wanting to do something different?
Two cars sounds like a must and allows you a bit of freedom.
I think, as someone says, it will be different staying in a villa than a caravan in the UK.
L
Hi I'm new to the forum[msnsmile]
I hope you don't mind me jumping into this thread, but I was wondering have you talked to your brother about your concerns? as others have said already seperate cars seem to be a good idea especially one large and one small as you can go out as a group if you want, or seperate if you want some time apart!
Whatever you decide i'm sure that you will want the best time for yourself and your family especially if it's the first time for some of your party
[msnsmile]
I wouls suggest to hire 2 cars and since they have not been to Florida before you could also look into the option of the portable GPS systems. That way if you want to send your brother out they can type in the address and follow the GPS to get where they want to go without a lot of hassels.
Have a great trip to Florida![msnsmile2]
Even when going to the parks it may be an idea to accept that you should split up and rendezvous throughout the day, as they can be long and tiring days - especially in the heat and when they are busy. Having holidayed with friends and family in the past I would strongly recommend allowing enough personal space. There will be plenty of communal time just being in the villa.
E. Cosgrove
10-09-2006, 12:27
We often go away with friends and family, but always on the understanding that we will do our own thing if we want.
I think we must be lucky in our choice of holiday companions as we usually end up doing most things together, but I think it is more of a problem when you have children with you as they are the ones less likely to agree.
Make a pact not to fall out if the kids do.......they will have made up long befoe you do and you will still be miserable bearing a grudge[msnsad]
Have fun whatever you do[msnsmile2]
CarolAnn
10-09-2006, 13:00
I don't envy you the situation to be honest, you seem to have concerns already. How about making an itinery of how YOU would like to spend the trip and offer advice and support helping them plan theirs? That way you have laid the land before you get to the villa? 2 cars a must I think. Just be honest about what you do plan to do, and what you don't, that way you will not be worrying about their expectation when you get there :) People feeling free and comfortable on their trip is important I think.
I agree with Carol, a few years back we went as a party of 16, we had 3 homes between us, there were 3 families and some hangers on. We all sat down a few months before our trip and deceided on what we all wanted to do. Of course not all wanted to do the same things!!
But as we had planned before hand, whilst we were away we had a great time, no problems whatsoever as we all knew who where and when we would be doing things. For some of the parks just a few members from each family would go in one car, another group would go golfing in another car and the rest either stayed by the pool or went shopping.
Driving shouldn't be a problem for first timers, Florida is so easy to get around and everything is well sign posted, much easier than my first time driving in Spain last week!!!!! Now thats a different story[msnembarrased]. Also you need to think about and remember, thousands of us Brits arrive in Florida everyday and I would say 70% of those have never driven in the States before but they all manage to get through it.
So, there's my advise, plan plan plan WAY before you go and remember to get all your park tickets before you go.... from this site of course[msnwink].
Vicki
you probably know what i'm going to say as i've said it before (albeit in dm) i think the key is to establish beforehand an expectation list and some groundrules
it is hard travelling with your extended family and trying to live up to everyone expectations as i know only too well!
i would definately have a get together before you go and perhaps after a few drinks broach the subjects that worry you the most (just don't get too drunk that you can't remember what you've agreed on)[msnwink]
a kitty is a good idea to for food/everyday items in the villa, we also had one for restaurants and eating out but personally i wouldn't do that again
and i agree with everyone else 2 cars is a must
you're going to have a great time Vicki [msnsmile2]
Mizzy
sammibabe
11-09-2006, 00:50
We went with friends a few years ago and only had one car. It wasn't too bad as we all drove to the parks together (we had worked out an itinery beforehand) and then usually went our seperate ways once in there. we sometimes met up at some point in the day for a drink or an icecream. We paid for our meals seperately which was never a problem. We did this as we had 3 children and they had one. When we went shopping we split every bill 50/50 as we went. We were lucky in as much as they were ok with that although our family was eating more of the food. I do think that any potential problem areas should be sorted before you go. You don't want a strained holiday because you're trying to sort it out there. As far as the driving goes if you do have seperate cars I really don't think your brother would have any problems because as someone said previously affter a day it is quite easy. I did it 3 times this time![clap]
Albert the Frog
11-09-2006, 01:05
I agree with the two cars,1 big,1 small-we did that this year and it allows you so much freedom. Definitely plan for separate time in advance. We had a planner (my daughter)with us who planned where we needed to be at what time in the parks so that we made all the shows etc. We all agreed in advance to follow her leadings without any moaning-it really helped. Don't be afraid of broaching ground rules and indeed taking the lead if you've been before. We've been a few times in those circumstances and afterwards (and at the Time) the people have said that they were glad that somebody was taking the lead otherwise they'd have been overwhelmed.
(We're not bossy ogres by the way....well my wife maybe-only joking!)
Just thinking about the two cars one large / one small option. Just thinking that if you go for this option it may result in one person always being the designated driver. This may not be a problem, but it is another factor to bear in mind.
I think that reading all these replies, we will definately have two cars, we will have the Chrysler 330c and my brother a 4 door regular car. I will definately advise him to hire a sat nav, I think we will hire one too.
I am the organiser of the trip, so I will arrange for him to come round before we go and go over what we want from this trip and vise versa, I keep on at him to get the kids to go on the Disney/universal sites to get ideas of what they definately want to do, we do the same, having been 3 times before my kids know exactly were they want to go and what they want to do it is up to me now to sort out an itinerary for us.
As we are going in July I have made everyone aware that when we do the parks it will be up early and at the park on the rides asap, then back to the villa for some r&r and back to the chosen park/parks again.
Thanks everyone for your advice, I know I probably have nothing to worry about but being the cheif organiser for my brothers first time to Florida, I do worry.
I agree that 2 cars is the best option here. If you want to do something one day then you can do it without anyone feeling guilty.
Plus it might not be all that much more expensive anyway.
Simon Ball
11-09-2006, 15:35
Hi Vicky
We have just come back from holidaying with friends and we had separate cars,one people carrier and one large car.We decided over supper what we all wanted to do the next day,someday's they had all the kids and another it was our turn,we stayed together on occasions and others just us.
Our friends were 1st timers as well and we have been many times,I think you are worrying a bit too much,once you are all there it will come together,but it is your holiday as well so compromise is what you will all need to do not just you!
Pam
saldisneymad
12-09-2006, 01:06
[msnsmile2]WE go to Orlando on Nov 9th our family group is Mum & Dad; Brother, Sister in Law, Darcy 3 yrs old & Leo 18 months; Sister & William 2 yrs old. We have booked 2 large cars so that we can all do what we want when we want, stay at the park or take little ones back to the villa for a sleep. We have our intinery which can be a flexable. Hopefully all will go smoothly, we have booked a large 7 bedroom villa so there is plenty of space to chill out by yourself if we want to. We are so excited time seems to be whizzing pass our main concerns are long waits at the airport but we have bought lots of new things to keep the little ones entertained. The magic of Orlando should please everyone,
love Sally