How often do you visit?
 

I'm wondering how often people return to their home country to visit family. I moved from Australia to Ireland in Nov 2007 and have had 3 visits back to OZ - the first in Dec 2008 and then in March 2010 (for my sisters wedding) and again in October 2010 (to visit my first nephew).

I'm really close to my parents and we would speak regularly on the phone and my mum has come over here for a holiday (and is coming again in Sept). I wouldn't be as close (ie have long chats) to my brother and sister but would keep in touch via texts and facebook. Family is important to me and my first nephew was born in Oct 2010 and my first niece in March 2011 but I've not yet met my niece.

I'm really debating about my next trip back. Part of me wants to go home - either at Christmas or maybe in march for my birthday and also my niece's 1st birthday, but the other part of me wants to save the money as I am saving to buy a house :eek:

I know my niece and nephew won't remember if i was there for Christmas / birthday but I will...:unsure:

So how often do you return to visit family, and if you were single and didn't have to pay for airfares for the whole family would you go more often than what you can / do currently?

Cheers,
Mel.b

Re: How often do you visit?
 

We have no plans to go back for at least the next 12 months and probably longer so that will be maybe 2.5 to 3 years since we were there. We are meeting up with family in Las Vegas for Christmas though. We agreed we would like a family visit at least every two years.

Re: How often do you visit?
 

At least once a year. More if there's something going on (e.g., wedding) and last year three times - and for extended trips - because I had family emergencies, death, etc., to deal with.

It's the most expensive "holiday" of our year and quite stressful but it has to be done. Family is family and I love them, whatever they've put me through :lol:

My Dad and sister can't travel here otherwise I would send tickets and let them have the jetlag occasionally.

Re: How often do you visit?
 

We have been here for 5 years. I have been back once (3 years ago) for my grandmother's funeral and it was such a short visit (6 days) cos thats all the time my husband could get off from work at the time to look after the kids.

We are planning to go back next year for a visit.

It works out so expensive (we have 4 kids).

Most of the family have been over to stay with us, we have had family here every christmas. They ususally stay between 2 weeks to 2 months.

I would like to go back more often though, its just the money that stops me.

Re: How often do you visit?
 

We've been here 3.5 years and we're going back for our first visit in September.

Other than family emergencies, I don't know if we'd particularly go back again after that, at least not while our parents are able to travel out here to see us.

Re: How often do you visit?
 

Haven't been back in almost 4:5 years been here cause it's too expenive for 5 to go for a visit, also none of the family have come to visit us either & we are suppose to be very close too.:lol:

Re: How often do you visit?
 

In 30 years I've been back 6 times - so that's approx every five years. Not really due to the cost of it. I want to see other parts
of the world, rather than spending all my holidays in the place I grew up.

Re: How often do you visit?
 

Currently averaging 3.5 years. Would like to do it less often. Will definitely not go back at Christmas again. September is a much better time to visit the UK.

Re: How often do you visit?
 

Once in 6.5 years.
No plans for a trip.

Re: How often do you visit?
 

Back to UK once or twice a year - usually about 9 months apart. Not often enough for my liking, I would much prefer 6/6 if I could

Re: How often do you visit?
 

I can certainly think of better places to go than Redcar and Swindon :rofl: but it's the price I pay for being able to live a relatively normal life the other 50 weeks of the year.

(Incidentally, it's 18 years this week since I put my sister in a psych hospital - the first time.)

Re: How often do you visit?
 

It's interesting to see peoples different responses.

We have been here for nearly 5 yrs, went back once just 9 months from first arriving (got tickets subsidised by work). Haven't been back again.

Said we'd go last year, drove to Darwin instead.

Said maybe this year, driving to Broome instead.

So much to see here it's hard to justify going back to Peterborough to fight with the hourds in Tescos! :p

Re: How often do you visit?
 

...arrived permanently in Sep 2005.

Trips back Sep 2007, Xmas 2008, Xmas 2009...and coming up Aug 2011.

Family came here Xmas 2006.

Re: How often do you visit?
 

Had 2 trips back every 2 years (in Summer), had to postpone this year due to finances ...

OH wants to do a Christmas trip but I'm trying to convince her that December in Kent is more of a Drizzly Wonderland.

Given the choice I'd bypass the UK and land in Galway for 2 weeks of diddly-dee and :beer:.

Given my family have not set foot on a plane bound for Oz I would not feel one bit guilty. My mates have though and I'd meet them in Galway ;)

Re: How often do you visit?
 

Been here 6 years and been back once. No plans for further trip unless emergency. I can think of better things to spend $10k on!

Re: How often do you visit?
 

We have been in oz over 5 years and have not been back to the uk yet and have no plans to in the next few years :) and like northernbird said i can think of better things for that amount of money to be spent else where.

Re: How often do you visit?
 

Been back once in 4 years, but only coz we cant afford it, or i would go back more!, currently saving every penny for trip back due to family situation (husbands father really ill and his sister has recently become widowed), been awful not to ba able to go back immediately when we heard all this.

Re: How often do you visit?
 

We've been expats for 14 years (Singapore), but only here for 6 months.

For most of that time we went back once a year. Since Mini was born (he's 4) we've been back every 6 months; my parents are currently unable to travel due to illness, and I want them to know their grandson.

We went home for Xmas before moving to Perth, and are all going home for a (planned) trip in August (parents' 50th anniversary). Mini and I also went back for an unplanned week in April as my Mum was quite sick.

The August trip is costing $7500 for the 3 of us, so after this I think it'll be me and Mini only going back every 6-9 months or so, timed so that we're away when husband's away on business. After my parents have gone (what's a nice way of saying this?) we'll be going back very infrequently.

Re: How often do you visit?
 

I went back on my own recently for 2 weeks to see my brother's first. I needed to be there. OH stayed here with the kids. He doesn't want to do a trip until our youngest is at least 5 and I agree with that. So we'll plan to do it in 3 years.......ish!

Re: How often do you visit?
 

Been here just under six years and been back once because we (I) promised First Born we would after being here two years. No way can we afford it now and even if we could we probably wouldn't, other places to visit. Not had anyone visit other than a 'pop in' on their way somewhere so can't be arsed to visit them.

Re: How often do you visit?
 

Where ever I have lived around the world it's usually every 1-2 years. I avoid Xmas like the plague due to cost of flights and the fact mates usually take off for the holiday. Best time to catch people is when they are in their routine.

Re: How often do you visit?
 

We arrived Jan 07 and have been back each year including the year we moved out! Partly because we have had some weddings in the UK which has help funded at least one ticket. However, we still end up spending a small fortune whilst we are over there as by the time you've had a few coffees, met up with friends for meals out, etc, etc it all ads up....not to mention the raid on Next, M&S and the shoes in Singapore....but this is justified as it's cheaper than buying in Oz :D

This years trip was self-funded as it was god-daughters wedding, so it's been an expensive trip this year! We did treat ourselves to a week in Singapore en-route at a nice hotel, the weather was perfect so we did get a proper holiday for part of the trip, as going back and rushing around and working is not a proper holiday! It's lovely catching up with friends over there but it is always such a tiring time trying to fit everyone in but we are very grateful they all still want to see us!

We've only done it up until now because we've managed to get some help with the fares (and there is only the 2 of us but now we have to consider cattery fees as well) and also because up until now I've felt quite guilty about abandoning the folks. I'm an only child and my folks don't have any close family and initially they were very unhappy about our departure. However, 4 years on they've accepted it now and have said they don't expect us to go back every year but even so I still feel a bit guilty especially as you notice them getting a bit older each year. If only Oz wasn't so far away it would be all so much easier together with the fact that we have to pay so much more from here than coming from the UK doesn't help!

When we get chance to rest a bit I do still enjoy going back, I still love pottering around Brighton although we do find where we were brought up in Surrey a bit alien now! We also had a trip upto London on a hot sticky day and definitely didn't like the crowds or the underground! However, the Sussex countryside on a warm summers day is still beautiful together with a good pub!

So, with no paid weddings on the horizon we've said that it's unlikely we'll be back next year (fingers crossed the folks stay well!) as a) we would like to spend the money on a proper relaxing holiday and b) we'd like to see a bit more of Oz as that was the whole point of moving here!

It will be strange if we don't go back next year but time flies by so quickly 2 years will be here before we know it!

Re: How often do you visit?
 

I think that's the thing.. that and the 4.5 weeks Himself needs to take off work. We're only taking Youngestchild with us in September - the eldest two are both at Uni so can't miss the time (youngest will miss two weeks from school as we've planned it around his term break, but school are fine so long as he makes up the missed work)

We offered to send the two eldest out to the UK in their hols... both gave a resounding no.

We've been lucky.. since we arrived we've had my mother, his mother and the children's other gran come and visit, so that helped.. but we weren't really that much into family visits when we lived 1.5-4hours away from them all :D

Re: How often do you visit?
 

That's the main issue.

I was 'lucky' I got GFC'ed in Nov 2008 so no work worries taking a longer break over Xmas...and Xmas 2009 I made a last minute decision to go during office shutdown, but just 2 weeks.

This time around I will be taking a few days unpaid leave to make it up to 4 weeks ish.

An extra weeks holiday would make it much easier.

Re: How often do you visit?
 

Swings and roundabouts, we are self-employed so although we get more flexibility with time off we aren't paid for time away plus we could miss out on meetings and jobs here. Luckily the seasons being reversed we get to enjoy a bit more warmer weather in the UK (sometimes!!) whilst it's our quiet period in Oz. This will have been the longest winter I've done in Mellie and not looking forward to it!

Oz companies are so mean with holiday plus you have to earn it, I was so lucky in the UK, had 6 weeks hols due to long service and could have taken it all in one hit at the beginning of the year if I'd wanted it!

Re: How often do you visit?
 

I waited 2 years before my first trip back in the hope I would settle better. Since then I've been every nine months or so - its my way of reminding myself there is a sane world out there!! Spend the time with friends and family that I miss horribly, and doing all my clothes shopping for the next few months. Usually end up with 3-4 weeks at a time depending how it fits with my shift pattern :)

Re: How often do you visit?
 

They just announced they are shutting down our office for 2 weeks over Xmas / New Year which means half my allowance is out the window when every man and his screaming child are on holiday. I don't have children and nor do I want to take 2 weeks on the Gold Coast riding rollercoasters at Dreamworld during Dec/Jan. I want to take my long holidays during the Northern Hemisphere summer. This was not what I negotiated nor is it in my contract and as a result I've been forced to wave my resignation in front of them. This should be interesting.

Re: How often do you visit?
 

This is common practice here. I worked for a failing telco which in its own interests decided to try and implement a 3.5 week mandatory shutdown over Xmas, I think it would've involved using 12/20 annual leave days. Managed to avoid it myself but shocking policy.

Re: How often do you visit?
 

It might be common, but life itself is more important work. It's a very narrow view of the world.

Re: How often do you visit?
 

Twice in 5 years. First time in December 2008 when my father was dying (got to spend 10 days with him which was nice. he died while I was on my way to the airport to come home to Perth) Then again last July for 10 days during an around the world trip. Both times I went on my own. My husband doesn't care about travelling and last time was going to take my 16 year old daughter but she screwed herself out of that treat by wagging school. We're hoping to go in November 2013 with the whole family.

Re: How often do you visit?
 

Shit are we meant to go back??? 3 years no plans yet

Mel.B you visit my family for me and I will visit yours for you. Just dont let my mother near the drinks cabinet.

Deal?

Re: How often do you visit?
 

Been here since Dec 2008 and went back in Dec 2009. Desperately want to go back again but can't afford it, couldn't even afford an emergency trip back at the moment.

Re: How often do you visit?
 

In July we will have been here 4 years.
We have not beeen back to the UK.

The inlaws come every 12months! So good for hubby.
But none of my family has been over.

Im now thinking of going over maybe next year, partly due to my dad health is not so good.

We lived abroad before emigrating to Australia so used to not being around family. Also never had rose tinted glasses of the UK so not that eager to visit.

Gems

Re: How often do you visit?
 

We're leaving next month and certainly don't plan on being back in the UK for at least 18 months, and then every two years maybe after that. My sister lived in the US for ten years and every single year she used her whole holiday allowance to go back to Ireland for Christmas. After ten years she'd seen nothing of the US, even the city where she lived as she was working constantly to pay to go home on holiday...pointless in my opinion! I'm not spending every cent I earn trying to make it back to a place I left for a reason...

Re: How often do you visit?
 

We arrived August 2006 and went back from brothers wedding in March 2007.Decided we wouldnt go back for a bit until his twin decided that he was the marrying kind after all.So off we went June 2008.He was the last to get married out of eight of us.So here we are in 2011 and flying out tonight.:eek:Mil wont come here anymore and my parents cant either.So while we are looking forward to going I really could do with a proper holiday.I dont begrudge going as my Dads not great and it will be lovely to see the six nieces and nephews that arrived in six years.:)

Re: How often do you visit?
 

Went back for a funeral a month after being here, three and a half years ago! Then went back Aug 2009 for two weeks! Dont plan to go for a long while yet! Its expensive and we want to see more of oz!

Re: How often do you visit?
 

LOL...sounds like a plan. And i promise to lock the drinks cabinet:rofl:

It's interesting hearing how often people return to visit family. I've been pretty lucky but then I only have the airfare for myself to pay for. I also agree about spending the money to see other parts of the world instead. Since moving to ireland I've been lucky to see a bit of Europe and am constantly thinking about the next trip:lol: It's only when the cost of the next trip starts to equal the price of an airfare back to OZ that I start thinking 'maybe I should just go home for christmas instead...' I don't think i will do a christmas trip this year... will take the sensible and boring option and put the money towards the house deposit instead:(

Re: How often do you visit?
 

I hope you've had a fab time :thumbsup:

Re: How often do you visit?
 

Been here five years and haven't been back.

Too busy, too much to see here.

Re: How often do you visit?
 

A lot of Poms on BE only ever go to the UK for their vacations, which I find a bit bizarre.