Tirytory

Just curious as to how the long termers amongst us negotiated the required trips back home as opposed to having a family vacation? Did you combine the two or have separate holidays? How often did you go back?

Trying to negotiate the second year here with demands of a father in laws 70th birthday/a new baby/not having seen most family for a year and not wanting to spend a second long school summer holiday here without any time off from my husband- I found it really hard last summer not being able to look forward to my two weeks off in France. It makes it more difficult that husband is very much month to month self employed so any time off one month directly impacts on money received. It makes holidays a lot more of an expensive consideration.

Anyhow, how do you all deal with it?

Zoe Bell

Simple. Haven't been back !

Tirytory

Really since 2007? How much family do you have back home? Have they been out instead?

bats

Elderly parents means that we travel to them. I go by myself to see my family and OH goes at a different time. I don't get paid for vacation, OH only has two weeks so he goes for one week which gives us one week vacation together. The $$$ spent also means that we don't have much choice in where to go.

R I C H

Visited the UK once in 11 years. Some family have visited here on occasion.

Yandros

I'd guess this is a very personal thing. I've been back once since we arrived in mid 2012; my wife has been back twice and is about to go again. Her parents are a lot older and infirm than mine and she has fewer siblings to spread the load with, hence she's going back more often than I am at present, but I have little doubt my turn will come in a few years. Basically I think it's whatever you're happy with, taking into account closeness to and pressure from family back in the UK, family pressures here, vacation allowance , costs and a whole load of other things.

I'd advise not thinking of a family trip back to the UK as a holiday though. The one I've had so far I came back needing a holiday - not because it wasn't fun, there was just a lot of rushing around to see everyone.

Shirtback

Didn't go back at all for the first few years, then every year or so for a while. My mother and sister came over here at least once a year. I mostly went to the UK/France alone, ditto the ex (just France).

We'd go to Maine for a week with the children too - I had 3 weeks vacation, & a lot of banked hours usually; ex was self employed.

The children as teens, made some solo trips for the summer.

dad & step-mom finally made their first visit here this year. I'm hoping both my sisters will make it Over next summer with nephew(s) in tow. I'd love it if my brother could come for a visit, & so would he, unfortunately some youthful stupidity makes him inadmissible at the moment .

Zoe Bell

Went back to Belfast after a year for friends wedding.
My parents visit every 18 months or so.
My brother every 2 years. That's about it family wise

Minstrels87

After 27 years we struggle with this each year when it comes to planning family holidays. The UK is our favourite place to be but it is not a "holiday", we love being there but never come back as relaxed as we hoped to be. Our immediate family lives all over the place and elderly parents mean we cannot travel all over and see and do what it is we really want to do. Our teenagers love to go but really want "more" out of their stays than visiting the family. I imagine this is the tough choice many on here have.

In the early years we couldn't afford to go back and now in an attempt to keep everyone happy I tend to go alone to spend time with my Mum as she cannot come here due to age.

This coming Spring our daughter is going to go by herself for an extended time to spend time with our family for the first time as an adult and then head off to Europe. Going separately more often and then a big family holiday every few years seems to be the way that works for us.

This is one of the many things I couldn't have possibly have imagined being an issue when we embarked on our adventure!

Happy Christmas to all!

Juggernaut1064

Difficult to maintain UK style vacation time. For most of us its two weeks and thats it so family to an extent take second place for me but i'm single and both my parents are gone.
I just had two weeks back there for a family wedding and that was after 7 years of not going back. On a side note, it didn't feel like home any more, i felt like a tourist around my old city, was glad to board KLM to come home !
Vacations here don't seem to be as popular as the UK, hence not a lot of time off, i don't know how to suggest you manage your time if you have very elderly parents, Not an easy decision to make. Could you have them meet you in France perhaps or do you value your alone time with your OH ?

Tirytory

Yeah that's what I'm worried about... Flights are going to be around $4000 plus all other associated costs, birthday is start of summer, it won't be a holiday as it will be too busy and we won't be able to afford anymore time off..... That's a long rest of the summer and no family time ...but it's a 70th

Tirytory

Oh it wouldn't be France- it's approaching a year and that was what I missed last year. (Our UK holiday to France) I imagine a similar scenario of driving to Quebec or New England... With three children next summer I value our family time off together..

Collie

We go back to Belfast 2-3 times a year to see relatives and friends, and whilst we're over, hop on a Ryanair for a few days proper holiday - to relax from seeing everyone! It's so cheap it makes sense, and works well for us.

bats

Last year I took mum to Paris while I was over. This year we think we might rent a cottage in England somewhere taking Mum with us and just telling friends where we are if they want to see us. I try and fit in things such as meeting friends for breakfast the morning I land or before leaving.

JonboyE

I went back once. Didn't enjoy it. Not planning on returning until I need a black suit.