When our 4 month old son got croup on Fire Island, New York at 3:30 a.m. When on this remote island there is a blasting horn that wakes up the entire community and fire engines came roaring to our house to take us to the nearest emergency room. Ultimately he was fine, but we spent the rest of our vacation explaining to everyone that yes, we were the family with the sick son who woke up hundreds of new yorkers.
What was the worst thing that happened to you on a family vacation?
October 16, 2008 by Familyvacationer
When our children were 15 mos. and 2 1/2 years old, we were flying back from a trip to Puerto Rico. We were supposed to have a lay over in Chicago, then continue on a flight to Los Angeles. Unfortunately, Chicago was experiencing bad weather and we could not land. We circled O’Hare for hours waiting for the o.k. to touch down, but then the fuel in the plane started getting low, so we had to land in another location to refuel, then go back in the air to fly endlessly over Chicago until we finally landed after almost 10 hours on the plane. Needless to say, keeping two wound up toddlers entertained for that amount of time was a hero like experience, and of course each of them finally fell asleep just minutes before we landed.
Getting stuck for two weeks in a less than great rental near a beach with ALL the cousins and in-laws – and watching it thunderstorm most of the time. TRAPPED! Lots of money spent to get there, no cell reception, and lots of tension.
Went on a family cruise to Hawaii and Fanning Island while I was pregnant with our second. We had to share one bed while on the cruise and our daughter got sea sick every single night and would throw up in our bed. She then proceeded to get the Measles aboard and gave them to me while pregnant. A wonderful 2 week cruise. We were all fine!!! Ha ha.
My oldest son complained that he had a stomachace while we were on our way to another trip to Hawaii. I thought that he was faking it because my husband wasn’t coming on this trip. Well, I was very wrong. My son had pneumonia! We ended up in the hospital for almost 2 days. My best friend, who had accompanied us on the trip, stayed at the hotel and entertained my youngest son. That was until, she got a call that her Grandmother died. She, of course, needed to fly back immediately. Needless to say, it was a terrible trip!
This was before I had my own kids, but my husband, sister, BIL, nephew, and I were on a ferry to Nantucket where we were going to spread my mother’s ashes (she had died six months before). My three-year-old nephew barfed all over the floor of the ferry (he had just eaten a blue slushie, so it was NOT pretty). He then proceeded to throw up for three days straight before passing whatever bug he had onto my husband. We drove from there to Vermont for Thanksgiving with my husband lying in the passenger seat moaning the entire way.
We had hired a nanny a few months before the trip, and part of the deal was possible international travel. She said she was game for and excited by that possibility. The first trip was to be a week in Paris and then 2 weeks in Sicily (between Catania and Taormina). The main reasons for bringing her along were: 1) My husband would be traveling on different flights from me and our 3 children… then 6, 4 and 1… and help on the plane and in the airport was critical, and 2) he and I getting some time together or with one or two kids. We had all discussed compensation and were in agreement prior to leaving. The Paris portion started well. I wasn’t too jet-lagged and was able to do fun things with my kids while she slept during the day. When my husband arrived 4 days later, she started acting really surly. His comment was “she is acting like we are ruining her really cool vacation.” She started talking about how much she hated Paris, couldn’t wait to leave, etc. Fast-forward to Sicily… Major attitude continues. To the point where my husband gave her the option to lose the attitude and stay or to pack up and leave. She chose to leave. It ended up being a fabulous family trip once she left… with one exception. I “got” to fly home with my three kids without help. Three legs of flying and two days of travel with an airport overnight. Fun, fun!!
Returning from the Orient with three young kids in tow. Transiting Vancouver I had maxed out my cards in China and Japan.
All of a sudden Amex decided to put a stop on my card because of fraud. Apparently their fraud detection unit had a difficult time grasping time zones and how I could buy something in China and again in Vancouver within a few hours!
An hour later and three starving kids it was resolved!