Tips for Long Family Visits
Recently, we took a trip to visit all of our family overseas. Lugging suitcases full of gifts, we flew or drove form town to town, staying one night here and another there – on couches, in spare rooms, at nearby hotels. We ate in restaurants 2-3 times a day. By the time we returned, we were exhausted, overweight and broke.
So here are some tips for when you want to see everyone within a limited time and budget:
- Stay in a cheap motel – you’ll rest better and have much-needed alone time
- Find the place you are most comfortable (or a central location) – give everyone lots of advance notice – tell them where you will be and when, and let them come to see you
- With a few exceptions, allow your “hosts” to take you out and pay for dinners, etc. – you can return the favour when they come to visit you
- Whatever obligations you feel, don’t spend time with people you don’t like – life is too short to waste on “family” that isn’t really Family
- As my Parents said – house guests are like fish – both stink after three days – keep visits short and sweet – better to wish you had more time than wish you had stayed less
