Our family went on their 1st big family vacation with success! And as a surprise to our kids. If you recall, I told you all that we were keeping it from the kids. And we did it!
The night before we were washing clothes, charging electronics, and secretly packing our bags. Well, I needed the bag from our son’s closet and had to tell him something. So we used the San Francisco for Easter holiday excuse. He was excited, as he loves San Francisco and spending time with my aunt. We told him not to tell his sister. Low and behold they had no idea where we were going.
The next morning, we woke my daughter up and told her, “get up, get ready, we’re going on an aeroplane!”. That was easy. She was up and ready thinking we were going to San Francisco, too. Hee-hee.
Got to the airport, checking in our bags and the ticket lady says, “Lucky, you guys are going to Maui!”. Should have seen the kids faces drop. Sheer silence. Then smiles crept on their faces and we were off for fun in the sun. Made for a great April Fool’s prank.
Thank you for all your suggestions in Traveling with Teens/Tweens. They worked out great! We pulled off a successful trip using your suggestions. The hotel room had free WiFi. So we let the kids bring their computers. This was perfect for down time.
We also gave the kids $75 each to spend as they liked. For my son, this worked out great; gave him his independence. My daughter… well she went a bit stir crazy with shopping madness. That’s all she wanted to do. So we went into Lahaina for dinner and shopping.
The kids were so responsible and got along great with each other. Was amazing. I think we need to go on vacation more often! They were able to run around the resort without us and do their own thing. They made friends. Went to a Laua. Had a great time.
The Hike
We booked the Rainforest/Waterfall hike with Maui Eco-Adventures. It was a continental breakfast, lunch, transportation and guided tour on a ‘private property’ (at $100 per person). Now I quote because this ‘private property’ because it is accessible to all. It’s called The Swinging Bridges of Waihe’e Valley – it is $6 per person and a moderately easy hike for any person (did you see that? $6 per person).
Okay, so maybe we paid a tad alot for the hike, but our guide Eric was very knowledgeable about Maui and its eco system. I was thoroughly impressed. If you’ve never been to Maui then I say its worth the money for everything included. Unfortunately for us, too much rainfall caused the pass to be closed (due to flooding). We only made it 1/2 way up the trail. 
However, we did cross the two swinging bridges and see the waterfalls from a distance (but I was really looking forward to swimming at the waterfalls).
Even though it was not EcoMaui.com fault for the 1/2 a hike due to natural causes, I none the less requested 1/2 my refund. And they graciously did so. *woosh*
Christine’s Agenda
- Started a Money Funk Facebook Fan Page (still a wee bit to do in the decor area)
- Increased my gross salary deductions to my 403(b) by investing my ‘raise wages’ received early this year.
- Has started working on an eBook to offer to readers for subscribing to Money Funk via email
- Changed the format to this website (again? yes, again)
- I put up a Money Funk bookstore with all the great personal finance titles!
- Updated my 404 error page. Kind of cute.
This morning’s breakfast
This morning’s breakfast comes from Sugarcrafter. I have been promising my little one a big plate of french toast lathered in butter and syrup. Served with a side of sausage and fresh squeezed OJ.
Featured Links
- Me in Millions: Reader Question: Conscious Spending
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- Money Crashers: File Taxes in 2010 – Win a Free Apple iPad! *Hurry, contest ends April 15th!
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- Foreigner’s Finance: Interview with a Location Independent Family Man in China
- Investor Junkie: Monitoring Your Financial Independence
- Fiscal Fizzle: Baby Expense Report #3
- Simple Life in France: Take that, French driving Test!
- Buck$ome Boomer: 4 Career Tips for Success from the Military
- Fanciful Alice: Nothing Worth Having Comes Easy
{ 31 comments… read them below or add one }
It looks like you had a fantastic time Christine, and what a lovely surprise for your children. Thank you for the link
Ps. You couldn’t pay me a million to walk one of thise bridges! lol
Ya, one of the members on the hike did not know about the bridges. He had the same thought, but crossed it like a viking.
The first one was not bad. The second one kind of scared me with the water rushing under it.
Now to conquer Europe!
Welcome back and what an awesome surprise for your kids. I know I would have been thrilled!
I wish my parents surprised me like that. LOL. Thank you!
I wished my kids would surprise me like that! lol! Mom
LOL! Good one mom.
(I wish I could)
Sounds like a great vacation! Thanks for including me in your list of links.
You’re welcome. That link was a great Q & A. I know I have questioned that same thought.
Damnit Christine! Now you’ve forced me to add one more place to travel to! Pics looks amazing. Sounds like you’re kids had a great time as well. Hope you feel refreshed
Haha! I wish I took more pics. But I was too busy relaxin’.
I do. I feel like its time to shake things up and make things work for me. Lets hope those thoughts work.
Awesome surprise for the kids! You two must have had SO much fun planning it!
Looks great!
Definitely. It was fun. I really wish I could do it more often.
Chris, your pictures are fantastic! I love Maui and will have to do that hike next time (yes, there will be a next time). Did you do the drive to Hana?
I think it’s great you surprised your kids. That would be so hard for me to keep secret; can’t imagine.
On another note, thanks for including me in your roundup!
I have not done the drive to Hana. My husband has done it chooses never to do it again. So, looks like I am going alone one of these days!
You’re welcome.
Hahaha is that P-Chan I spot on your 404 page??
Tis it is
Had to find a good anime surprised face.
Was a pleasant surprise to see my post link seeing as I cam to read about your holiday
.
I’m glad it all worked out. I hiked up Mount Sinai last week and although I was ill it was a relatively easy climb so was fun.
Was nice to have a break but it’s good to be back too.
Can’t wait to hear about your trip! Oh so sorry to hear you were ill and climbing at the same time. But glad you still made the best of it!
Glad I could make you smile. Those are some great post, Forest!
That trip looks wonderful! Congratulations on successfully executing your first ever big family vacation trip! =)
Maui looks amazing!
Thank you! We had a wonderful time!
How fun to surprise your kids like that. Makes me want to surprise my whole family. Hm, I wonder how that would work out! Sounds like you had fun in Maui
I agree. It would be hard to surprise the whole family. Especially as its closer to the trip… you just want to blurt it out. LOL. Even a staycation would be nice to surprise the family with.
Thanks for including my article in your little roundup
Your trip sounds like it was a blast. My mom took the whole fam to Hawaii just a couple years back and it was a great experience. One suggestion for next time, the Polynesian Cultural Center is amazing and is very inexpensive.
You’re welcome. It was fun. Wow, nice mom.
I will check out the Polynesian Center if I go to the big Island. It’s time for me to visit other islands.
Your trip sounded fantastic! I’m so glad you were able to go…I know you have wanted to do this for a long time! Thank you so much for sharing your pictures! What a great adventure…where are you going next?
Ya, I am really glad we got to go! The kids were amazing – showed more responsibility, hung out together… it was crazy cool. Now, if they would just do that at home.
Wonder if I can conquer Europe. Would love to check out Italy. *sigh* If only money were no object.
Sounds like your trip was fabulous! I also like the new look of your site, especially the floating text to the left. I’ve been thinking of doing something like this myself! (but maybe with a little house
)
Thanks for your help with LC, I’m waiting to hear back from Rob. I’ll keep you posted!
Thanks! I think I worked out all the kinks in the site. Now, lets see if I can keep it like this for good. I get on these ‘kicks’ and then I change everything. LOL.
Rob gave the inkling that maybe you should Facebook or blog post about it so that he can tweet it. Something to consider. You have the Yakezie to help spread the word around if you post it, too. Although I understand maybe not wanting to share all that info. I hope that Rob can help out and get that loan funded!
Looked like a great trip Funk. Looking at the pictures is like watching Lost on TV. I’m so happy it was fun. Someday when I’m a baller I’ll make my way over to the islands.
LOL. We had a great time! We did get a great price on that trip. And I know that if I can find a reasonable priced trip, so can you.
It will be some time before we take another big trip. Now it will be weekend staycations. Because the hubby and I are talking about working that car payment off on my car (so jazzed!).
Wow…so jealous!! My wife and I want to go there so bad – maybe for our 10-year anniversary in a few years!
Glad you had a great time and thanks for the link!!
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