Planning a trip for a family of six can be a real challenge. Sticking to your budget while also accommodating everyone's needs and making sure everyone is happy with the plan is a skill, so one Reddit user says she has the family member who is best at planning plan all of her family's vacations: her 16-year-old daughter, Adriana.
Adriana has been planning the family's trips since age 14, and the family travels three or four times per year. While it sounds like Adriana has a lot on her plate, her three siblings don't appreciate that she gets to choose each destination and also select her hotel room first each time they travel. The mom took to Reddit to see what people thought.
Adriana has planned most of the family's vacations over the past few years.
The mom explained that Adriana has booked most of their vacations since she was 14 years old. Though the other kids in the family — Evan, 20, Elizabeth, 15, and Michael, 15 — have had the chance to help with planning trips, their plans are usually not good enough, according to the mom. "The problems are that they have a hard time sticking to a budget or they're set on a specific place even if it's not suitable for everyone," she explained.
The person who plans the vacation gets first dibs — so Adriana, basically.
The mom went on to say that the person who plans the vacation or selects the hotel that they actually book is the one who gets to choose their room first. But, as the mom said, "We almost always go with Adriana's choice." The other siblings don't really appreciate how Adriana gets to choose her room or bed first every time, especially because last time they took a trip, Adriana got a private room with a king bed.
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Meanwhile, the other siblings have to share a room.
While Adriana enjoyed three nights with her own king bed and private bathroom, the three other siblings had to share a room with four twin beds. They were upset that they had to share, but their mom told them that if they could "find a place for everyone, stay within budget, and pick a place that we’d all want to go to," they'd also have the privilege of choosing their beds or rooms.
The siblings say it's still not fair because their parents always side with Adriana.
That argument could almost sound fair, but the other siblings pointed out that their parents always choose Adriana's vacation plans over theirs.
"I told them her listings are usually more practical. We paid a little under $600 for the cabin that we stayed at after taxes and fees," the mom wrote in her post on Reddit. "It had so many free activities nearby that the entire 3 day vacation for 6 people came out to just under $1000. They can’t beat it with a $1800 listing with 2 beds and a single bathroom."
The siblings want to take turns, but the mom doesn't want to waste money.
The other siblings have suggested taking turns. The mom says that she "just [doesn't] have that kind of money to throw away." To her, going with Adriana's vacation plans is a way of saving money and also ensuring that there are enough beds and bathrooms for everyone.
Are Adriana's vacations actually good for the whole family though?
While the mom says that she usually picks Adriana's vacations because they're the best for everyone, many Redditors were skeptical.
"But she didn’t find a place that was acceptable for everyone," one Redditor pointed out. "She found a place that comfortably accommodated 50 percent of the people and because you, your husband and your daughter made up that 50 percent you are all happy with it."
Another added that "she chose somewhere that did not fit the needs of the family and you let her because she is 'better' at booking vacations."
Redditors don't think the arrangement is fair.
At the very least, the two daughters could have shared a room and the two sons could've shared a room, one Redditor suggested. Another Redditor suggested that the parents could take the less desirable room every so often, considering they don't do any of the planning either. Regardless, many agreed that the arrangement isn't fair. One person said that Adriana could've selected which room she would share with another sibling, but having her own private room is not part of the agreement.
"This is how animosity starts among siblings, when parents clearly show preferential treatment towards one child," another Redditor wrote. "This is basically just Adriana’s vacation where you benefit from it and the siblings are just dragged along."
Plan your own vacation, many suggest.
Some Redditors couldn't believe that these parents let their children plan and book their vacations. "Act like the adults and plan your own vacation," one person wrote.
Another thought that having the kids get involved in planning was a good idea, but still didn't think Adriana should be able to choose the destination and get first dibs on sleeping arrangements each and every time.
"It's OK to get the kids involved with planning but you shouldn't let one decide on all the vacations and get the best room just because she's a better financial planner," the Redditor said. "You're just doing whatever she wants to do and never let the other kids have a choice on where to go."
Maybe try teaching or helping the other kids.
If the other kids aren't as good at planning, Adriana or the parents could help them plan a vacation, one Redditor pointed out. Instead, though, Adriana does it on her own each time and the parents let her because it works for them. To many Redditors, it seems like the mom is not considering her other kids' needs. Some pointed out that this is pretty bold when her kids are approaching the age where they could just stop going on the family trips.
"You seem to be going merrily along w this system of yours making your own happy memories," one Redditor wrote. "Do you really think the other three will remember all the good times?"
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