Cost As low as $3,991 + ~$2,200 flight = $6,200/person
Honest question for all of the more erudite Rome travelers out there:
How does an average family with two adults and four young kids make a trip like this work?
I mean, yeah, leave the kids home until they get older and let them figure out a pilgrimage on their own, but how can an average middle class family with one working parent make this fit into their budgets (even just a parent's only trip)?
I see and hear people taking family pilgrimages to Rome, but I just can't pencil in how this would fit into a budget. The only solutions I see are "be less poor" and "put it on the credit card and pay the balance off in 10 years."
It's part of the reason that I am floored by those who think they need to take yearly Disney vacations. Am I just too safe with our finances that I am unwilling to put the family into debt for a fantastic event? I don't even know where to start when there is always mortgages, insurance, food, possible catastrophic vehicle repairs/replacement, and all of life's other known and unknown expenses to plan...
First of all, you're right. I couldn't afford to take my family on this trip or go on it.
Second of all, if you're paying $2,200 for a flight to Rome, you're dramatically overpaying.
But I take your point: This is not a trip for everyone, and, like I said, I couldn't afford it for my family. But Pillar readers have asked us to arrange a pilgrimage like this, and some people can afford it: retired people or families doing well. And if they're going to Rome, which is a great gift, we'd invite them to come with us, because we love Rome and would be glad to share it with those for whom it is accessible.
That it's expensive is why we're doing a raffle to be able to invite a pillar reader to come along with us for free, including airfare.
I'm very glad you're planning this pilgrimage so, please, nobody take what I wrote as criticism. I hope this trip gets fully booked in record time, as this looks like it would be tremendous fun, spiritual, and educational!
Yeah, the airfare was a shot from the hip since the airlines I saw weren't booking out this far (Google said the average price for a Dec. trip to Rome is $760 to $2,100 and I was planning for the worse with this being a busy time during a Jubilee). I guess my main point was that I'm not sure how so many people plan trips like this, especially for an inferior trip to Disneyworld. I'm trying to convince my kids that tent camping in Colorado next summer would be the best trip to have...even though they would miss out on a hotel with a pool.
For those of you who make this trip: Take lots of photos for me (and maybe a small prayer)!
Hi, Philip! I tent camped with my family in Colorado every summer for 10 years and it was our only mode of “whole” family vacation. Those are some of my most precious memories. God bless you and yours!
Hi Philip, just wanting to give my perspective here. We are a single income family with 10 children under 16 and we travel internationally quite a bit. Part of how we travel the world is homeschooling all of our children (not having to travel on a school schedule means things are much cheaper), my wife spends a lot of time searching for flight/airbnb deals, living near a cheaper international airport, and basically just prioritizing travel over other things. Last Christmas, we spent the month of December in Italy (Assisi, Rome, Florence, and Pisa) and our flights were 6k for all of us- so definitely lower than the Google projections. Every family is different but I just wanted to offer the “it is possible, even with 10 children!” view. I do work in IT, but at a university, so I’m not making Silicon Valley money. It’s just a big passion of ours to expose our children to the world and we make adjustments to make that possible.
I always jealously thought those travel blog people jet-setting around the world were so out of touch with the "reality" (read, my reality) of having a bunch of kids and needing to feed, clothe, and educate them according to the Greatest Commandment. Then you, Joseph, come along and burst my bubble of protection with a story like this.
Thank you for the bucket of cold water, and the intense inspiration to try to pull off something like this as well. Well done to you and your wife!
Another thing you could do, JD, is have some form where those of us Pillar readers unable to afford to go on the pilgrimage submit prayer intentions that those of you going on pilgrimage could pray for while you are there, and pray for all Pillar readers at the tomb of Pope Benedict XVI and lay a wreath or bouquet of flowers there at his tomb (I can‘t afford to go on the pilgrimage but I would gladly submit prayer intentions for you all going to carry with you and I would also chip in a little money towards a wreath or bouquet of flowers for you all going to lay at the tomb of Benedict XVI on behalf of all Pillar readers.
"Consider coming to Rome with us."
Cost As low as $3,991 + ~$2,200 flight = $6,200/person
Honest question for all of the more erudite Rome travelers out there:
How does an average family with two adults and four young kids make a trip like this work?
I mean, yeah, leave the kids home until they get older and let them figure out a pilgrimage on their own, but how can an average middle class family with one working parent make this fit into their budgets (even just a parent's only trip)?
I see and hear people taking family pilgrimages to Rome, but I just can't pencil in how this would fit into a budget. The only solutions I see are "be less poor" and "put it on the credit card and pay the balance off in 10 years."
It's part of the reason that I am floored by those who think they need to take yearly Disney vacations. Am I just too safe with our finances that I am unwilling to put the family into debt for a fantastic event? I don't even know where to start when there is always mortgages, insurance, food, possible catastrophic vehicle repairs/replacement, and all of life's other known and unknown expenses to plan...
First of all, you're right. I couldn't afford to take my family on this trip or go on it.
Second of all, if you're paying $2,200 for a flight to Rome, you're dramatically overpaying.
But I take your point: This is not a trip for everyone, and, like I said, I couldn't afford it for my family. But Pillar readers have asked us to arrange a pilgrimage like this, and some people can afford it: retired people or families doing well. And if they're going to Rome, which is a great gift, we'd invite them to come with us, because we love Rome and would be glad to share it with those for whom it is accessible.
That it's expensive is why we're doing a raffle to be able to invite a pillar reader to come along with us for free, including airfare.
If you think about it as a per night cost, with many meals and tours and etc included, the price is a bit more palatable. But i totally get it.
I'm very glad you're planning this pilgrimage so, please, nobody take what I wrote as criticism. I hope this trip gets fully booked in record time, as this looks like it would be tremendous fun, spiritual, and educational!
Yeah, the airfare was a shot from the hip since the airlines I saw weren't booking out this far (Google said the average price for a Dec. trip to Rome is $760 to $2,100 and I was planning for the worse with this being a busy time during a Jubilee). I guess my main point was that I'm not sure how so many people plan trips like this, especially for an inferior trip to Disneyworld. I'm trying to convince my kids that tent camping in Colorado next summer would be the best trip to have...even though they would miss out on a hotel with a pool.
For those of you who make this trip: Take lots of photos for me (and maybe a small prayer)!
totally get it. let's hang out when you come to colorado.
Hi, Philip! I tent camped with my family in Colorado every summer for 10 years and it was our only mode of “whole” family vacation. Those are some of my most precious memories. God bless you and yours!
same!
Hi Philip, just wanting to give my perspective here. We are a single income family with 10 children under 16 and we travel internationally quite a bit. Part of how we travel the world is homeschooling all of our children (not having to travel on a school schedule means things are much cheaper), my wife spends a lot of time searching for flight/airbnb deals, living near a cheaper international airport, and basically just prioritizing travel over other things. Last Christmas, we spent the month of December in Italy (Assisi, Rome, Florence, and Pisa) and our flights were 6k for all of us- so definitely lower than the Google projections. Every family is different but I just wanted to offer the “it is possible, even with 10 children!” view. I do work in IT, but at a university, so I’m not making Silicon Valley money. It’s just a big passion of ours to expose our children to the world and we make adjustments to make that possible.
that's awesome.
Awesome!
I always jealously thought those travel blog people jet-setting around the world were so out of touch with the "reality" (read, my reality) of having a bunch of kids and needing to feed, clothe, and educate them according to the Greatest Commandment. Then you, Joseph, come along and burst my bubble of protection with a story like this.
Thank you for the bucket of cold water, and the intense inspiration to try to pull off something like this as well. Well done to you and your wife!
Another thing you could do, JD, is have some form where those of us Pillar readers unable to afford to go on the pilgrimage submit prayer intentions that those of you going on pilgrimage could pray for while you are there, and pray for all Pillar readers at the tomb of Pope Benedict XVI and lay a wreath or bouquet of flowers there at his tomb (I can‘t afford to go on the pilgrimage but I would gladly submit prayer intentions for you all going to carry with you and I would also chip in a little money towards a wreath or bouquet of flowers for you all going to lay at the tomb of Benedict XVI on behalf of all Pillar readers.