Traveling to Japan With Teens: Our Family’s Big Trip

In this episode, we share why our family decided to take a big step and travel to Japan with our kids. It started with a simple Christmas decision: fewer “things,” more experiences. Last year we made memories on a cruise and a visit to Florida, and this year the kids picked Japan as their top choice.

We talk about how this trip came together, why we’re traveling during the school year, and how the costs can jump fast during peak summer travel. We also get into the mindset behind it all: making memories while our kids are still at home, learning how to be respectful of another culture, and preparing four teenagers for long-haul flights, airports, and customs.

This is our “before we go” discussion, and we’ll be back with a Part 2 after the trip to share what went right, what went sideways, and what we’ll never forget.

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Transcript

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Welcome to Rollin with the Dolans. I’m Patrick Dolan. And I’m Tamekia Dolan.

Our podcast focuses on the joys and challenges of blending families, our interracial marriage, parenting children of multiple ages, and the journey of entrepreneurship. We share our daily life experiences with a positive but real perspective. Today’s topic is traveling with kids.

Okay, you wanna start?

Why don’t you give a little bit of background as far as our trip, how it came up, and what we’re doing soon?

So we decided for Christmas... it started last year. Remember that for Christmas we didn’t want to buy Christmas gifts, that we wanted to gift the kids with experiences instead of a lot of monetary gifts, or just stuff that they don’t really need. So last year we went on a cruise and took them to Florida, which is where I’m from, and they got to see family plus be on a cruise. They came back and really had a good time. You wanna take over from that?

So this year, I think you gave them a choice. You basically said, “Put your top two destinations down, where you want to go.” I think that might have happened over the summer. And what was the consensus?

Yeah, I did. They all wanted Japan. I feel like they all wanted Japan. I feel like it was probably all four of them. What was a second choice? Do you remember?

Maybe Europe, someplace in Europe, but I think all four of them wanted Japan. And that’s the thing... I think that Japan, and specifically Tokyo and things like that, are a big deal for some of these Gen Zers. I guess it’s just something we’re not aware of until now.

So we put together, actually Patrick put together, a cute little package. He got cute little travel cubes, and we created a little note that said we’re traveling to Japan and gifted them that for Christmas.

Yep. And now it’s two months later and we’re finally taking the trip. And it is easier said than done, as far as financially coming up with a way to travel with six of us.

So one thing that we did was we realized that we might have to take them during the school year.

Yeah. I don’t know if that’s bad or good, that neither one of us felt bad about it.

Okay. Okay. But to make us feel better, we could say that they’re going on a cultural experience. And it is. You’re already making sure you point out some of the cultural differences and making sure that they’re aware of everything.

I think sometimes they, at least one person, points at me as being more of a problem. But I think I’m respectful, more so than what I think I can give him credit for. But anyway... wait, no, you have to elaborate.

Basically I said that when we’re traveling to Japan, we need to... is that the part you’re talking about? How we dress? What part are you talking about, just in general?

Just things that you have to do, respectful of other...

Oh, to be respectful of the other culture. Okay. Yeah, that’s fair.

So anyway, back to the taking them outta school thing. First of all, I know it’s controversial. Some people think you have to do it. And the thing is, with six of us, if we wanted to try to go May, June, July, it’s hard. Like the prices can easily be 30, 40, 50% more just for the ticket. So it’s, do we do it or do we not do it?

And I’m a strong believer that we have to travel with our kids while we can. I think travel is really important to create memories. We both share our same opinion. We checked with the schools, we checked with people who are in education, you have friends, things like that. What’s the best time to do it where it’s not gonna interfere with their school? And we’re doing it.

And what were you... I know earlier we were talking about we need to do it while they’re under contract, and I’m like, “Under contract? What the heck does that mean?”

Yeah. I described it as once they’re free agents, and they’re over 18, we can’t just be like, “Oh, we’re going,” yeah. They could still be teenagers and sit there and whine and say they don’t wanna go, but we’ve been pretty good about doing things with them on a regular basis where they think it’s fun and it’s pretty natural to go do these things. So we haven’t been getting pushback at all. But once they leave the house, it is just gonna be sad to be like, “Oh, can you go with us?”

That’s true. That’s true. And, “Oh, I gotta be able to take my girlfriend, and we don’t have the money for both of us.”

So it’s under our control right now. They’re under contract basically until they’re 18, that they basically have to listen to us a little bit.

Uh-oh, we about to get some pushback about that.

About what people are gonna be like, “What, under contract?”

Then they become free agents at 18.

I agree with you.

So the other thing is, I was thinking about... I went a couple times when I was in school, sixth grade, eighth grade, with my father. And those are some of my really most ingrained memories when I look back at it. So sixth grade? Eighth grade. Do I remember anything from that school year other than that trip?

Wait, where did you go?

California both times.

Okay. From Maryland.

Where were you, Maryland during that time?

Yeah, sixth, eighth grade lived in Maryland and he had work trips. I don’t remember what time of the year it was, but I’m sure it was school. But I still remember the flights. I remember a lot of details. And at that time of year, like that time of my life, I don’t remember a lot of details.

I think it’s different for our kids because they have lots of videos and pictures, things that I didn’t have.

That’s true. That’s true. And do you think they will remember this trip?

Definitely. I think no matter what, how it goes, I’m the person who will get worked up and I’m disappointed if things don’t go exactly as planned. But no matter what, good, bad, something goes wrong, whatever, they’re gonna remember. Like that one trip I had with them where I had everything going wrong in the beginning with Ethan and Zachary.

Oh, that was Cedar Rapids?

No, not Cedar Rapids. Wyoming.

Wyoming, okay.

Yeah. So it was an adventure. Things didn’t go well, but that was part of the memory too. So that’s true... no matter what, we’ll definitely have some exciting times.

Yeah. So if you had to rate from a one to a 10, with 10 being the highest, how likely are they to remember the trip?

This will be a 10. They’ll remember this for all their life.

Okay. Okay. I agree. I was gonna say nine, just to be a little modest, but it depends on the details, which details and how much detail is different.

Okay. We’re gonna definitely have to do a part two and talk about how it was, actually.

Yeah, definitely, because out of the four kids, only one of them has gone out of the country, if you include Mexico... like on a plane. So we should talk about how easy or hard it is to get four teenagers together to make sure that they go through customs and the travel experience. I don’t think that they realize they’re gonna be on a plane for 12 hours one way. So we definitely gotta talk about that.

All right, so until next time, make sure wherever you found us, tune in, like us, follow us, get involved in the conversation. Tell us what you think. Do you think, “Oh, you guys are crazy,” or “Uh-huh,” whatever. Good or bad, we’re open to discussion.

All right.

Okay. Until next time, have an adventurous week.

I would say have a thoughtful week.

All right. Bye.