[woodvine]

Hi every one only just joined but have been reading on here for a good few weeks...Me,partner daughter,2 dogs and 1 cat are seriously thinking about leaving england to start a new life in nz...I've been doing a lot of research and read some books and really think we could make a good go of things over their and my other half is an electrician so it should'nt be to much of a problem...I was all for going until I was speaking to my mother about it who is pleased for us but worried to.I said it will be ok ill be able to come back once or twice a year to see you and she said realisticly that wouldnt work due to costs and things.She said it will probably be once every few years well I know I couldnt handle going that long not seeing my family but could cope with the once or twice...how often do you think is realistic to come back or if you have already moved how often do you come back????My partner don't really understand as he only has elderly grand parents to think of he would move 2morro given the chance and never return!!!!

[Milliemoo]

Hi there,

We've only been in NZ 4 months, but were going back for a holiday in July and we'll be going back next year as well. We knew this before we moved here (special occassions/wedding) so were able to budget.

You say you've done a lot of research, so I'm guessing you know what savings you'll have, potential wage/income etc and you've worked out you can afford it, so I guess the only issue is time.

You don't get many paid holidays here compared to the UK, so I'd say it would be very difficult to do 2 x long haul trips per year. If you have the money in the UK to afford 2 x loug haul trip a year, you've usually got a job that gives you decent holiday entitlement eg: 5 weeks + bank holidays that you can take when you want. In NZ it's a bit more limited. Expect 4 weeks holiday + bank holidays but much less flexability.

Hope that helps.

Milliemoo

[Moorf]

We've been here 3 yrs this Sept and we haven't been back once. We've flown out family for the last 3 yrs which was something we planned to do before we left so they would all have a chance to visit.

To be honest we couldn't afford to fly back once every year, let alone twice. With family and friends across the UK and Europe it would be a) knackering and b) expensive and would eat up most of our holiday time here which we'd rather spend enjoying NZ.

Perhaps make plans for returns/visits for the first year or two to ensure everyone knows they WILL see you during that time and then see how it goes financially once you are here and whether you want to spend all that time travelling back to the UK.

[veronica]

We go back every year at the moment to see my mum and dad, both very elderly.

[Belmont Babes]

We are in the same position as you in that my hubby is an Electrician and isn't quite as close to his family as I am to mine. We have two boys who will initially miss the grandparents terribly. My main concern at the moment is surviving on elec wages in NZ. I cannot seem to find out the current rates (see my post 5 March) for Elec and can only find the rates on this site for 2005. Woodvine - Do you know the rates? Do you have fears about this? Where are you up to on research? We have had EOI selected (31 Jan) but that is all. Sorry to pounce but would love to keep in touch. I find it is mostly IT people on forum but they are are so heplful and friendly.

[wiki]

I've been in the UK for 10 years and went back to NZ after a year, then pretty close to every two years.

But, I know I couldn't have done that much travelling if I was based in NZ as airfares are proportionately higher against your wages (or rather, against my wages!).

[urban78]

I've only been in NZ for just over a year and planning to return to Europe for a vacation next October :)

After that maybe every year most likely, but to be honest if I weren't working in the travel business I wouldn't be able to go back as much (maybe once every 2 or 3 years or so probably)...for the same reason wiki mentioned - salary vs price of airfares :exit

Jen

[Anita & Marco]

Hi,

Been in NZ now nearly 1.5 years - not been back to Europe yet and no plans to do so either. We have told all our family and friends not to expect us back 'home' - we have been very clear, because we did not have an idea where and how we would end up in NZ.

To be honest: especially during the first year it was not always very easy, so when I would have gone back then, I might not have returned to NZ (??).

Up to now we have had only my mother and brother visiting us here and do not know about anyone else who plans to travel here shortly. It is far away and very expensive for most - but this is all part of emigrating to the other side of the world. And we were very well prepared for this, so no disappointed or whatsoever. We are living our lives here and they are over there. No worries.

This will only change at the moment that close family/friends get in trouble - that will be a point we will go thinking of a trip to Europe possibly.

Does this information help you at all?

Good luck with your decisions,
Anita

[KerryS]

I've been here for 4 years and for Australia for 18 months prior to that, and have not yet been back to Europe in that time.
I am planning to go back for an extended visit this spring, but only because I'm getting married and need to introduce my partner to my family.
(Oh, and it's the rugby world cup too...)

[Sam B]

It's very expensive, especially if you've got kids to pay for as well, and it's an epic journey (I thought). I can't see us going back more than once every 5 years. People say "it's only 2 days away" to comfort you when you're saying goodbye, but it's not that simple really.

[sizzlingbadger]

When we first moved over we thought that we'd probably visit family in the UK at least once every two years.

We soon realised very quickly that wasn't going to happen. I went back last November, the first time in 18mhts for one of my best friend's weddings, but won't be heading back anytime soon. It's far, far too expensive, it cost around $4000 including spending money, flights, accommodation for me to go back for just 1 week :exit For the 5 of us, 2 adults and 3 fare paying children it'll be around $20k for a trip back. We'd have to hire cars, pay for accommodation as no one has a house big enough for us, feed us all, not to mention the jet lag and running around we'd have to do in a short space of time :rolleyes:

[gil]

We came out last November, not planning to go back anytime soon. We will be having most of our families out here at different times this year and would foress that being the way forward.

Gil

[marcia]

We have no plans to go back, unless there is a family emergency!! Even then it would probably only be the one who's family was involved, due to costs etc.

The way we see it is, we've seen the uk - (not interested any more :no ,) our families haven't seen NZ so they can come here on holiday, see a new country and visit us at the same time!

[sarahw]

We've been here 2 yrs & 3 months - we're not planning a trip back until we've been here about 8 years - much too much to see & do here! My parents have been out 3 times already (once for our wedding, once when our daughter arrived & once for a nice holiday) and are already planning their trip for Feb 2008 even though they only landed home last week! OH's Dad has been out once at Xmas, probably only time he'll come out unless OH's sis gets married in Aus. Brother will come over when he & his wife feel they can cope with the journey from UK to NZ with the kids, and OH's sister we see quite regularly since she lives in Melbourne - just a mere 4 hour flight away.

Part of the reason we're not planning on going back is the holiday situation with work - it would mean going back when we have the summer weather here!! Part of it is the cost - the amount of disposable income you have isn't as much as in UK, and we just can't afford a trip like that which would have been peanuts for us back home. From speaking to other friends who've made the trip its a bit of a nightmare on the bank balance unless OH can work it into part of their job.

We've had a few friends come out to stay - we miss them & keep in touch & would love to see them & our family but that's all we'd be going back for - I don't miss the UK at all.

It would be so tiring spending the only holiday we get for the year in one go going all that way & then having to go & see people every day - I want to spend my holidays relaxing & enjoying the beach!!

[Juniper]

We haven't moved to NZ yet, but I find myself wondering if we'll ever see any other countries, should we move :-P I picture us spending all our international travel time/money seeing family, since OH is so close with his. But even though it's "only" a 13 hr flight, half the distance most of you have to contend with, I can't see doing it more than once a year. Even that is probably optimistic.

It would be nice to at least go to Thailand, Australia, or some Pacific islands. Maybe we'll still manage to expand our horizons even after the move, but...the money might not be there. We have friends in Japan to visit, but I don't know when we'll ever fit that in! Not exactly "on the way" back...

On the plus side, lots of cool places right in NZ to see :-) And if half the people who talk about visiting us actually do so, it won't be so bad.

[ellenmelon]

i know when i was living in ireland, i never came back here for a holiday in the three years i was there. if i had saved i probably could have and in a way i wish i would have as knowing what i know now, i might not have come back so soon. ah well.
once a year, or once every two years would be more realistic than twice a year really but if your partner is a sparky and worked for himself or a smaller company he may be able to negotiate better time off etc.
:)

[Anita & Marco]

[QUOTE=Juniper;119774]We haven't moved to NZ yet, but I find myself wondering if we'll ever see any other countries, should we move
It would be nice to at least go to Thailand, Australia, or some Pacific islands. QUOTE]

Hi Juniper,
When you want to explore a bit of the world it might be the best to do that before you move to NZ - I am very happy that I have seen quite a bit of the world already, otherwise I would have the feeling I would miss out of a lot while living here, with only a few weeks of holiday and no money to spend on big holidays.

So, if you can - do the travelling first!
Cheers,
Anita

[jubjub]

We have been here not far from two years, and have been back once, and to be honest we would not have gone back so soon had it not been for our baby, that the grandparents had not seen yet. (to give you an idea, that trip cost us around $8-9k)

We don't plan to go back for at least another year, as its just soooo expensive, uses up too much holiday, and there is so much else we want to go see.

Only downside is, both sets of parents refuse to do the journey over here for various reasons.... so we do get pressure occasionally, but we just dont have the funds.... (obviously we would afford it somehow in an emergency)

[Radders]

We've been here almost 2 and a half years, and have not been back. We are planning to go back not this xmas, but next. That's only because we will get a cheap flight for my son who will still be under two

[woodvine]

Thanks every one for all your replies!!!im not sure if I feel better knowing that the majority of people dont really bother going back once they have flew the nest so to speak....Having spoken to my mum about things she is trying to get us to move to devon (in england) instead of the new forest which is where we are now as she reakons we can have a better life style their..Mothers they just don't understand!!My grandparents are practicle telling us to go and what a great oppertunity it will be.I guess I still have alot of thinking to do..thanks every one..x

[Juniper]

I hear you on the family pressure thing :-P There are a lot of different reactions, not all positive. My mom's first response was "I'll never forgive you if you have kids in another country!" It was just a gut reaction I'm sure but at some level it's true. But we have to do what's right for the kids-to-be, not the grands-to-be...

My own grandparents are pretty sanguine about it, as long as I'm happy and all that :-) Their son moved to Sweden almost 30 years ago, so I guess they're used to the idea of the family being far-flung! We'll make a daisy chain around the world...hm maybe our kids will end up in like, India or something and continue the circle :-P

I have to say that one thing that concerns me is the world hitting "peak oil" really soon, and jet travel becoming unviable. Back to the days of month-long boat trips?? Of course those use fossil fuel too...I sure hope they come up with alternative jet fuel that's cheap enough...

[wobbler]

Having just returned from NZ to the UK yesterday! I can pretty much say it is a big effort and cost to get a young family to each place for a holiday. I had thought before I went I would contemplate doing the trip once a year but if I were in NZ I think the reality is you would not do it more than once every 3-4 years if that. Given my parents would not travel it would be like say goodbye to them.

[Park City Partner]

Clearly, I am in the minority on travel. I am fortunate at the moment not to be working and I have a lot of frequent flier mileage. I have been out about a year now. I went home (to the US) in November so that family could meet the baby and am now planning a second trip for the month of May. My mom also came to NZ in July after the baby was born. My hope is to go back to the States at least once a year, hopefully 2 but I am not sure how realistic that is once the baby is older. Part of my willingness to move to NZ with my Kiwi partner was based on my ability to go back to visit when I wanted...so far it is working....I feel lucky and may feel differently when the miles run out.....

[CjChris]

I guess my main worry is how will my family here in the states afford to visit us? I can't afford to fly them all out to NZ, and they will see tickets as far too expensive as most of them have a hard time taking a holiday within the US much less half way around the world.

I guess my OH and I will have to try to fly to the US once a year if we can...I just wish there were flights that were close to affordable. The cheapest we have found from eastern US to NZ is 1600.00 (US$) per person. Ouch!