Hong Kong skyline - Image via Wikipedia

My wife and I booked flights to Hong Kong this week, our first holiday together (of more than a weekend) without our kids in tow (all still under 7 since the first was born).  We’ve been living in London since having kids with no family around and so by necessity (and their young age) we’ve taken our kids everywhere with us on holiday, RTW a couple of times, all over Europe, to the USA and a few places in Asia.  But now (in Melbourne Australia at least for the time being) we’re close to some family (a short 1 hour flight away); the possibility has opened up to travel a bit while leaving the kids with family.

As you can imagine my wife and I are a little bit apprehensive about leaving the kids but looking forward to some extended alone time in an exotic location. While we’ve been able to get away on individual trips the memories of our travels together before kids are a little bit distant and we’ve become accustomed to the new perspective (and planning needed) that travelling with children gives one instead. The positive is that it will be a bit like rediscovering a part of travel that’s been on hold for us, not forgotten but like a friend we haven’t seen for a while.

I’ve been to Hong Kong a few times but not since having kids and it will be great to show my wife around a bit, visit Macau and mainland China and enjoy the freedom to have a long dinner (many courses and desert) without having to rush back to babysitters or deal with children getting tired, find some entertainment out late and cover a lot of ground in a day (rather than break for a playground or café every few hours).

And while we’ll miss having the children with us, the oldest now nearly seven years old will also enjoy a slice of independence away from parents and all the kids will enjoy being spoiled with a bit more attention than normal.  To that end perhaps it is a win-win for all if only for a short time and perhaps the ones I should be most worried about is my family who have to chase children for a week. 

And so I’ll write about that soon, how do you prepare and what should you think about to make it easier for your carers (family or not) to look after the chldren while you’re off exploring the world.