Are We There Yet?: Perfect Family Vacations and Other Fantasies

by Scott Haas

A hilarious account of a public radio journalist's perfect family vacation in Europe with his wife and daughter chronicles the trials, tribulations, and triumphs of the family as they travel--and eat--their way through vacations in Europe and America. Original. 75,000 first printing.

Genres: Travel, Nonfiction, Memoir

256 pages, Paperback

First published February 24, 2004

Reviews

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author describes a number of vacations that he & his wife took with their children when they were growing up, beginning with a summer spent in Switzerland when their first child was only 8 weeks old. Most of these vacations were in Europe; they would trade houses with other families and spend a month or two actually living in real neighborhoods in Italy, Switzerland and France. This book was hilarious! His great love of his family and his love and fascination with other cultures is beautifully described and interwoven with wonderful tongue in cheek humor. Their family dynamic is amazing and I admired the way they raised two American children to be so comfortable in other cultures.

[Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I ran across this one in a bookstore; it's by an NPR commentator about his experiences traveling with his children. Some of the chapters were better than others...I found him to be a bit of a snob at times and questioned some of his choices! But a good travel essay read.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

The travels were interesting to read about. It was funny. I liked the descriptions of the various locales, mostly European and some US. But, I also have to borrow from other reviewers that "sometimes I question his choices" (flirting with a woman on a nude beach in France while traveling with his family) and "to me he seems mean to his kids." Condescending is a word that came up a lot. Since some of his quips/critiques were laugh out loud funny to me (this doesn't happen every day) I persevered.

[Karen Thomson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this at the beginning, but then it got rather repetitive. The banter and negotiations are sometimes funny, but they never seemed to have any actual difficulties with their kids and travel. How is that possible!? I can’t be the only one who struggles with traveling and kids, can I? The locations were fun to learn about, but unfortunately, they constantly go back to the same place and are rather snobby about so many things, food in particular, of course. It was ok, but not compelling.

[Millicent Nadine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve read this book atleast 3x already! I love it so much! Its very funny and at times sweet and tear jerker. The travel descriptions are very vivid and immersive that it felt like I actually travelled with them ♥️ It’s actually the reason why I dream of going to Switzerland someday 😍 I wonder why some of the comments here said its not that good 😥 It’s definitely one of my favorite reads ♥️♥️♥️

[Debra Kulchar]

Didn’t finish. Boring and repetitive.

[Tiffany · Rating 3 out of 5]

My theory on travelogues: they're like pizza. Even when they're mediocre, they're good. I could read about travel experiences forever. Even places you read about time and again. The author was at times a pompous, cantankerous braggart. A grade-A name dropper of famous chefs. But even with all that, it was a decent read. I felt sorry for Greece after reading his chapter skewering their culture and food (though I've not been there, maybe he has a point?). The funniest chapter was by far his first experience at Disney World. But the chapters on Switzerland was why I picked this book up in the first place. I found myself nodding and laughing through tears as he described my home away from home.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fun read. It is a travelogue of a family's many vacations over the years. I loved hearing about the many placed they visited, and how they attempted to really soak up the culture and how they managed to afford it. It has some very funny moments. The author is very liberal, and that leaks out a bit. He is also a horrific snob, and that also can't help but seep out. But since this is a personal reflection, the biases are forgive-able. I enjoyed it, and would recommend to others.

[kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

To be honest, I only read one chapter of this book- the one about Italy. I love the author's description of slow travel and got some good laughs, especially about how his family were actual travelers not silly tourists (I share this same delusion). I couldn't bring myself to read any of the other chapters, however, because about 40% of the text was his family bickering. I felt like I was trapped in a station wagon with a very caddy family on a long road trip. But wit really good food and an excellent destination.

[Denise · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting book from a guy who traveled internationally with his wife and kids from the time the children were babies. It's interesting to me how some people strive to blend in on visits to foreign countries, wanting only to go where no "tourists" go. How does one go from "tourist" status, which is apparently tacky, to "visitor?" Don't tell anyone, but I have met this guy (or at least his kindred spirit) many times in Potomac! I guess I haven't traveled enough...

[Kelly · Rating 1 out of 5]

The author seemed to look down on tourists - the very audience he is writing for. Throughout his travels it seemed that it was more important for him to appear to be a native and not a tourist than to have fun.

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was ok. I admire their bravery to travel the world with such young children, but the author struck me as sort of arrogant and condescending towards other tourists, and sort of mean to his family.

[Carrie]

travel narratives

[Melissa Kayden · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute book with some great travel stories. I really admired what the family did together and how much they enjoyed each other's company.

[Faith · Rating 4 out of 5]

So far I'm loving this book. I like real stories of people's travel troubles. They make me laugh at my own.

[Carole Workman]

I registered a book at BookCrossing.com!
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/13861775

[Laura Rizza · Rating 3 out of 5]

Goodreads 2016 Reading Challenge: A book to feed your wanderlust