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

by Scott Haas

Scott Haas thought that whisking his wife and eight-week-old daughter off to Europe was a wonderful idea. After all, wasn't great food, enriching travel, and a cultured, foreign locale the perfect... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0452285135
• ISBN13: 9780452285132
• Release Date: February 2004
• Publisher: Plume Books
• Length: 242 Pages
• Weight: 0.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.3" x 8.1"

Customer Reviews

House-Swapping Fantasies

If, like me, you've daydreamed about your family swapping houses with other families in foreign countries, this funny, informative travel memoir may help you make that dream a reality. The account of one family's travel adventures over the course of a decade confirms my sense that living for a month or so like a local in another country would be much more culturally interesting than hotel travel - and definitely more affordable. Not to say that this family does things on the cheap. Their food expenditures in particular are hardly in the "affordable" category. Evidently the author is primarily a food writer and critic and his tastes reflect that. I can't say I know much about that topic. But all you "foodies" out there should enjoy his sensual description of some of his peak dining experiences.

Join the Parade

Thoroughly enjoyable. Didn't want the book to end. As a result of both his keen and sometimes quirky sense of humor, sensitivity and sensibilities, Dr. Haas was able to draw me in to the point where I felt that I was present with him and his family as they travelled around the world. I found myself out of breath as I hiked with them, visualized the sites, experienced the smells, tastes and emotions. His brutal honesty about his experience of the world, about his family and their interactions and disclosure of the inner workings of his mind are refreshing. Almost nothing is sugar coated. I'm left wondering where they're off to next.

Traveling with one's Family

I found Scott Haas's book to be an original account of one's adventures nd mishaps with a family. Too often books about traveling with a family take us to amusement parks, fast food spots, and arcades. In Are We There Yet? we learn of the exciting possibilties of staying on a farm in Switzerland, walking the streets of Venice early in the morning, and exploring the Greek Islands. True, thre are mishaps and arguments along the way, but there are also tender moments between loved ones. The dialoque is crisp and bittersweet. I found myself laughing aloud as I read this thinking it would be fun to see this family live on stage.

Great Book for Families and Travelers

The premise of Scott Haas' book is not catchy or thrilling but I bought it anyway after scanning a few excerpts. He writes about several vacations he has taken with his family over a period of 14 years. There are three things that Haas brings out in his book that make it irresistable: 1) travel descriptions about places and adventures that sound wonderful (or so horrible we are grateful NOT to be there), 2) "watching" his family grow, and 3) his personality that comes through the pages.Scott Haas is self-deprecating, humble, funny, confident, funny and honest. Although the book is mainly about traveling with his family, when he writes about them it is not sweeteningly obnoxious. Nor is he arrogant and smug when describing his travels and family. His anecdotes, observations and descriptions are wonderful and sometimes hilarious - I definitely recommend this book!

travels with family have never been funnier

This book is all about the -- sometimes dark -- humor that can come out of family travel. Haas isn't perfect, and his family isn't, either, but they are a lot of fun to travel with. Pick this up for your next trip, or for some armchair travel of your own.