During Christmas in Harry's second year Mr and Mrs Weasley embark on a cross-continental trip to visit Bill in Egypt.
Harry found it peaceful, rather than gloomy, and enjoyed the fact that he, Hermione and the Weasleys had the run of Gryffindor Tower, which meant they could play Exploding Snap loudly without bothering anyone, and practice dueling in private. Fred, George and Ginny had chosen to stay at school rather than visit Bill in Egypt with Mr and Mrs Weasley.
(Chamber of Secrets, Chapter 12, The Polyjuice Potion).
Yet, the following summer, they and their children are back in Egypt again, less than a year after their previous trip.
MINISTRY OF MAGIC EMPLOYEE SCOOPS GRAND PRIZE
Arthur Weasley, Head of the Misuse of Muggle Artefacts Office at the Ministry of Magic, has won the annual Daily Prophet Grand Prize Galleon Draw.
A delighted Mr Weasley told the Daily Prophet, "We will be spending the gold on a summer holiday in Egypt, where our eldest son, Bill, works as a curse breaker for Gringotts Wizarding Bank."
The Weasley family will be spending a month in Egypt, returning for the start of the new year at Hogwarts, which five of the Weasley children currently attend.
(Prisoner of Azkaban, Chapter 1, Owl Post).
We know that:
- The Weasleys may have cared more about a quality family experience than money.
- However, visiting Egypt was a costly trip. The Weasleys could only afford to go in PoA after getting the Daily Prophet windfall. It's presented as a 'once-in-a-lifetime' trip.
- The second trip must have been quite dull for Mr and Mrs Weasley, having visited only a few months ago.
- Bill is not the only Weasley child living abroad. Charlie also lives away from home, working with dragons. If Mr and Mrs Weasley want to visit their children because they don't see them enough, why would they visit Bill twice and ignore Charlie?
So why go back to Egypt?