Travel Destination Suggestions for 4 Yr Old and 8 Mo Old.

Cruises are great with kids. My older daughter went when she was 16 months and almost 3 years. At 16 months she wasn't old enough for Camp Carnival, but she was on the later cruise. She had a blast! AND, unlike the babysitting which we did when she was 16 months, there wasn't an additional fee for the all-day camp! Hubby and I were able to relax and enjoy the spa. We'll definitely do another cruise, but we now have 5 month old twins and may wait awhile.

I agree that getting a condo is the only way to go. We stay exclusively at timeshares and it's wonderful to have your own kitchen, living room, two baths and two bedrooms. Plus, a washer & dryer in the condo tops off a great vacation and you don't have to pack as much since you can wash mid-week. The twins have already been on 4 vacations so far and it was so easy. Hubby doesn't care for the pool, so he watched the babies while I took the older daughter to the pools. We have avoided staying in 'regular' hotels for years and now that we have the kids, we definitely need the space and ammenities that the condos provide.

Have a great vacation!

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I've yet to go to Kuai...but Oahu, Maui, & the Big Island were super fun. My favorite Island was Oahu, but my favorite resort/hotel was Hilton Waikoloa Village http://www.hiltonwaikoloavillage.com/ on the big island. We were super lucky and had a room right outside the dolphin quest pool. While they have a lot of family stuff...it's mostly oriented for kids 5+...but there are a couple hours a day (one in the morning & one in the afternoon) for "camp" for kids under 5. Anyhow....fantastic AWESOME hotel.

Another thought, still in the tropical but rather east of hawaii, would be one of the Beaches all inclusive family resorts in the Caribbean. They're completely set up for families (part of the Sandal's chain).

<<< So totally envious. Have a fantastic time :)

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Hi there.

I have a four year old and nine month old and in Sept we're going to Hawaii. Yippee!!!

We normally do the same thing...get a "suite" so we have a separate place for my oldest, but with Hawaii it was a bit too pricey for us.

We like the Big Island and I found a great deal at the Prince Hapuna Beach Hotel. The rate was fantastic, kids eat free, it's right on the beach, parking is free. The rooms are a little older looking, but I figure at least it will be clean. You can also eat and have priveleges at everything at the newly redone Mauna Kea hotel nearby. I found the deal on Expedia, but also just did a bunch of online searching.

It was a toss up for us between this and the Hilton Waikoloa which is supposedly great for kids, but for us personally, I thought we might get tired of the "Disneyland" aspect of the place and opted for something a little quieter.

I know there's also a lot of condos in Hawaii too which some people love...for me...I work full time and have a part time business so I want a vacation where I don't see the inside of a kitchen once! Nor are having a washing/dryer a plus for me! Don't plan to do any laundry or even make my own bed!

But, I realize everyone is different. I say just get online and do so research there...good luck and Aloha!

-M

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Christmas 1999 to New Years 2000, we spent 2 glorious weeks in Manzanillo, Mexico at an all inclusive resort. My girls were 4 and 8 months (no lie! Nov 1995 and April 1999). It was perfect. There were planned activities for the 4 year old all day if we wanted but we opted to keep her...unless it was nap time for the little one. Everyday our food was taken care of, our activiites were taken care of, the only decision we had was which restaruant to eat in and...beach or pool! All our ocean sports were free, kayak, snorkling, glass bottom boats...It was perfect. We didn't have to worry about anything.

AND

My daughters and I have cruised 3 times now. The first was when they were 8 and 4. It was PERFECT. We got an outside room (for mom and dad it cost $800 each but for the girls it was less than $250 each). So for an entire week, we cruised the Mexican Riviera, Cabo, Mazatlan and Puerto Vallarta. During the day at sea the boat has "kids clubs" they are entertained ALL DAY, 9-noon, 1-5 and 7-10. My hubby and I got be grown ups not parents EVERYDAY ALL DAY!!! In Cabo we went to the beach. It was perfect. In Mazatlan we took a "tour" of the El Cid. did not buy anything, and for a 90 minute presentation we got arm bands that gave us free food, drink and activities for the entire day! We swam in the pool, got free ocean kayaks, ate and drank...all included. Then in PV, we hit the beach all day. We did some shopping, sand castles etc.

Keep it simple. Get one place and stay there. Don't go somewhere that you will feel like you need to GO GO GO all day. You will most likely not enjoy it.

B.
Family Wellness Coach

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If you want a resort, where you can just hang out, I definitely recommend the Hilton Waikoloa Village on the Big Island. (Look on Travelocity for package deals that include airfare - they're really inexpensive right now.) They have 5 pools, a water slide, an ocean lagoon with sea turtles and tons of fish (and boats and snorkel gear available for rent), tide pools with gorgeous little creatures, a kids club program, babysitting available, a dolphin program, mini golf, regular golf and tennis, a weekly luau, gorgeous scenery... even if you rarely leave the property, you'll have the most wonderful time. The only drawback is that the resort food tends to be expensive, but about 5 minutes down the road (ask about shuttles) is the Queen's Marketplace, where you can find inexpensive food in the food court or restaurants (as well as cheap snorkel gear if you want to buy some.) Just thinking about it makes me want to go back! (The Travel Channel's Samantha Brown rates it as the Best Family Resort in the islands.)

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Hi E.,

We went with a group to Maui. One of the families had a 4yr old, 2 yr old, and 8 month baby. We got rooms at a timeshare type condo building. All the rooms had kitchens and mini laundry machines. It made it easier to keep a schedule with the kids and saved a lot of money because we could get groceries and eat there. We were steps from the beach and because it was family-friendly they had life guards on duty at the pools and the beach (which was a load of our minds) and had activities for the kids. The family suites had bedrooms and a living room.

Have fun!

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Consider a condo or a house rental. You have a kitchen, food anytime, and 2-3 bedrooms for separate areas. We stayed in one in Maui and it was stocked with books, movies, beach chairs, umbrella, etc. They had 2 pools and 3 gas barbeques. We were able to save a ton of money by eating most dinners at the condo using the BBQ and had lunch out. Our daughter was 10 months old so we also needed a crib and convenient space for naps. They had a crib for us so we really only brought clothes and a few toys and were ready to relax!
Now, we won't stay anywhere that does not have a kitchen and separate rooms to put kids to bed early - there's great resources on homeaway.com, vrbo (vacation rentals by owner) and even craigslist!
Have fun!

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Kauai is definitely the most family friendly island. It is every bit as beautiful as the others, with lots more to do for the little ones.

Get a condo so you have access to a kitchen, living room, dining room, couple of bedrooms and can spread out a little.

We did this when our girls were 4 1/2 and 18 months and it was ideal.

Enjoy your vacation!

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Hi E.,
I have been to Hawaii multiple times and each time has been awesome. I have been to all of the islands (aside from Kauai), and Maui is my favorite. It has lots to offer entertainment wise, but still has that small island feel. The only foreseeable challenge you may come up against is the 5-6 hour flight over can be long and frustrating to a baby, especially if they can't get their ears to pop. So, you may have a fussy baby the entire flight over.
There is a series of books out there by Wizard Publishing called: Maui Revealed, Hawaii (the Big Island) revealed, etc
These books give ratings for all the beaches, hotels, time shares, restaurants, entertainment sites, etc and they are incredibly accurate. You can find them at most any book store in the travel section.
As for accomodations, I have always rented a time share for a week. It gives you a full kitchen and you can have two rooms and bathrooms. Additionally, many have a washer and dryer in the unit. My only suggestion would be that if you plan to travel there in late spring, summer, or early fall that you make sure your unit has air conditioning. The humidity (and heat) can be unbearable and air conditioning allows you to escape the weather.
You can rent time shares off one of the many time share sites, such as: www.redweek.com, www.tug2.net, etc. The cost is considerably less than a hotel for a week, and you have all the luxuries of home. Many of the nicer time share resorts even have restaurants, etc. so if you want to have that "eat out" experience you can.
I have never been on a cruise, but good friends of our took their 8 year old son on a cruise with Norwegian through all the Hawaiian Islands and everyone had a great time. Some of the boats apparently offer child care programs for the kids during the day so the parents can get out and enjoy themselves.

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I agree with the other posts that recommend getting a condo with the kitchen, etc. so much easier for naptime, meals, etc. and it ends up saving you money on meals. then you can splurge on the occasional restaurant for dinner, but simple breakfast/lunches at home.
I've been to Maui, Kauai, Oahu and Hawaii and have to say Kauai is my favorite; Garden island, very green and lush. Poipu beach is a great area for families and wonderful waves. We've stayed at Poipu Kapili and Kiahuna in the past (I think I might be off on the spelling!) and since they are usually privately owned, you can get a good deal if you do some searching. last time I went with my sister and her two kids, ages 2.5 years and 11 months and we got a condo by the pool then walked to the beach when we wanted. also went over the more expensive, resort style hotels during the day for the larger pools, fun lunches and everything else without paying the room rates! lots of places to walk to and visit without having to stay at the pricier hotels.
enjoy, great vacation idea, I have many wonderful memories of family vacations as a child with my sister; our parents took us there when we were little as well.

I took my daughter (now 27 months) on a cruise when she was 4 months old. I liked it because it was easy to do a lot on the ship even with a baby and I still was able to check all kinds of things out when we stopped at ports. I have cruised with Royal Caribbean www.rccl.com and on some of their newer ships they have a wading pool area that you can take your baby in. They have great kids activities for your four year old and if you want a night out with your husband they have baby-sitters available that will come watch your kids in your cabin for $8 per hour.
Hope that helps!
C.

I also have two girls (oldest is almost 4 years old and youngest is 9 months), and we just went to San Diego for a few days and had a great time! My oldest LOVES SeaWorld so we went there and to Legoland. The San Diego zoo is great too. There are a lot of great resort hotels there, and I agree that a suite is definitely the way to go. Somewhere relatively close like San Diego could be a good "test" trip on how things would go with two before doing a bigger, more involved trip like Hawaii.

We stayed at the Marriott resort on Poipu beach in Kauai. We had 2 bedrooms. My son was 4 at the time. There was a lot to do with him on the beach, at the hotel and in Kauai (The Smiths Luau is a must!) and we were able to put him to sleep at night. I would also recommend Maui for the same thing. We also went to the Big Island for 2 nights just to see the Volcano National Park.

Hope this helps.

All of the Hawaiian islands are nice, but the big island definitely has a lot to do. I highly recommend getting a condo. That is what we did last time and it was well worth it. Lots of space and the kitchen helps cut down on food costs. As far as cruises go, I have heard that it is best to wait until your youngest is 3.

We've stayed on the big island at Waikoloa Marriot Beach and Spa Resort on the big island. There are two pools. one is large with a slide. The other is a kid pool, shallower with a sand bottom. Snorkeling gear and chairs are provided at the beach. We got a deal that included breakfast though the room a fridge.

This hotel is on the Kona Coast. Most of the big Islands "sights" are on the Hilo side-Volcano National Park, the original Hilo Hatties, Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut Factory and tour and Mauna Loa coffe factory. There are several waterfalls to see as well. We took one day-ALL day to see these places.

We haven't been to hawaii in years and I'm sad to say the kids don't really remember it, ages 2 and 4 at the time. Take lots of pictures.

Food is very expensive. Either pack a suitcase full or hit the grocery store.

Hi,

We actually just got back(last night)from Hawaii. We stayed in the Hilton Hawaiian village resort and spa in Oahu. We were upgraded to a one bedroom suite, which was nice and comfortable. We traveled with our 3 kids, 3,7 and 8. they had everything you need in the resort. They're having specials this summer, so you might want to visit their website and book thru them directly. The kids loved the super pool which had a kiddie pool and slides for older and younger kids. They also have a garden with famingos and an area with penguins. It's really expensive in hawaii... no matter which island you go to.. but oahu is the cheapest. it's like san diego or la. if you rent a car, parking at the hotels run about 20 to 30 bucks a day, even as a registered guest. but you really don't have to rent, everything is walking distance. Unless you want to go out of the city for the aloha stadium swapmeet(a must for suveneirs(sp?)) hiking at diamond head... or just to go around the quieter spots on the islands. We even surprised the kids with a limo ride to and from our hotel back to the airport. Check out jay's limo service... it was $100 for both ways... they loved it. Let him know I referred you, he might be able to give you a discount.

hope that helps,
M. Samonte