Where to plan family vacation this year?

[pinion9]

My wife and I are 25 and have a 3 year old and a 6 month old (well, that's how old we will all be when we go on vacation this December/January.) I need to know a good place to vacation, some place relatively safe and clean. Unsure about Mexico as I've never been there. I took my wife and 2 year old to the Dominican Republic and that was nice, but don't know if an infant would do well in a place like that.

At any rate, please chime in with suggestions. Someplace tropical (we line in Alaska.) Hawaii? Costa Rica? Bahamas? Where is a nice place to vacation for two weeks that is safe for families and has lots to do?

 

[Ameesh]

a cruise in the bahamas will defintely have stuff to do, but a 6 month old might be an issue.

 

[altonb1]

Orlando FTW. I'm renting out a condo there in mid- to late-July, so obviously that doesn't help you any, but the weather is relatively warm that time of year. If you go in January, the Christmas crowds have passed so the parks will not be very crowded. Your 3yo will love seeing all the characters, etc. (I'd guess the 3yo would probably be able to pass for 2...Disney, Universal, etc are charge children prices for ages 3-9, so your call/morals/ethics need to dictate whether you buy a child's ticket or not.)

Orlando has many dinner shows, etc available--a very family-friendly area with lots to see and do.

You mentioned places out of the country, so perhaps Florida is not somehting you wish to consider, but I took my family in November again my 2.5yo LOVED seeing Mickey, Goofy, Minnie, Pooh, etc while we were there.

Good luck on your decision!


edit: if you go in December, the parks are decked-out for Christmas with special shows, themes, etc. Disney at Christmas is very magical. Universal turns Seuss Landing into WHO-VILLE for Christmas complete with Santa Grinch.

 

[pinion9]

Originally posted by: Ameesh
a cruise in the bahamas will defintely have stuff to do, but a 6 month old might be an issue.

The only problem with a cruise is they charge full rate for any person. 6 month old = additional occupancy. So my wife and I and our 3 and 0 year old will now need to have a room for four. It is really stupid. I'm thinking Disney cruise when the new baby is about 2. Thanks for the input. Are the Bahama's clean if you just want to go visit?

 

[JRich]

I just got back from a 4 night Disney cruise to the Bahamas. Fun as hell! Nassau is kinda clean, lol. Just stay near the port. What's cool about the Disney cruises is that you stop at Castaway Cay, Disney's private island. That place was fun to screw around at. Plus there is a ton of stuff for the kids to do. I'm planning on going on a 7 night cruise next year to the eastern Carribean 🙂

 

[purbeast0]

Aruba.

It's about the safest place you can be and the place is just beautifu. It's clean as can be and the locals are the friendliest people I've met.

I cannot wait until I go back there.

 

[pinion9]

Originally posted by: purbeast0
Aruba.

It's about the safest place you can be and the place is just beautifu. It's clean as can be and the locals are the friendliest people I've met.

I cannot wait until I go back there.

Safest provided you aren't a hot, trashy high school girl who hooks up with strangers. 😉

Seriously, I might look into going there. Thanks for the tip. What major airlines fly there?

 

[purbeast0]

Originally posted by: pinion9

Originally posted by: purbeast0
Aruba.

It's about the safest place you can be and the place is just beautifu. It's clean as can be and the locals are the friendliest people I've met.

I cannot wait until I go back there.

Safest provided you aren't a hot, trashy high school girl who hooks up with strangers. 😉

Seriously, I might look into going there. Thanks for the tip. What major airlines fly there?

LOL ... more like you aren't a stupid person who hooks up with strangers 😛.

I took AA there, and I know United goes there as well. I have many pictures of the place in my galleries on my website. Click on the third link in my signature and click on the galleries link on that page, and you'll see the link to the Aruba gallery.

Seriously it's so beautiful there and there is so much to do and explore. The only thing I wish I had when I went there was more time to do more stuff.