To consider a long haul holiday with DS's 4 and 1?

[WannabeNigella]

Last time we went long haul was before DS's were born. Both travel excellently on aeroplane's short haul, on every flight I have received comments from other passengers on their excellent behaviour. However most we have done is 4 hours.

Considering Caribbean in summer for 10 days. Has anyone done it? Flight will be approx 9-10 hours. (Time difference also a consideration).

Or AIB totally U to consider it?

Thank you!

[janpa]

My good friend took her 6 month old to New Zealand & it was fine. Good luck!

[charliesmommy]

Speaking from personal experience I would say stay closer to home. A four hour flight to the canaries is more than enough for most kids.

Stepson and gf took their 4 yr old to Dominican Republic in October and she was just so bored stuck on a flight for 10 hours. Also, there isnt a lot to do at the resorts either they said.

They came to Lanzarote with us in May and said that was a far easier and more enjoyable holiday than long haul.

[pointythings]

I've been taking my DDs to the eastern US (7 hours flight) since the oldest was a baby - it's fine, as long as you are prepared, especially for the 4yo - bring your own snacks as airline food is dreadful, lots of little games/toys and if the airline doesn't have one of those seat back screens with a choice of viewing would suggest bringing a CD player/MP3 player with audiobooks.
You'll need about 2 days to get them back on night/day timetable on arrival, expect very early morning waking the first two mornings you are there. Oddly enough I've always found coming back easier for them, though it's harder for me and DH.

[CHOOGIRL]

YANBU - do it! Book early evening flight so that the DC get settled have something to eat and then sleep. Also choose child friendly resort. We stayed here

Not sure about Caribbean in summer though - weather can be a bit hit and miss.

[WannabeNigella]

Ooooh yeah ChooGirl never thought of that. We always went back end of the year but as DS1 starts school in Sept we're looking at May/June. Will investigate further.

Thanks to everyone who has replied so far.

[MilliONaire]

You are not being unreasonable - just make sure you are well prepared for the journey beforehand. It is very do-able. Dd is 5 and she has been to australia three times and Northern America twice, and Thailand. She has been absolutely fine on all flights.

Enjoy!

[whoneedssleepanyway]

My BIL and SIL have just taken their DS (20 months) to the far east and he slept 10 of the 12 hours of the flight, it was a night flight....agree with comments about carribean weather in the summer though, what about Oct half term although could be £££££

[midori1999]

We've been to both Dominican Republic and Jamaica in both Summer and Winter and found the weather fine and in fact, had more rain in Dec/Jan and March than July/August. I think you'd have to be pretty unlucky to get lots of lots of rain whenever you went tbh, it's usually heavy showers that don't last long or maybe the od day of heavy rain.

We took DS's to Dominican Republic (last minute idea, was very cheap!) when they were 4 and 12 months, at Christmas/New Year. They were both fine on the plane, despite no sound on the TV for the outward journey (DS1 was watching 'The Grinch' and oroudly proclaimed he didn't need the sound, he'd seen it so many times he knew the words ).

They both had a whale of a time in resort. DS1 met a little boy the same age on the coach journey from the airport and they spent almost all day in the childrens pool together whilst DH and I and their parents watched them and chatted. DS2 slept a lot of the time in the shade in his pushchair and spent time in the pool with us and eating playing in the sand. There was a kids disco/entertainment every evening and we all went to bed by 10 ish as e were shattered.

It was great. I hate short hall destinations. We'd been to Majorca in the summer when DS2 was 6 months old and it was such hard work in comparison. Traipsing to the beach and back, crowded pools, dreadful food, busy beaches. In the DR we had the beach and pool 'on tap' and it was never overly busy. DS1 also loved the swim up bar, despite the barman refusing to serve him and his friend 'beer and champagne please'!

I would do it again in an instant.

[Madinitials]

Not sure who you're flying with but I believe Virgin's Caribbean flights tend to be in the morning. I flew to Barbados this year with my 5 month old DD and it was fine. Time difference-wise, the first night in B'dos was a nightmare, by the second DD was waking at 7am just like at home. The return flight left late afternoon and arrived back into London at 6am so she slept most of the way through. Am booked to return with DD (who will be nearly 2yo) and 6 month old new baby next summer.

Definitely take lots of your own entertainment (2yo DNiece flew with us) and bring your own food as back-up.

[Blu]

Madamedeathstare, your children's father sat separately from you in business class and didn't help when you needed to take one to the toilet or was ill?

Good grief.

[spacecadet1]

I've done caribbean trip twice when ds1 was 23 months & 3.4 & also doing the same in a few months when he's just 5 & also with his 10 month old brother. I'm sure you'll be fine. May/June is a much better option than summer or october cos hurricane season is June-Nov (bit rarer in June) so May would be pretty good. If you can get kids to sleep on the flight on way out it helps so they can stay up a bit later - even if they don't you could always let them have a nap when they get there & try to wake them up for evening meal before putting them to bed as late as poss. Also take tonnes of stuff to occupy them - a portable dvd or a laptop is a godsend for the flight & for taking out at night if you go fot meals) Try to get them to sleep for a while during the day when you're out there also helps.

We did 10 days the first time & a week the second. We opted for 10 days the 1st time thinking it might be enough but we could've easily done 2 weeks but I wouldn't recommend less than 10 days.

My ds slept the whole flight on both trips home (night flights) so wasnt so jet lagged when we got back.

I think your 4 year old will be fine with plenty new stuff to occupy him & your 1 year old should be easily distracted / sleep for some of the journey. Get him a seat if you can to make your life easier!

Where you thinking of going?

[Blu]

MDS - yes, yes, but why is he in Business Class and you are in TinTin Hell? I like the idea of one business class seat to be shared in relays, away from children...

[WannabeNigella]

Well we love Barnados so that really appeals. Dont want to do Dominican again but maybe Aruba or Antigua as they are pretty well developed to some of the other Caribbean we have visited.

Just wonder if I'm being selfish as all the bots will really want is a pool and the beach so won't matter to them but I really ferocious I need a holiday I can get excited about again and DH agrees.

Really appreciate all your comments.

[Binfullofgibletsonthe45]

YANBU do it now while they aren't in school and the off season prices are good. You will get slayer when you have to book in school hols.

I agree with Carib and weather though - can be dodgy. Took my ds3 to the Maldives for 3 weeks year before last - just me and him as dad was in the forces. We had a blast. Some of my best special memories.

Take a few new toys that won't fall to bits so you aren't reaching under the seats all the time. I got some good magnet board games and a jigsaw with a train track on it. Kept him amused for hours.

Night flights are good as they will just go to sleep once the lights go off. Take plenty of water or juice for them, as it gets dry on a long flight. Take the calpol in cease their ears get painful on landing and the karvol to help them breathe. I used to just do the bedtime routine for my ds - teeth brushed, jammies on and tuck him up for sleep in the seat. Or make him a pillow bed on the floor and tuck him up there.

[Binfullofgibletsonthe45]

I second Barbados though - I got married there, ds was 1 then. St. Lucia is also great. If you need some childcare look into the almond beach resorts, or the turtle beach. More relaxed than those beaches resorts - like hoseasons in paradise......

[dixiechick1975]

DD has been on a 9 1/2 hour flight aged almost 2, 3 and 4. Absolutely fine - best thing I took this time was a 50p pack of plasticine - kept her amused for a couple of hours.

You say we - as long as there is an adult per child you will be fine.

[WannabeNigella]

I've not been keen on St Maartin both times we've visited and although I liked Martinique I didn't find it all that pretty.

DH and I get bored easily so it needs to be somewhere we can wander about in or get in a car and go and explore and some of the Caribbean isn't good for that.

Not keen on Jamaica or Grenada, although I am now thinking about St Thomas and St Kitts as we loved it there.

Hmmmm, I can definitely see it happening now the more more I think of those beautiful beaches.