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!

Ive been to Antigua 5 times now and its lovely. the weather has always been fine - a few storms but it rains for 15 minutes and then its sunny again. None of the sulking that British weather does. i've been in March and the ed of July/start of August. The flight time is a little over 8 hours.

We stay at the St James Club which is great for children as one fo the beaches is nice and shallow. Originally we went there on the recommendation of a MNer :)

Long haul with the 1 yo is going to be hell in my experience. However, you just get through it and focus on the end result - the holiday! Every time we go, I tell the children that I will shout at them and be very very irritable by the time we arrive but they are just to get through it. This year was the least stressful as I treated myself to an ipad and put several DVDs for DD (she was 4) on it. The best money I have spent, ever! Worth every single penny.

I'd highly recommend Barbados. That's where we're off to in a few months. The island is easy to get around (unlike places like St Lucia) & there are some lovely restaurants, most of which are child friendly. The west coast beaches are lovely (never been to the south but heard the seas are a bit rougher) & May/June should be a nice time to go (hurricanes less likely at this time of year the further south in the Caribbean you go).

If you have any q's about the island I'd be pleased to answer them!

Hi Spacecadet, Barbados is definitely my favoured choice, been there many times and it is probably my favourite place in the world.

You may have been there but I can highly recommend Pisces Restaurant in St Lawrence Gap.

I flown every year with all four dcs on my own!!

We're planning to visit my brother next year with a 3 year old and (fingers crossed) a very young baby - hoping I can breast feed and put baby on my boob to keep it quiet. Wouldn't want to do it on my own but with two of us and lots of games in the Trunki, hopefully we'll be fine.

can also recommend barbados, very friendly and safe - can go anywhere in own hire car & children very welcome in hotels and eating establishments - coming back is usually an overnight flight so little ones usually sleep through - also weather usually good - may have heavy rain in sept but not found it bad any other time and it usually passes quite quickly

I love Barbados. Even the smartest restaurants are child friendly. We've been going there since Ds was 2. Outbound flights are daytime and Ds needed entertaining when he was 2 and 3. By 4 he could amuse himself (I always take new travel games, DVDs etc). Inbound flights are overnight so Ds sleeps.

If you are flying Virgin I'd seriously consider flying Premium Economy as the room in Economy is dreadful.

We went to America with DDs when they were 2.4 and 7 months and they were brilliant on the flights - one day and one night. I think night flights are a bit easier though. Also we took our car seat on the plane for DD1 as we knew she would sleep in that rather than lolling around on the big seats

My favourite Island is St Lucia by far. No issues in getting around IMO and the rainforests and banana plantations make it more interesting i think than Barbados. Antigua also very nice & has naval history and Grenada is very very friendly but somewhat flattened by hurricanes. If you want amazing beaches, try Anguilla

Wannabe, no we haven't tried Pisces but I'll put in on the 'to do' list. Have you tried Wispers on the Bay in Bridgetown (near the Boatyard)? It's gorgeous (looks nothing from the outside but beautiful inside, especially if you get a booth). We're staying at Royal Westmoreland this time cos we figured it'd be much easier with kids rather than using a hotel so staying somewhere like that could make a holiday easier (& it's a lot cheaper than staying in a hotel).

I agree with Crispy that St Lucia is gorgeous (my joint fave with Barbados) but I wouldn't travel there with young kids cos most of the hotels are in the north with about an hours journey from the airport on v v windy roads. You can do a helicopter transfer though.

Go for it, it'll be fine