To not want to go to the caribbean with in laws and toddler...

[Jeggie]

We (dh, dd and i) have been invited to join our in laws for a family holiday and they have suggested somewhere in the Caribbean. Nothing is booked yet but it will be an all inclusive kind of hol.

Initially we were really excited... But the potential horror of traveling with our somewhat defiant 2.5 year old is dawning on us. She hates enclosed spaces, loves to scream and run about.... Usual stuff... It is stressing me out just imagining it.

We are wondering whether we might be able to suggest a holiday somewhere closer to home. I don't know much about all inclusive holidays but are there equivalent big resorts in Europe?

Is that just really ungrateful?!

Leave child and in laws at home and you and DH go away

I think I would put up with the travel to go there but that's me

Go! Ime she'll be fine. We took dd to the Dominican just before her 3rd birthday. She loved it, and was absolutely fine on the flight. A nap and meals broke the time up, we'd chosen quite a short transfer at the other end, and it was just fine.

We had a fabulous time.

Is it just the one child you have? If so, 4 adults versus one toddler should be fine. You can take it in turns to entertain her/walk endlessly up and down the plane. Go and enjoy!

How about a family friendly cruise?

Send her with the gps and stay at home

Our (admittedly compliant) has been ok on long haul flights at a similar age. Let's face it, it'll not be as unpleasant as childbirth... No drugs rule though... I'm probably not helping, am I?

Go, if you get on with the ILs

you cant let one little person rule your life honestly go on holiday she will be fine ,

Thanks for the positivity! Cheered me up a bit. There will be 6 adults and 2 under 3s so yes plenty of helpers. They are all from the same family and I'm the outsider, maybe that's part of it... I feel tense anyway let alone on a 9h flight with our little whirlwind...

We're taking a 2 yr old and 4 yr old on a 10 hr flight to Mexico this year, we took 14 month old ds to the maldives. It's a relatively short period of stress/pain for a fab holiday you will all enjoy.

I'd opt for the Canaries instead.

The worst thing about our holiday with a toddler was that the house wasn't safe - stone floors everywhere, swimming pool outside, 10ft drop onto concrete with no railings....

As long as you can get a property that's safe I'd go for it.

Panicking now about our holiday next year to the same property

You could always take a supply of ear plugs for those around you so that at least if she is a pain, you can take the sting out of any disapproving looks by offering something to help minimise her impact...

I wouldn't go but then I am a bit of a worrier - I'd worry the villa etc wouldn't be child safe enough (as previous poster) and also the level of hospital care might not be as good should something go wrong. With small children under 4 personally I wouldn't want to go outside the eu. But I appreciate that's an extreme view and not one that's held by many!

It depends what your dc are like, we took our 4yr and 18m to Tenerife which is 4 hours and family didn't really help even though they're really hands on and it was a nightmare. I swore I'd never do it again without a DVD player. I won't go that far again til they are much older.

That said my two are whirlwinds that just don't sit still so we knew it would be tough. It will depend on their temperament, need for routine etc. some kids I know manage it easily, I do envy their parents