to not want to go on holiday if it involves a 2hr drive to airport+ 2 hr wait+2hr flight+4hrs in airport+10hr flight with a baby, 2 yr old and 4 yr old?

[angstybaby]

this is what it would take it get to san francisco (not the final destination). the next day's trip would be a 5hr flight...

Have you ever been to Hawaii OP - to me it is heaven on earth and I would go at any opportunity, went for just 1 week last year and I am really hoping that the flight prices drop again so I can go this year.

However the journey is long and tiring and my DC were 5/7 the first time.

Are you flying to SF then having some time there before you go across?

I really love Hawaii, it's my second fav place to holiday, so I'd be tempted. I think a lot would depend on how long you were going to be there. For less than 7 days, no way. As it is you'll be so knackered that (IMHO) you won't enjoy all the things HI has to offer. Between jet lag and kid-enduced exhaustion, you'll be lucky you don't land in hospital!

Is there anyway you could fly to SF early and spend 2 nights 'recuperating' before continuing on? Or could DH do his business in SF and meet you somewhere 'in the middle' (i.e. Chicago, Denver, or Omaha) and continue on to HI together (with a possible overnight at the meeting point)?

BleachEverything - I just have to mention that I love your name! Even though it is everything I don't live up to.

I think you just need to lose the 4 hour wait and then it would be OK. We did London to Indian ocean last year with 3 hour wait in Dubai and that was the most tedious bit. saying that it was OK with the three kids, as was Florida the year before. I don't find long haul with kids too bad, but the waiting around at airports is the worse bit.

Personally I'd try to find direct flights to San Fran (Virgin?) and then have a holiday in California, would be much more doable!

You can fly direct from JFK to Oahu on Hawaiian Airlines, makes the journey much easier. We had two nights in San Francisco on our way back last year but we looooooved Maui & Big Island.

I have also done Scotland to Hawaii and would not do with 2 youngsters and a baby. I don't think Hawaii is very child friendly for DC that young. Depending when you go it may be very hot and sticky. Jet lag is pretty terrible too.

Wait till they are older to go snorkelling, surfing and volcano walking .

Might fancy a trip to San Francisco with DC if the journey were a bit more direct though!

Hmm, is the 4 hour wait when you first arrive in the USA?

We travel back and forth between the US and UK every 6 months with 2 little ones with a connecting flight between states, and we aim for a wait of at least 3 hours between flights in the US because queuing to get through immigration can take an hour sometimes. Then you usually have to go through security again, find the departure gate for your next flight (maybe in a different terminal), get something to eat that's not airplane food, use the loo and change nappies... 4 hours can go quite quickly! Plus lots of US airports have indoor play areas.

I'd do it because I'd love to go to San Francisco and Hawaii, but I can understand your reservations. We only have 2 children, and I can imagine it gets far more tricky when you have more children than pairs of hands.

I wouldn't do it with just me never mind with three children.

Sounds like a nightmare.

Bear in mind though, that the four hours between flights won't be four hours hanging around. By the time you've got off the first plane, found where your next flight is going, and actually got there you could have used up an hour and a half (especially if at LHR where you take trains between flights). You can spend time looking at the aircraft and having a snack. The time will pass..

However. There are mant places that are great holiday destinations with children that are a couple of hours journey. Personally I'd do that!

I was coming on to say yabu but further info suggests your not!

I've done 24 hour flight a few times with dd, but that's to go home. Would never do it just for a holiday!

why why why would you do this with such young children. Utter madness. 12 hour flight with 2 kids, not ideal OR fair

I've done similar flights on my own with a 1 year old, a 2 year old and a 3 year old. It was absolutely fine. Nowhere near the nightmare I'd imagined. In fact the worst bit was trying to get all our hand luggage plus the kids up the steps to the plane but that was sorted in 5 minutes. Do it. It will be absolutely fine.