Barbados with or without 2 yo?

[GerMom7]

What would you do - any opinions greatly received as I can't seem to reach a decision.

We have the chance of two free flights through airmiles and could go to Barbados. DH fancies week away just the two of us. My mum is very happy to have our little boy. I feel guilty about not taking him and will miss him but am also a bit anxious about the thought of a long flight and then whether he will be OK in the heat, etc. It will also mean cheap holiday turns into v. expensive family holiday with flight for him and all-inclusive hotel.

If you've been to Caribbean with little one the same age, what was your experience. Did they enjoy it?

Help - have to book flights this evening and am tearing my hair out!

We went with 2 yo DS. Flight was really not as bad as you think it would be. Heat is fine, you usually get a nice breeze most of the time and a bit of cloud some of the day in Barbados but just be v v careful with sun. We had a lovely time and DS had a blast in the pool and on the beach BUT...

One of you will have to entertain DS almost all of the time (when he's not napping) -this will prob mean being in the pool or sea with him. No lounging around reading and snoozing and chatting together. Evenings especially weren't great...we didn't want to leave DS with a babysitter we didn't know so we either spent ages walking him in pushchair to try and get him to sleep so we could go and have a meal in a restaurant or we put him to bed and had to have (crap) room service meal on our balcony, then whisper and creep round the room afterwards trying not to wake him. We also couldn't go out of the resort we were staying in and try any of the fabulous restaurants there are in Barbados, which was frustrating! It was a nice holiday, don't get me wrong, but if you can bear to leave him with your mum for a week, in all honesty I would. He will probably have a lovely time being spoilt, your mum will enjoy having him and most importantly you may not get many chances for a free, child free holiday for a long time (speaking as a mum of 3 DCS's who couldn't impose on anyone to look after all 3 for a week and would kill for a week in Barbados with just DH, bliss!)

Thank you so much for responding. I think we'll take the chance to go ourselves. You really helped.

No problem, now I really am !! Have a wonderful time, let us know how it goes!

Am taking DH on a surprise birthday trip (big birthday, not an annual thing mind you, we are not minted!) to Tokyo for a week. Have arranged with ILs to have both my boys (2.8 and 1 year then) for the week. Am gutted at leaving them but DH and I need the time away! And Tokyo (DH have dreamed of going there for a long while!) not exactly child-free. I have travelled long haul with both my boys at different ages (including two weeks in the Maldives with 18-month-old DS1 and pregnant!). IMO, it will be hard work but it can be done. If I were you, I would go just with DH. Your DS will barely remember any of it if he goes and he will love spending time with Nanny/Grandma!