What would you do?

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Hi

My dh travels a lot and has accrued a number of airmiles. We have enough for our family (dh, me and ds aged almost 3) to fly business class to America / Caribbean. DH wants to take DS to Disney World (or whichever one is in Florida).

The only time we can go are the first 2 weeks of January or the second and third week of August.

I quite like the idea of the Caribbean in January; DH likes the idea of Florida in August when DS is a bit older. We definately want/need a holiday on January but funds are a bit depleated so it will be a cheap holiday in the Canaries probably if we don't use the air miles.

What would you do? Use the air miles in January or August and which destination. I truly don't know (and this is probably a once in a life time choice)

Thanks in advance for any advice / ideas.

Florida in August is extremely hot and humid and also Hurricane season (although it's hit and miss but you are likely to get heavy downpours/cloudy humid weather most days). Look at the 'weather underground' website, scroll down and you will see the 'almanac' - historical weather information for the particular dates you want to travel in previous years - really useful. The Disney parks are very crowded too and there probably won't be that many rides that your daughter will be able to go on at 3 years old.

January on the other hand is pefect for the Caribbean but chillier in Florida.

I would do the Caribbean and wait til your ds is a lot bigger before taking him to Disney.

Thanks for the replies.

I think the Caribbean it is then. OK, where to look for accommodation only? Where to start?

Who are your airmiles with? Can you use them with different companies?

BA Portofino

Where do you fancy? Do you want luxury/family friendy/AI/self catering?

Family friendly as my ds is very active (!) and a bit of luxury (not hideously priced though) preferred.

Not sure about board type. Would normally go b&b but not sure what eating out is like there. In my head we have a suite and ds is in bed while we eat on the verandah ... but that would never happen as he wouldn't stay there.

I am useless at holidays. I have always just booked flights and sorted it when we got there, avoiding any family type places!

Thank you for any advice :)

Could you just fly ordinary class and get twice as many miles?

Hi Kreecher. No, dh won't travel long haul economy (he has a medical condition and travels so much I do understand). Would have been a perfect solution though ...

You may have a problem cashing in the Airmiles on BA in August. Tried this and found no availabiltiy whatsoever (because of the Olympics).

Oh ... thanks for the tip-off Attila. Will have a check before we do anything.

Ooh August in Disney would be hell. Water parks will be like people soup, crowds and queues horrendous, and the heat and humidity overwhelming.

At 3 DS isn't really going to get a lot out of it either TBH. Wait a few years for that one.

Barbados is a lovely place to visit, and a lot of the hotels have a creche or kids club to get them out of the heat. Try the Almond or Turtle Beach resort groups.

Cuba is good value for money, Palm island if you can stretch to it, St Lucia is lovely but the journey around the island is winding and tiring.

Temp will be the same so I would recommend January too.