Am I insane?

[rkold]

So my darling husband has offered to take me on a much needed vacation. I'm quite excited because we rarely go on trips together except to see his family and while I like his parents I don't find the Southwest particularly enthralling. I thought Zion was nice the first 2 or so times I visited it, but doing the same hikes there many years in a row just does not do it for me. I confess I don't particularly enjoy desert scenery, I much prefer all the green of a wetter environment. And frankly, the restaurants out there are for the most part terrible. There is only one really good restaurant in St. George and St. George is 20 miles away. Having to cook and clean and grocery shop is not really a vacation. But now I've been offered the chance for a real trip together, there are just a few minor catches:

1) Adina (she has to come with us of course so wherever we go has to be baby friendly)
2) Neither my husband nor Adina currently has a Passport
3) I need to pump every 5-6 hours and Adina needs to eat every 3-4

Ideally, I want to go someplace warmer than here, someplace where I can spend a lot of time soaking/swiming in warm water.

With that in mind... poll time!

[Poll #1662055]

Comments

[reynardine.livejournal.com]

I picked Hawaii because my folks took us there when I was 7 and it was the best vacation I ever had and I have always wanted to move there go back. Not sure how baby-friendly it was, but it sure had a lot of things for kids in elementary school to do. The Islands are Calling! It's not cheap, though.

From my experience, the beaches along the Gulf are usually a bit too cool during January/February for comfortable swimming--that may be just me, though. They are nice in March and April, though. Pensacola is my favorite, although I'm prejudiced as that is where my grandparents used to live and there are many happy memories there. But also a lot to do!

If it was just you and Kennis, I'd suggest New Orleans. GREAT FOOD (disclaimer: I love fish), it is warm and so many historical things to see. But I wouldn't say it was a baby-friendly place, and I haven't been there since 2004 (pre-Katrina), although my parents have gone there a few times lately and say it is starting to come back. Maybe when Adina is older, though?

[rkold.livejournal.com]

Which Island(s) did you go to? I figure Hawaii is not that much less than staying at one of the fancy resorts at WDW, especially when you start including tickets to the parks.

The trip is going to be Jan/Feb because that is when Kennis has time to go. ^^;; We can't wait. And I suspect the water is not likely to warm to a temperature I would like until quite late since I really like my water quite warm. It's one reason I prefer pools and especially hot tubs (and onsen) I like my water very warm (like bathtub warm.)

Luck has given us this chance to take a trip and Adina needs to come with us since she is breastfeeding/nursing.

[reynardine.livejournal.com]

We went to Oahu, Molokai, and the Big Island. Molokai was mainly pretty landscape and we only went because Dad had liked the place when he was stationed in Hawaii. Oahu was the touristy place and had a lot to do. We visited the Big Island to see volcano-related stuff, as my mom was a science teacher. At the time, Kilauea was still dormant and we were hiking in areas later overrun by lava. There are some black-sand beaches around that are very striking, but I can't remember the name of the one we went to.

(Mom would know, but my folks are on the road right now.)

Wherever ya'll decide to go, I'm sure you'll have a great time! It's wonderful that Kennis will be able to go with you!

[reynardine.livejournal.com]

Oh, I should also mention that my family's vacations tended to be less relaxation and more rushing around to see as many places as could be fit in. (Which may explain why I'm such a homebody now! LOL)

I think others made a good point about a shorter plane ride being easier on a young baby. WDW may well be your best bet.

[rkold.livejournal.com]

Like your Mom, I'm really interested in volcanoes which is one reason I've wanted to go to Hawaii. I've heard Molokai is gorgeous and I sort of want to visit Pearl Harbor, which is a good reason to visit Oahu. I'd wanted to go to Kauai back in 1995, but I think it would be less fun with a baby. We almost went there for our honeymoon but I realized it was a bad idea to blow all our money on the honeymoon so we changed our plans.

I tend to prefer vacations that are constantly running around, as you might get from my Japan travelogues. I think because I spend so much time as a homebody, I like to make my vacations more exciting. I'm not sure though how having a baby in tow will affect that though. Adina tends to be good when we go out.

I really want to take her to Japan in the near future, so maybe somewhere closer is a good test run for planes.

[lbmango.livejournal.com]

I'd say South Carolina or FLA, somewhere on a beach

[rkold.livejournal.com]

I'm actually not so much of a beach person except to walk along it and take pictures because I like my water super warm. I want to be somewhere with very warm water since that is what I like to soak in and sort of need to soak in to get rid of remaining aches and pains.

SC is also not going to be warm enough in Jan/Feb. >>;

[rkold.livejournal.com]

Cancun doesn't make me think people with babies and we'd have to do rush passports for Kennis and Adina to go there.

Japan is cold but has lots of onsen to make up for the temperatures. :D I know Hakone was just lovely in Feb.

[reynardine.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't recommend Mexico at the present time. It used to be a great place to vacation, but things aren't terribly stable there right now.

[wingedgoddess.livejournal.com]

I voted both Hawaii and other. Other suggestion: a cruise, if you're up for it! You can do as much or as little as you like, and a lot of cruise liners are very kid-friendly. When my husband and I went on our cruise (the failed doll cruise -- we'd already paid off our tickets, so we decided to go anyway, whether the rest of the group canceled or not), we went on a Carnival cruise. They seemed very kid-friendly, with a lot of activities specifically for kids, though I'm not sure how *baby* friendly they are, specifically. That being said, I did see a few people with small babies. I've heard Disney cruises are even more child friendly. Might be worth checking into? ^___^

[rkold.livejournal.com]

This is going to sound silly but cruise ships frighten me. I am a bit obsessed with shipping disasters and it makes me anxious about cruises, that and I was reading some scary things about the doctors on board should you get ill. I'm also a little anxious about motion sickness. We went whale watching a few years ago and my husband spent the majority of the trip puking.

But I admit I have thought about a Disney Cruise.

[sumeragiskank.livejournal.com]

I am really not sure how baby friendly Hawaii is going to be and it is several long airplane trips. I say Disney is your best bet that is warm within the US while Adina is so small. And it's not like you don't like Disney, hehe.

[rkold.livejournal.com]

Yeah, that is the problem with Hawaii, the plane trips. I could fly small local airport to Chicago, Chicago to Oahu and I think the only other island I really want to see is the Big Island. (I'm not up for Kauai hiking and Maui seems too honeymoon)

If I go to Disney, I might not actually go to the parks that much and just use their amazing pools and enjoy the fact I can take Adina to restaurants and not feel rude.

[chocolate_chip.livejournal.com]

If it's your only chance to go to Hawaii, then you should take it, but such a long plane trip would be pretty difficult with Adina, I think. I think a better choice would be some sort of resort that's mainly focused on relaxing and being pampered.

[rkold.livejournal.com]

This could be my only chance to go to Hawaii? I just don't know. I've wanted to go for since 94 but it is not a trip I've been willing to make alone and all of my husband's vacation time is eaten by Jewish holidays and seeing his family.

There are no good resorts around here and I want someplace with an amazing pool and hot tubs since there is nothing that relaxes me like soaking in hot water. My dinky bathtub in my townhome just does not suffice.

[dilettantka.livejournal.com]

I would say either Disney or as somebody suggested above, maybe a cruise? the only problem with Hawaii is that it's going to be a really long flight and I think that would be hard on a tiny baby.

[rkold.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I'm nervous about the flight. I do plan to take Adina to Japan in the future, but by 6-7 months I hope to be able to communicate with her via sign language and she will be more alert, though she is changing every day.

She'd be between 3-4 months when we go whereever we go. I do have to be home on the 13th of February since we're having a 90th Birthday party for my grandmother. :D

[rkold.livejournal.com]

Ohhhhhhhh I've not seen that site. I have been to Glenwood Springs in CO though. Hmmmm I shall have to look up Calitoga, the pluses of SF are lots of great places to eat and my sister is out there. :D

I guess if they could get Passports there is Costa Rica, they have the Arenal Hot Springs.

But yeah WDW is very kid and baby friendly and babies are even free. Not that Adina will be eating so much, she gets what I eat right now.

Ohhhh that would be nice, I just think Hawaii sounds so wonderful.

[hinoai.livejournal.com]

I suggest a warm place, but only if you can go there in a car!!! Please please PLEASE do not be one of those people who take babies on a plane! ToT

I do hope you bring her to Japan one day, because I really want to meet her! But I hate it when babies cry on a plane, and I can't ask that other people have to listen if she starts to cry. Is there a safe, humane way to make sure that babies don't cry?

[rkold.livejournal.com]

Why a child cries on a plane can really vary. For really small babies it tends to be because their ears need to pop and it hurts. A good parent as soon as they can move around the cabin makes sure to feed the baby cause it will get the baby swallowing and readjust the pressure. (a pacifier can also help, you just need to get the pressure fixed.) However some babies just scream more than others just like how some pets do well traveling and others do not. (If Cookie gets in a carrier she spends the ENTIRE trip crying at a super loud decibel that is worse than anything the baby has ever done.) I know my Mom took me on a plane at 1, and I did not spend the whole time screaming. Adina is not so much of a screamer, particularly if she can spend hours sitting on me or Kennis.

Going back and forth to Japan, I've traveled many times with babies on a plane and they're really not that bad unless you are sitting next to them. I've not even known some were on the plane with me until I got off. A lot just has to do with the parents and the baby. I'd take a crying baby for 15-20 minutes over a rude teen any day though. At least the baby I can understand why they are screaming.

You can drug a baby, but its under debate how safe or humane that is and how effective it is. I'm looking to travel for leisure, but sometimes people need to travel and have a baby.

Personally, I'd sort of like to find out how Adina deals with planes sooner rather than later. Babies who fly often tend to scream less too because they adjust better. Babies are not as dumb as people think. Like Adina knows she needs to burp because she can eat more, and she now actively tries to burp and gives us signals to tell us to stop feeding her. I will say as long as the traffic is moving she loves the car. (she does fine with bumper to bumper if she is not starving.) It's possible the sounds of a plane and the vibrations would put her to sleep and for a short flight to FL it would be a non-issue.

[mec]

I'd say Disney, because you've mentioned a few times about going, and especially since it's baby-friendly. That's probably the most hassle-free of your choices, unless you actually can go to ticky box. ;-)

[rkold.livejournal.com]

I think I will be contacting some travel agents. Coincidentally, there is some Disney sale at AAA in a week.