I thought it would be fun to explain exactly how I went about planning the vacation we are taking in January. I think it will give y'all a great insight into how crazy I am.
Doug and I were given two free United vouchers after the whole Savannah debacle. (And by given, I mean I had to call and complain, a lot.) And Doug just rightly pointed out that this is like the time we went to the bad restaurant and our meal was a disaster and they us gave a coupon to come back and we went back and it was still bad. Why, oh why, are we flying United again?) But, because I am a stickler for all things free, I really wanted to use them. (And yes, I wanted a vacation. And yes, I will be using a lot of parentheses today). He also pointed out we were spending thousands of dollars just so I could use free tickets. He's a riot, that husband of mine.
Originally we were planning for November because the tickets say must use by December. To me, that means fly by, to United, it means ticket by. Which is good, because Doug got a new job and that pushed our vacation back.
Then the dilemma, where to go with a toddler, that is fun for him and us? And while I really want to go to Disney, I think he is too young and that is a huge expense. So I started looking at all inclusive resorts. I decided on Beaches. United doesn't fly there. Then I decided on Atlantis, United doesn't fly there either.
Then I thought about a cruise. Most cruises have kids clubs that start at three, not two. We found one line that has a toddler pool (no swim diapers in cruise pools, apparently it's a law), and one line that has a two year old program, and another line that had in cabin babysitting, maybe. What exactly does when available mean? Will it be available? I called a travel agent to make heads or tails of this nonsense and they never called me back. (Nice costumer service). And then I thought about Michael in a very small cabin. Michael, who does not "sleep like a baby." (If we walk by his room he wakes up). And I thought, hmmm, maybe not.
This began my pain stacking Internet search to find somewhere, anywhere we could go. I googled child family travel and got this list. And of course I fell in love with the most expensive resort on the list.
I
n the end, we are headed to Club Med in Florida. What I find so ridiculous, is my mom told me to go there a year ago. And now, that most asinine part is, after I've already booked it, I'm asking for your opinions? Anyone been? What do you think? Feel free to tell me it sucks and I'm going to hate it, because I am clearly going to spend the next 4 months worried about this.
I'm sure you are all wondering by now how exactly I live my life when I find it this hard to plan a trip? I don't know either.
{ 24 comments… read them below or add one }
You. Are. A. Riot!! How do you go to the grocery store?
Seriously, never done the resort/cruise thing with the kids before. Would love to hear others experiences and live vicariously through yours!
You. Are. A. Riot!! How do you go to the grocery store?
Seriously, never done the resort/cruise thing with the kids before. Would love to hear others experiences and live vicariously through yours!
You. Are. A. Riot!! How do you go to the grocery store?
Seriously, never done the resort/cruise thing with the kids before. Would love to hear others experiences and live vicariously through yours!
You. Are. A. Riot!! How do you go to the grocery store?
Seriously, never done the resort/cruise thing with the kids before. Would love to hear others experiences and live vicariously through yours!
I found your blog through the link on Amalah.com. We’re headed to Club Med Sandpiper in October with our 3 year old and 5 month old. I have heard GREAT things about it and am soooo excited to go. I hope you *and we!* have a great time!
I found your blog through the link on Amalah.com. We’re headed to Club Med Sandpiper in October with our 3 year old and 5 month old. I have heard GREAT things about it and am soooo excited to go. I hope you *and we!* have a great time!
I found your blog through the link on Amalah.com. We’re headed to Club Med Sandpiper in October with our 3 year old and 5 month old. I have heard GREAT things about it and am soooo excited to go. I hope you *and we!* have a great time!
I found your blog through the link on Amalah.com. We’re headed to Club Med Sandpiper in October with our 3 year old and 5 month old. I have heard GREAT things about it and am soooo excited to go. I hope you *and we!* have a great time!
glad you found your vacation.
glad doug got a new job.
and i usually find united to be a nice ride (minus yours of course to savannah…!)
best of luck to you this time around.
nice to be away in january, too!
glad you found your vacation.
glad doug got a new job.
and i usually find united to be a nice ride (minus yours of course to savannah…!)
best of luck to you this time around.
nice to be away in january, too!
glad you found your vacation.
glad doug got a new job.
and i usually find united to be a nice ride (minus yours of course to savannah…!)
best of luck to you this time around.
nice to be away in january, too!
glad you found your vacation.
glad doug got a new job.
and i usually find united to be a nice ride (minus yours of course to savannah…!)
best of luck to you this time around.
nice to be away in january, too!
Oh I totally do that vacation escalation and end up with the most expensive one. I do that with childcare too, and home improvements, and crap if I’m just going to do the expensive thing at least I should save the time of deciding and pick it up front. But no….you will have fun.
Oh I totally do that vacation escalation and end up with the most expensive one. I do that with childcare too, and home improvements, and crap if I’m just going to do the expensive thing at least I should save the time of deciding and pick it up front. But no….you will have fun.
Oh I totally do that vacation escalation and end up with the most expensive one. I do that with childcare too, and home improvements, and crap if I’m just going to do the expensive thing at least I should save the time of deciding and pick it up front. But no….you will have fun.
Oh I totally do that vacation escalation and end up with the most expensive one. I do that with childcare too, and home improvements, and crap if I’m just going to do the expensive thing at least I should save the time of deciding and pick it up front. But no….you will have fun.
You know what is hilarious? I am trying to plan a trip to Hawaii right now for Xmas and am concerned it will be BANK, so I started sniffing around back in the Caribbean (we usually go to Mexico)… and I JUST took a long look at Atlantis like a 1/2 hour ago!
I have never been to Club Med, though – sorry.
You know what is hilarious? I am trying to plan a trip to Hawaii right now for Xmas and am concerned it will be BANK, so I started sniffing around back in the Caribbean (we usually go to Mexico)… and I JUST took a long look at Atlantis like a 1/2 hour ago!
I have never been to Club Med, though – sorry.
You know what is hilarious? I am trying to plan a trip to Hawaii right now for Xmas and am concerned it will be BANK, so I started sniffing around back in the Caribbean (we usually go to Mexico)… and I JUST took a long look at Atlantis like a 1/2 hour ago!
I have never been to Club Med, though – sorry.
You know what is hilarious? I am trying to plan a trip to Hawaii right now for Xmas and am concerned it will be BANK, so I started sniffing around back in the Caribbean (we usually go to Mexico)… and I JUST took a long look at Atlantis like a 1/2 hour ago!
I have never been to Club Med, though – sorry.
Haha! We considered a cruise, too, but then chucked the idea after thinking we wouldn’t want our baby crawling around in the public ship spaces (the room is too small to crawl in, right?) knowing how so many cruise ships come back to port full of people sick with the Norwalk virus.
I don’t know anything about the Florida Club Med, but it looks nice. Hope you have fun!
Haha! We considered a cruise, too, but then chucked the idea after thinking we wouldn’t want our baby crawling around in the public ship spaces (the room is too small to crawl in, right?) knowing how so many cruise ships come back to port full of people sick with the Norwalk virus.
I don’t know anything about the Florida Club Med, but it looks nice. Hope you have fun!
Haha! We considered a cruise, too, but then chucked the idea after thinking we wouldn’t want our baby crawling around in the public ship spaces (the room is too small to crawl in, right?) knowing how so many cruise ships come back to port full of people sick with the Norwalk virus.
I don’t know anything about the Florida Club Med, but it looks nice. Hope you have fun!
Haha! We considered a cruise, too, but then chucked the idea after thinking we wouldn’t want our baby crawling around in the public ship spaces (the room is too small to crawl in, right?) knowing how so many cruise ships come back to port full of people sick with the Norwalk virus.
I don’t know anything about the Florida Club Med, but it looks nice. Hope you have fun!