kel.n.issy

We are looking for a nice family holiday whilst the kids are off for summer, We cant afford too much but I want it to be as relaxing as possible (we have 3 small children so its not going to be too relaxing), I am looking at beach resorts in the US as well as the carribean.

We live in Colorado and not had a minute since we arrived last october,

Somewhere nice with kids club, beach and lots of sunshine.

Would love to do Disney but kids not old enough to appreciate it yet so maybe in a couple of years.

Any suggestions would be very appreciated.

NC Penguin

Travel preference? Air? Drive (if on the mainland)?

Budget?

kel.n.issy

Air travel (3 kids and more than 2 hours in a car is a disaster)

Budget within reason, for 5 of us for a week budget with flight probably about 2000 but for that would have to be exceptional.

Flight alone to anywhere probably going to be 1000 so another 1000 for accom.

TouristTrap

How old are the kids? Florida is too hot in summer, not a good time to come. You'll not want to go to the beach because of the heat, and the water is boiling hot, like taking a hot bath, not refreshing - kids will want to be inside in the AC all day!

Disney is best done around Feb-April or October to Thanksgiving. Not so hot and less people there.

California might be the place to look in the summer, if you want the beach.

kel.n.issy

Kids are 3, 5 and 8,

OH Works in Orange County Mon-Thurs and I was thinking somewhere none of us have been, all he says about Orange County (Irvine) is the traffic is stood at a standstill all the time.

Whats san diego like as a holiday destination??

happynz

June is often foggy near the beaches, but yeah, San Diego is very nice. Temperature-wise, it depends on how close or far you are from the sea.
Balboa Park is good as well as the San Diego Zoo (it's a bit pricey, but it is world class). Sea World might be good. A side trip on the trolley to Tijuana, Mexico is also good for a day. Be sure to get some huarache sandals and pictures of your kids sitting on a burro painted like a zebra. The tacos are excellent as well.
Staying on the Mexican theme, throughout San Diego County there are heaps of Mexican drive-in joints with names like Albertos, Robertos, Rigobertos etc. that have awesome carne asada burritos. Definitely a San Diego institution. Check 'em out.

Mallory

Myrtle Beach, SC is great for kids. Reasonable prices. Lots of sun. Warm ocean.

Bob

Holiday? what's that? I vaguely remember such things...

But if you don't mind flying, why not Nova Scotia and northern Maine? Cheapish holiday, whale rides, lobster boat rides and old schooner boats out there are great, plus stunning mountain scenery - arcadia national park, cadillac mountain (one of the first sites of a sunrise in the US, fab view in the summer), bar harbor...plenty of water sports, little walks and the like.

Or why not Vancouver? It's not that far from you guys, relatively speaking...

BritGuyTN

we go down to gulf shores, AL and rent a house out on the beach with a load of friends.

bit away from all the air-brush tat, but it works out cheap $250 per person for board and its about $40 in petrol (6 our drive)

I cam up with the idea after I put my foot down about the idea of paying double for going to florida

it worked out last year, so we'r edoing it again this year....

drinking/deep sea fishing/more drinking etc

Ray

Life is one big vacation......

penguinsix

If you are only in the States for a fixed period of time (say a few years) I would recommend heading out to Hawaii. Not only is it a bit different from the rest of the country, it's also probably one of the farthest places from the UK you can find (i.e. travel distance) such that your liklihood of visiting later in life is pretty slim.

It is a 7-8 hour flight, around $600 or so from Denver (but you can find packages that come with hotels). You can check out Oahu / Honolulu which is kind of like any other American city, and then get to the outer islands where things get a bit more remote and unique. Standing on a hillside on the Big Island looking down at 15 miles of barren black lava floes is pretty impressive, and then seeing the real lava still spewing is a once in a lifetime experience.

Mexico is also a unique trip, again if you are here for a short time. Just go a bit farther in then the border towns which can be a bit scary.

franc11s

CRUISE - RCCL ships all the time. WhHole family love cruising. never a single complaint. Son is even coming home from college to join us

Went on "Freedom" last year. Going on "Liberty" this year.

The ships are here .....

http://www.royalcaribbean.com/findac...ssCode=FR&br=R

krizzy

I've just done the FL parks with my 2 year old Grandson....he loved every min of it....but its hard work and not much of a break for whoever is looking after the young ones...
I think the Parks need an update when it comes to younger kids....more baby rooms...small buggy's to hire so people don't have to hold a baby inline for an hour...nearer buggy parks...so park attendants can take buggy's on the last leg of the queue...

Celsius

I thought the OP was asking about a beach vacation. Does Maine have good beaches?

clydegirl

What about the Outer Banks North Carolina. We have been twice and rented a house with some friends. Fantastic beaches and lots to do.