https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 08 Apr 2026 16:39:14 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-for-a-semi-relaxing-vacation-with-los#post-2565514 Sat, 11 Jun 2016 04:18:47 +0000 yoursilverlining 2565514@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Cruises are wonderful with little kids, and they don't have to be the bad food drunk fest experience like Carnival. We've done Caribbean cruises on Holland America and Disney and it is SO NICE to not have to worry/plan for where you'll have dinner, how to get to where you're staying for the night, etc. you've got pools (only kids potty-trained can use them though), food, entertainment all in one place. </p> <p>Renting a house is also great and can be cheaper than a hotel room, especially if you are looking at renting hotel suites.</p> <p>With traveling with LO, I've found the best tip to be to plan only 1 activity a day. Whenever I try to plan more and fit more into a day, it generally doesn't work. </p> <p>One of the best snacks I've recently come across are single-serving almond and peanut butter packets. There are a couple of natural/organic low sugar options which are great. They are convenient, low mess and fill up LO (and adults!) with good fats and proteins, versus the carby nature of more snacks. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-for-a-semi-relaxing-vacation-with-los#post-2565473 Fri, 10 Jun 2016 20:23:53 +0000 gingerbebe 2565473@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We are all about condos or home rentals with a room or at least a large walk in closet or a spare bathroom for DS to sleep in - however keep in mind the closets don't have vents so if it's hot it will be warmer in there. We like limiting going out to eat to once a day or less. We bring our FP booster because he can squirm out of restaurant seats. We bring disposable placemats that stick to the table and disposable bibs, a straw cup of milk (he makes a mess of fast food straw cups), a banana, fruit, crackers, and a pouch or two and a packet of baby wipes in a lunch bag and start feeding him immediately because he can't wait the 20 minutes it takes to get the food out. </p> <p>We stay at properties with washer dryer in unit, a full kitchen, a pool, and proximity to a beach or lake. Last summer we rented a mountain cabin in a resort community that had its own rec center with play ground and pool and what not. And they had private beach access at the lake. So we had a nice house, ate meals at home, took DS to the rec center or lake and took nice stroller walks through the neighborhood in the fresh mountain air and looked at deer. And it was 2.5 hours from home so perfect distance for nap time. When we did Hawaii we had a pool at the condo, an enclosed balcony he could run around on, and we were across the street from the beach. It made keeping him occupied between naps super easy, but the flight there was a beast.</p> <p>I think lengthwise, driving distance under 4 hours and 3-4 days away is ideal. We also do treats like a Dum Dum or ice cream once a day while we are on vacation - he's running around everywhere and more active anyway so he burns the sugar off.</p> <p>If it's hot I would research local children's museums, baby gyms, play cafes, and aquariums, which we have also done on trips. Those are particularly good places to send grandparents if you take family and then you can rest. </p> <p>Another fun thing is to find u-pick berry or fruit farms - they love running and picking junk off plants and eating them. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-for-a-semi-relaxing-vacation-with-los#post-2565468 Fri, 10 Jun 2016 19:58:13 +0000 SweetiePie 2565468@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MamaCate: That's a good idea too! We went on a trip to Grand Cayman and went with a 3 bedroom condo. We took my parents to babysit. Because we were all in one unit but had our own rooms, no one got on each other's nerves and it was so nice to have a kitchen and laundry!<br /> I forgot about that! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-for-a-semi-relaxing-vacation-with-los#post-2565466 Fri, 10 Jun 2016 19:54:16 +0000 Foodnerd81 2565466@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@catlady: also, I just want to say that while traveling with toddlers kind of sucks, I am really glad we went on our little vacation last summer as a family of three. She sort of remember pieces of it and I remember it fondly. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-for-a-semi-relaxing-vacation-with-los#post-2565450 Fri, 10 Jun 2016 19:11:45 +0000 MamaCate 2565450@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@catlady: our best family vacations have been in a condo at the beach! We have a kitchen so we can cook or go out as needed (we make really easy things like frozen pizza, tortellini, pancakes). The kids run around on the beach and in the pool and wear themselves out. This mean they take good naps and sleep well at night. Where we stay has two bedrooms plus a living room so the kids can sleep and DH and I can stay up and watch movies and sit on the balcony and drink! It is super relaxing!</p> <p>We have this set up a 4 hour drive away do we bring groceries and everything and try not to leave the condo until it is time to go home. </p> <p>Good luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-for-a-semi-relaxing-vacation-with-los#post-2565420 Fri, 10 Jun 2016 18:17:43 +0000 SweetiePie 2565420@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>These aren't budget friendly but they work:<br /> - suite style room or two connected rooms and leave the door ajar. Balcony if you can so you can sit out and enjoy the night!<br /> - this is a big splurge but we did it once and it was fabulous - we went to a resort with our own private plunge pool off of our room. So during his naps we still had pool time.<br /> - a resort with babysitter services. We went to one with a kids club where we could drop him off and go to the pool or beach alone. Heavenly!<br /> - allow some of your rules to go out the window. It's vacation :-) I'm a stickler about bedtime and at the time of our last trip I was crazy about him not having sweets. I relaxed a little on those and I think it truly was a treat for him to indulge a little in later bedtime (I'm talking a half hour) and ice cream. And iPad ;-) And it bought us some time to relax a little more because he was content. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-for-a-semi-relaxing-vacation-with-los#post-2565319 Fri, 10 Jun 2016 14:26:59 +0000 Foodnerd81 2565319@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@catlady: @Anagram: my LO is pretty good in restaurants and doesn't have any food limitations or allergies but she can still be a pick toddler. And breakfast it's nice to give her while we drink coffee instead of all getting dressed and going someplace. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-for-a-semi-relaxing-vacation-with-los#post-2565293 Fri, 10 Jun 2016 13:51:43 +0000 catlady 2565293@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: Yeah, I do that sometimes, and I've also read so many kindle books on vacations. I just dislike the fact that DH and I can't hang out and talk. He tends to just do work on his computer while I read, and we both sit there silently in the dark for hours, and it just feels weird!</p> <p>@Anagram: @Foodnerd81: Good call on the proximity thing, and also on food. My LO is actually really good in restaurants, but you guys are right, so many meals out can get stressful.</p> <p>@Anagram: We went on one trip when I was dairy and soy free for an elimination diet and it was so hard! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-for-a-semi-relaxing-vacation-with-los#post-2565285 Fri, 10 Jun 2016 13:46:16 +0000 Anagram 2565285@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Foodnerd81: @looch: yeah, my kid is weird and up until recently was dairy free, so a lot of typical snack foods are out and restaurant eating took serious planning. She doesn't eat sandwiches and prefers hot breakfasts (but with no dairy-sigh). I realized once on vacay that I was spending most of my day researching where our meals would be. And that's when I gave up and started doing room service (even when it's very meh). Just deliver me some eggs and sausage in the morning to my room, please. Don't make me Yelp a breakfast restaurant. And coffee. I must have coffee ASAP on wakeup. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-for-a-semi-relaxing-vacation-with-los#post-2565266 Fri, 10 Jun 2016 13:31:42 +0000 Foodnerd81 2565266@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Anagram: oh yeah- a kitchenette at least! And bring things you know she always eats- for us that was flavored yogurt and cereal, microwaveable macaroni and cheese, cheese sticks, and pouches. We mostly went out for one meal a day, ate breakfast at our hotel room, and grilled since the resort had communal ones to use and we don't have one in the city. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-for-a-semi-relaxing-vacation-with-los#post-2565262 Fri, 10 Jun 2016 13:27:16 +0000 looch 2565262@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Anagram: OMG yes, food, how could I forget that. I bring a ton of ready to eat stuff. My husband and son both seem hungrier on vacation. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-for-a-semi-relaxing-vacation-with-los#post-2565258 Fri, 10 Jun 2016 13:21:37 +0000 Anagram 2565258@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@catlady: for me, other than the thing you already mentioned (getting a suite-style room), the most stressful thing about travel with kids is food: where to get it, what's family friendly, and open at the right times, and close enough. For me, having a hotel with either a restaurant on premises or a small kitchenette is imperative. It's hard to eat 3 meals out a day. </p> <p>The best are the family friendly suite hotels with a pool, a breakfast buffet, etc. I'm totally not a snob when it comes to travel with kids--now I'd much rather stay at a budget hotel with free breakfast and a suite than a fancy hotel with no kid friendly restaurants and all of us in one room.</p> <p>Other than that--if you are going to a particular place like lake or beach--proximity. Staying at a hotel 4 blocks from the beach feels really really far when you have a kid with a nap schedule, that needs to pee, that needs a snack. Staying at a hotel directly on the beach is so much better. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-for-a-semi-relaxing-vacation-with-los#post-2565256 Fri, 10 Jun 2016 13:18:08 +0000 looch 2565256@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@catlady: what about watching something on netflix using your phone and headphones? It's not ideal, but I've done it many a time when we go on vacation.</p> <p>I've also used a small booklight to read. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-for-a-semi-relaxing-vacation-with-los#post-2565251 Fri, 10 Jun 2016 13:13:34 +0000 Foodnerd81 2565251@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@catlady: also we stayed at a little "resort" on little lake squam in NH last summer and it was really fun. I'm not sure I would recommend that specific place- the beds were not comfortable and really squeaky, which isn't good when sharing a room with LO and pregnant, but the idea of someplace on a lake that has a kayak you can borrow, tiny beach, picnic tables, was really nice. We rented a motor boat for a half day and C loved it. She would wake up really early so I let her watch her iPod on the deck while I say and he coffee. Normally I never let her watch something first thing like that, because then she would want it every morning when she wakes up, but vacation rules. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-for-a-semi-relaxing-vacation-with-los#post-2565247 Fri, 10 Jun 2016 13:09:18 +0000 catlady 2565247@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Lion: This is really helpful. A lake house sounds super nice, I am going to try to find something like that.</p> <p>@Charm54: This is funny, we just took ours to WDW at 2.5 and I came home feeling so much worse than when we left (I was 7 weeks pregnant though, and morning sickness kicked in mid-vacation, so I suppose that didn't help). Next time, we need to do what you guys did and bring help and get a condo! Sitting in a hotel room in the dark every evening really stunk, even at Disney World.</p> <p>@ShootingStar: One of our planned trips is to Nantucket, so I hope we can do the same at the beach.</p> <p>Thanks for the tips ladies, keep them coming! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-for-a-semi-relaxing-vacation-with-los#post-2565245 Fri, 10 Jun 2016 13:05:19 +0000 ShootingStar 2565245@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I also have a 2.5 year old and I'm pregnant, and we're going to the Cape on vacation in a couple weeks. We are going with family, which works fine for us because they are helpful. My parents will baby sit no problem if needed. </p> <p>And basically my plan is to go to a couple of my favorite bayside beaches, where the water is like 6 inches or less for a mile out. We'll set down some chairs, bring a bunch of sand toys, and let DS run around. Pools are more stressful to me because they're a bigger drowning hazard. But I love the bayside beaches, particularly at low tide. All I want this vacation is to RELAX, lol. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-for-a-semi-relaxing-vacation-with-los#post-2565232 Fri, 10 Jun 2016 12:51:21 +0000 Foodnerd81 2565232@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The number 1 thing is having at least one separate bedroom so you can stay up and be normal after she goes to bed and during nap. For me I don't think I will ever do a "vacation" without a separate bedroom. (I know I will have to do trips where we share a room but if I'm calling vacation the kids need a room). </p> <p>If your LO likes any shows load them up into an iPad or phone and don't worry about screen time. It's vacation. </p> <p>Bring white noise, black out curtains, whatever sleep things help at home. </p> <p>Definitely stay someplace she can explore and not get into trouble too much- fenced in yard would be perfect. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-for-a-semi-relaxing-vacation-with-los#post-2565231 Fri, 10 Jun 2016 12:51:14 +0000 Mamaof2 2565231@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My advice would be to go with the flow - no rushing off to get somewhere at a certain time - try to have a "we will get there when we get there" attitude.</p> <p>If you want to go out to eat go early and beat the crowds or feed DD before you go </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-for-a-semi-relaxing-vacation-with-los#post-2565229 Fri, 10 Jun 2016 12:47:07 +0000 Charm54 2565229@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Traveling was SO stressful when DD was young that we just stopped bringing her/stopped traveling as much. Sounds terrible for me to say but it was 10x more work than just staying home.</p> <p>But at 2.5, we took her to WDW and it was wonderful!! Some things that helped are:</p> <p>-staying in a condo so she had her own room. We had a nice big balcony to sit out on which was really awesome<br /> -we went with family so we had lots of help and time to relax ourselves<br /> -the fact that she is potty trained and speaking well really helped<br /> -we brought our stroller and she took wicked 2-3 hour naps, which meant we could enjoy a nice meal or attraction while she slept<br /> -Our favourite parts were watching her discover things that she loved so we planned activities geared towards her interests<br /> -we threw our typical bedtime/screen time/treat limits out the window which gave us a lot of flexibility </p> <p>We've been on a few shorter trips since that WDW vacation and they have all been great. For us, 2.5 was definitely a turning point for family fun. Now we take her, but leave her younger sister home when we go LOL.</p> <p>Have fun! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-for-a-semi-relaxing-vacation-with-los#post-2565220 Fri, 10 Jun 2016 12:41:00 +0000 looch 2565220@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>For us, the key is bringing things for my son to do. I can't expect him to be satisfied sitting in a lounge chair reading a magazine...yet! We've had lots of success at pools lately, so if there is a pool, that's a good few hours of the day spent right there. And I happen to love the water too!</p> <p>The other thing is for us to do kid centered activities. Do I want to be at the Kids Museum of Science? Not really, but they have activities for the kids and what not. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-for-a-semi-relaxing-vacation-with-los#post-2565217 Fri, 10 Jun 2016 12:39:53 +0000 FaithFertility 2565217@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'd definitely do a spot with a beach or. nice pool, definitely the suit style or at least a balcony!</p> <p>We just came back from Naples, FL and DD is 18 months she had fun hanging by the beach/pool<br /> For naps/bedtime she slept in room.and DH and I hung out on balcony/porch!<br /> I too am PG, it was relaxing as I think it could have been! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-for-a-semi-relaxing-vacation-with-los#post-2565216 Fri, 10 Jun 2016 12:39:43 +0000 Mrs. Lion 2565216@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have done A LOT of travel with our kids, and the only time it has been even remotely relaxing is when we got an Air bnb at a lake house in Maine for 3 days. LO ran around in the yard and explored and we relaxed. We did a little hiking, but mostly just being at the house was THE BEST! We had a 4 month old too, and it was truly the easiest vacation we have ever done. We are renting a beach house for a week this summer with some friends that have the kids the same ages as ours and we are really really excited about that. Basically, making it as much like home as possible. </p> <p>Also, really low expectations. Definitely that. ;) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-for-a-semi-relaxing-vacation-with-los#post-2565213 Fri, 10 Jun 2016 12:36:07 +0000 T.H.O.U. 2565213@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Bring lots of snacks! Dont try to cram too much into a vacation because honestly kids just love hotel rooms. I wouldn't say try to tour vineyards with a kid, but you probably aren't limited to kids museums either. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-for-a-semi-relaxing-vacation-with-los#post-2565206 Fri, 10 Jun 2016 12:31:57 +0000 catlady 2565206@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DH and I are hoping to take a couple weekend trips over the summer and I'm looking for tips to make our vacations at least semi-relaxing. </p> <p>We've traveled with her several times in the past (she's 2.5 now) and it's always been fun but exhausting. Which is fine normally, but I'm pregnant now and would like to keep things more low key this summer. (Alternatively, we could just not travel, but I'd like to take advantage of this time before LO2 gets here and makes things more complicated).</p> <p>The only thing I can think of right now is to get a suite-style hotel room (so DH and I can at least enjoy the evenings, instead of having to hang out in the dark after LO's bedtime every night).</p> <p>Another idea is to bring a family member along to watch her occasionally, but we have discovered that traveling with our families tends to make things more stressful, so I think that idea is out.</p> <p>Any other ideas? </p>