https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Thu, 16 Apr 2026 00:53:21 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-for-making-vacation-in-a-rental-condo-easier-with-kids#post-2869431 Tue, 29 Jan 2019 12:45:14 +0000 Lindsay05 2869431@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I agree to stopping at Costco. They have so many premade meals. Buy fruit and veggie trays. Get a rotisserie chicken for a meals and sandwiches. Individual snack bags of chips, popcorns etc are wonderful for a treat.</p> <p>I’ll also add that make sure you have white noise for sleeping. Nothing worse than tiptoeing around in the morning or nap times. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-for-making-vacation-in-a-rental-condo-easier-with-kids#post-2869427 Tue, 29 Jan 2019 12:39:12 +0000 looch 2869427@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have a spreadsheet for this, it contains a menu plan for the days (Breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks) and it details where we will be that day. I design the meals, then I make a grocery list.</p> <p>My biggest tips are to make things that don't require a lot of extra ingredients and special equipment. As an example, I will buy a container of fresh pico de gallo and use that in my corn and bean salad, as the veggies in omelets and as a topping for tacos. </p> <p>I will also bring some items with me, like a enough tea bags, laundry detergent and dishwasher detergent packs, a few dryer sheets and a small bottle of dishsoap because I like my products best. This way I dont have to buy big ones at the location, or buy super expensive small sizes.</p> <p>I also bring stuff to do, every vacation I buy a new board game for us to play as a family. I always bring few art supplies and other small boredom busters. I will also bring a small collapsible cube to store it all in so it's not all over the condo. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-for-making-vacation-in-a-rental-condo-easier-with-kids#post-2869394 Tue, 29 Jan 2019 10:40:44 +0000 krispi 2869394@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>What we do when we stay at a condo is usually go the first day and buy easy breakfast and lunch items that don't require too much prep, like cereal, muffins, and sandwiches. We still eat dinners out at a restaurant so that we feel like we're on vacation and don't have the work of cooking a big meal. Takeout / delivery would work for that too. The nice thing about having a condo kitchen is that dinner leftovers can be lunch for the next day. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-for-making-vacation-in-a-rental-condo-easier-with-kids#post-2869357 Tue, 29 Jan 2019 06:41:16 +0000 Kaohinani 2869357@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Pajamas: Aloha, Mrs. Pajamas! You are so lucky to have the opportunity to vacation in HI. I have lived there twice in my life and it is my favorite place in the world. I am not certain which island you will be staying on (I lived on Oahu both times but have island-jumped for short 1-3 day trips) so I may be limited to help. Since the cost of living is so expensive there (tourist spot, island living, having to import goods - of course a gallon of milk is over $6 and gas is astronomical!), I have a few ideas for getting delicious food, as well as, being able to add some island flair to your dishes... Here goes:</p> <p>(1) Buy locally or at superstores. There are farmers' markets everywhere, meat markets that sell fresh meat and fish, fruit stands galore, and people selling eggs and nuts at every turn - TAKE ADVANTAGE of having them around. The food is organic/fresh and super cheap! We always had avocados, fresh fruit (pineapple, dragonfruit, citrus, watermelon), veggies of all sorts, nuts (macadamia is huge), raw sugar cane, kelp, local coffee blends, fresh fish and chicken, and Kobe beef from one vendor. I LOVED cooking in HI.<br /> Another idea is maintain a club card. Sam's and Cosco were on Oahu. Buying in bulk (Bread, cereal, raw baking needs, TP, paper towels, and napkins) is huge help in keeping costs down (as well as one's sanity).</p> <p>(2) While out, take advantage of food trucks for a cheap way to celebrate local tastes - there are Shrimp trucks (Giovanni's is famous), Korean BBQ food trucks, wahoo fish trucks (fish sandwiches, tacos, fries with an amazing dip), Chicken and pork Hawaiian cuisine trucks (spam and egg on rice, musubi bites, quartered chicken, pulled pork, white rice, poi, and haupia [coconut] rice pudding), and Japanese food trucks (sushi and sashimi to go). </p> <p>(3) Go fishing as part of your experience- fishing tours exist in which people can fish off of the beach. The tours will show you the best spots for fishing, crabbing, and sightseeing and one can pick one and do that activity. I never did it but friends of DH and mine did. They had a blast. Bringing home a fresh supper from the sea is always amazing.</p> <p>(4) Ethnic stores are a treasure trove of decently priced goods. There are many small (mom and pop) Korean, Japanese, and Indian food marts that afford a foodie so many options for cooking while vacation. </p> <p>I hope my advice was even remotely helpful. If you have any questions, please, feel free to wall me. A hui hou koʻu hoa and have a spectacular vacation! :heart: 👍😁 </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-for-making-vacation-in-a-rental-condo-easier-with-kids#post-2869324 Mon, 28 Jan 2019 19:54:59 +0000 Foodnerd81 2869324@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I’ve never been to Hawaii :crying: but we have mostly stayed in condos on the few family vacations we have taken. I don’t like cooking full meals on vacation (the prep, the clean up- where’s MY vacation??) but I do like eating some meals at home. Typically we end up buying enough stuff for easy breakfasts- cereal and milk, yogurt, bagels and cream cheese, a few staples for easy lunches (peanut butter and jelly, bread, salad mix), and super easy dinners like Mac and cheese or burgers if there is a grill. We go back and forth on eating home or at a restaurant, depending on what we are doing, so i try not to buy too much stuff or anything that makes a lot of dishes. </p> <p>But one thing I really like to do is feed the kids a super easy dinner at home early (my kids basically eat Mac and cheese for 85% if dinners on vacation), then after they go to bed, dH goes and gets takeout from somewhere and we get to sit and enjoy a meal together. Family dinners are great but my kids can be really annoying sometimes! Oh and I buy a pack of paper plates even if they have regular plates in the condo. Better for outside anyway but I don’t want to clean up on vacation. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-for-making-vacation-in-a-rental-condo-easier-with-kids#post-2869298 Mon, 28 Jan 2019 17:35:55 +0000 lamariniere 2869298@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@BUNBUN: agree about food being SO EXPENSIVE. We stayed in a rental on the Big Island and were shell shocked by grocery prices, and we lived in NYC at the time! </p> <p>I don’t enjoy cooking on vacation because it feels like work, but I would try to have meal ideas in advance and see what you find at the grocery store. I agree about having a short list of restaurants to try. Also, when we are on vacation we will typically try to eat out at lunch since it’s generally cheaper than dinner and do easy dinners at home, or picnics. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-for-making-vacation-in-a-rental-condo-easier-with-kids#post-2869276 Mon, 28 Jan 2019 15:37:48 +0000 annem1990 2869276@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We just went to Mexico and had a grocery delivery service. I planned a lot before so once we got there all of the food was in the condo and ready to go. I did not want to deal with grocery shopping there.</p> <p>Also, research takeout/delivery places ahead of time so you have a list ready to go when you get home for the day and you're too tired to cook/search for restaurants. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-for-making-vacation-in-a-rental-condo-easier-with-kids#post-2869274 Mon, 28 Jan 2019 15:36:13 +0000 BUNBUN 2869274@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Have you been there before so you know what stores there are? Do you know if you will have grill access at your condo?<br /> We have gone to Maui several times as a family (with ILs, my parents, alone) and stayed in condos. We finally figured out the best food shopping options. We found that food was very pricey at the grocery stores, but getting a rewards card for the supermarket helped a bit. We are costco members, and their prices were SO MUCH CHEAPER. Even for fruit, fish, but especially for alcohol. The Maui costco is right next to the airport, so it's not easy to get to from where we stay.<br /> It's worth doing a little online or condo-network digging to find out the best grocery stores.<br /> FWIW, here's what we did:<br /> off plane, straight to costco where we bought wine and beer, eggs, veggies, fish, fresh pineapple, a few meals worth of food, lunch fixings, favorite snacks.<br /> Takeout for first night dinner - someplace cheap but yummy that a friend recommended<br /> Assess the condo situation with respect to spices, condiments, pots and pans, grill utensils, grill condition and how crowded the communal grills get (note: we made friends with other vacationers at the grills, so don't worry if they are busy. It's a nice way to meet people!)<br /> First day AM: got straight to having fun, ate breakfast at condo, either brought lunch to the beach or ate out and had something easy planned for dinner.<br /> Second day: made a plan for the rest of the week and planned to stop at a grocery store on our way back from the beach.</p> <p>Things that we do now, as "veterans"<br /> -Identify our fave restaurants where we want to eat out so we know we will likely only have to cook X number of dinners at the condo.<br /> -make our own cocktails every night to enjoy at sunset.<br /> -leave one or two additional meals open for impromptu dinners out<br /> -have simple snacks on hand to take with to the beach, for day trips, to avoid the "hangries"<br /> -hit the farmer's market if we can<br /> -Bring our favorite spice blend from home so we don't have to hunt for it at the grocery store<br /> -bring a collapsible soft-sided cooler from home so we can pack lunches for the beach and road trips. We purchased it on a Maui trip and now bring it with us on lots of trips<br /> -check out the knives at the condo and buy one sharp knife if necessary<br /> -don't buy too much early in the week! Short run-in shopping trips take much less time away from your beach time. Now I would even shop alone during nap time to get it done more quickly!<br /> -we ask folks at the condo (especially at the grills!) for suggestions on new restaurants to try, and for suggestions on where to buy more local foods to prep ourselves. That's how we found out about a tiny little shop that sells the best ribs in the world as well as fresh fish<br /> -we focus on what we like that HI does best: fish and fruit! Every breakfast and snack is fruit-based and we look for local specialties when we can find them. We try to find local coffee too </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-for-making-vacation-in-a-rental-condo-easier-with-kids#post-2869272 Mon, 28 Jan 2019 15:33:51 +0000 bhbee 2869272@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We do this (not in Hawaii though!) and I keep the meal plan super simple. Just having things we wouldn’t normally (like letting the kids eat those mixed packs of breakfast cereal) is fun! So maybe everything doesn’t have to be involved? Or plan recipes that are simple ingredients/prep but lots of flavor? And things the kids can help make are fun and keep them busy. </p> <p>The first time we went I mapped where a grocery store was in advance. I go once on the first day and come with a big list based on the full meal plan (and other household needs) to try to minimize return trips. If you do all that in advance it’s not so bad and no decisions to make while there. Maybe you can switch off who cooks and who watches the kids? If you’re walking distance to pool/beach I think it was not bad having two kids, we always came back for lunch and then rested/napped. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-for-making-vacation-in-a-rental-condo-easier-with-kids#post-2869264 Mon, 28 Jan 2019 15:23:45 +0000 Sams Mom 2869264@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>No experience, but Mrs Turtle just went to Hawaii with the family/has lived there and kaohinani has lived there too </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-for-making-vacation-in-a-rental-condo-easier-with-kids#post-2869256 Mon, 28 Jan 2019 15:05:33 +0000 Mrs. Pajamas 2869256@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We are planning on renting a condo in Hawaii this winter but it'll be the first time traveling as a family of four without other help and I'm feeling super anxious. We went before DD2 was born and it was amazing. But 2 kids is a lot to manage at home--how do we still relax and have fun all together?</p> <p>DH and I love to cook which is part of why we are renting a condo vs. resort/hotel. Most of the stress revolves around meals--planning/prep/stocking the fridge, etc. It's stressful for me because food is my love language and we are big foodies so I want to make sure everyone is well fed and we have high standards! But the decision exhaustion is real!</p> <p>Maybe a meal delivery service? more takeout? </p>