Luxury Vacation with a toddler
Oct 23rd, 2003, 07:05 AM
#21
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Traveling with a toddler that had open heart surgery? For peace of mind, I recommend traveling somewhere with extensive medical facilities and with ease of travel to/from the US. How about the Wyndham-Conquistador?
Oct 23rd, 2003, 07:28 AM
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In keeping with the last two posts on this board. If you like the suggestion of Aruba for the Kitchenette plus bedroom idea there are a couple of resorts to choose from that offer this. Sounds like the Marriot was great. We are going to La Cabana which has the same type of idea but might be too crowded with kids (although I've read that there is a quieter pool area closer to the Grand Suites).
In response to the Hospital suggestion. My son is highly allergic to nuts so medical facilities was a concern. From what I found in looking into this Aruba has high standards in this regard. I'm not sure if anyone has any first hand knowledge in this area but that's what my travel agent said and some information I pulled off the internet compared Aruba's hospital to those in the U.S.
In response to the Hospital suggestion. My son is highly allergic to nuts so medical facilities was a concern. From what I found in looking into this Aruba has high standards in this regard. I'm not sure if anyone has any first hand knowledge in this area but that's what my travel agent said and some information I pulled off the internet compared Aruba's hospital to those in the U.S.
Mar 17th, 2007, 07:31 PM
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Brightone - we traveled to Aruba in Sept 2005 with a 2.5 yr old and a 4 month old. Our preferences are very much the same as yours (I was surprised at the rude remarks!) so I did extensive research before going. We stayed at the Radisson and I believe it's the nicest property on the island. The other opeion was the Hyatt but we chose the Radisson because it had a balcony you could sit on.
It was absolutely perfect - we stayed one of the concierge level floors, and the price includes this special lounge that has breakfast (fruit, cereal, pastries and one hot item like french toast or eggs benedict-type dish), tea time with drinks and cookies, and hot hors d;oevres in the evenings and an open bar with beer and assorted mixed drinks. And they offered fruit, chips, water bottles etc for you to take to the beach -- all the little things that typically nickel and dime you on vacation. The service was so incredibly friendly, I was shocked - and most of the people we met had been going back for years and years, so that says a lot.
The hotel provided a little crib for the room and a mini-refrigerator. There is a well-stocked grocery store near the hotel with every brand of baby item you'd need, and the hospital is nearby and also a "pharmacy" store with everything you'd need for a aby or nursing mother (we needed Mylicon gas drops and learned the pharmacy carries thoise type of things instead of grocery stores). So basically you wouldn't have to worry about packing extra diapers or anything beyond what you'd need for the flying days. You can get everything on the island, right by the hotel, and it doesn't cost an arm an a leg either.
Also, the weather in Aruba is constant year-round, so even during "low season" it's lower prices due to lower demand, not because of any downsides in weather or anything. So if you want to go someplace beachy even in the worst heat of the summer, Aruba is always beautiful, lovely breezes.
We got a room with two double beds, let our toddler sleep in one bed and put the baby in the crib. At night when the kids were asleep, we sat out on the balcony and enjoyed bruity drinks, talked and watched the "moon-set" as the moon sank into the ocean and we heard lovely music from the cocktail bar below.
The rooms at the Radisson are not quite on the poshness level of a Ritz Carlton, but the plantation-style room decor was nice and the bathrooms were all marble/travertine so it was upscale enough to still make us feel pampered and not disappointed at being "stuck in our room".
If you go this route, I doubt very much that you'd be disappointed. Oh - there is also no danger from the water, it's pure straight out of the tap too. The island was fun to drive around, we explored all over and it all felt very safe, no severe poverty.
The pools were great for the kids too because they have this huge section that's only like a foot deep so the kids can romp all over and it's pretty safe. If you go to tripadvisor.com and search back through the comments to Sept 2005 (posted from Gilbert, AZ), you can read our lengthy review and see pictures of the room/bathroom and view.
This would be good and safe bet for you and your fragile angel.
Good luck and I hope you have a wonderful vacation!
It was absolutely perfect - we stayed one of the concierge level floors, and the price includes this special lounge that has breakfast (fruit, cereal, pastries and one hot item like french toast or eggs benedict-type dish), tea time with drinks and cookies, and hot hors d;oevres in the evenings and an open bar with beer and assorted mixed drinks. And they offered fruit, chips, water bottles etc for you to take to the beach -- all the little things that typically nickel and dime you on vacation. The service was so incredibly friendly, I was shocked - and most of the people we met had been going back for years and years, so that says a lot.
The hotel provided a little crib for the room and a mini-refrigerator. There is a well-stocked grocery store near the hotel with every brand of baby item you'd need, and the hospital is nearby and also a "pharmacy" store with everything you'd need for a aby or nursing mother (we needed Mylicon gas drops and learned the pharmacy carries thoise type of things instead of grocery stores). So basically you wouldn't have to worry about packing extra diapers or anything beyond what you'd need for the flying days. You can get everything on the island, right by the hotel, and it doesn't cost an arm an a leg either.
Also, the weather in Aruba is constant year-round, so even during "low season" it's lower prices due to lower demand, not because of any downsides in weather or anything. So if you want to go someplace beachy even in the worst heat of the summer, Aruba is always beautiful, lovely breezes.
We got a room with two double beds, let our toddler sleep in one bed and put the baby in the crib. At night when the kids were asleep, we sat out on the balcony and enjoyed bruity drinks, talked and watched the "moon-set" as the moon sank into the ocean and we heard lovely music from the cocktail bar below.
The rooms at the Radisson are not quite on the poshness level of a Ritz Carlton, but the plantation-style room decor was nice and the bathrooms were all marble/travertine so it was upscale enough to still make us feel pampered and not disappointed at being "stuck in our room".
If you go this route, I doubt very much that you'd be disappointed. Oh - there is also no danger from the water, it's pure straight out of the tap too. The island was fun to drive around, we explored all over and it all felt very safe, no severe poverty.
The pools were great for the kids too because they have this huge section that's only like a foot deep so the kids can romp all over and it's pretty safe. If you go to tripadvisor.com and search back through the comments to Sept 2005 (posted from Gilbert, AZ), you can read our lengthy review and see pictures of the room/bathroom and view.
This would be good and safe bet for you and your fragile angel.
Good luck and I hope you have a wonderful vacation!
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