Barbados is one of my least favorite Caribbean islands personally but we all have different priorities.

Back to your original plan to visit Paris. I have twice used Priceline to bid on and win 4 star hotels there for $1000 USD per night and the rack rates were 5x that much so it can be done without breaking the bank. Use public transport and reserach eating places ahead of time.

We are just back from Europe and it cost us no more on a daily basis than a recent visit to the Caymans (and the food and wine was way better).

I say revisit your original plan if that is truly what you deisre.

go-today.com has some good values there as well.

Thanks everyone for your help. I hope all the people who helped me with my bahamas/Nevis/T&C questions will read this. Unfortunately, our hopes to go somewhere different and exotic have to change b/c of some babysitting issues. My in laws can't help out as much as we had hoped. They are usually able to help out quite a bit, but b/c of some health concerns can't this time around. So, it looks like we're going to stay in the states and maybe go bother NeoPatrick in naples (just kidding NP if you are reading this). Thanks all for all your help-- I think next year we'll head to one of the islands we discussed with our little one. I appreciate all your help!

Sorry to hear that. Hope all is well soon. I know you were hoping for the Caribbean. If you are able to go somewhere with your child over that weekend I would suggest looking into St. Augustine FL. Easy flights to Jacksonville. Many wonderful places to stay. No it won't be quite as romantic when bringing a child along but there is so much to see and do there as well as great restaurants. You are able to drive on the beach so when traveling with children easy to carry all the necessities. The beach at the Matanzas Inlet rivals many of the beaches I've been to in the Caribbean. If interested here is a web site www.oldcity.com or just do a Google. Town has horse drawn carriages and quaint shops. Lots of history too. The weather is usually quite nice during early May and the beaches are almost empty during the week.
Hope that things are able to work out for you in some manner.

kfusto, I'm completely shocked at the price you just quoted for a 4-star room in Paris! I get that the star system in Europe means more than it does here in the US, and I get that the euro is much stronger than the US dollar, and admittedly I've never visited Paris so I don't have any kind of meaningful comparison. But you're saying that rack rates for that room that you got for US $1000 were actually $5000? That's astonishing to me! For a regular room? Not a suite? Wow!

$100 vs E400, no extra zero...sorry!

kfusto, oh thank goodness! It's been many years since I last visited Europe, so I was just imagining the awful inflation between now and then. I'm so relieved that there was an extra zero in there!

So sorry to hear about the change in plans. Nevis really is a special island with amazing dining. Hope you will be able to go at another time. I'm sure you will enjoy Naples. Maybe you could sneak in a quick trip to the everglades one day!

I understand as we have childcare issues that have changed our vacations in the past few years. I agree that St. Augustine area is great. If you want a very nice family friendly resort..look at Ginn Hammock Beach resort in Palm Island. It's great for traveling with kids..ours loved it and we did too.

Check out the Rincon Beach resort in Rincon Puerto Rico. Infinity pool on the beach. Reasonable reates for balcony rooms, wonderful laid back staff and good restaurants not far away. You could use a car.

Would you consider chartering a sailing boat? My recommendation would be a catamaran - lots of deck space and big cabins.
Most boats would accept a 3 day charter and you can see quite a bit of the British Virgin Islands.
The rates are all inclusive and the boat comes with a crew who will cook for you, mix your cocktails and take great care of you.

Here are a few cats that are quite unexpensive and great for a smaller number of people: http://www.boatcaribbean.com/catamarans3.php

Hope this helps.

Katja
http://www.boatcaribbean.com