drsaloni

Hi, We are planning a trip mid November for about 15 days - my husband, 3 year old son & myself & are confused about where to go.
We are looking for some sightseeing, love nature & wildlife but am unsure if we would be able to do much with a 3 year old. We are beach people & are also looking to relax. If in Costa Rica I may be dissapointed not to be able to do so many nature related things due to my sons age & in my experience from other vacations with my son, its been exhausitng when I have tried to pack in too much sight seeing. This draws me to Maui. We have been to several Caribbean islands,been to Honolulu 7 years ago but havent been to any other Hawaiian island. We like luxury & are aware that maui is more expensive & a longer flight from nyc with my son. Its just that I dont want to come back exhausted. I would like opinions of similar folks with young children as to whether they recommend maui & delaying costa rica for a few years or take the plunge to costa rica.Thanks so much in advance.

drsaloni

Let me add we have been to aruba, curacao,turks & caicos -twice,barbados, puerto rico, cancun & playa del carmen in terms of beaches. We are open to other places in the Caribbean.Were also onsidering south of europe but doesnt seem right weather wise. We are open to alot of options that give us this same feel but so far considering maui or costa rica.Thanks for your time.

kanukgirl123

May I suggest Maui instead of Costa Rica. In Maui it's peaceful and more laid back and also luxurious, depending of course on the hotel you choose. I would opt for a Marriott, they are always fine hotels. I was in Costa Rica last year, it is a wonderful place for an adventurist holiday but not for a young child. when he's older he'd probably enjoy swinging through the tree tops on a high wire, but not at three. You could maybe think of hiring a Nanny and taking her along to look after your son while you go and do the things you like to do. Trecking through a rain forest in Costa Rica with a tired little boy would not be enjoyable. Maui has some beautiful beaches and plantations you can tour too. A few tips for traveling with a small child. always take along plenty of small items that can be brought out to entertain the little one. While traveling with me grand daughter I took along "Stickers" always a favorite( she stuck them all over herself) and they kept her busy. small things like dinky cars, farm animals, small books to scribble in and lots of colored pencils. and of course the favorite teddy bear, blanket ETC. hope this helps you.
I have traveled around the world many many times. Have lots of experiences with just about everything regarding travel.

tracys2cents

It's not so much that you can't enjoy Costa Rica with a 3 year old, just that you will enjoy it so much more when he is 7 or 8.
3 year old's can be pretty content with a day at the pool or in the sand, take advantage of that and plan something where you can just relax and kick back. You'll hopefully have years ahead to tackle the gotta-plan-every-minute-to-entertain-him vacations.

Marginal

Have you taken the kid on all those other trips? How does the kid travel? Does it have a passport?

The travel time to/from Maui and Costa Rica have to be fairly similar.

Maui would be much easier overall. With a 3 year-old, I go for easy. As above, save Costa Rica for when the kid is more independent.

drsaloni

Thanks for the replies, more are welcome.My 3 year old has traveled to Turks & Caicos twice & to India ( very long flight ) & to Barbados & Canada ( short flight ), he travels well as we plan things to keep him all right through these flights so flying more I thn=ink we can manage but he is not an easy baby once at the place due to his age.Yeah he has a passport. Maui seems easier as above but will I be able to do road to Hana & the crater with him? Also what shore in November in maui? Thanks again

Marginal

Wouldn't do Haleakala due to the altitude and Hana due to carsickness.

South Maui will be nicer in November.

volcanogirl

A lot of people with young kids like to go to Manuel Antonio. It's easy to get around, and there's lots of wildlife and a beautiful beach inside the park. Check out someplace like Tulemar Bungalows. That would work if you just want to relax and have some beach time. I'd save adventure activities and all that for when your child is a little older. Maui could work too. I think things would be easier to do there with a 3-year old - Haleakala, whale watching, beach time, Road to Hana, etc. Does your child get car sick at all? If so, some of the roads in Costa Rica can be pretty twisty and turny and not in the best shape.

sf7307

Travel time from New York to Costa Rica is less than 5 hours, to Maui about 11 hours. Regardless, I agree that Maui would be much easier once you get there!

drsaloni

My son has never gotten car sick, I do but can take medication. Having said that would u advise road to hana & the crater?

drsaloni

Is it going to be whale watching season then maybe 16th november to 21/1/12? roughly.

Tomsd

Having traveled extensively in both places (my sister used to live in Costa Rica and my wife has been going to Maui since the 50's), I would recommend you consider the Northwest-Guanacaste-Flamingo Beach area of Costa Rica - and possibly flying into Iberia airport - vis a vis the main city of San Jose - if that is less flying time/overall easier for you.

Actually - the beach area at Flamingo Beach is super - check out the Flamingo Beach Hotel - http://tinyurl.com/42czv4x
and there are other/newer destination resorts up in that area - plus you can get into the rain forest with ease from there - but hey - we also love Muai.

Both would be great actually, just a matter of what works best for your.

Tomsd

As for driving out to Hana - you could go part way and see how it goes, as even part way - you experience some of the beauty of the Hawaiian rain forest/waterfalls, etc.

As for going to altitude with a young one - suggest you check that out more as Haleakula is up there. Seeing the sunrise is magical - but not if you have a sick child, eh?

ChiSue

Not sure about Costa Rica, but you can fly nonstop from Newark or JFK on a good, widebody plane straight to Honolulu, then hop to Maui. We do that most winters from Chicago, buying coach and upgrading to first. You just float through HNL without leaving security for the hop. We have also flown ORD-DFW-OGG(MAUI).

You are unlikely to see whales in November. Best timing is January - March.

Few small children enjoy the 12 hour trip in and out of a car that is Road to Hana. Haleakala is too high for some little lungs. (Even adults can develop altitude sickness up there.)Your Three would enjoy Iao Valley and the Maui Ocean Center. (Buy a longer pass.) You'll probably spend most time on the beach and in the tidepools. There are *wonderful* sitter services on Maui if the adults want more adventures and some 'date nights'.

I like South Maui -- and condos -- for families with small children. Wailea has some very nice condos and is home to Four Seasons, Fairmont (all suites), and Grand Wailea (too kid-magnet for me). I like this site for South Maui condos: www.mauiownercondos.com Look at Wailea Beach Villas, Polo Beach Club, Makena Surf, Wailea Ekahi and Elua. Hale Pau Hana is nice too.

With two weeks, you might split time between two islands or right on Maui. Kapalua has The Ritz and many nice condos. Do any touring from Wailea -- more convenient location and four-lane highway all the way.

We love Hawaii, but...I have to say that our DS celebrated his third birthday in the US Virgins -- SO much closer to home! (Although less to see/do while you're there. Maybe that's a good thing.)

Hawaii gets busy with families whenever mainland schools are out -- including Thanksgiving.

You'll need a rental car everywhere outside of Honolulu, an visitors DIY tour, unlike in some non-US tropical locations.

sylvia3

Hana and Haleakala will be no problem, unless your child is prone to car sickness. However, sunrise can be bitterly cold, cloudy, and driving up in the dark for the first time is no fun (sunset is nice, though).
Easily accessible tide pools, lots of gentle beaches, easy driving; IMO, Maui would be a great choice.

Marginal

The Haleakala National Park warns against young children going to the summit without a doctor's clearance.

http://www.nps.gov/hale/planyourvisit/yoursafety.htm

A 3 year old will get nothing out of the trip to the summit, or to Hana.

BarbAnn

With a 3 yr. old, I would pick Maui. I loved Costa Rica, but it is not known for it's beautiful white sandy beaches. Also, to really see the country, you need to move around a bit. We took our 12 year old and he loved it..hiking through the rainforest, seeing all the animals, zip lining, riding small boats down the rainforest rivers. I would save it for when your son is older. Maui's beaches are nicer, water clearer and caters to families with small children.

Tomsd

The warmest water I ever experienced in an Ocean was at Hermosa Beach - north of Flamingo - a beautiful sandy beach and my brother in law - originally from Nicaragua - though he had found nirvana.

You can fly from Miami, Houston - or even LA? - to San Jose, Costa Rica - and will check on flights into the more northern airport at Liberia.

Tomsd

Here is the webpage for Liberia airport. Although the Volcan at Arenal (by the village of La Fortuna) - may not be booming like it once was - it was a wonder to behold and easy to get to. http://www.liberiacostaricainfo.com/Index.htm

Tomsd

And here are some pics of Flamingo Beach. We rented a nice villa right on the beach - and had a great time, especially looking at the ocean from hot tub type pool on the front porch - while drinking Cuba Libres - Rum and Cokes.

http://tinyurl.com/6w39336