Vacation with toddler - looking for recommendations (incl. specific properties)
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Shanghai
Programs: BAEC (Gold), PC (Plat), HH (Gold), MR (Gold)
Posts: 2,729
Vacation with toddler - looking for recommendations (incl. specific properties)
Hi All
Looking for ideas as to where to go on vacation for 7-10 days in October with our then 20-month old. We have done a couple of trips over the last year since she was born, both involving multiple flights and hotels stays and she has been as good as gold (although I understand that past performance is not an indicator of future performance when it comes to toddlers!)
Our desires:
Approx point balances (to give an indicator of what we could stretch to):
BA - 750K
AA - 500K
US - 170K
UA - 95K
DL - 25K
Marriott - 180K
Hilton - 120K
SPG - 80K
PC - 100K
Any ideas anyone? (Particularly with specific property recommendations - this has been the difficult bit for me given our 1BR-using-points requirement).
Thanks for any inspiration anyone can provide.
Looking for ideas as to where to go on vacation for 7-10 days in October with our then 20-month old. We have done a couple of trips over the last year since she was born, both involving multiple flights and hotels stays and she has been as good as gold (although I understand that past performance is not an indicator of future performance when it comes to toddlers!)
Our desires:
- Somewhere warm and beachy (or, failing that, a nice desert resort. We did Phoenix last year so would like to try somewhere different).
- Inside or outside of the US, but stopping short of traveling to Europe or Asia
- Fly in premium cabin (toddler with own seat)
- Accommodation that has 1 BR suites (so we can sleep in seperate rooms)
- Fund majority (70%+) or all of trip using points/miles (so may help if the accommodation has 1BR as 'standard' to avoid expensive upgrade fees).
Approx point balances (to give an indicator of what we could stretch to):
BA - 750K
AA - 500K
US - 170K
UA - 95K
DL - 25K
Marriott - 180K
Hilton - 120K
SPG - 80K
PC - 100K
Any ideas anyone? (Particularly with specific property recommendations - this has been the difficult bit for me given our 1BR-using-points requirement).
Thanks for any inspiration anyone can provide.
#2
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: BOS-TLV
Programs: Lots of them, no status
Posts: 1,318
I don't know about Marriott's redemption rates, but you're not going to get anywhere near 70% of your 7-10 day trip paid for with points with only 120K HHonors points. That's 2 nights at a fancy resort or hotel, 3 at a hotel that's nice but not top-of-the-line, and MAYBE 4 at a mid-level non-resort hotel.
#3
Join Date: Dec 2004
Programs: WN, DL, UA, AA, Hilton, Marriott, IHG
Posts: 1,303
This thread in the Priority Club forum talks about the sporadic ability to redeem PC points for suites/other room types. Most of it seems old, but some digging might turn something up.
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Shanghai
Programs: BAEC (Gold), PC (Plat), HH (Gold), MR (Gold)
Posts: 2,729
I don't know about Marriott's redemption rates, but you're not going to get anywhere near 70% of your 7-10 day trip paid for with points with only 120K HHonors points. That's 2 nights at a fancy resort or hotel, 3 at a hotel that's nice but not top-of-the-line, and MAYBE 4 at a mid-level non-resort hotel.
Thanks.
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Shanghai
Programs: BAEC (Gold), PC (Plat), HH (Gold), MR (Gold)
Posts: 2,729
This thread in the Priority Club forum talks about the sporadic ability to redeem PC points for suites/other room types. Most of it seems old, but some digging might turn something up.
#6
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: BOS-TLV
Programs: Lots of them, no status
Posts: 1,318
OK, if you don't mind moving around, then I think you can definitely make this work. Hang on and I will give you some suggestions in a little bit. I am rushing out the door right now
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Shanghai
Programs: BAEC (Gold), PC (Plat), HH (Gold), MR (Gold)
Posts: 2,729
Thanks - I definately appreciate it. That 70% I threw out was just a going-in number. I don't mind sticking my hand deeper into my pocket, but I also want to maximize the use of my points where I can as they end up getting devalued one way or another if I hang onto them too long.
#8
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 312
We just booked 5 days at the Sheraton Key West Suites using SPG points. Warm, beach, inside US, has suites (that was on my checklist, too!!) Your balance should cover more nights if you'd like--or you could do shoulders in FLL/MIA. We are going with a 2.5 yo.
Can't review the property or give any feedback, since we haven't been yet, but you might check out their website to see if you like the sound of it.
Can't review the property or give any feedback, since we haven't been yet, but you might check out their website to see if you like the sound of it.
#9
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Programs: Hyatt Diamond, Fairmont Platinum, Aeroplan Diamond, HHonors Gold, SPG Gold
Posts: 18,686
Currently at Trump Waikiki.. Great setup for families..
Full kitchen, washer/dryer, full service housekeeping daily.
For great rates try www.jetluxuryresorts.com
Full kitchen, washer/dryer, full service housekeeping daily.
For great rates try www.jetluxuryresorts.com
#11
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Shanghai
Programs: BAEC (Gold), PC (Plat), HH (Gold), MR (Gold)
Posts: 2,729
Currently at Trump Waikiki.. Great setup for families..
Full kitchen, washer/dryer, full service housekeeping daily.
For great rates try www.jetluxuryresorts.com
Full kitchen, washer/dryer, full service housekeeping daily.
For great rates try www.jetluxuryresorts.com
In the end we booked to go to the West Coast:
AA First from JFK-LAX (did I say we had AA miles to burn?) to keep overall travel time short (i.e. no changing anywhere).
5 nights at an all-suites Marriott at Newport Beach (points redemption).
4 nights at an MVCI in Palm Desert (managed to get a Friends & Family rate).
5 nights in a 1BR suite at a Residence Inn at Dana Point (points redemption).
So all in all a cheap vacation staying in minimum 1 BR suites throughout, and in one of the few remaining areas on the west coast that we've yet to explore - so very happy with the outcome.
Thanks all for your help!