best family vacation with kids under 5

[Anonymous]

This feels like an ad.

[Anonymous]

Not an ad, just a lot of satisfied people that appreciate a resort that caters to families with young children.

We did not leave FDR when we went (with a 2-year old and a 6-month-old). The beach is small, but enjoyable, and there is a beautiful large beach next door that you can access. Hiring the nanny to come back in the evening (after we fed the kids dinner and got them ready for bed) and babysit the kids so that we could have adult-only dinner every night was wonderful. As a PP said, the TripAdvisor reviews are a good way to get a feel for what to expect.

[Anonymous]

My parents would rent cabins at the smoky mountains. We loved it.

[Anonymous]

What is the approximate cost for the FDR Resort? Never heard of it before; we have a small baby and had kind of gave up on vacations but this sounds really good.

[Anonymous]

Their website is fdrholidays.com. And it has all the rates and current specials (looks like 50% off now; we got 35% off last spring). It is all-inclusive, although you can pay extra ($6/hour) for babysitting in the evening.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Their website is fdrholidays.com. And it has all the rates and current specials (looks like 50% off now; we got 35% off last spring). It is all-inclusive, although you can pay extra ($6/hour) for babysitting in the evening.

'Do you mind sharing what your all-in costs were for the vacation?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My parents would rent cabins at the smoky mountains. We loved it.

This is what we di every year with our 4 kids and we all love it. But if op wants a trip with childcare this is not the type of vacation she is looking for.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was going to suggest renting an RV and driving and camping somewhere.

That way the kids can color/watch TV/screw around on the way rather than being confined to a car seat for 15 hours.

I thought seatbelts and carseats were still required in RVs?

Best vacation is simple and relaxing for us. We love renting a cabin on a lake (went to Lake George last year) or going to the beach. Last year was nice. We swam, played outside, and went on a couple of hikes. There was a local meat market and farmer's market and we grilled out all week. The evenings were cool and the days were warm - no AC needed. It was nice.

This sounds great! Any specific reca for towns/cabins at Lake George? Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Their website is fdrholidays.com. And it has all the rates and current specials (looks like 50% off now; we got 35% off last spring). It is all-inclusive, although you can pay extra ($6/hour) for babysitting in the evening.

'Do you mind sharing what your all-in costs were for the vacation?

I'm not sure, but here's what I remember/looked up. I budgeted $5K for the trip (including airfare and things like getting passports for the kids), and it was less than that. I think our airfare was ~$400 each. FDR with the 35% discount special they were advertising cost $2280 for five nights for two adults and two kids (the kids are free). We paid ~$20/night for babysitting on a few nights, and tipped some more to our nanny at the end of the week ($100, I think). And we split $180 with another family for a private transfer to the resort so we could install carseats comfortably (optional, you could use the free transfer instead). There were no surprise expenses or other fees, except for a massage at the resort spa.

So it's not cheap, but I don't think it's outrageous, either. We hope to go back next year.