Anonymous wrote:I posted with the kiawah suggestion. there are direct nonstop flights from dc to charleston. and i just checked prices during xmas week and they are $250-280.

Op here. Thanks!

I posted with the kiawah suggestion. there are direct nonstop flights from dc to charleston. and i just checked prices during xmas week and they are $250-280.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would recommend London for Christmas. Many many things to do, not too cold, and will have a Christmas festive vibe. Where as if you go to some warm tropical place, although nice, it won't feel much like Christmas.

Doing a quick Expedia search a family of 4 can get Air + Hotel packages from $1200 to $2000 per person. With some nice deals/hotels at $1,500 per person.

OP here. First place I checked, because I'm British and it's always good to see the parents/kids' grandparents. $1200 a head (airfare only) is completely out of the budget. Then we need a rental car too. the UK is extremely expensive, particularly over Christmas.

It's $1200 a head for both (airfare and hotel). And why would you want a rental car when staying in a major city? Even if you took black cabs everywhere it would be cheaper and more convenient than renting.

Why are you arguing with the OP on this? She's British so I imagine she's looked pretty extensively into traveling to London.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would recommend London for Christmas. Many many things to do, not too cold, and will have a Christmas festive vibe. Where as if you go to some warm tropical place, although nice, it won't feel much like Christmas.

Doing a quick Expedia search a family of 4 can get Air + Hotel packages from $1200 to $2000 per person. With some nice deals/hotels at $1,500 per person.

OP here. First place I checked, because I'm British and it's always good to see the parents/kids' grandparents. $1200 a head (airfare only) is completely out of the budget. Then we need a rental car too. the UK is extremely expensive, particularly over Christmas.

It's $1200 a head for both (airfare and hotel). And why would you want a rental car when staying in a major city? Even if you took black cabs everywhere it would be cheaper and more convenient than renting.

Where are you finding these $1200 a head rates? Flights to London over Christmas start at $1300 right now, without hotel.

Anonymous wrote:op, if flights to atlanta and new orleans aren't bad, consider checking charleston, sc flights as well, and you could go to nearby kiawah island. it won't be swim-in-the-ocean beach weather, but you should have pleasant weather for bike rides, tennis, walks on the beach, dips in heated pool, etc, and kiawah probably runs some family activities during xmas week.

We're looking into both Charleston and Savannah, but we'd have to fly to Atlanta. Flights to huge hubs like Atlanta are always much cheaper than tiny airports without direct service.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would recommend London for Christmas. Many many things to do, not too cold, and will have a Christmas festive vibe. Where as if you go to some warm tropical place, although nice, it won't feel much like Christmas.

Doing a quick Expedia search a family of 4 can get Air + Hotel packages from $1200 to $2000 per person. With some nice deals/hotels at $1,500 per person.

OP here. First place I checked, because I'm British and it's always good to see the parents/kids' grandparents. $1200 a head (airfare only) is completely out of the budget. Then we need a rental car too. the UK is extremely expensive, particularly over Christmas.

It's $1200 a head for both (airfare and hotel). And why would you want a rental car when staying in a major city? Even if you took black cabs everywhere it would be cheaper and more convenient than renting.

Because London is crazy expensive. CRAZY expensive. I wouldn't EVER stay in London and pay hotel - just the cost of the tube, food and getting around is inordinately high for a quick impromptu break over Christmas. I am British, and we have family there we would stay with them. I don't believe that $1200 flights including hotel exist, because it is close to $1200 just for air fare (or more). We need a car every time we go - you can't fit two parents and two kids plus grandparents in any car in my family. And no, it's not cheaper to take black cabs everywhere. A black cab from Heathrow is more expensive than a day's car rental.

op, if flights to atlanta and new orleans aren't bad, consider checking charleston, sc flights as well, and you could go to nearby kiawah island. it won't be swim-in-the-ocean beach weather, but you should have pleasant weather for bike rides, tennis, walks on the beach, dips in heated pool, etc, and kiawah probably runs some family activities during xmas week.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would recommend London for Christmas. Many many things to do, not too cold, and will have a Christmas festive vibe. Where as if you go to some warm tropical place, although nice, it won't feel much like Christmas.

Doing a quick Expedia search a family of 4 can get Air + Hotel packages from $1200 to $2000 per person. With some nice deals/hotels at $1,500 per person.

OP here. First place I checked, because I'm British and it's always good to see the parents/kids' grandparents. $1200 a head (airfare only) is completely out of the budget. Then we need a rental car too. the UK is extremely expensive, particularly over Christmas.

It's $1200 a head for both (airfare and hotel). And why would you want a rental car when staying in a major city? Even if you took black cabs everywhere it would be cheaper and more convenient than renting.

Anonymous wrote:Jamaica. Southwest flies nonstop from BWI.

Not until January 2015, according to their website.

Anonymous wrote:agree, I posed above about decent airfares and those all seem to be gone now

OP here and they weren't available when I looked either - before I started this thread or when others recommended them. However, I have found some flights to Florida (FLL, TPA) that are in the $250-350 range, plus similar prices for Atlanta or New Orleans. trying to work out what's doable/interesting with the kids.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would recommend London for Christmas. Many many things to do, not too cold, and will have a Christmas festive vibe. Where as if you go to some warm tropical place, although nice, it won't feel much like Christmas.

Doing a quick Expedia search a family of 4 can get Air + Hotel packages from $1200 to $2000 per person. With some nice deals/hotels at $1,500 per person.

OP here. First place I checked, because I'm British and it's always good to see the parents/kids' grandparents. $1200 a head (airfare only) is completely out of the budget. Then we need a rental car too. the UK is extremely expensive, particularly over Christmas.

agree, I posed above about decent airfares and those all seem to be gone now

Anyone having any luck with airfares - can't seem to find any place warm for under $600-$700 in airfare.

Jamaica. Southwest flies nonstop from BWI.

Anonymous wrote:Nassau still has dirt cheap flight options - i.e. $250 a head. Check skyscanner.

But then you're in Nassau?