[Joan.of.the.Arch]

Just you and the baby go to Hawaii, while back home you have hired a temp Nanny to take care of the kids for a week or two so that husband does not have to take off work?

If you all go, can you not bring in a cot, or put three kids in a bed? Most hotel beds are queen size and three little kids should be able to fit. Combine that with making sandwiches for several meals, having a several one-pot dinners at your dad's house, scouting around for best air fares and it sounds like you could get by with a lot less than $8000. Maybe make the visit shorter, too.

It may be harsh to mention this, but if your Dad is dying, will you soon be planning another trip for a funeral? In that case, you may have zero choice in arrangements to get the price down and you wouldn't want to be hassled with price comparisons at that time. At very least, you should be saving for emergency trips home (to both MO and HI.).

Our parents are elderly we keep that in mind for our emergency fund. Some of our BILs and SILs live internationally and it was hard to get everyone home for their mother's funeral, as the flights were especially expensive spur of the moment.

So....It might help if you think of going on the cheap now as being a way to add to your savings for being able to go on emergency.

Gosh, this thread has really covered some ground.

[Correction: sorry missed the part about not eating at Aunt's house. Still you could make sandwiches or whatever each day and put them in the van with you. Fill a jug of water and have paper cups. Picnic for your lunch everyday. Sounds like you would be leaving your aunt and dad at meal time anyhow. Make extra for your Dad and bring him along for the picnic if he's able.]