Hi. My name is Brian and I've just joined PriorityClub Connect, although I've been a member of Priority Club (Platnum Elite Status) for many years.
Most of the travel I do is business related (I work in the government sector) but I have used my Priority Club Points to take my wife and two children on long weekend trips to Baltimore, Washington DC, Ocean City, MD, Philly, Boston, Montreal and, most frequently, New York City. I live in Albany, New York, which is kind of a hub for cities in the Northeast, so most of our travel is via car, but we have flown via Southwest Airlines to Baltimore/Washington on a couple of occasions ($39 each way).
In the last few years, we haven't traveled as a family because my 10-year-old son, who is autistic, makes too much of a racket in the room, especially at night. He walks around, sometimes jumps up-and-down, yells (not screams but just yells) and generally causes a ruckus. We've had someone complain only once (on Thanksgiving day, after the NYC Parade, 4 years ago), but we never want to ruin anyone elses stay, so we haven't traveled with Will since. We have talked about staying overnight at a local Holiday Inn to get Will used to being away and if we have to leave, we would be 5 minutes from home. I have so many points built up that we can do this several times until (maybe) he feels comfortable and quiet (like at home).
For the past three years my wife and I have been able to get away for an overnight in NYC at Christmas time. My 16-year-old daughter is home with my son, and a 20-some year-old daughter of a good friend stays with the kids. She is a special ed major in college and gets along great with both kids. It has worked out great, although we both miss the kids when we're away. Both my wife and I have made weekend visit's to NYC with my daughter throughout the year. She loves the city as much as we do.
BTW, I have made hundreds of business trips to NYC throughout the years and would recommend to anyone that visit to go in the Christmas season. The store windows are amazing (Lord&Taylor, Sak's and Macy's), the Christmas tree at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and ice skating in Rockefeller Center are our favorite things to do, I would highly recommend them all. There is no more romantic place than NYC at Christmas.
I also recommend that you stay at the Intercontinental (the Barclay). The location is great, 48th and Lex, the staff is very helpful and the rooms are nicely appointed and fairly large by NYC standards.
If anyone has an autistic child and has any suggestions on ways to make traveling easier, I would really appreciate it. Thanks.
