We are just starting to plan our very first interstate family holiday to Hamilton Island early next year Seeing we have only been away for a weekend when Buster was a few months old, we're not too sure which accommodation to stay in, what we might need or what might not be necessary. The plan is to stay for a week. We have found a nice enough apartment on the ground floor of a block, as well as a stand alone house.

The house would be more private and has its own small pool, the kids can have their own rooms, more space in general with nice decks with a sensational view, being a house it has full sized everything as well as a clothesline..but it is more expensive and is not as close to the action (though I understand it's not a very big island anyway so not hard to take the buggy).

The apartment is a lot smaller with just two bedrooms so the boys would share (which they are not used to), it has a communal pool that is only a stones throw away, I think it is very close to the water and all the island facilities, it has a small kitchen and laundry but on the upside is not as expensive which means more spending money.

I think we are going to go with the house mainly because of the bedrooms. When we went on our weekend away Buster was still in with us...not sure if I want to test out sharing rooms when we're meant to be on holidays!

Seasoned travellers, which would you choose?