hold on a two hour flight is 1000+kms away! Thats just plain crazy to think a 2.5yrs old can handle that.

Anyhow, quite simply. I would just laugh it off and say "Thanks but no thank you. However our home is open for you to come and stay and have time with dd, but overnight stays are out of the question at this point in time."

Otherwise, fob it off with "Ill try and remember to talk to dh about it when I see him next" Its my out with my inlaws, works every time, and every time I forget to mention it to dh, and I always promise to bring it up with him the next time. Ok so perhaps we talk about it, but its a great out when we are both tired of them nagging us about something and they don't want to hear us.