Just want to go home

Is there a holiday rep? Take pictures etc and leave a review while you are there. Complain as well. Are they meant to be smoking eg is it legal in the country you are in.

I hate the towel on sunbed as some people don’t come until after lunch! I like it when the staff go round and collect them all up

We had an identical first holiday with our first baby. Worst holiday ever. Despite being a sun seeker we did self catering within 3 hours drive of home when ours babies / young toddlers. It’s just too hard stressful and no fun. Years of brilliant trips from when second one hit 4.

And we went in first 2 weeks of October,so cooler.

I've been to Greece with a 1 year old,
She was sick on the plane,then the bus to apartment.
Tried to shower her,but no hot water ,broken cot, broken car seat for hire car .
We got up when she woke at 5 am, had breakfast and got to beach by 7 am, she got tired at 11 am so back to apartment for lunch then a snooze for us all till around 2 pm. Then we would go for a walk./play/read a book/ play music.
Fed her about 4 pm
Back to beach 5 pm till 7 pm
Then evening meal which she shared, bed at 9 pm for her.
Drinks on terrace for us.
It worked well doing a routine she was happy with.

I have a nearly 6 year old and it's still a fucking shit show holidaying with him and now i have a newborn but I've accepted that my holidaying relaxing days by the pool is over for now until they go their own way. With a 1 yo i can sympathise as you have to follow them everywhere so they don't kill themselves and doing anything is a battle even keeping them safe. Saying all of this, I've never stopped going on holiday but instead managed my expectations. There's loads of tick-tok videos and on insta with parents saying how hard work it is but they'd rather do the shit stuff of parenting in a hot country with a pool and beach than be stuck at home in the rain.

Did you need to go in the school holidays? It’s still the Spring Bank Holiday isn’t it in some places, so the sun lounge situation will be very hectic.

We once went to Devon whilst the 2yo was potty training. No washing machine where we were staying. Spent a good chunk of the holiday driving around to various launderettes, with binbags full of shit-laden pants and shorts 😂.

I'd pick your battles with your 1yo as much as possible. Just let them stay in swimming gear maybe? Or use bribery? They'll need a big "reset" when you get home anyway.

It is hard though!

@holly201 we went with family and their similar age child. We did all inclusive (one that did food almost all day even near-midnight snacks) and a special kids’ buffet. Also went early May before weather was crazy hot. Also beach just at end of gardens (with beachside pizza/grill place). Worked really well and each parent could grab breakfast separately if needed. Wasn’t too crazy - also the wasps were not bad then either. Maybe that could work for you next year? I hope it’s all going better for you now and you manage to feel like you’ve had some kind of holiday …

This. I never understand people who go to hot countries with young kids, and have all the stress with airports, heat / foreign foods etc.
We were highly adventurous travellers. When kids came along we stopped instantly, and for about 6 years (I have 3 kids) we spent summer holidays in northern France (driving distance for us, so could take all our things), or Wales or Cornwall. Kids pottered about on the beach, sandcastles & rockpools galore, never too hot to sleep etc. No problem with worrying about sunburn/sunstroke, food, crowded hotels (we tended to go self catering anyway, and then get quite a lot of takeaways if we didn't want to cook).
It's only when youngest was 5 or 6 that we have started travelling properly again. I really missed exotic and hot holidays, but it's simply not worth the money to go far away, and have zero enjoyment (and don't even get me started on citybreaks with kids.... no fun for either party, in reality, before the kids are at least 7).

Yep I second this. We did Eurocamp for years. Picked a site with pool slides, play area and close to the beach. Kids were happy and tired out by the end of the day and we got to chill and drink wine in the evening!

Like pp said holidays with small children is just the same old shit in a different place.

I have also had a nightmare holiday when I flew to the states however my nightmare companion was my father - lost him in the airport
He dropped his money 1200 dollars in the bathroom thankfully a steward found it and it had his name on the money slip
He then couldn't find his wallet - it was under the seat
Then when we got to the states he argued with me about every little thing
Also my aunt and her ex were still living together so it was bloody awkward she also didn't have a car at the time so everytime we went out we had to go with her ex my blow up bed had a hole in it after 4 days I was crying to my bf I want to come home. - he talked me into staying. But the nightmare continued when we got news my great uncle had passed away.

I didn't want to just read and run. 2019 I was in exactly the same boat in Corfu on a TUI package. Hotel was awful, the shower in our room was full of bugs and there was rusty metal pipes tap finishings every where. Open sewage pipes outside our very room! Crockroaches crawled out the restaurant door i kid you not! Food was so so bad. Hotel Rep couldn't even speak English and did Jack all. Husband got food poisoning, weather was rain rain rain. We hardly got to go swimming at all, hotel staff were so rude all over the resort. My two little ones wouldn't eat anything so we're hungry and grouchy. We paid good money for a big family holiday and I felt so so sorry for the children. We tried to get a flight home after the third night but there were none. Husband and I just had to give each other a hug and say to each other "this is not your fault and we will be home in a few days." We lived to tell the tale.

This isn't your fault and I know how disappointed and let down your probably feeling.

Big hug xxx

I know what you mean it’s not really a holiday at all. I brought my son on holiday in Spain just before he turned 2. It was so hot and difficult to do anything. Also for some reason most of the playgrounds were out in the blazing sun with no shade, they were empty during the day and busy at night, I noticed kids stay up so late there and I can see why. It’s almost as bad as being stuck in the pouring rain because you can’t bring them out in it when it’s that hot. Try telling a 2 year old they need to stay in the shade !

We have camped with our DC in the UK (and occasionally northern Europe) for two weeks every summer and occasionally an extra week in May. Trailer tent so we have comfy beds off the ground, electricity, cupboards etc. All our holidays have been brilliant, chilled out and kids have a decent understanding of UK geography and its stunning scenery. We did a trip to EuroDisney in 2012 and had an all inclusive in Sicily when they were 11 & 13 so they were old enough to appreciate/help to plan excursions and choose activities so they're not unaware of other holidays. DD had a holiday with a friend to Nice last year (aged 18) and they both felt even as adults that they felt the hassle of airport delays etc was a pain and they are taking themselves off camping this year. Holidays are what you make them. Even as adults, my DC are keen to join us in a field again this year. For little ones, simpler is generally better so you can keep to routines and spend time chilling rather than being stressed. I know everyone has a preference and myself and DH were brought up with camping/caravan holidays so we will be biased in favour. The thought of taking very young children on a plane just for a holiday fills me with absolute horror!

Yep, why does anyone pretend any holiday abroad involving a flight with under 5's is fun unless you have an army of help. It's hell! They hate sand, get bitten, hate unfamiliar food, too hot, too cold. We had 1 hideous holiday in a villa with child free friends. I was done after 4 days. Stayed local until they were 5 and 7, bliss from then on.

Going on a holiday with any child 5 and under is never a holiday for adults - its just the same job at home but a different location. The only good thing about it is it gives your child new experiences and memories-and you get some nice photos.

I would relax a bit, I find it's stressful if you over think it - also take it in turns to look after kids or have lie-ins! We have 2 under 3 and have had wonderful holidays - and went to Greece last week, all inclusive.

We hired a car though so we could go to the beach and the zoo and various other places. We took it slow, had hand fans, hats, sun cream and water.

The key thing is to not spend all day in the hotel, and if you do, have one of you on child duty and the other going for a swim, a drink or read a book. Enough days in the week to stretch it out!

I'd suggest you break the days up into short activities based on what DD might enjoy and take it hour by hour, prioritising her usual meal times and naps. So splash in a bucket of water for a while then a dip in the pool, then a snack, short walk in the buggy to look at people, maybe watch other DC at the playground etc. If there are any air conditioned attractions, aquarium, even shops with brightly coloured things to catch her eye try those. Take turns with your partner to be on duty so the other gets some peace with a book. If necessary take turns to go out to dinner with the rest of your friends so at least you get some peaceful meals. Above all, lower your expectations to the ground so any good parts are a nice surprise.

Greece has an awesome support network of mums so search expats in Greece you’ll find a mine of information and advice

Holidays aren’t what they used to be once you have kids. It is a lot of hard work & you don’t get much chance to chill. I’ve got a 6, 7 & 9 year old who have been to Greece every year of their entire lives (apart from 2020!). Genuinely once you get home you will mainly remember the good stuff!
Getting out & about early is handy so you can get back to your room for a few hours before going out for meals. A cool shower & dark room for a nap mid afternoon seems to help.

I agree-
take some time out alone- each have a couple of hours to go and grab a coffee etc. no point in both being miserable!

go to a local supermarket and get some snacks etc that you know she’ll eat, and otherwise ice cream/ chips/ toast for a week won’t kill her.

get some pool toys and try not to worry about naps being too regimented- if she gets a decent amount of sunshine and swimming she will sleep!

as others have said you also maybe need to lower your expectations- my own theory is that the holidays you would have loved before kids (in my case citibreaks, walking etc) will be shit, those which you would have never considered pre-kids (centre parks, euro camp) etc are actually pretty good fun! Definitely look for somewhere with a good holiday club if you do go abroad again too!

Sounds like you’ve picked the wrong accommodation this time - and I’d definitely photo all the problems, complain to the rep if you have one and go to town on a review when you get back. For now, see if you can find shady places or other places to swim/things to do.

We did Eurocamp when ours were little - much easier. I’d really recommend it.

Feel for you OP. I really struggled with holidays when mine were tiny. Essentially it’s not a holiday is it? Just same shit different (less convenient) location. Centre Parcs were generally our best trips. Pros and cons to self catering in general. Hang in there!

Honestly this sounds Braggy but this is why I would rather pay up and only do a holiday if it's 5 star and places where they can cater to anything you ask for. Even if it's a holiday once every few years.
We have always travelled with my dc and a place that has a variety of children's menus or can make anything, if they have separate kids pools, what activities for children. In very hot weather, what can we do / they cater for etc.
And above all, cleanliness is the number one factor for me.