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Original poster

take a 1yo on a 2hr flight or 3 1/2hrs of driving

28 replies

rockinrobintweet · 23/02/2015 22:45

i am planning a surprise 4 night holiday end of May/ beg of June for my daughters first birthday. surprise is for DH also as I'll have finished my degree and want it to be a thank you for helping me through those tricky 3 years! :

here's my quandary- my immediate thoughts were to book a flight from our local airport (40 min drive away) and go to the beaches of Barcelona for 4 nights. my DH is Spanish and hasn't been home for 5years so I thought he'd love the surprise. we could visit the football stadium on one day and spend time on beach n hotel pool or at national country park a train ride away with our daughter to relax. I know the flight isn't too long and are at reasonable times so I thought it would be perfect.

my second idea however has been to not put daughter on an aeroplane (some of my friends looked horrified when i shared my plans) and to use the eurotunnel to Calais for a 4 night stay in Calais on the beaches there. my Grandparents used to live in France so we have a connection with going there however there's no romantic gesture for DH. the only bonus is eurotunnel takes 35min and then we are there. BUT to get to eurotunnel it's almost 3 hours of driving. to get around this I thought perhaps we would go early morning (maybe 5am so that DD could sleep on journey and be none the wiser until we are on train and she could have her breakfast) but for some reason I feel reluctant..

there's no real difference in cost. the flight and hotel package is perhaps more ideal as we can go all inc and the weather will be a bit more predictable, but is the easier and maybe better option for DD to go to France by Eurotunnel??

Sorry if this is typed awfully- my phone won't let me proof my discussion!! TIA birand i

OP posts:
Original poster
rockinrobintweet · 23/02/2015 22:46

don't know where birand i is from at bottom but wouldn't let me delete!!!

OP posts:
JeanSeberg · 23/02/2015 22:47

Spain no question.

SunnySomer · 23/02/2015 22:49

Personally I'd fly. Not sure why your friends think that would be an issue? Your daughter would be on your knee for the journey, but as long as you have toys, food etc that should be fine.
Seems like a lovely thoughtful gesture for your DH, too.

Haggismcbaggis · 23/02/2015 22:49

Spain no question. I think your friends must be very dramatic. Two adults could happily manage one baby on a short flight. Completely fine.

FlappertyFlippers · 23/02/2015 22:50

It's not a long flight, it will be fine. I'd choose Barcelona, pack a load of toys, iPad and and snacks in your hand luggage. Give your daughter a bottle/breastfeed on takeoff and landing and you'll be fine.

BackforGood · 23/02/2015 22:53

From the title I'd say drive. After all, if the flight is 2 hrs, the actual time with all the booking in and loading etc., not even counting getting to the airport is much longer. Then you have the whole ear popping thing and trying to keep a baby comfortable when you can't move around or let them play sounds like my worst nightmare.
However
The trip to Spain sounds like something really nice for your dh, whereas the trip to Calais doesn't have the same appeal at all.
If you are just away for 4 days, then personally I'd go somewhere local(ish) to you and have a relaxing break in a cottage or something.

Original poster
rockinrobintweet · 23/02/2015 22:54

thanks for speedy responses! nice to know I am not mad for taking a 1yo on a flight!

OP posts:
WhatHo · 23/02/2015 22:54

From my perspective your friends know nothing (Jon Snow)

I am not an expert but I believe the beaches around Calais ain't all that (perhaps someone will come and correct me) and of course the weather is very similar to the UK.

Driving is easier in some respects, as you can do your own time to suit baby, particularly if you do it over a night or over a nap time. Except you'll have to stop a bit to change nappies, entertain etc and if there's any traffic you have a small angry child stuck in a car seat.

A 2 hour flight with a 1 year old is really not that big a deal. She will find the airport fascinating and you can walk around with her and show her things. Once the plane has levelled off, again you can get up in the flight and walk around, plus she can play on the floor of the plane by your feet. You can have her on your lap (again not possible in a car) so you can cuddle her to sleep, play tickle games etc. The only thing to be sure of is that she drinks during take-off and landing so her ears pop and she doesn't scream from the pain, which is why lots of babies cry on planes.

The worst bit will actually be queuing for immigration the other side as by then you will all be tired and in need of a nap (!) but as you are staying in the EU it should be pretty quick.

I know what I would rather do...

Original poster
rockinrobintweet · 23/02/2015 22:55

back for good- I know what you mean. a big appeal with the Calais flight is the thought of having OUR car and taking as much as we like etc. I'll look more into holidays tomorrow. thank you!

OP posts:
Princesspond · 23/02/2015 22:56

Go to Spain, I regret not doing more foreign holidays when my kids were little. That's a short flight and lovely surprise for DH.

kilmuir · 23/02/2015 22:57

fly.

Original poster
rockinrobintweet · 23/02/2015 22:58

thanks for top tips with drinking during take off! the airport in England doesn't concern me and where DH knows the language the other side i thought it would be a bonus in a busy airport looking for our transfers! i however have limited French!

OP posts:
BikeRunSki · 23/02/2015 23:00

We took ds to the South of France on a plane when he was 10 months old. It was ok. At least we were free to deal with him being grumpy.

GiddyOnZackHunt · 23/02/2015 23:02

A 3or 4 hour drive strapped into a car seat to a country that's just 'abroad' versus a 2 hour flight on your lap wriggling about to your DJ's home country which will be a huge plus for him?
Fly!

TheOneWithTheTerribleName · 23/02/2015 23:03

We took a 7m old, 23 m old, and 4 yr old on a 12 hour flight with just 3 seats between us, and that was fine... can't see a problem with either plan really, so do the one you want to most (Spain).

GiddyOnZackHunt · 23/02/2015 23:03

DJ? DH obviously. And he has the language to buy random things you need.

WhatHo · 23/02/2015 23:05

You can hire a car for very little in Spain,

flying will stop you taking the everything plus the kitchen sink with added bathroom sink and everything else - which you will really, really want to do on a first holiday with a baby Wink
Well it may not stop you but will make you a least be a little weight conscious!

Another tip is take the car seat with you. You can use it in the plane and if you hire a car.

AShiningTiger · 23/02/2015 23:06

Spain! I flew on my own with a 3 month old and a 2yo. Go!

Original poster
rockinrobintweet · 23/02/2015 23:07

oh wow TheOne... perhaps I am doing me and DH an injustice. we have a wonderfully easy going little girl and she takes everything in her stride (literally as she's taking her first few steps!!) so I think I'll try and arrange a Spanish trip SmileSmile thank you everyone!

If anyone has been to Barcelona that comes along and wants to recommend a family hotel that would be helpful!!!

OP posts:
ChablisTyrant · 23/02/2015 23:09

2 hours is nothing. Fly.

youarethequarry · 23/02/2015 23:28

We took DS to Barcelona at 11 months. Easy flight - packed a couple of toys, a snack and a drink but he was asleep before take off and only woke up with 20 minutes to go. Booked transfers that provided car seats and stayed in an apartment rather than hotel. Loads to do in Barcelona with a little one too. We went to Nou Camp like you mentioned. Also did a bus tour, aquarium (ok for a rainy day) and the zoo. The friendliest city I've ever visited and very easy to navigate with a pushchair too. Plus you have the bonus of a DH that speaks the language. Enjoy it!

WrappedInABlankie · 24/02/2015 00:57

Plane! Then again I took my 1 year old to Cuba which was a 10 hour flight and he was fine

IAmAPaleontologist · 24/02/2015 01:05

Either journey is absolutely fine, children travel be it in car, plane or train. 3 and a bit hours in a car is a piece of piss tbh, we are in NE England and when we go to see family in SW France we drive.

Just do the holiday you want to do the most, Spain, France or outer Mongolia. The travel is what it is, don't let it affect your choices.

thisonehasalittlecar · 24/02/2015 01:10

Spain sounds much nicer but after travelling with under-2s I would always plump for the option where they are 1.) not on my knee and 2.) restrained, i.e. the car.

MrsTerryPratchett · 24/02/2015 01:18

Pfft! DD who is four has done about 30 flights. Long and short haul. Yout DD will be fine. It's only a short flight so even if she's hating it, it's short. The only real horrors on flights are; poonami; ear blockage screaming; delays (I once spent 12 delightful hours in Vancouver airport with 3 month old DD, no DH = shit-fest).