Where did you take your baby on holiday?

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We're trying to plan our first family holiday for the first half of next year. My DC is currently 2 months and I'm struggling to know where is a good baby friendly place, with the right weather. Where did you take your baby on holiday when they were under 1?

I have the opportunity for business class flights to use for this holiday and I can go anywhere I like, so I'm . This is most likely a once in a lifetime chance for us to travel business so I want to make the most of it.

We didn't, couldn't afford it. But just before DS was a year old DH was posted to Cyprus, so off we went for 3 years, and DD was born there, 3 months before we came home.

Interesting, quite a few people have said hot countries, Malaysia, Maldives, St Lucia, Zanzibar. I'm assuming babies all adjusted to the heat and time difference. I'm probably overthinking it but as FTM, holidaying with a baby seems so daunting.

Zanzibar was on our list to visit before baby and its not too hot but long enough to take advantage of the business flights. Although I've just mentioned it to the OH and he's worried about illnesses and the baby. Argh!

Thanks so much to everyone for the suggestions, so helpful and definitely food for thought.

Processo Cyprus has been recommended IRL actually. Its probably more sensible than long haul, I'm honestly so conflicted and getting more confused the more I think about it.

I have just returned from Dubai with my almost 10 month old. Flight isn't too long and it's clean and 'easy'. No worrying about hygiene, water etc. My trips to Vietnam and the like are being put on hold until his immune system has been built up!

Dubai was where I took all my 3 for their first holidays when they were babies. I loved going there each time as flight wasn't very long and it's clean and luxurious.

The weather is also great between October and March. And food choices are humongous, love Cheesecake Factory and Chiilies.

Mumsnet seems to hate Dubai but it's my favourite holiday destination, can't wait to go again as haven't been since my youngest was 1, so 4 years ago.

Has anyone got any experience of Hong Kong?

I kinda want to do Thailand. We love Thailand. But will it be too hot for the baby? 🤔

We went to Hong Kong just before it changed from uk to China

Fascinating place we were visiting friends while there so they took us to places off beaten track

Hotel was fab

What about Canada and USA?

Or Australia/New Zealand/South Pacific islands?

I live in Hong Kong. Possibly familiarity breeds contempt but it would not be high on my list of holiday destinations with a 6 month old baby. Pavements in the "fun" areas are impossible with a stroller (so you would have to sling most/all the time) and weather is just very unpredictable - can actually be pretty cold and damp all the way through to April. Singapore would be a much better option (or Dubai tbh). Thailand would be hot but climate varies depending on where you go and when you go. It would definitely be do-able. Of the places you'd mentioned I'd probably go to Cape Town though and do the Winelands.

However.....I would also say don't look at this as having to "max" out the business class flight. Flying with a baby is never a really super fun and relaxing experience. One of my flights from HK to London with DS aged 10 months (admittedly alone) still stands out in my mind for all the wrong reasons. I'd happily have switched for 4 hours to Europe on Easy Jet.

All over the place - whilst they are under 2 they are a fraction of the price in terms of tickets etc. Once they turn 2 they are largely full price. Also under 2 even a cardboard box is a great adventure for them so never struggled to find things for them to do. During the day they came with us as we visited museums/cafes etc. Things are a slightly slower pace and you need to ensure you have your supplies (nappies, a mountain of wet wipes, 2 complete changes of clothes) - but PPPPPP.

In short -
Cornwall to a cottage 1 week
Devon to a Spa type hotel 5 days (good as had pool to take swimming etc)
Spain - 1 week summer holiday (resort with loads of kids things to do).
Multiple UK city breaks (London, Manchester, York, Bath).

Long haul was a little older. Spain was the litmus year for flights and they both passed with flying colours. Of course some children are not big fans of flying at all.

Good luck!

The Canaries.
Lovely climate, very child friendly and no time difference.

We live in the Middle East so both of ours have been to Asia before they were 1.

Singapore
Sri Lanka
Indonesia
Thailand

We've also been to Portugal, Belgium when they were under 1.

My youngest did a Caribbean cruise at 8 month old as well, but we got more out of it when they were old enough for kids club and activities.

To be honest there's not many places I wouldn't take them - they fit in easily and although I tend to overpack for them we've never had an issue: we always look at medical facilities available and try to avoid anywhere with vax required because they're often too young for them but it certainly hasn't stopped us!

OP re hot countries, in my experience the babies cope fine as you keep them out of direct sunlight and in the shade. We took our DD in the pool to cool her down intermittently and then I had a little travel cot pod thing with a roof on it that had shade but the sides were open so she got a bit of a breeze through it - she slept like a dream.

Agree with PP about HK, we lived there for 6 months, and while fun, it is crowded with uneven pavements and would be very difficult to walk about. Singapore is a better option.

On Zanzibar - we didn't need yellow fever jabs flying from Dubai - not sure about UK though. I also didn't give DD any anti malarials as she was too young. Instead we kept her covered up in evenings and always ensured she was in a net when sleeping. Her travel cot actually had netting on the sides as well. We also got these cool insect repellent sticker things and popped them
All over her stroller. If you're flying anywhere I highly recommend a yo-yo pram by babyzen as it folds into the overhead locker and makes the airport stress free.

We took DD to Cyprus at 8 weeks and it was lovely. Everywhere we went people fell over themselves to make us feel welcome

If Asia is your first choice, have you considered Japan? Very safe and clean, and easy to travel round by train. I found Japanese people to be very polite and orderly so even busy tourist attractions felt calm and peaceful. If you go in spring it will be nice weather, warm but not too hot.

Agree with others that travelling with a baby is much easier than a toddler so you might as well go somewhere you want.

We took DS (5 months) to New England for a road trip. It was great. Time difference meant he was properly asleep by dinner, so we ate out in nice restaurants with him sleeping in the pushchair. Did lots of beautiful hikes in national and state parks with DS in the sling. Only thing we had to avoid was driving too far in one go as DS would get bored and cranky, but that's probably the only adjustment we made.

We went to Crete at 9 months, Atlantica sensatori resort, it was amazing

Ours coped fine with the heat. Air conditioning everywhere, stay in the shade, extra fluids, hotels with lovely swimming pools etc. In fact, she coped better than me!

Dd we went to Mallorca (4months) and Greece (8 months) both were gorgeous we had a great time.
Ds we went to Italy (6weeks) and Australia (9 months)
Australia was great once we got there, ds wasn’t too bothered by the time difference however the flight was not fun. Ds had learnt to crawl and just wanted to crawl and stand, my advise would be if you baby is mobile stay closer to home.

Took DD to Cornwall at 6 months. It was easy. Unlike the times she went to Barcelona and Paris at 1.5 and 2.5- complete night are!

We took DS1 at 10 months to Hong Kong - flight was fine, jetlag far less disruptive than it is these days! (Now 11 yo). But Singapore or many other SE Asian countries would be far better as holiday destinations -cleaner, warmer, more tourist-friendly. Make sure you get all the vaccinations and I'd avoid anywhere with malaria risk as it adds unnecessary anxiety (parts of Cambodia, Vietnam etc I think). Australia's great fun and I would leap at the chance of a business ticket there as the flight is so long! With a baby you won't even have to do the walking up and down that makes travelling with toddlers such a bind!

Btw it might be worth taking kids' medication (calpol etc) so you don't have to go searching if you need it.

Also it's worth choosing the right airline - business class is variable and sometimes not that great. Virgin Atlantic have upper which combines first and business and is my favourite by a long way.... BA club world or whatever it's called - meh. I guess they hold back the good stuff for first class passengers. Ditto for various other less obvious choices of airlines, and for many, you don't get a flat bed, which makes a difference.

Virgin Atlantic also have a lounge at HR that's worth getting there really early to go to! Free bar, food, magazines, mini-facial etc - but book this as soon as you get there as it's become busier since Delta started sharing the lounge. BA business lounge (not first) feels like a canteen by comparison.

We've travelled a lot with our kids and when they were babies and it's really down to the luck of the day whether they travel well or not. I used to do everything I could to try to make it perfect but by the end of their babyhoods we developed the strategy of just getting on with it dealing with any travel pain if / as and when it arises.

Have a great time!