To ask for ideas for a summer holiday?

[Goosethemoose]

Really need to book something ASAP... Struggling to think of something good. Please inspire me!

DH and I were adventurous travellers, but now have 16mo DS. We want to go away for a week in early July, so DS will be 18mo and I'll be 20 weeks pregnant. Heathrow/Gatwick/Luton (and Stansted at a push) are all convenient. No more than 3-3.5h flying. Ideally originally we wanted sun, pool, beach... not self-catered. Feeling more environmentally aware so considering staying in the U.K., but DS loves the beach and I love the sun - and we won't get away for about another year due to DC2... (Yes, I'm aware that even an annual holiday abroad makes us very fortunate!). Then again, we love "proper" travelling and would happily do something more adventurous than a resort holiday, if it's viable with DS.

Any ideas??

Well, you have the whole of Europe at your disposal and huge variations on how you do it.

Personally at your DS’s age I would find an all inclusive resort with great kids pool, playground and beach, but I’m not an adventurous traveller.

Menorca? Plenty of culture, sun and Menorca takes its environmental protection seriously so apart from the flight you can have a clear conscience.
Choose an area with coves instead of big beaches and you'll have safer paddling for your little one

I'd book separately - not a package, and with a hire car

So find a hotel that is small child friendly and book bed and breakfast there. It wouldn't have to be on the beach if you hire a car. You could then, for example, have breakfast, go to the beach, back mid afternoon for a nap then out again to a restaurant for supper.

The car gives you flexibility in your day, and allows you to explore the area properly without being tied to the hotel.

Well, you have the whole of Europe at your disposal and huge variations on how you do it. I know! Choice paralysis...

Menorca is a good shout, thanks, will have a Google.

Sardinia I'm told is lovely. However if you want to stay in the U.K. I recommend Pembrokeshire, lovely beaches, body boarding, beautiful countryside

Cascais near Lisbon would be perfect

Puerto Pollenca - Majorca?

Thanks for the suggestions!

Appreciate you want the sun so this probably isn't a good recommendation but like you DH and I travelled extensively before we had DCs but had never really explored the UK.

We had some amazing holidays exploring Cornwall when our DCs were tiny staying on farms where DCs could feed the animals etc. If you've never been the beaches are incredible.

And just to be more helpful we took ours to Majorca for their first plane trip! Very short flight.

2 best holidays I've ever had were Scotland (Mull, Tongue,Lough Ness) and Ireland road trip (Westport, Killarney, Kerry and Cobh) both with similar ages dds to yours.