Where to go for 5 weeks on maternity leave

[NCforpoo]

Planning on sharing 3 months of maternity leave (shared parental leave) with DH when baby arrives. The plan is to go for 5 weeks of that to stay somewhere warm and relaxing.
We'll either go In January or August. We will be DH, me, DD (4/4.5) and new baby (3 months/9 months old)

But where?! Somewhere not to expensive to rent a place for 5 weeks, and where living expenses aren't too high (we won't be eating out a lot, more living fairly normally) but flights as a one off cost we can save up for.

Suggestions?

Defeating the point of maximising the time that your child is looked after by a parent, rather than having to use other childcare.

The point about shared parental leave is to ensure fathers have access to leave to look after their children. People can use it as they wish. What gives you the right to criticise how people use their leave.

Where could we get a nice house for not holiday home rates for just over a month.

In August? Well nowhere in Europe - that's peak holiday season for everyone, all the school kids are off, in many Mediterranean countries offices are closed or minimally staffed, because everyone goes to the beach/mountains.

If you want a cheap five weeks in the sun I'd go in January and I'd go to the Canaries or somewhere like that. If you want cheap in August then I think you'll have to do a house swap or go somewhere that's seriously out of season (but that probably means monsoon, hurricanes, etc). Bear in mind too that flights in August to anywhere in the world will be expensive, due to the aforementioned holidays.

Enjoy it! I would try to find a place with access to childcare for a newborn just so you can get a break for a few hours if necessary.

Thanks! Brilliant suggestions and we've lots of time to think it through more
I'd love to go to Bali... wondering if Spain is more realistic! Especially if we can find a place that's not too hot...

How do people find out about house swaps? I wouldn't know where to start looking! Thanks!

saywhatwhatnow
We've scoured both DH and my works policies on SPL and they're so complicated (DHs is over 30 pages long) but worked out that we can take at the same time if we want or not.
To maximise time off, DH would take over when I start using my AL allowance.
The other option we were looking at was DH taking time off with me for the first 3 months or so, because that's when I found it toughest last time... and DH would get the pay for half of that time - and earns more than me.
So either way, 3 months for DH and 9 for me is the plan.

I’d much rather take a 3 month old on a flight than a 9 month old - they sleep more and can generally be settled much more reliably with milk!

We flew with DD when she was 9 months old but... that's assuming that next child will be as easy as the first... and from what I hear from others that never happens!

Does anyone have any advice on house swaps?

No advice on house swipe but DH took 6 weeks parental leave at same time as me. Was a really precious time for both of us.

For January, Florida eg Miami area or the keys. Miami would be cheaper. Gorgeous weather and it was quite quiet on the beaches when we went in January. Flights there are cheap these days.

We also took SPL at same time. Basically DH did 2 weeks of paternity leave then 2 weeks of SPL so he had the first month off with me. I was still on mat leave the whole time, but couldn’t have had the whole year as he had 2 weeks. And I just had to confirm that in writing to my employer (due to finances needed to go back after 9 months anyway)

I think SPL gets complicated if you want to go back to work for a bit and then start it again

House swaps are hugely popular . Basically you join a site and pay for a free trial and then if you decide to join you pay annual membership fee. My Dsis and I have been members for about ten years now.

You get to see 'adverts' for homes across the world. There are filters to narrow it down by region, country, house size, exchange times available. and things like whether accommodation is suitable for babies.
You get to put up a short description of your home and photos and some information about yourself. No exact addresses are shown -just the neighbourhood.
The site finds you people who may want to stay at your home and makes suggestions.
Then it's like a dating site for holidays. You contact people who meet your criteria and see how you get on.

Normally if you get to swap stage you will have exchanged half a dozen emails and looked at their feedback.

The site has lots of information for new entrants and what to be aware and what to ask.
I have been to California and Vancouver while DSis has been to Paris, New York, and several places in Italy and spain. I am still in contact with both my swap couples - we are now firm friends .
Feel free to ask any more questions.

Sorry mentioned house swap and ran. We didn't 3 weeks in oz on one. We got house with pool, they got Victorian terrace near London!
Registered with a site (home exchange). I did pay to weed out the time wasters. Said I wanted to go to x at Xmas. Got a reply within a week. Lots of Skyping and emails.
Worked out really well and stayed with them again (and actually met them) when we went bAck. Would recommend.
Go online and see if anyone wants to come to your area at that time. Even if not touristy people like to visit family/old haunts etc.