…to ask for your best holiday locations with a toddler?

[Lifeisnteasy]

Posting in AIBU for traffic - sorry!

Desperate to book a holiday for this summer when DD turns 3. I have a fantasy about a week in New York but know this is probably a horrendous idea with a toddler - has anyone done it?

Where would you recommend for a holiday with a 3 year old?

Thanks in advance!

Have heard amazing things about Martinhal (near Sagres) on the Algarve too. Apparently fab for children!

We had a lovely week in France when our DD was almost 2, near the Dordogne, stayed on a vineyard with a pool and big gardens to run around in. It was as relaxing as we could hope for.

Also had a successful long weekend in Barcelona when she was almost 3. Its mostly walkable so easy enough with a buggy, loads for kids to do, little parks all over the place. She loved the beach, the zoo and the bubble men!

If you're fairly active yourselves, have a look at Neilson holidays - (nearly) all inclusive activity holidays with really good kids clubs. We've been doing them for years and DS has had some great times with us and in club, while we've had time for windsurfing, sailing, tennis, climbing, kayaking, cycling etc.

At that age we did Butlin's Just For Tots breaks, UK camping hols, and Eurocamp in the south of France.
Pre-DCs I thought it would be a cold day in hell before I set foot in Butlins, but it really is great when the kids are small. They have so much all inclusive entertainment that is completely geared up for them, and it was great to be able to let them go on the various fairground rides eleventy-million times instead of limiting them to ££s worth of go's. We haven't been to a normal week, but Just For Tots was great: happy children, happy parents. You can also sign up for full board if you don't want to spend the week cooking (we haven't tried this, so can't comment on the quality). A lot of the entertainment was inside too, so weather was less of an issue.
Both DCs love water, so the French Eurocamp sites with waterparks suited us too. Cheap wine, very child-friendly, lots of facilities, and good weather. We still choose to do these holidays, and can't see it changing anytime soon. The only hellish part is the drive from the port. We usually take the ferry to Ouistreham, and although the sat nav says 5.5hrs it takes more like 9 with all the toilet stops etc if the DCs are awake. Last time we chose the ferry that arrived at 11pm and drove through the night, sharing the driving in 2hr shifts. We arrived in 6.5 hours, but then had to wait around in the car park until the reception opened and were quite bleary eyed for the first day whilst the DCs were fully rested and very excited...
We love camping, but it felt quite a grind when DCs were younger so I wouldn't recommend that!

toddler loved the ice cream, beaches and we loved drinking wine in little squares in the evening while he chased pigeons

I hate it when people allow their kids to torment animals. They are living beings, not toys for your child's amusement.

I've been to NYC multiple times and just wouldn't take my toddler. Too busy, too much walking.

We're going to Disney World in a few weeks (my dd will be 18 months old) and can't wait.

Whilst I love NY - I personally wouldn’t go there on holiday till your dc is a few years older. Also NY in the summer is not that nice, weather wise , its usually very humid and sticky. Spring or October time are lovely times to go.

We have a 2 year old dc and haven’t been abroad yet (covid) but went to Cornwall for a week last June and it was glorious. Some of the beaches we went to were as good as the ones abroad we’ve been to in Greece or Spain. The weather can be hit and miss but we were lucky and it was sunny and warm all week. We drove down from ‘up north’ and only stopped off once half way, the journey went quickly and was hassle free. Dc loved the holiday and still mentions it now! We have national trust membership and visited some lovely gardens. There was so much to do. I definitely recommend.
We have already booked for next year!

Is it her own house or is it rented council / HA
If it’s the latter get in touch with them and ask to speak to her housing officer
In my area you can look up the names of the council Housing officers on line by street number and name
You can ask them to do a check with regards to the electrics
My neighbour is a hoarder absolutely every room is piled high and he’s having a managed move due to other anti social behaviour but the house had a electrical fire a few months ago and it was pure luck that when the fire started council workers had not long arrived are and were able to put it out but if they had not been there due to the amount of rubbish and wood and paper the house would have gone up in flames i within minutes

How adventurous are you

I did a 3000 mile road trip around the east coast of the USA when mine were 1&3. I also backpacked around Alaska, rented a large house in Brittany with extended family following year

Kids, especially just one are really portable but you have ti adjust your expectations eg picnic in park and McDonald's with play areas make good stops. Mine were younger when I went to New York so carrying them age, was pretty tiring, far more than Alaska as we hopped from transport to transport

@ScottishDiblet we’re doing mousses in aug, cannot waaaaait 😍 looks like perfect mix of villa privacy, own pool, and hotel amenities. ❤️

Caravan by the beach in France via ferry with our car was the best at the toddler stage. We did go to the US when she was nearly 2, it was great but we were restricted by her limits!

OH also when our kids were 3 and almost 1 we did Florida. We did v v low key (DH was working out there) air bnb, rented a car, the most amazing beach (siesta key), loads of ice cream and pool swimming. Went to a museum that is in a Blippi video so DS was bloody delighted. Then went to Orlando for Disney world - stayed in an apartment resort a short drive from the park and did a couple of days there (hurricane season though!). Was really chilled and low key couple of weeks, weirdly!

Did NY with toddler and baby, stayed in an Airbnb, was lovely. There are fab parks in Manhattan fiDi and in Brooklyn so we always were visiting one of those each day. Restaurants very good for kids too, attractions very welcoming and accommodating of buggy. She loved the parks, ferry, sights, Central Park. We avoided the places like Times Square that are a bit chaos. We also got a babysitter recommended by a friend who lives there and could enjoy some evenings out. Flight was fine with plenty snacks, iPad videos and colouring activities. It depends really on your own temperament, I think the flight stress puts a lot of people off.

That said - we love UK based holidays now. The kids are happy holidaying anywhere and the novelty of being away from home is huge for them. They'd be happy if we stayed at the neighbours house for a change lol

Eurocamp or AI type holidays are probably as close as you’re going to get to ‘relaxing’ when you have young kids. Eurocamp have a lot of things to do and it’s a nice friendly atmosphere. I used to hate AI, but since having kids it’s great because there’s no cooking or cleaning for a week. Lots of quality time together. Just make sure you opt for an apartment so you aren’t all sleeping in one hotel room.

In the UK, we’ve enjoyed Haven as they have a lot of activities during the day and usually have pretty good pool and facilities plus beach locations.

@SpudsForBreakfast oh for goodness sake, he was a one year old toddling around a town square full of children and people drinking wine. He didnt catch any pigeons or even close, he’s just toddled around near them. He was more likely to fall over than get anywhere near a bird. It’s hardly animal torture. If the pigeons were bothered it didn’t seem to stop them hanging around hoping for food.

For going abroad, I'd recommend Neilson, Tui Blue and Tui Magic brands, which all offer activities and kids clubs (age 3+ free at Tui, age 2+ free at Neilson, or supplement for crèche for younger children), resorts are family friendly, kids buffet, high chairs, cots etc, kids playroom and playground,

We love the Isle of Wight with young kids. As she's preschool you can go out of term time and it's much better. Loads to do with young children, and the ferry is exciting for them.

We took our eldest on a mark warner holiday to Rhodes when he was 18 months old. That was fab too.

. If the pigeons were bothered it didn’t seem to stop them hanging around hoping for food.

Well yes, they do need to eat to survive. Having a toddler chase them doesn't change that. And first you said he was chasing them now he was just walking around near them. Regardless, they aren't toys.

Have taken our children and grandchildren to the Greek islands, every other year since birth. Children are always made such a fuss of there and little ones always fell asleep in their buggies at night in the tavernas. Nice and easy, even with our disabled children, as everyone so helpful and weather always good.

UK caravan breaks within an hour or two of home with a good beach normally work best for us. We have been abroad with a toddler but it was so stressful and that was prior to COVID. We can come and go as we please from the caravan, spend hours playing in the sand and in the park or go to the entertainment if we fancy.

Most successful hols with that age in the UK:
Butline/Centerparcs/Bluestone.

Most successful abroad: DisneyWorld- we thought that it would be too young but 3-5 surprising sweet spot for it.

Least successful: really over the top luxury villas/riads in Italy and Morocco as you have to watch what they are doing all the time like a hawk.

In summary - go somewhere with lots of activities where if your child has a meltdown they will blend in.

I took my very young toddler and preschooler to an all inclusive Ibiza resort right on the beach in October (alone). It was so easy and restful in comparison to home and also self catering places I’ve done. The flight was fine, much easier and quicker than driving to Devon from the midlands. We also went to Menorca as kids which was brilliant.

St Ives, Cornwall. Expensive and crowded during the school holidays, but presumably you can go in termtime. The great bonus is that, if you're in the older part of the town, there are five beaches within walking distance and lots of other things to amuse toddlers like boat trips and seal watching, plus enough going on to keep adults sane.

@WakeUpLockie hope you have an amazing time!! I’m sure you will!

Butlins or haven.