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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Is it worth going abroad with an almost 2 and almost 4 year old?

69 replies

oof5050 · 02/01/2022 11:24

Hello, DH and I can't decide if it's worth doing a holiday abroad this year (covid permitting).

Last holiday abroad was March 2019 to Spain with our then 8 month old. And it was ok.

AIBU to think a holiday abroad with 2 under for 4 will be a nightmare?

Should we just stick to a UK break?

If you think abroad will be fine is there anywhere you'd recommend?

We're open to anything from all inclusive in Spain to Air BnB in Netherlands etc.

Just to add we're able to get Eurostar pretty easily so rail is an option. Think I'd rather that than fly partly for environment, partly can't bear the idea of two kids potentially being a nightmare for a 2-3 hour flight.

OP posts:

uhtredsonofuhtred1 · 02/01/2022 13:23

We go abroad most years and have done all sorts of holidays. My kids are 15, 14, 6 and 4.

My oldest 2 have always been a dream, so easy going and not easily upset. We went to Florida when they were 20 months and 5 months old and stayed in a villa with pool for 2 weeks.

My youngest 2 are a bit more difficult and were nightmare sleepers which caused me lots of stress so whilst they were little we stuck to villa holidays with our own pool. It meant they could eat and nap when they wanted and both parents could still enjoy the sun etc. We hired our own car so could easily get around to different towns and beaches too.

I'm on my own now and am planning an all inclusive holiday for us all this year now they're out of the napping and grumpy stage

VitaminA · 02/01/2022 13:30

A holiday at that age is possible but stressful ime. Mine both struggled with the disrupted routine, especially DS2, which completely ruined some days of the holiday. I sometimes wondered why we even bothered!
I definitely wouldn't go on a long haul trip, I'd stick to somewhere that's within a 2 hour flight. Alternatively I'd save myself a lot of money, stay in the UK and wait another couple of years before going abroad. My eldest 2 are 5 and 7 now and I'd take them anywhere.

SpinsForGin · 02/01/2022 13:32

Go to a family oriented all inclusive place. It makes it so much easier!!
I'd highly recommend TUI family life - or what ever they're called now.

Legoisthebest · 02/01/2022 13:33

Depends what you want to do on holiday. If it's play on a beach/swim in a pool/play in a play area type holiday (which is what 2 and 4 year olds usually like) I would just go to a caravan park somewhere in the UK. If it all goes wrong for some reason (illness, terrible weather, kids refusing to eat anything/sleep etc) it's easier to just give up and go home.

Fairyliz · 02/01/2022 13:34

My children are adults now but we always took them abroad from being very small, mainly for the weather. It’s not much fun being stuck in a caravan with two small children and the rain pissing down.
You will have to accept that the holiday will be based around them. So AI with children clubs and activities and near a shallow beach.
I found these were very good and the fact that there were lots of other children around kept mine entertained.

HumunaHey · 02/01/2022 13:35

@VitaminA

A holiday at that age is possible but stressful ime. Mine both struggled with the disrupted routine, especially DS2, which completely ruined some days of the holiday. I sometimes wondered why we even bothered! I definitely wouldn't go on a long haul trip, I'd stick to somewhere that's within a 2 hour flight. Alternatively I'd save myself a lot of money, stay in the UK and wait another couple of years before going abroad. My eldest 2 are 5 and 7 now and I'd take them anywhere.

The thing is, a holiday in the UK won't necessarily save a lot of money. It can be cheaper to go to Spain.

Aroundtheworldin80moves · 02/01/2022 13:38

The most stressful thing with any holiday we found was space... if we all had to share one room, the kids didn't get enough sleep and the adults ended up stressed. As long as we had two sleeping areas, it was OK.

I'd take advantage of not being tied to school holidays to have a quieter and cheaper holiday this year, before the height of summer.

llantwitminor · 02/01/2022 13:50

I'd do Eurostar in your shoes but not flying.

gogohm · 02/01/2022 13:53

All depends on what you enjoy, personally I would recommend the vendee in france, take the overnight ferry Portsmouth to keep havre then it's a relatively easy drive to the La Rochelle area, pretty much guaranteed good weather but quicker drive than the south, choose a holiday village with kids facilities like pool, close to the beach eg pierre et vacances. I also loved Normandy but the weather is less predictable. Flying is much more stressful than driving

WakeUpLockie · 02/01/2022 13:53

Thread with lots of recommendations from the other day www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/4440484--to-ask-for-your-best-holiday-locations-with-a-toddler

Yes IMO it’s worth it, complete change is good and restful. We do UK holidays too but usually self catering and supermarket shop, normal UK attractions (beach, castle, zoo etc) just aren’t as refreshing IMO.

gogohm · 02/01/2022 13:55

That said when mine were that age I went backpacking around Alaska, not your average family holiday'

Tal45 · 02/01/2022 13:55

We went to Tui Blu Flaming Beach Lanzarote and would really recommend it for an easy family holiday. I guess Tui Blu places are all quite similar so that's the sort of thing I'd do with young children.

idontshareprimula · 02/01/2022 13:59

Sani!

NameChange30 · 02/01/2022 14:01

I think it's worth going now while you can make the most of off-peak prices (going outside the school holidays) and while your youngest is under 2 you won't have to buy a train/plane ticket for them.

Definitely go somewhere family-friendly with facilities for children on site or nearby, play areas etc, somewhere that will provide cot and high chair. Personally I've always preferred self catering or apart hotels, because it's better to have more space and a separate bedroom for the children, as well as the option to make breakfast and snacks (at the very least) under your own steam. It's more work of course if you self cater. Same shit different location!

If you have family that you get on with and that are helpful with the kids, the best holidays are with family IMO as you get extra adult help and company. Alternatively you could go somewhere with a crèche and/or babysitting service if you would be comfortable using them to get a bit of down time. Otherwise, holidays with little ones are exhausting - fun but not relaxing in any way! (Unless yours sleep brilliantly anywhere, mine don't!)

SpinsForGin · 02/01/2022 14:02

@Tal45

I would second this! We had a great holiday here.

Although, I've never had a poor TUI blue experience. It's perfect for young kids.

Luredbyapomegranate · 02/01/2022 14:03

No, why would it be a nightmare??

Kids will be fine on flight with snacks and games (wrap a few things in tissue paper for them to unwrap.

Go for somewhere self catering or all inclusive and reviewed as child friendly, go somewhere warm with nice beaches, scenery and restaurants and you should all have a good time. You can probably fit in a bit of culture if you want, but it’s not the time for a city break. Campsites in S of France with all amenities can also be good if on a tight budget.

Croatia, parts of Spain, Portugal are all good deals.

DrCoconut · 02/01/2022 14:03

Self catering all the way! Then you can follow your own timetable and be sure everyone is fed. No frantic finding places to eat or relying on catering that turns out to be naff. You can still eat out but I'd never want to depend on it.

SpinsForGin · 02/01/2022 14:06

I would say AI is far less stressful than self catering. There is food available all day and many have a specific kids section.

A holiday where I have to cook is not a holiday!

Travelswithchildren · 02/01/2022 14:08

We took ours to Australia when they were just-4 and nearly-2, with time in Bangkok and Singapore either way. We have family there and probably wouldn't have gone quite so far if we hadn't wanted to see them, but it was fine. They loved the different things we saw, plus we travelled in a really cold February so the sun and outdoor swimming were a huge novelty. The next year we took a long train trip starting on the eurostar and ending up in Denmark - not a relaxing beach and pool break but they found the trains really exciting and it meant lots of places to explore at their pace. I really enjoy travelling with my children, it's taken us to different places and they see things differently when we get there. There are occasional tantrums obviously, but we'd get them whether we were in Dorset, Spain or on the moon. We have family who are a short flight or an epic drive/ferry/drive away so we're used to taking the plane from when ours were babies - it's not that bad.

Travelswithchildren · 02/01/2022 14:11

Should add that we never stay in a hotel if we can help it - we usually book air bnbs or a serviced apartment depending on where we're going and for how long. We find it much less stressful to be able to put them to bed and have another space to sit in for the evening, ideally with something nice to eat and drink. Being squeezed into one little room and having to eat at set meal times in a particular restaurant would make it a lot less relaxing!

MsTSwift · 02/01/2022 14:11

We just could not be bothered. Did lots of travelling pre kids but when our two were preschoolers it’s just childcare in different location so we went to Devon and wales. Far better to travel when they older and can appreciate and enjoy it themselves and so can the adults. Just my view though!

Kite22 · 02/01/2022 14:13

For me, the beauty of going abroad is being able to lie in the sun. Not possible with little dc. They are active and need you moving about with them all the time, apart from the fact that my UK dc wouldn't be comfortable in the heat.
We stayed in the UK until the youngest was 5. You can pack the car up with the things you need / they want or very easily pick up locally wherever you are staying. No long waits at the airport, flights at awkward times, long connection at the other end - all disturbing other people. Any tantrums or upset dc can be managed when you, as parents are in control and not reliant of flight times / transfers / airport check in times etc. I used to worry about cabin pressure / ear popping too, though that might just be me.

MsTSwift · 02/01/2022 14:13

Also England can be gorgeous in June we were in Wales in a June heatwave when ours toddlers was awesome - then 2 hour drive home make most of not being stuck with school holidays

SpinsForGin · 02/01/2022 14:15

For me, the beauty of going abroad is being able to lie in the sun. Not possible with little dc

Which is why you book somewhere with a kids club!!

NameChange30 · 02/01/2022 14:21

Or a villa with a private pool so you can sunbathe by the pool while they nap (if they nap!)

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