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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:

weegiemum · 02/01/2022 14:49

We've done lots of holidays with the dc at all ages.

Went to Italy for a wedding and stayed on for a week when dd1 was 2 and ds 8 months.

Went to Canada west coast when dd1 was 3 and ds 18 months for 3 weeks, including a week travelling through the Rockies in a camper van.

Went backpacking in Central America when dd1 was 5, ds3 and dd2 was 16 months. Literally carried dd2 in a backpack! We had an amazing time.

Went to France when they were 7,5 and 3.

Have done multiple holidays since. In fact we're all going to Croatia next summer with their partners too, they'll be 22, 20 and 18.

They don't remember much of the earlier holidays, but they really enjoyed them at the time. We either stayed with friends or self catered, we've never done a whole holiday in a hotel. They've all always been reasonable sleepers though, and relatively adventurous eaters. Ds was scarfing deep fried baby octopus in an Italian restaurant at 8 months age!

I think that all the stimulation you can giv3 them of different places, climates, architecture, food, languages, people is really good for them. Im glad we did all this with them.

littleowls83 · 02/01/2022 15:07

I think its a waste of money, very young DC are equally happy in a caravan at the seaside, if not more so, so why bother with the hassle of long distances especially at the moment. If not for Covid we would have probably gone abroad to the US this year or last year, but our kids are now 7 and 10 so sleep and eat a lot better and don't need heavy duty car seats.

Kite22 · 02/01/2022 15:30

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!!

Well, that might suit some families (do they take children that small ?) however, when ours were that age, we were both out at work, and busy for so much of the time, that our holidays were really precious time to actually be together and spend that time together, building sandcastles, eating picnics and icecreams etc.

Darbs76 · 02/01/2022 15:34

No I’ve had plenty of holidays with my kids, all different ages, all over the world. It’s been fine. Yes much easier now they are 17 & 13 but still worth getting away even when I was walking round and round pools with kids on reins!

Fallagain · 02/01/2022 15:41

@Tal45

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.

I agree with the TUI Blue brand, it used to be called family life and it’s perfect for young children. This small pools, play parks, soft play, high chairs, kids activities and mini disco.

Gloriagayn · 02/01/2022 16:08

Personally with kids that age, I would stick to the UK and go to somewhere like Centerparcs.

SpinsForGin · 02/01/2022 16:10

There's always one! 🙄
A two hour kids club is hardly abandoning your children. We still get to spend lots of time together doing everything on your list but DS gets a couple of hours out of the sun having fun with other kids and we get a couple of hours to relax.

CottonSock · 02/01/2022 16:14

We had a lovely holiday at that age.
Northern Spain with beaches, beautiful scenery etc. I did tend to cook quite a lot, but the supermarkets were amazing. One Airbnb let us pick from the allotment. One place had a heated pool. It was a holiday for a big birthday and very memorable.

Kite22 · 02/01/2022 16:14

I suspect more than one.
Who mentioned abandoning ??

SpinsForGin · 02/01/2022 16:20

@Kite22

I suspect more than one. Who mentioned abandoning ??

Your tone suggested it! It came across as very judgemental- not sure if that was your intention.

DS has lots of very fond memories of going to kids club and still writes to friends he met at the various different ones he's attended.

As he's an only child he always appreciated spending time with other children.

Kite22 · 02/01/2022 17:09

I think that might possibly be defensiveness reading "tone" in to a post that was merely answering the question, with my opinion.
We didn't think it made sense to go abroad when our were little, but other opinions are obviously available.

Av0bo55 · 02/01/2022 17:15

Yes! Well we go away every year and have since dc was 9 months old.
It’s worth it in my opinion and it’s no harder than doing a few hours car journey! In fact we find flying easier, but we do live fairly near a good airport

Coronawireless · 02/01/2022 17:16

As you can see, a lot of different views.
Imo it’s lovely to take them abroad if you choose a child-friendly holiday.
So: not too hot and not rainy. France/Spain in June is lovely. When it’s warm they can be outdoors most of the day, just pootling on a beach and swimming, and they are exhausted by bedtime.
Self catering imo is better - healthier food, washing machine, separate bedrooms, more space. But you can still eat out whenever you want.
Somewhere with entertainment - so you’re not sitting there wondering what to do after 6pm children’s dinner. Eg live music, a little evening fairground (lots of European towns have these).
Imo a campsite (not tent though) in France covers all of the above and more.

MaryShelley1818 · 02/01/2022 17:21

Of course it's possible and no reason why it should be stressful or not enjoyable.
We took DS abroad at 10mths, 18mths, 2 and 3. DD (11mths) came to Menorca in September at 7mths when DS was 3. We've also just been to CenterParcs for a week in December.

We've got booked France (4 and 15mths) Spain (4 and 18mths) Holland (4 and 20mths) then Florida next year when they'll be 5 and 2. I find there's nothing nicer than being on a family holiday.

AndrewPeacock · 02/01/2022 17:22

We took ours abroad from babies and only had one issue when DC2 was a little shit on the flight but then fell straight asleep on the transfer.

We prefer Spain/Portugal for the short flight, good flight times and good weather. All inclusive means the DC can try whatever they want at dinner and there's always a plain option if needed, they have as much water/juice/ice cream as they want during the day and there's normally big pools and kids playgrounds to keep them entertained (we don't use kids clubs though so can't comment on them). We've picked a few great hotels that were AI but also had big rooms so we weren't all sleeping in the same room.

BeanCalledPickle · 02/01/2022 17:30

I think money is also a massive issue. Can you afford to have a rubbish and stressful holiday? I know a lot of people who have done a lot with their kids and are much better off than us. As such if they had a rubbish time they weren’t hugely bothered and would just plan something different for next time. We don’t have much cash to spare so if we are spending £££ then we want a guaranteed good time as we can’t go that often. I kind of regret a lot of our holidays. The only good ones have been centre Parcs which is effortless and actually felt like a real holiday and a villa in Majorca when they both still napped and went to bed early leaving us with plenty of time to actually relax.

Piggyk2 · 02/01/2022 17:33

I think it's definitely worth it. There's 2 of you to tackle the kids. I would go AL and book some where with a kids club and a splash park on site.

Aim for a short flight time.

Coronawireless · 02/01/2022 17:33

I think a lot depends also on whether you want to spend all your time with the DC (we did and loved it) or whether you want time to yourself (you won’t get it, unless you use a kids club and lots of babysitters).

Riverlee · 02/01/2022 17:35

You mentioned The Netherlands. Have you considered Duinrell in Holland. It’s a relatively easy drive from the ferry ports /Tunnel and has a small theme park nearby which you can get in free.

Also, the European center parts tend to be cheaper than the UK ones.

Or, if you want to stay in the UK, Cornwall and Isle of Wight are great for young families.

JojobaFromOctober · 02/01/2022 17:38

When ours were 1 and 3 we went to Copenhagen and had a really lovely time. We hired bikes with child seats and it was brilliant. Did the zoo and the science museum and the Tivoli (they were a little young for the Tivoli but they still enjoyed themselves).
I would thoroughly recommend it for a city break with toddlers.

gerbo · 02/01/2022 17:41

How about Eurocamp in France? Eurostar over allows you to take the journey as it suits you. Beach nearby, pools, town nearby for shops/meal out. Very relaxed with mainly families on site, play areas on the park, kids clubs if you want them. Independence... back to the tent or caravan for naps, out when you want to be. You can choose a busy or quiet site, one swimming pool with no slides, or a site with a virtual waterpark....

We've done it since our first child was 2. Heaven, many happy memories. If the children are happy, relaxed and well fed (bbq every evening!) then everyone's happy. That's what we found.

Caspianberg · 02/01/2022 17:50

I would go abroad. Rent a nice 2 bedroom apartment or house somewhere so plenty of space for kids bed room, adult bedroom and living space that you can do similar routines when needed and relax.
Warmer climate means more easy days out exploring, beach, sea, pool.

MsTSwift · 02/01/2022 17:54

I wouldn’t camp with a child in nappies. Or ever come to think of it.

thewhatsit · 02/01/2022 17:59

We haven’t been abroad for a few years, mainly because of Covid (not fear of catching it as such just fear of changing lists, isolations, messing up the testing requirements, whether DC are expected to wear masks etc) but I do think had the children been a few years older or had we been child free we would have tried harder to go abroad… Covid actually seemed like a decent excuse to not go away with two young DC if we are completely honest.
Now they are a bit older I can see going abroad next summer being quite enjoyable - they play together now quite nicely and can sit down to eat for a short time (and that’s something!).

Bunnycat101 · 02/01/2022 18:18

2 is borderline. I went away when my eldest was 1,2 and then covid happened. The holiday when she was 1 was shit. We all had a nice time at 2 but still needed to be mindful of naps, bedtime etc. my second is 2 and struggles with disrupted routine. We went away for a hotel stay in the summer and it was awful staying in the same room so I think at those ages a villa/apartment would be fine. Hotel might not be that much fun.

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