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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Aibu to not want to sit round a pool for ten days?

155 replies

Bells3032 · 03/04/2022 22:46

OK serious first world problems here. I have a three month old and we are currently looking at a 10 night trip in September. But all my research shows that anything remotely baby friendly is some beach resort in the middle of no where.

Realistically I am paler than a ghost and the idea of spending 10 days sitting round the pool in sticky suncream just sounds like my idea of hell. I like to read and I could cope with 3 days of it but not 10. They all advertise windsurfing and kayaking etc but not something I can do with a 9 month old in my arms.

But whenever I tell anyone this they're always like "oh but you can go for a nice walk along the beach". OK that's fine one day. Maybe 2 but you want to do the same thing day in and day out for 10 days.

Am I the only one that thinks this wag. Everyone else I know is going to tenerife or corfu etc for their holidays and just can't believe I don't want to.

I love history and museums etc. I do recognise I can't do stuff like I used to with a baby. Am I the only one that feels fed up that the only holidays suggested to someone the minute they have a baby is a beach resort? Aibu to not want to just sit round a pool and go for a short walk (and it would be short in the heat)

OP posts:
Rtmhwales · 03/04/2022 23:28

I've taken DS backpacking with me at that age - in a sling for a hike up to waterfalls, in museums, on adventures, the only thing I couldn't take him to was a cooking class. It depends how easy going your baby is really.

teezletangler · 03/04/2022 23:28

Sitting around a pool - or sitting anywhere for that matter - isn't even possible with most 9 month olds, so I'm very confused by this holiday suggestion.

A city break is a far better idea. Sling, travel buggy, you're good to go.

LivingOnAPear · 03/04/2022 23:29

We’ve enjoyed a few Spanish city breaks with a baby and toddler. We love the fact that it’s totally normal to be out in the evening with them and often ours would sleep in the buggy whilst we are out anyway.

I miss going a way with just a baby or toddler. Now we have a moany 6 year old I feel like the pool/ beach type holiday is easier.

Etinoxaurus · 03/04/2022 23:30

@Talipesmum

We went to Marrakech with our 9 month old. Used a sling everywhere. Luckily he wasn’t crawling yet or it might have been a little harder but prob still fine. Everyone in all cafes and markets and shops and tourist places etc was sooo child friendly - he was making friends everywhere, and was an easy get out clause for extensive attempted bartering.

It’s great if you stay in a riad - in the evening we could sit out in the courtyard and have food etc brought to us, while watching the bedroom door off the courtyard in full view of where we were sitting, armed with a baby monitor. So relaxing and lovely!

I’m in Marrakesh now and it’s wonderful. You can do it cheaply all inclusive, Rui or as @Talipesmum says in a Riad. And you can have hot, not boiling later than September too.
Dogmum40 · 03/04/2022 23:31

I’ve never been on one as I like you prefer city breaks but they do family cruises if that floats your boat ( pun intended) you visit different locations but they are family friendly and not as formal, my best friend has done them a few times and said they are fantastic!

I’m not sure if cost so if you can afford it you should definitely be able to get the best of both worlds family friendly and site seeing

parietal · 03/04/2022 23:32

when my babies were little we went to Sicily and then to Crete. Both lovely holidays with a bit of beach, lots of sitting in cafes with people admiring the baby and plenty of history to visit. make sure you have a sling for climbing over ruins with babies. and the museums are lovely and cool.

Iflyaway · 03/04/2022 23:32

Are you being forced kicking and screaming?

The only place with a baby is at home.

NeedAHoliday2021 · 03/04/2022 23:32

We took 6 mo twins to Paris and toddlers to Canada. Package beach holidays usually bore me - although post pandemic dh and I are desperate to switch off so have actually booked an all inclusive beach holiday, however dc are 10 and 14 now so old enough to entertain themselves and not drown if in the pool while I read my book. Babies get hot and bothered and grumpy and parents get stressed plus no sleep. City breaks with baby in a carrier (backpack ones are awesome for toddlers) are much better imo for those younger years. Sandcastles are for when they’re a bit older.

Clockstooforward · 03/04/2022 23:34

Venice,Barcelona or New York

bluebaul · 03/04/2022 23:35

@LubaLuca

I don't know who made you think that sitting in the sun for 10 days is what everyone with a baby does. It's not the norm at all. Go and book a holiday that you'll enjoy.

This.

Choose a holiday you will enjoy.

RomainingCalm · 03/04/2022 23:36

Are you happy to drive?
We did SC villa holidays in Portugal/Spain when DC were that age.

We went out and about during the day, visited local towns and attractions, went for nice lunches, had a few hours by the pool if DC napped, took DC to the beach late afternoon.

In the evenings we just did simple food back at the villa, DC went to bed and we sat out with a few glasses of wine. Some of our best holidays.

PatientlyWaiting21 · 03/04/2022 23:36

Can’t you just put baby in pram / carrier and have the holiday you want?!

tkwal · 03/04/2022 23:38

How about a cruise ? Look for a family friendly one . You can chill on board and visit different locations , if you're not a fan of the sun try a fjord cruise or a river cruise. Your baby is still young enough to be completely portable

DappledThings · 03/04/2022 23:41

We went to Malta when DC1 was months and it was brilliant. Tons of stuff to see, prehistoric temples, loads of great exhibitions about the different significant periods in history, forts to walk around, the entire island is fascinating. And everywhere really accessible by bus.

Never done 10 days by a pool with or without DC. Would be bored out of my mind.

Persephoned · 03/04/2022 23:44

So you know you can have a nice city break/do what you want…why aren’t you?? Am I missing something

5foot5 · 03/04/2022 23:46

Have always found beach holidays boring, if that is all you are doing.

When your DC is a toddler then you will no doubt have to compromise a bit and find places with things for them. But while they are still a baby and very portable then do what you want to do and the baby can be easily taken along with that.

Hshuznw · 03/04/2022 23:47

We did a two week holiday recently - one week was in a hotel on the beach, so essentially a beach resort. We spent a week relaxing, having good food and enjoying the sun. The second week we changed hotels to one in the city centre so that we did more sightseeing.

Is that an option? Change hotels halfway through?

Marztops · 03/04/2022 23:48

@bellac11

You can do history stuff with a baby. I cant stand pool or beach holidays either. Rent a ground floor airbnb in a small city or town somewhere of interest to you and you can visit most places on foot/with buggy, have lovely cafe lunches etc.

Or places lile Alghero in Sardinia, so you have beach and town, bit of history, bit of shopping, lots of beach if you want it. Wont need a car

All of this ^
HardbackWriter · 03/04/2022 23:49

I've never heard anyone suggest that a beach holiday is a necessity for a holiday with a baby - there are quite a few reasons why it's not really the best fit?! You do have to accept that you can't have a holiday with a baby that's exactly like the holidays you took pre-children (failure to accept this seems to be the cause of a lot of miserable holidays where people are very disappointed) but that just means adapting what you used to do, not giving up on it entirely and doing a different sort of holiday that you don't like!

TheBigDilemma · 03/04/2022 23:50

9 months is still relatively easy as long as she is not crawling at a speed. They also sleep a lot and have naps at that age, just to ensure you get a compact pushchair that you can use in a restaurant (about as compact as a chair, so you can put it next to you while you enjoy your coffee or while baby sleeps while you have your dinner.

People do not believe how very easy travel with babies is until they grow up to become very mobile or bored.

Longbin · 03/04/2022 23:52

I’ve done both types with DD, she’s 11 months now and we’ve done 4 holidays between 8 weeks and 10 months.

It’s so much easier having food and drink within minutes of your door. I won’t go anywhere self catering in future, it’s so much hassle.

I used to hate all inclusive pool holidays but you might enjoy it in 6 months.

BellaTheDarkOverlord · 03/04/2022 23:52

I could do pool and beach for maybe 3 days but then I'd need to be looking at other things such as museums, tours, water parks. I went to Rome once and we didn't go to a pool or beach. It was tours of colosseum, catacombs, Vatican. Maybe would be manageable with a baby in a sling but perhaps your baby would not use a sling.

DD was 4 when we took her on holiday to Cyprus. Rented those big buggies for a tour of the island, DD sat in back with me and dh and a friend driving in front. Was lots of fun.

It's your choice but I definitely couldn't do a full 10 days by a pool. At least your baby won't be walking though as pp said so no need to worry too much about falling in unless crawling.

LuckySantangelo35 · 03/04/2022 23:52

@Iflyaway

Are you being forced kicking and screaming?

The only place with a baby is at home.

@Iflyaway How boring! If you fancy a holiday why should you be chained to the house just cos you have a baby!
Redsquirrel5 · 03/04/2022 23:58

I would hate that too. Luckily DH feels the same so we took the kids hill walking, to France, Yorkshire coast so we could also go to York for the museums and Scotland.
If you want some sun at that time you could go to Jersey for a few days, lots of history ( the tunnels) and the Durrell Zoo. Different villages to visit with some unusual churches. Island hopping and France is very near if you wanted to combine it.

Feckaffoutofit · 04/04/2022 00:04

I was with you when I read the title. I could not sit around a pool for more than half an hour. But then I read you had a baby. When I had a baby I would have chosen to either stay at home and save myself a world of hassle or go somewhere I could just have a bit of a rest.