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

[Bells3032]

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)

We’ve recently had a holiday in Porto when our son was 7 months, and Seville when he was 11 months. Both full of history, culture, food and some pool time. We’d love a more relaxing style holiday too but not sure we could keep him entertained. He’s very sociable and inquisitive so he loves exploring with us in his carrier.

New York City is very expensive, filthy, and dangerous. Besides, it’s full of New Yorkers. Upstate New York and Boston are delightful. In Boston, you can manage without a car, but it’s nice for day trips. New York State requires a car.

Can I recommend Porto? That’s city and beach covered. Plenty to see and do. Though, when we went to Porto we took the train and also went to Lisbon for a few days.

With a 9 mo you won't be doing much sitting. Reading will largely be for naps/evening if you're lucky.

They'll likely be crawling so it's a difficult age as they won't want to be in a buggy for too long and you'll need to watch them like a hawk around a pool. One thing you won't be is bored! There'll be time for all the sight seeing and adventures in a few years, at this point go with what makes life easier for the baby or take grandparents.

You can do outings with your baby. Our first outing with our youngest was to Windsor castle. As no prams allowed, they handed out baby carriers to borrow. They also had a great baby change room/breast feeding room. This also gave me the courage the go to Venice with a 6 month old.

We took a holiday to mark Warner in Greece. I learned to wind surf. Our routine was that I took our 4 year old and our baby to breakfast then dropped them at the crèche then off to my lessons. My DH slept in each day and joined us at lunch.

Club Lykia world in turkey was another great place with child care, tonnes of things to do on the resort as well as sight seeing spots.

You can do this.

We did Lisbon in September and it was great. Had an apartment and supermarket found the corner for everything we needed.

I also don't understand how you've managed to conclude that all my research shows that anything remotely baby friendly is some beach resort in the middle of no where.

What are your 'baby friendly' requirements and why are you taking notice of people who's idea of a nice holiday is to 'drop a small fortune to sit around a pool'?

If you don't want to do that, then don't. Simple. There's endless other ways to holiday if you don't want that.

Cities are good for young children because they often have big parks with play areas, also ice cream shops dotted around, so when you wander around looking at the architecture, wandering through the city parks etc they can use these and have an ice cream, look at the ducks etc etc.

I can't stand sitting around a pool for any length of time and I think hot holidays aren't ideal for babies. Your DC might be crawling by then which would make a pool holiday utterly miserable although a beach would be alright. A baby of that age is portable and needs very little paraphernalia.Choose the holiday that you want.

@BarbaraofSeville

I also don't understand how you've managed to conclude that all my research shows that anything remotely baby friendly is some beach resort in the middle of no where.

What are your 'baby friendly' requirements and why are you taking notice of people who's idea of a nice holiday is to 'drop a small fortune to sit around a pool'?

If you don't want to do that, then don't. Simple. There's endless other ways to holiday if you don't want that.

Cities are good for young children because they often have big parks with play areas, also ice cream shops dotted around, so when you wander around looking at the architecture, wandering through the city parks etc they can use these and have an ice cream, look at the ducks etc etc.

A 9 month old playing in parks, eating ice cream? Really

I don’t know who has told you that the only possible holiday with a child is a sit by the pool holiday. I have two kids and have never had a holiday like that with them, nor do I want to. At that age I would go to France for example and stay in Paris for 2-3 days, take the train down to Nice and stay there for 3-4 days and then maybe finish up in the mountains of Provence in a resort with a pool for the last few days. I am a restless person though, so I need to change it up every few days.

Your holiday, do what you want.

We went to Dubai with DS when he was 10 months old and it was fabulous. A few things for us to see, some pool time which he loved and everywhere was super baby friendly.

We did UK holidays in the kid's first year too which was much easier with them.

We're doing 10 days all inc in the sun this summer, but at 3 and 5 they are a bit tricker to drag round interesting things.

Around that age with my kids we did self catering and touring greek islands with hire car and a city break in Berlin.

The holiday you've classed as baby friendly doesn't sound like it is and it's not the kind of thing your into. Why don't you stay somewhere near the kind of things you like to do? Sounds like your limiting yourself.

I actually think a resort style holiday with a 9 month old would be really hard work. They could well be mobile. It’s not like doing it with a 9 year old who can play while you do the promised sitting and relaxing.

Personally, I’d get an air b&b (with a living room to sit and relax together in while the baby sleeps, and s kitchen so it’s easy to do an easy breakfast at 6.30am if necessary) somewhere I thought sounded interesting. It’s never going to be like a pre-kids break, but you can still wander around, go to cafes, go to museums and such like. People everywhere have children - and they still do stuff. There’s no need to quarantine yourself to resort holidays because you’ve got a child.

There is a big difference between taking a baby and taking a child on holiday. The baby won’t care but the pool/easy life holidays become more appealing with a child.

I took an 11m old away and didn’t really enjoy it but found it more fun at 2. I’m now entering the phase of kids clubs and I think that will change the nature of holidays (into something resembling a holiday). Try a holiday that would interest you but lower your expectations so if you’d normally spend a full day in a museum, do a morning and then do something in your accommodation a bit more chilled. It most likely will not feel much like a holiday but more of a change of scenery at that age.

A 9 month old playing in parks, eating ice cream? Really

My (then) 9 month old played in parks (he was very mobile) and ate ice cream. Like everything with a little tiny person, it involved a lot of effort from me to make it happen. But it happened.

I don’t think it’s that unusual.

Or maybe the OP will have one of those babies that sit nicely in pushchairs (wide awake) while they have lunch or coffee. I see them when I’m out and about so I know they exist. I just never got one of them. Alas.

YANBU to feel the way you do. So the suggestion of Barcelona, and there will be others, may fit the bill.

Just do what you want to do, babies are portable. This is the easiest time for a few years

How about city breaks around the Mediterranean?
Nice or Palermo. Lots of history and culture and on the coast?

[quote Bells3032]@L0stinCyberspace thanks. Meant she's 3 months now. She's be 9 months then though only the size of an 8 month old by then

I know I can do city breaks. I just find people's reactions to me not wanting to go to a beach resort is thst they are horrified. They just always argue with me thst I should want to drop a small fortune to sit around a pool.[/quote]
Why are bothered by others reactions??
Your holiday your choice.

I hate around the pool holidays... I've done loads of more history based type holidays museums /galleries /walks around Old towns.. With babes in arms/toddlers /infants and teens...

You may have to vary a bit but eminently doable!

Pure snobbery!

This is not an AIBU. It is op flexing her superior choices in history and art over her friends rather sad ten day beach holidays.

The point being that neither are going to be restful or easy with a nine month old unless you are taking a nanny as well.

I have had beautiful holidays with the babies on the beach and in the city, but neither including lying around!! A nine month old baby will need around the clock care and attention, and will be crawling or cruising. I would choose the Austrian mountains in late spring personally, one with exceptional baby care facilities and services, you can enjoy the spa, lakes, mountains and city life from there.

Moar Gut in Austria was a firm favourite for us in the summer for hiking and winter for skiing and has its own children's petting farm and fresh water spring pools. You might even feel human again at the end.

We did Venice with 6 month old DS. Also cultural stuff in Malta when DS2 was a baby (that was a disaster holiday with lots of d and v🤮).
I don't think people with tiny babies need to do beach/pool holidays. Once they are toddlers they seem more appealing.

I like history and sight seeing however I have small children and the idea of sitting round a pool while someone else cooks and cleans for me sounds like bliss. I think it’s more that I ever get to sit still anymore. I’m always tired and constantly thinking about what we are going to eat.

I have booked a holiday but it has lots of things for the kids, play parks, indoor soft play, sports etc.

As a PP said rome is lovely and defo recommend but not really do able with small children.

When ours were babies we still went to a beach resort in Spain or France and hired a car so we could travel around and got the best of both worlds. Beach or pool for a few hours and then spent time in different towns or cities to explore.

We took our son to Italy when he was six months old. We went to Venice, sorrento and Rome. We visited Vesuvius, Pompeii, the colloseum, the Trevi fountain, Vatican City, loads of places. It was great. To be honest it was fairly easy. We just stuck him in the baby carrier and got on with it. We broke it up with chilled days at the pool and had plenty of breaks for drinks etc. We had a fantastic time. Definitely don't need to sit by the pool for your whole holiday. Plan the holiday you want and enjoy it!