Has anyone ever had a good holiday experience with a toddler?!

[lancsgirl85]

So, having read a lot of threads on here about how it's a nightmare to take a little one abroad, I'm looking for any positive experiences whatsoever of taking an under 2 on holiday abroad. I'm actually starting to regret booking it due to reading about "dreadful" holiday experiences on here as well as my own anxiety tying me up in knots. 😫

So AIBU to ask if there are any positive experiences of holidaying abroad with an under 2? I'll take anything at this point 😂

Nope.

Sorry 😂

Yes, all inclusive, October half term (as DH is a teacher), Greece. Delightful all round and as it was so late in the season the ‘childrens club’ were happy to have him at the table doing crafts and such (with me there) so he had a ball!

Our more copable holidays where when the accommodation resembled a house. Our worst ones were in hotels.
that sadly is the truth.
Centre parks was quite successful but expensive for what is was.

Ffs🙈😩

Anyone else?? 😂

Oh sorry was just replying to the first comment there 😂😂

Yes, took 18 month twins and had a fab time. Chose a child friendly hotel with a baby pool complete with baby water slide, soft play area and playground though and didn’t do any trips or leave the hotel complex. Also stuck to their normal nap and bedtime routine rather than trying evening entertainment. Went back when they were three and it was harder as no pram and they were running but still had a good time.

Yes I've had plenty of great holidays with my kids when toddlers. Yes it's hard work by the pool etc and you don't get to sit down unless there is the magic word - kids club! As long as you plan what you want to do and factor in naps etc as normal you'll be fine!

@DelurkingAJ @Onceuponatimeinalandfaraway

Thank you both! My faith is restored 😄

We just did it with a 2.5 year old and a 10 month old. So not quite the same age but in the same region. We were equally apprehensive. We had a lovely time. It was our first time abroad since the kids were born and while it was absolutely not the stress free holiday we had pre kids, it was still great. I think because our expectations were low it meant any difficult times weren’t a disappointment and everything that was nice felt really, really nice. Just embrace the fact it won’t be perfect all the time (our toddler had some of his biggest tantrums he’s ever had lol, i think because he was just overexcited and tired, but they were few and far between) and really savour the lovely moments. I hope you have a great holiday!!

Oh and we stayed in U.K. time so DS slept in until 9ish but could stay up late for dinner!

Yes we'll be sticking to her usual nap times etc. My biggest worry is that she won't eat the food because it will be different to what she's used to... hopefully there's something on the AI buffet that she likes! I've crammed a million baby / toddler snacks into our suitcases just in case so if not she'll be living on them 😂

We went a few months back with our just 3 year old and it was great! Don’t let it put you off.

Flight was fine, staying in the hotel was fine, he napped (unusually) because it was so hot so we got a lovely chill in the middle of the day. Playing in the pool was fab.He loved exploring his surrounding, the beach etc.

We tried to have a routine like we have at home, and some home comforts that he was familiar with (especially re sleep) but also to go with the flow, if that makes sense. Don’t sweat the little things.

i’d recommend a 2-3 hour flight and a short transfer, that’s what we did what with it being his first trip abroad.

Took my 15 month old on a 3 week holiday to Italy. 5 different locations moving about via trains. She was wonderful. Besides Venice probably being a bad idea due to all the bridges not being great with a pram I suppose.
I genuinely think it depends on your kid and how you manage expectations. We've travelled a lot with our daughter since she was 8 weeks old though. Make sure you have enough snacks and drinks to hand in case restaurants don't serve fast enough and drawing or something to occupy them while you wait.

Loads obviously. Villa in Portugal with long siesta's and dining early evening, house in Umbria (3 times) with active mornings, sleepy afternoons and evening meals in the town with toddlers being entertained by staff and puppetry.
I think bad news stories are more interesting than good, but we never had a bad experience with little ones. Scottish islands and The Scillies are also fabulous for that age (well, any age really).

Years ago but we went to an AI resort with a brilliant splash area with slides for toddlers and he loved it! He was just over 2.

Yes lots.

We went to self catered apartments in France & Spain with shared swimming pools, beaches near by and had a fab time.

We kept it v simple, meals were pasta & sauce, cheap local pizzeria, rotisserie chicken (sold everywhere in france) and a lot of bread/cheese/ham/tuna, and had low expectations, just pottered about town/beaches. We sat out on the balcony with wine & cheese in the evening when DC had gone to sleep.

Just to say as well that every place you go will most likely have a shop nearby that you can buy baby food, snacks and everything else you might need. We tended to buy purée/ or another 'safe' food for a starter and then share our food with her at the table.

We had a (relatively) good time with an almost 2 year old in Majorca. We stayed at the Zafiro Tropic in Alcudia, it's an aparthotel so you get a kitchenette/living room as well as the bedroom which made everything easier, and you can go either half board or all inclusive... it's nothing like a pre kids holiday, but it was lovely not to have to think about cooking, and to have a kids pool, play area & bouncy castle right there.

Oh this sounds perfect. I'm hoping ours will go something like this too 🥰

I have enjoyed holidays with toddlers. Takes a little bit of planning but generally we've switched things around and had meals out at lunch time and dinner with wine on a balcony or something. Anywhere with the sea I'm happy and toddlers like sand

Sure I have. Lots of lovely holidays. Camping plenty of times, took me until 18 months to take my first but took the others from a couple of weeks old. Few city breaks with kids in tow doing touristy things, history, museums etc. Paris, Barcelona, Prague. Eating out a lot, up late. Couple fo beach holidays and lots of sandcastles. A few backpacking style holidays in youth hostels with climbing and hiking in the daytime, these and camping I think were the kids favourites. Adventures they got named.

Dont get me wrong we’ve had some blazing rows and stressful times as well as falling into the odd tourist trap due to picky kids or needing a rest but we’ve had lots of lovely times and I can’t name a bad holiday - I can name a few places I’d not stay again but that wasn’t the kids fault.

what’s worrying you?

Yes, I had my first holiday in Spain with my just turned two year old and it was wonderful. We walked along the seafront all morning, was exhausted by the afternoon and would nap for two hours in his buggy, just enough time for a leisurely lunch. Then more walking/pool/beach time in the afternoon so he was exhausted by the evening so we'd sit on the balcony with a bottle of wine or cocktails from the hotel bar. Honestly was lovely and we had a fantastic time. I would say though that we made sure we booked a place, which had a small kitchen area in the room so we could have breakfast there and fill him up before attempting to start the day.

See I think I've had a major panic and over prepared🙈 the case is rammed full of baby ready meals and snacks just in case she doesn't eat the food there. DP has said to me a few times, bemused, "you do realise Spain will sell baby products?" 😂

Clearly I'm an anxious over prepper. Especially when it comes to my DD!

We are staying in apartments with a kitchen / dining area, and the complex has a few pools and kids splash area and playground etc. We're also not far from the beach and a local shop. And we are AI. So I think I've covered all bases!