Just want to go home

[holly201]

We are in Greece with our 1 year old and 2 other couples with their kids and I just want to go home.

Little one is overtired and hot, hates the travel cot but sleeps well at home, all of the sunbeds in the shade have towels on them by 7am, meal times are a nightmare, I just feel so overwhelmed.

Constantly worried DD with get burned, is too hot, isn't drinking enough water etc etc I can't relax at all, not one bit.

The room is so shabby, nothing like the photos, chipped tiles, dirty floors, the balcony glass rattles like it's about to break if you touch it. We paid good money, it's tiny and grubby and just shit.

Everything feels like a fight, screams to get in her swimsuit, screams getting out, doesn't want her nappy changed, screams at nap time, if I take her to the room with AC she just wants to play not sleep, it's a fight to all get showered and dressed for the evening.

I don't even know why I'm writing this but it feels good to get it off my chest, I think holidaying abroad with a 1 year old is the worst idea I've ever had. I think I'm going to give it a miss for the next couple of years 🤦🏻‍♀️

It's really hard with anyone under 4. We have started taking DS5 now, but once to Disneyland and once to Port Aventura, last week. This time of year Spain is a much more tolerable temperature - about 27 degrees.

Even at 5, he would only eat burgers and ice cream at the buffet but we managed!

Best holiday with little ones we ever had was a place in France. Four holiday cottages with a pool that was locked and gated off (we had a key but it meant kids couldn’t get near the pool unsupervised) and had an alarm for accidental falling in. So safe.

Loads of toys under a shaded area with sofas. Cottages all set up with stair gates and other safety features. Craft shed, toy library, games room. Gated grounds and quiet road. We actually got to sit and read in the shade or the sun while they played. First book I read after becoming a parent.

It was so thoughtfully set up. Clean and well equipped cottages. We went three years running after that - before the pandemic. We just couldn’t face risking another stressful holiday.

Countryside but five min drive for pastries and supermarket. Beaches a short drive away. Aaaah. The memories.

I don’t think I’d ever go to Greece. Too hot for me and only going to get hotter.

Hope you manage to to turn it around OP.

If you can get an early flight and go home. Greece is far too hot for a child this age. I wouldn't even have tried it.

We had two really nice holidays with our one year old (both to Greece, funnily enough) but the tricky part for us was meal times. They were absolutely absolute battle and she wouldn't even eat simple things she loved at home like pasta and tomato sauce. In the end we just had to let go of all expectation and she literally ate watermelon and ice cream all week on both occasions. It was fine, she's two and a half now and it hasn't done any lasting damage 😂 Also agree that beach days are great - a ready made sandpit, what could be more fun for a little one! xx

Definitely complain about your accommodation OP

I used to have completely unreasonable hopes and dreams about holidays. They were no holiday for sure.

Can you adjust your thinking to Mediterranean style? I'm afraid that might mean a lot of hiding away and comig out in the early mornin g or at night?

As for sunbeds in the shade: just take the towels off of the ones that have been “reserved” and sit there xx

I took my little one to south east Asia at that age - temperatures were quite toasty to say the least.

little one lived on smoothies and ice lollies (yes - I know about the risks, lived there for years ; she’s got her mama’s immune system thankfully! ) as a future thought for other trips - we used a woven wrap so she could regulate her temperature off mine . If you can get hold of a foundation brush to apply the sunscreeen she tolerated that much better.

as others said , we did some later nights than usual to make the most of the cooler temperatures.

And we just rolled with the fact that nothing was like at home - so nap times/bedtimes happened when they could. (Unlike me, she had absolutely no jet lag which just wasn’t fair at all because I struggled!)

i will acknowledge that she is a blessed pixie child and somehow just managed to get us upgraded everywhere we went so that helped.

Holidays abroad with such young children are often a nightmare for parents and those around them. But surely you knew that Greece is hot in June?

Holidays with toddlers or preschoolers need to be someplace slightly upmarket/family orientated with good kids entertainment, facilities or food. Otherwise it's pure hell. I have no qualms paying more because it's cheaper than therapy in the long run. We've had a couple of really shitty holidays because we made the mistake of booking a "typical trip" like we used to and then just bringing our toddler along. The arguments, mental load and faff was absolutely not worth it.

I would also argue that you don't need to travel far unless absolutely necessary. We've only started flying holidays recently because DD is old enough to understand the concept of other countries and she's genuinely excited to see new places. With younger kids, the entire travel process is a faff and they're equally happy in a hotel 2 hours drive from home.

Adults smoking around the kids pool is diabolical. I'd complain to the manager and ask for this to be banned. Actually I'd ask for no smoking around any pool. It's inconsiderate and frankly rude.

Going to a shit accommodation will only amplify a already challenging holiday with a little one especially when you paid a few thousand for it expecting it to be pretty decent through the photos that were advertised where you feel robbed. If you were in a luxurious hotel you would have felt a lot better. This is one thing i never negotiated on, the resort must be top notch otherwise it's not worth it. Single child free years i stayed in pretty grim places but i was out sun seeking all day or doing tours and then drinking all night but with a 1 year old, you will end up spending more hours in the room to protect them for the heat and if they struggle to fall asleep in their pushchair by the pool which my first dc certainly did and if your evenings are cut short, you will be back in your room. So I'd rather spend those hours in a nice room with a nice view and balcony than a grim room which will make it a much better experience.

Move the towels on the sunbeds?

Not if you find the right place. Honestly.

Drove to France overnight ferry and had an amazingly relaxing holiday with kids aged 2-8 for 3 years running (I know it’s a bit dull going to the same place but it as so relaxing we daren’t do it differently).

You just have to find the right set up. Somewhere with a nod to being child friendly (most places) versus child centred (so parents can relax) set up by parents for parents.

I’m struggling to remember the name of it but it was between La Rochelle and Bordeaux and nearest holiday resort type place was Royan. I think I actually saw an advert on here.

Don't think this will lead to the more pleasant holiday if the owners come back and find a frazzled mum and overheated toddler on their chair.

Best option is to pay a bit more for a hotel with pre-reserved sunbeds, beach beds, umbrellas or some kind of guaranteed shade. Or indoor pool area to avoid the midday sun. The right resort makes a massive difference.

We went through many disastrous holidays before finding a few perfect hotels that have beach access, reserved loungers, indoor activities and food that DD always eats. (Not a fan of self catering because food shopping and cooking in a foreign place makes the holiday even more strenuous).

Random thought....why are you bothering with swim suits and so on? Can the little one do without?

We've been on holidays when our kids were small, once when one of ours was still in nappies so I get where you're coming from.
One tip I would make is to get bottles of water and if you're in a room with a fridge that has an ice box at the top of it, put the water there. Let it freeze overnight and then in the morning, take the bottles out and wrap them in a face cloth or hand towel from the room. Then as the ice melts you can sip freezing cold water throughout the morning and repeat as needed.

For your little one @holly201 - I'd make sure they had ice or ice pops (more watery based pops than creamy) because they are probably trying to make the adjustment to the heat - sleeping in it and doing things during the day in it.

For your next holiday with the little one, I'd look at an All Inclusive family friendly holiday because it sounds like you booked somewhere that is more couple friendly but doesn't restrict families from staying either. Some places are better equipped to deal with families than others.

Think of the rest of us sitting under cloudy skies with temperatures not even getting into the mid 20's while you're by the pool or even in your room sipping cold drinks with umbrellas in them! We still need the umbrellas to protect us from the rain here (lol)

We've been on holidays when our kids were small, once when one of ours was still in nappies so I get where you're coming from.
One tip I would make is to get bottles of water and if you're in a room with a fridge that has an ice box at the top of it, put the water there. Let it freeze overnight and then in the morning, take the bottles out and wrap them in a face cloth or hand towel from the room. Then as the ice melts you can sip freezing cold water throughout the morning and repeat as needed.

For your little one @holly201 - I'd make sure they had ice or ice pops (more watery based pops than creamy) because they are probably trying to make the adjustment to the heat - sleeping in it and doing things during the day in it.

For your next holiday with the little one, I'd look at an All Inclusive family friendly holiday because it sounds like you booked somewhere that is more couple friendly but doesn't restrict families from staying either. Some places are better equipped to deal with families than others.

Think of the rest of us sitting under cloudy skies with temperatures not even getting into the mid 20's while you're by the pool or even in your room sipping cold drinks with umbrellas in them! We still need the umbrellas to protect us from the rain here (lol)

I remember someone saying to me, Why don’t you take the children abroad and you can sit at the side of the pool with a book while they play? Omg I couldn’t read a single page. She knew my children as well! Not sure if any parent can do that anyway 😄

When you have very little ones you need to design your days around the kids. It's not like the old days. So, stay in the Aircon during peak sun hours 12-4. Go to the beach and find some playgrounds for early in the day and the late afternoon when cooler. Stick to meal and nap/sleep times and routines. Sun lotion, hat and cotton clothes that cover them up applied first thing and again at lunch or after water play. Get some new beach toys or toys for the pool for novelty value. Have calmer one to one time with the kids during Aircon time in the middle of the day, rather than have them out with the other families and kids all day long....it's exhausting for them. I know it's not a very exciting holiday but it's more enjoyable than the situation you have described.

We saved our money when they were small, and spent it when they were older. Even then we made mistakes, though. Paris is not a child-friendly holiday.

Also Aircon can be a local shopping centre or child friendly restaurants or other indoor area at the hotel.

Yours is the experience of people I knew when my children were small. We didn't bother going away for years until they were much bigger. Never regretted it.
It sounds really exhausting. Hope it gets easier for you.

I'm sorry you're having a hard time.

I agree with others though - just relax your expectations. Don't bother putting her in a swimsuit if she doesn't like it. Buy a child's t-shirt from a shop and put that on her if you want her covered a bit. Let her sleep in the bed with you and then transfer her. Let her eat ice cream and omelettes all week.

Hope it gets better.

I refused to go abroad until our DC were over 3 for this reason. Pre kids we always went long haul 5 star and our first holiday to a family friendly AI in Majorca was a shock!

For the first two holidays abroad we went AI even though it wasn't our preference and DD refused to eat anything at all from the hotel. Walks to the local shop to get food she would eat and she would nap in her buggy saved our sanity. By 4 she would take a two hour nap on the sun lounger while we relaxed with a sangria or two so it does get easier.

Another thing that has worked for us is book a decent hotel ideally with a room with its own pool / hot tub or a big balcony you can put a paddling pool on and they have space to play. Sometimes this isn't that more expensive and it's made a huge difference to our holiday.

Honestly our best holidays have been to Center Parcs though and the DC agree with this too.