Where to go for a relaxed sunny holiday with toddler

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Not so much AIBU…Looking for a real break for this holiday. We have an 18 month old and are looking for a beach/pool type holiday for the summer. Any ideas welcome please.

Minorca is perfect for young families

Playa Blanca, Lanzarote.

What's your budget? LouisLendra Hotel in Paphos (Cyprus) is lovely and you're guarenteed sun!
Louis Ledra Beach, Paphos City (updated prices 2025)

Relaxing holiday with a toddler is surely an oxymoron 😆

All inclusive resort somewhere

I’m not sure any holiday with a toddler is exactly ‘relaxing’. You have all the usual toddler stuff plus access to a pool or the sea so can’t take your eyes off them for a second. Then there’s the unfamiliar environment, different food, heat to disrupt sleeping…

We’ve had some very enjoyable holidays with toddlers but I couldn’t call them relaxing.

Planning and tag-teaming made more of an impact than location. Self catering was also easier than a hotel - having to be in the room and quiet early evening as he slept, plus being stuck there during naps was not much fun.

All inclusive Menorca 🙌

This!

Also, what's the budget!?

Drill down to what you really want.

If you want relaxation then by far the most relaxing holiday I had with my similar aged child was Butlins. We went on a Mr Tumble break and had entertainment all day long for her, we could relax, have a coffee, had a drink in the evening etc. Everything was set up for her age group, we had to do very little 'management' of her other than offering her snacks.
Haven holiday in Great Yarmouth not quite so much entertainment but also leisurely. There was a morning activity for toddlers every day about 9.30am, another session in the afternoon, swimming pool with nice warm splash bit, kids disco from 5. We would alternate day on site with a day out- boat on Norfolk broads, sealife etc.

If you want an abroad holiday, the only way it is going to be 'relaxing' is if you look into a break that has childcare. She will be too young for kids club- I think hotels like TUI Blue and First Choice holiday villages have a paid for crèche. P&O cruises also have entertainment/ crèche.

We went to Spain not long after we went to Butlins and just stayed in a self catering apartment with a pool. We had a lovely time but it had its moments and it in no way, shape or form could be called 'relaxing'. Child did not want to sleep once out of routine, we were pounding pavements around shuttered up old towns at 6 in the morning as she was up and nothing open etc 😬, we needed the siesta as much as she did in the afternoon!
We had lovely times at the pool and she shared tapas at the plaza with us in the evening, it was enjoyable overall. However when we landed my parents came to the airport and collected her for a sleepover as we were totally shattered!

We love Portugal as it's so family friendly. We've taken DS every year since he was born and going back again this year.

If you've got the budget I suggest Sani Club out of school holidays, they have beach nannies and a creche, delicious food, kiddy pool and sandy beach. Best holiday ever.

First thing to do is lower your expectations. I'm in Thailand now with a toddler visiting family, it is not relaxing at all. Tag-team, get family to go with you, hire childcare, choose accommodation with playrooms and playgrounds etc. to make it easier.

Hotel room with a balcony and room service for naps and early bedtime, or self catering if you can be bothered with the cleaning up and cooking.

No where, a couple of day trips close to home will be much more relaxing.

This! 🤣

Cala longa in Ibiza is very kid friendly in our experience

Thanks all. I think we are going to do UK based as I don’t want the stress of abroad. Thinking maybe Newquay by plane from London. Has anyone done this? Can’t face the long drive!!

I think you might be better on the train if you're trying to avoid stress, it'll save you faffing with security etc and you can walk about if needed! What about somewhere like bluestone in wales? Bluestonewales.com. You can get a train from London to Narbeth fairly easily.

When ours were that age we often went to Crieff Hydro near Perth. Loads to do for adults and kids and they have (had anyway!) free childcare on site, so we'd leave the kids in the nursery for a few hours and head into the town for a nice lunch the 2 of us or go to the adults only pool and spa on site. When we went back to get the kids they were just asking to go back again as they loved it so much!

There was pools, soft play, activities, trampolines, play parks, mini discos, cinema, etc, etc, etc. Multiple bars and restaurants plus just a short walk into the town. I miss going there but kids are too old to enjoy it now.

If you are getting on a plane anyway, you could try this one:
https://www.familotel.com
They have hotels in Germany, Austria, Italy, etc. Most offer childcare for that age group, dedicated buffets for kids, entertainment and a spa area. The majority are all inclusive.
You can choose what kind of thing you are looking for, whether it's a beach, farm or skiing.
We went to one in Austria with DS when he was about 3 and he really liked it.

This - we took our one year old on the train. Nap in the middle for a (slightly uncomfortable) break and otherwise took turns chasing him up and down the aisles.

We went to Crete last year and it was perfect for young families!

Yep I've flown to Newquay but you might as well fly further as half the ball ache with DC is the airport and waiting etc

I loved Scott Dunn when my DD15 was younger, she had a blast and I got some down time (lone parent)

Honestly ds was so much easier at that age than he is now at 6.. if they're happy to go in a buggy etc. I'd stick with a short plane ride though, we did Spain at that age. Or menorca etc

And agree with self catering over a hotel room if you think baby will sleep in the evening, at least you have another room you can relax in

We had the best holiday with our 18 month old in Rhodes last September. Temps still hot without it being overwhelming. All inclusive with own ice cream parlour which she loved. The massive pool had a very shallow area for toddlers, which made it easier to move about it, and we took it in turns playing with her in the shallows/sitting on the side having a drink and sunbathe. Lots of other toddlers around to share pool toys with too and she got lots of enjoyment out of filling and emptying her bucket and "jumping" in 5cm of water.

They also had a Tui baby creche run by UK-accredited nursery staff for a small fee, which she went to twice for two hours and loved it, to give us a break.

We were relaxed about bed times and let her stay up for the mini disco and entertainment, but she's always been go with the flow so that helped. And the time difference (+2 hours) meant 9-10pm bedtimes were 7-8pm anyway. And she slept better there than at home up to that point!

We had lots of super holidays with my DC when they were little going Eurocamping in Brittany in mobile homes. Relaxed vibes, pool, play areas, cafe, ice creams, come and go as you please. Ferry is a lot less stress than flying with a toddler. Weather can be a bit unpredictable tho.