Long hault flight with 14 month old or not??

[skandi1]

Help! DH and I cannot agree on holiday destinations for this year. We're planning to go in autumn when DD will be 14 - 15 months old.

DH wants to go to Egypt (Red Sea) but I'm a little reluctant due to potential for tummy bugs (even in 5 star hotels - seen on Tripadvisor) and recent oil spill covering most of Hurghada and spreading.

DH's only reason for going there is flight is only 5 hours. We've not been to Egypt before so its all a bit of an unknown and a risk as we don't know what it will be like.

I am keen on Maldives or Mauritius - particularly Maldives. They're both places we've been many times before so we know what to expect and know several hotels in both which would be great and are suitable for children with kids pool/club/toys etc.

DH's reasoning for not waiting to go is that Maldives is a 10 hour flight and Mauritius is 12 hours.

I know both flights are long but we'd be flying business whichever of the 3 destinations we'd visit and I'm the one who'll deal with DD in any event.

I want to canvass MNer opinions on this. Am I indeed unreasonable to want to take a 10 hour flight with a 14 month old or have others done this and its been just fine??

Please let me know your experiences with regard to air travel.

Flew to West Coast US with a 16-month old. She cried pretty mciuch all the way, and the seat we'd paid for to keep her comfy went unused as she sat on our knees the whole time. At least, she'd cried so much that when we arrived she was exhausted and avoided jet lag...

Journey back better but not wonderful...

I wouldn't have done it TBH except I had to make the trip for work and we agreed to make a holiday out of it.

The flight can be managed, it's the jetlag afterwards that kills you, although not so bad if it's only one toddler; it's when you have many DC and they all have jetlag out of sync with you and where they are that it's Hell.

I have flown UK to California and back loads of times.

I think Egyptians are very child-friendly, too, but no actual experience.

I know people who've flown from NZ to UK with little ones. It was pretty hellish but they coped. Wouldn't dream of doing it for a hol though. IME you don't get much of a holiday with a toddler to look after anyway - stuck in hotel rooms all evening for a start. Much easier to stay with parents or friends who can give you a genuine break, self-catering if needs be. But if you're deadset on an exotic hol, it might be worth all the hassle for you.

I see.

Would it be fair to say that it doesn't matter how long the flight is, it will still be a bit of a mare??

Longer is worse, ime. You will all feel mega-cooped by the end up if it's 10-12 hours.

I'd say no. Save the long haul for a few years until your DC's are able to entertain themselves. We flew to spain at a similar age and it was tough. They don't understand why they cant crawl around in the airports/ on the plane. You have to think about the door to door journey and add that onto the flight time.

And unless you are taking someone to help with looking after the DC/ using a kids club, it will not be the same as your holidays before. One of you will always nearly constantly be on the go with them. And you wont be able to sit out in the sun too much if it is hot...I could go on but I wont.

We are sticking with Cornwall for a good few years!

We stayed at the Ritz Carlton in Sharm-el-Sheikh when DS was 9 weeks old. It was lovely and absolutely no tummy bugs.

I also flew solo with DS to San Francisco (10 hours) when DS was just about to turn two. It was fine. I had lots of things wrapped up for him to open (colouring books, magazines etc) and I gave him one each time he started to get bored. Last hour was hardest but overall not a bad experience. We flew back first class so he had his own bed which made life very easy.

Also flown to New York with DS (then 3) and DD (then 12m) and that was fine too.

Never found that I've been stuck in a hotel room with them either. We've always taken the pram and put them in it to sleep if they're tired.

Excellent.

Am now a little tempted by Sharm El Sheikh.

I had suggested to DH that we stay in UK but he doesn't want to.

Anyone actually done the maldives or mauritius trips with toddlers??

We did NZ with a 1 year old and it was ok but then she still just about fitted in the bassinet so slept for a good 10 -12 hours of the flight (not all at once!). I am not sure now she is a bit older whether I would do long haul again unless I had to. In my experience the worse thing was the boredom rather than our DD crying or making a fuss i.e. you can amuse them for say 15 mins with a toy, then you need to do something else for 15 mins (like walking up and down the aisle). Going to change a nappy or do feeding becomes a treat because it kills another 20 mins here and there!

But, what worked best for me and DH was not sitting together but taking shifts of 4-5 hours each. That meant, when one of us was on childcare duty, the other one was far enough away to be able to eat, sleep, watch a film etc without feeling they should be helping out. It sounds a bit counter-intuitive but it is so much better than both of you fussing around your child for the full 24 hours!

What about Turkey - how long does it take to fly there?

We will be flying to NZ with a 22mo and a 4mo in a few months' time, and I am dreading it. I've done it with a 4mo and that was fine.

We are trying to decide whether to break the journey up and have a few days wherever we stop over, or if that might be more hassle than its worth, and it might just be better getting it all over and done with...

I've been to NZ & back on my own twice - once DD was 2 & 5 months & once when she was 2.2 years.

I don't think it's a big deal in hindsight (though it might feel like that while you are preparing).

I'd advise:
Get a night flight
Bulkhead seat with cot (book in advance)
Take books, toys etc to amuse DD
take some food (DD never eats the plane food)

I found I didn't sleep much so I had slightly worse let lag either end but there will be 2 of you. But as you are occupied with DD time will pass quickly for you. DO IT!

egypt is horrid, I would go to Maldives or Mauritius, or why not just go to southern Spain - nice short 2 hour flight and you're there.

I've done it - except double the time of your flight, i.e I went to Oz. It was fine.

The only thing I'd say is I "had" to do it (or have them never meet their grandparents and other family) whereas you do not. Its not ideal, but its do-able. Agree that jetlag at the other end is actually the worst bit - the flight you sort of grit your teeth.

Its a bit easier when they are DVDable, or Nintendo DS-able.

Business class is going to make a HUGE difference imho and staying is this country is really not the same as sipping a cocktail in Mauritius. I would go for it. I have been to Florida with two chidren under 5 (one was 9 months) in economy and also to Mauritius but sadly all in economy.... The kids often go to sleep especially if there is a night flight of some sort.

I have been the the Four Seasons in Sharm. Very very nice hotel and not as expensive as some Four Seasons properties.

business class is ludicrously expensive, though not so bad if you only have to pay for two seats.

Is there any type of ideal holiday with a 14 month old then?

Am getting a bit desperate as DH wants to go somewhere and refuses to stay at home.

I am prepared for the fact that it will be nothing like going on holiday "before". And there will be very little relaxation in comparison.

The childcare in Mauritus is fab. What about paying for a nanny within the hotel to look after the little one for some time during the day and evening. The Saint Geran comes very highly recommended if your budget can stretch that far and I guess with your plans to travel busines class it probably will - unless you work for an airline of course!!

Rocky12

St Geran sounds great and we've looked at it.

Am not worried about looking after DD once we get there - in fact I'm not worried at all.

It DH who is worried about the flight and cannot make his mind up about anything.

Have you been anywhere else whihc was good for toddlers/babies??

Business class?! What are you worrying about?! Went to NZ with a 9 wk old baby on a charter flight (30 hours) flew back 6 mnths pg with an 18 mnth old.

Got some Fenigan from the GP in NZ (it was advised at the time over 10 yrs ago) but never used it.

Another issue with the Maldives (assuming you're starting in the UK) is that afaik there aren't any direct scheduled flights- only charters which might not have business class (or maybe they do now). On scheduled flights you normally have to change somewhere like Sri Lanka. Then when you get to Male you have to get seaplane or motorboat to resort so there are quite a lot of "changes".

I think most kids clubs will only take from 3,4 or even 5 years old Mark Warner have great childcare but quite basic rooms and I think really for older children who can take advantage of the sports.

We loved Thailand (Thai's are very much like the Italians with children). We had a babysitter EVERY night at £2 an hour and always got the same lady which most hotels will try and do if they can but again a long flight. In fact I have just realised you are going in the autumn so ignore Thailand - the the weather is really bad! Really jealous of the business class element! I have heard that the Villa Vita Parc in Portgual is great with children but not sure about the age thing. I would assume that you will need to organise your own child care through the hotel rather than rely on kids clubs at this age.

As you are going in the autumn I would go for Mauritius or possibly the Four Seasons in Sharm and organise babysitting as and when you need it at the hotel.

I have been to Mauritius twice, firstly The Residence and then Le Touessrok. Beautiful but a little too much resort living for me After 10 days we were going mad having to have dinner in the hotel every night but hey ho - there are worse places to be.....

Just thought - Dubai but go Nov time onwards otherwise too hot. Would recommend the Ritz Carlton Hotel or the Royal Mirage

oops, didn't notice that OP was happy to fork out for business class. Try BMI charter from Heathrow or Manchester to Dalaman: www.exclusiveescapes.co.uk/flights/ to www.hillsidebeachclub.com/, very good for children.

Dubai- good suggestion if you just want beach/ pool.

As Rocky says, go in November but avoid the Rugby 7's weekend.

Seven hour flight, only a 4 hr time difference and they are very good with children. Totally not an issue for a little child to be in hotel restaurants in the evenings.

If you plan to sightsee you may want to hire a car as the taxi drivers can be a bit..er...wantonly reckless

In all honesty I'd be looking at southern Europe. The weather should be lovely in autumn. It's not just the idea of a long haul flight, but having to cope with a very young child in all that heat. Neither sounds fun, tbh.

I say all this but of course I've never left Europe. Or flown business class. So what do I know?

Did a trip to central US with a 18-month-old DS (plus 6 year old and 4 year old DDs). the girls were fine.

He was a nightmare.

Not going back again until he is 3 or older.