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.

I'd say go we dragged DD to east coast USA, South Africa and Middle east at this age. To be honest I tried to get night flights chased her round the airport so she was tired fed her during take off and didn't hear from her till 30 minutes before landing.
It has paid of as in April on returning form middle east in ash cold 6 year DD flew from Oman to Istanbul then to barcelona all in one day and then an 11 hour taxi ride the next day to Paris without a single moan.

I'd have done it with one, probably. But with three kids? No way.

I flew to West Coast Canada once and Guatemala once - one with an 18 mo ds and once with a 16mo dd2 - the second one was with also a 3 and 5 year old.

Nae bother! Plenty to do, lots to eat, lots of cuddles. Not a problem really for us. But we have fairly lively yet laid back children who took it in their stride.

I read so many threads on here about people panicking about travelling but we backpacked around Central america with a 16mo, 3yo and 5yo adn it was fantastic. We are off to travel independently round the Dominican Republic (and possibly Haiti, haven't decided yet) at the weekend for 3 weeks with a 10, 8 and 6 yo.
travelling with kids is great!

You also won't make any friends if you have a screeching child in business class (which could happen!).

I'd personally save the money and spend it on fun things when you get there!

Just returned from taking DS (12 months) to Oz by myself and pregnant. Was fine. Got a bulkhead with a cot, not that he used it much.

Lots of books and a few toys kept him amused. Plenty of laps of the plane, chatting with people and he was fine.

Most airlines do not provide food for under 2's, BA could not even provide full fat milk, although QANTAS did!Saying that, the BA cabin crew could not have been more helpful.

Night flights if possible!Sling essential.

Business class,two of you to kid-wrangle,a lovely destination to enjoy- go for it!!

Weggiemum, I must admit that did cross my mind too although their money is as good as anyone's else's etc etc. The glares are the thing that get you I have heard (although I hear the snoring business man is an issue too!!). Only travelled once in Virgin Upper Class - wonderful but there was a special offer on so could justify it.

OP, you have priced up the flights? It is just that they are likely to come in at £8k plus. Sorry to be rude...

We took DS to Carribean when he was 12 month, no problem, he eve coped with the hot minibus shuttle. We first flew with him at 12 weeks (DC). I then did lots of US trips with DS and DD when he was 4-8, she was 2-6 ish. We've done one US with DS DD1 and DD2, aged 11, 9, 4. Poor DD2 has missed out!

We've also frequently taken our kids into airport lounges with no hassles.

British Airways fly to Malé (from LGW), and it's not actually £8k+, 28 November returning 8 December is £1350, so actually a bit less than £3k for 2 + infant. Well worth it really.

The problem comes when you have to pay for child fares

Flew with 13m for 9hours. Had lots of toys and books and things to 'unpack'/play with for her on the plane and she was really good. We had her own seat as previous tries with our big wiggly child on our laps was a nightmare.
BA with kids is easiest we've found.

I have travelled loads of time to Oz with my DS1, and I have to say that 14 months old was the WORST age. Too old to sleep as much, too young to be amused by anything. Spent the whole time walking him up and down the aisles, trying to stop him lunging at the remotes which people had resting on their laps!!!! Utterly, utterly exhausted by the time I arrived in Australia.

I found BA to be the best because they have a sky cot which you can put a toddler into when they outgrow the bassinet. Other airlines you have to lap it. But do check though, if they code share the flight you could end up on a different airline's plane even though you have a BA ticket, and perhaps not all their planes have sky cots so check that as well .

Coping mechanism - share the 'awake' time with your DH; pack toys which you KNOW your DS likes and will play with; if he watches DVDs then pack a portable DVD player and his favourite shows on DVD - try getting him used to headphones BEFORE you fly, night flight - your best chance of getting DS to sleep. Obviously not all destinations have that.

But even with all that, if you have a turbulent flight your DS will be on your lap anyway and even if they are asleep, it's not likely you will get any!

My girls were fine. DS was awful. He hates being restrained. At all, and so screamed his head off. Then he didn't want to sit in the seat. Ever.

He also hardly slept on the night flight.

The girls I'd fly with on my own.

But DS craves a bit too much adventure in his life right now.

we took our then 16-month old to Thailand and it was about as bad as it could have been but I still didn't regret it because we had a fab trip and it's just one day (x2) of your life.

He had his own seat.

took dd to dominican when she was 18 months.
gave her phenergans {sp} and she was hyper the whole way , a nightmare.
sharm,hurgada etc arnt that pretty anymore,we stayed at the 4 seasons which was fab.
maldives was excellent without kids,wouldnt take mine till they were older and could snorkle.
heard v good reports on mauritous,thailandis our favorite though.

Skandi we've had some great times in hotels since the DCs but our best holidays these days are hiring a villa in France, Spain, Italy or Greece with our very good friends and their children. The kids have a fab time together and once they are in bed we sit out have good food, good wine and great conversation.

Many thanks to you all so far.

Rocky12, Your advice is great. Am seriously considering 4 seasons in Sharm now. Looks good.

DH is still confused. Not really sure why.

Been to Turkey and Cyprus and Spain - didn't particularly like at all -overrun by northern europeans (fellow scandis mostly) and food pretty poor even in 5 Star places.

Have now discounted Maldives - love the place but not sure there is much for DD to do until she's older.

That leaves Egypt or Mauritius. Suppose we could just flip a coin....

Anyone else have any gems of advice?

We've done a fair bit of travelling (far east, middle east, europe) with DSs (currently 3 and 5) and they travel well - planes or car (usually to south of france). However, being stuck in a hotel with little ones is not my idea of fun. what do you do in the evenings? Baby sitter every night or room service tiptoeing around trying not to wake kids? So our best holidays have been s/c in France (with the odd night in v small hotel en route) or staying with family friends in their houses. Location and child care etc would be more my concern than 5 hours / 12 hours in the plane.

I am sure you'll have a fab time whereever.

My brother went on a long haul flight when one of my nephews was 13 months old. He said it was a nightmare,the baby cried and was genrally grumpy the whole way,he then was really grumpy on their holiday. He said he would nevr do this again with a child under 5,

we did australia when dd1 was around 8 months old and she was fine. At almost 2 we went again. She had her own seat and was reclined in her car seat which worked well for keeping her in a seat and safe and comfortable.

Each time we made sure we flew overnight. We made sure she had her usual things - so when she was 8 months - in her sleeping bag to sleep.

I let her lap the cabin a few times just to get some wriggles out. We did have a short stop over in Singapore and I let her run about and explore the airport - obviously on the second time not the first.

Depends on the child...

I used to live in Egypt, took DS there when he was 6m. He giggled all the way, was and still is an angel. Used to fly back to the UK a couple of times a year. Only when he was over 2 was he a little more challenging to amuse, but in-flight entertainment, his lunch and a colouring book just about did the trick.

Even when we flew to New York from Cairo, 11 hours he was fine. DS got bored 30 minutes before we landed at JFK, I was bored 30 mins after we took off!!

NOTE: 11 hours on EgyptAir = at least 24 hours on any other proper airline AVOID, AVOID, AVOID EGYPTAIR, they honestly couldn't run a bath.

5 hours is not really that long, unless the child is screaming of course, but take lots of stuff you know that ought to amuse and distract, and with any luck it'll be OK.

Have never been to the Red Sea and the resorts, but would never say that Egypt is child friendly... most of the stuff for children is old, rusty, unsafe... but a resort ought to be better...

I agree with Someguy...

fedupwithemployment, I do agree about the location and childcare etc which is why I had reseached (as well as been to these) locations and narrowed it to 3. All have excellent childcare/babysitting/kidsclubs etc.

Its DH who is concerned about the flight and all his flapping made me flap too.

eidsvold, Intersting and thank you for sharing. It sounds like its doable and as long as you're well prepared it can work well. Plus Australia is a long way and have not enjoyed 24 hrs straight thru myself so if it can be done with a LO, 5 or 12hrs should be a breeze.

Anyone been to Egypt with LOs and had tummy bugs??

Also anyone been to Maldives with toddlers??

Littlemisshissyfit,

Thank you. Had heard about Egyptair and was avoiding at any rate but thanks.

Anyone out there who had to help their DH decide on hols and stop them flapping??? If so - please help! I am happy to plump for anything and give it a go and happy to suffer the flight particularly now that I know other MNers have done it too. But DH cannot decide on what he wants. Argh.

Mind the water, only drink bottled, and no ice, no juice cocktails unless you know what's in it taste them to make sure they are not 'off'... Yes, have heard from friends who got served 'off' juice, and that's a sure path to the cairo canter. Mind you the above applies to anywhere really!

if you do go to egypt and get a tummy bug... Go to any pharmacy and get Smecta - it's a caramel flavoured medicine, and stops the trots in their tracks. Most pharmacies will have english speakers, many are open 24 hrs and some will deliver.

Wales is very nice. Honestly the thought of a holiday like that with this age (IMO the worst for long haul travel - old enough to be mobile and wriggly too young to be distracted by colouring book/film) exhausts me. Good luck but think you are mad