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.

Closest thing I have ever seen to air-rage was when a 2 year old was flying in business class.

Poor child, (and poor parents) she just could not settle, and did in fact scream for about an hour.

Agree of course that whoever is paying deserves to enjoy the comfort, but most of the people on that flight WERE travelling on business and had paid extra so they could sleep. The cabin crew were at their wits end trying to placate the child and trying to placate the irrate business passengers.

I regularly travel on business and have never had my flight disturbed by a screaming baby. Maybe for the first half hour or so, but nothing earplugs wouldn't solve (and if you are a frequent business flyer, you know to pack earplugs).

On the other hand, I've regularly had my flight disturbed by older children (7-10ish) charging up and down the aisles making a general nuisance of themselves, with no parent in sight. And by lecherous businessmen assuming that a lone female traveller must be up for a shag at the other end of the flight.

And what is the world coming to when we compare a screaming baby to a drunk passenger. Not even close.

Excuse me.....have I missed something here?

On another thread, someone accidently killed their pet gold fish and the original poster has had to flee the country and go into a witness protection programme following a flaming from MNers...

.....and on here two posters casually suggest children shouldn't be allowed to fly in business class if they are just going on holiday in case they disturb a very important busy business person (though family emergencies are ok)and barely an eye brow is raised.

What has MN come to?! (shocked)

Indaba - couldn't agree more.

Quite frankly, if you are that bothered about your flight being disturbed by other people just doing normal things (ie not being drunk and rowdy), hire a private jet. Otherwise, I think you just have to suck it up.

I think people fly business class largely to get away from children. So that kind of defeats the purpose

OP - I would go to Croatia or Italy - it will still be warm then and there are some beautiful beaches. You won't be lounging around much sunbathing really. I really wouldn't fly longhaul with a child of that age unless you're visiting family. I don't think it's worth the hassle. I found the whole airport thing a pita too before I'd even got on the plane

If children werent allowed in Business Class then it would be called "Adults Only"... until that day I will continue to travel in whichever class I can afford, with my ds, as our money is as good as anyone elses.

We usually go first class on the train too... its always amazing how quickly we get a whole carriage table to ourselves, as no-one wants to sit next to a 3 year old

Well, when I lived in Asia with DD we did do plenty of trips. She basically spent the entire flights wedged on my nipple. Not horrible, but not enjoyable way to start a nice holiday really.

But I realise your heart may be set on a bright sunny holiday somewhere exotic but to be honest I find those places a bit 'one note', a bit Dubai-trash (sorry) and would rather drive to South of France or SE of France and do a gite, or even a castle, if you want posh somewhere near to the sea with lovely weather.

You get lovely gardens, beautiful countryside, the option to drive anywhere, less absolute scorching heat that you can't stay out in for long and, well, just the freedom you don't get in a resort. You can break up the trip and stop whereever.

I know some people don't relish the idea of self catering, but you have options. Sometimes its lovely to eat out in different places, sometimes gorgeous and relaxing to stick on a pot au feu and neck some nice Burgundy while your kid plays in the garden (and doesn't fuss about and run around a buffet)

And the food, and the wine. And the traiteurs and boulangeries. You just don't get that loveliness and freedom in a 5-star resort.

What about a Greek island, like Mykonos - some lovely villas here. You can get a concierge service and babysitter here (I've been) www.mykonosvillas.com/

Then the pressure's off really to get her with a babysitter (jealous, as my 20 month old is still fed to sleep and wakes easily so I can't really get a babysitter) because the whole thing is more relaxed.

Just a thought. Having done all over Asia/Indonesia/Malaysia, I'd say a Mauritius holiday doesn't really offer that much to a family with a toddler. You'll just be running around all bloody day with suncreen and hats.

Tarifa in Spain would be lovely also. Perhaps Corsica. Or Portofino in Italy swoon

Or do a riad in Marrakech. You can hide from the sun, bathe and eat gorgeous merguez in Djema al f'naa.

There's a lovely one in Essaouria (on the coast, but you'd have to drive from Marrakesh and the road's a bit shit) they may fly there now.

sorry, em again. Another option (and one we plan for next year) is India. If you go to Goa or Kerala it's about 7-8 hours, so not really long haul. Fantastic places, wonderfully interesting for the adults, child friendly, great food.

i think the direct (charter) flight to Goa is 10 hours, but I agree it would be a good opton for a young child. We saw loads of little ones in Goa and Kerala on our two trips there, and would love to go back with our son some time.

I've done Aus/Nz, Dubai,Sharm,Caribbean, and yes the flight can be ok if you do all your preparation.. but why put yourself through it for a short holiday. Time differences can play havoc with the little ones
we just came back from Portugal, fabulous, should still be warm in Autumn, only 2 1/2 hours, anyone can get through that! Or Greece or Cyprus, plenty of nice classy child friendly places.

No to the flight because babies have ear problems due to the altitude thus upsets them. I have heard babies cry all the way too. I wouldn't pick any of these destinations because of the healthcare in these places may not be to your expectations, language difficulties when in an emergency etc. The places you mention, sorry, but you should have done these when you didn't have a child. If you have to have a holiday like this the USA would be a good choice eg florida. But that's my opinion, my first flight with kids was when youngest was three years old to Menorca [2 hrs]and was no problem at all.

We took DS to Australia when he was 10mo to see his grandma for 3 weeks. He was fine. No ear problems because I made him suck on ascent and descent (bf'ing at the time). He slept for some of it, but was generally pretty good. So good that some of the other passengers around us actually commented on how well he had done.

I wouldn't take a child that young anywhere that required special medical preparation, such as extra jabs or anti-malarials (not sure about either Mauritius or the Maldives but am pretty sure some things are advised for Egypt) - but that's just my choice.

geordieminx - I know it's not forbidden to take children business class. But if I'd pay £2k for a flight, I'd be a bit peeved if there were children screaming the whole way. And I wouldn't take my child in business class because it would make me anxious. It's bad enough in economy

Also the travel agents don't always alert you of health care, Jabs and what is prevalent in your chosen area. We went with another family to Cape Verde with a 1 year old girl and they said it wasn't a malaria area and we wouldn't need jabs. We went and found out after, we should have, the hospitals there are equivalent to our primary healthcare clinics, literally. VERY WORRYING INDEED.

you don't have jabs for malaria though.

Good point, but don't be pusillanimous about seeing the world with kids because of overdone worries about health.

Nothing wrong with clinics and they are used to dealing with the diseases that they deal with locally. And if bad, then you are medivacced out.

I have been all over (Cambodia, Vietnam, China lived in Cairo, South America, lived in Russia, lived in Singapore) and while you should be more vigilant with a smaller child and be careful about water and other food poisoning sources (such as rice and buffet food) and sun and heat, I don't think you have to avoid vast swathes of the world because they might get ill.

That said, I'd probably avoid some parts of Africa because of infrastructure and

who said you did have jabs for malaria? I didn't. You have jabs for things like Hep A, Hep B, cholera, typhus, typhoid, yellow fever.. and anti-malarial tablets.

Actually that reminds me - when I used to live in California, we went to Mexico a lot and never took any vaccinations. I was stunned to find out that people travelling from the UK have typhoid injections before going

erm malaria resistance.

Been to Mexico with 8 yr and 12 yr old and was never told about typhoid! Why would anyone in the right mind take babies who can't tell you what is wrong or where the pain is, to CAMBODIA! No thank you!!!!

I would probably take a small child (age 4 up) to some of these places - but not a 14mo. But that's my choice. I wouldn't want to take him somewhere special and "once in a lifetime" until he was old enough to remember it - we are going to Borneo when he is 7 because I want him to remember seeing the orangutans. Just have to hope they're still there in 5 years time

We recently took DD (11 months at the time) to Corsica. Flight is only 2 1/2 hours and the island is just wonderful. Forests, mountains and very clean beaches, laid-back Italian types but it's owned by France so pretty good services. Very few Brits and amazing food. I'd deffo recommend taking a little one there, they were so kind to DD and she enjoyed (yes, I did say that!) the flights.

Oh, all that jabs thing can be a money spinner. I'm not anti vaxxer by any means but you really don't need them half the time.

Good medical insurance and safe precautions and a sense opf

Rgarding business class, before I had a child I was adamant that kids should be at the back. Now I don't feel that way at all, but I would ask yourself why you are spending the not-inconsiderable-extra-cash. If it's for the comfort, well, to be honest flying on your own in a massive superking size bed won't make much difference. Your attention and your stress will be squarely focused on keeping your kid entertained and not shrieking or running off or tipping things over. So the niceness, comfort and film-watching extras fade into the background. You could really put that money to good use for something on the trip.

If you are breastfeeding it may be easier. I just plugged and went for most of the trip. Still didn't stop her crying her head off sometimes.

"Borneo when he is 7 because I want him to remember seeing the orangutans. Just have to hope they're still there in 5 years time"

I went there when I was 6 months pregnant (so about 20 months ago) and they were still there. Sad state, isn't it.

I plan the same when my child is older. I want to take her back to where she was born.

I have promised to take my DS to Sri Lanka in a few years to see the elephants