Exotic Holiday with a Toddler - ideas?

[urbangiraffe]

Before having our DS, our favourite kind of holidays were places like Africa, Far East, South America. bit off the beaten track and certainly not feeling anything like home. Had thought we were now destined for much more conservative kinds of holidays, til a friend pointed out we can probably get away with another before he will really care where he is. Now looking for ideas.

Think we can probably get away with long-haul if we fly at night. Ideally would be somewhere with a mix of stuff DS would enjoy, and things for us. And obviously kid-friendly people!

DS will be about 20months in Feb, and we're probably looking at a couple of weeks sometime between Feb and May.

Anyone been anywhere good?

What do you want to do on your holiday? See city/cultural sights, or hang out on the beach?

20 months isn't a brilliant time for long-haul flights, tbh. You may be able to fly at night one way, but it will be day on the return leg (or vice versa). At 20 months, he will need entertaining - but be too young for dvd's etc.

Having said that, there is only one of him and two of you so as long as you are willing to walk him around the plane three million times on the flight, don't be put off.

There's lots of great, child-friendly hotels in Thailand. I live in the Caribbean and there are plenty here as well, but it isn't particularly "exotic" if that is what you want. How about Egypt or Morocco - a bit closer to home but still fairly exotic?

South Africa? Wide range of activities/sights, little time difference?

Tulum. Not too long flight and really beautiful.
If you want to stay closer to hospitals..... Isla de la mujeres.
Don't go to cancun, the sea is too rough and big resort are not your style. Playa del carmen is nice for your ds as well, but not really exotic

I would highly recommend Sri Lanka. You will get a good mix of experiences (great beaches, big cities, wilderness, culture etc). We went when our DS was 11 months, the locals really spoilt him- for example the waiters would take him off to play during meals when he had finished.
We had a car with a driver which was great (and very reasonably priced) and stayed in four different locations over the 15 days we were there. We went with a company called 'Red Dot Tours'. Distances aren't huge, which is a obvious advantage with a toddler.

The Thais love children. We spent a month there a few years back en route to Oz. Our kids were 3,8,13 so obviously very different needs but there were a few families around with little ones and the locals much preferred us to all the rude big kids (aka backpackers). With one toddler there's not much you couldn't do as long as you're happy to have him crash out beside you in the evenings.

We stayed on Kho Tao - you can fly from Bangkok to Kho Samui and get the ferry across. There were some nice "resorts" right on the beach - basically a collection of nice huts with a pool and bar/restaurant. We rented a villa a bit out of town (but still walking distance to the beach) with it's own pool. It was nice to be able to chill out in our own space sometimes.

sunnydelight - we are looking at doing the excact same thing in thailand next year with a 4 month old. Are you able to email me with details of the villa that you rented. I love Kho Tao and cant wait to return. My email address is nat _ aitken at hotmail dot com. Thanks so much.....

Urbangiraffe I've just returned from Mexico and would thoroughly recommend it for families. Stayed at the Iberostar Tucan hotel in Playa del Carmen and it was fabulous. The staff are wonderful and always took the time to speak to and 'high-5' my four year old son. They are very accomodating for children and I saw loads of families with really young kids there. I think your wee one would have a ball.

Kenyan Coast?