Holiday with 16month old - evenings...

[missmakesstuff]

We are trying to plan where to go this summer. We usually go for a few weeks to asia, and have never done package holidays or staying in the same hotel/place for any length of time...obviously this year, with toddler, things will have to be different, but unsure just how much they will have to change..we want dd to experience places, and are pretty laid back, although in routine, otherwise her sleep is totally rubbish - she wil stay up, or seep in buggy, but we pay for it with early wake ups and bad napping.

Last year we did camping in France, was great because we could put dd to bed and sit outside the tent, we did a couple of different campsites, one near Paris, managed fine, but could do with somewhere further afield and a little bit more adventurous this year - we are off to Rome in 4 weeks, for half term, so that will be a practice run of sorts, but only 4 days.

We are thinking Iceland maybe, somewhere Scandinavian, potentially taking car and doing ferry etc, or just flying and renting cottage for some of it, hotels for rest - the main worries I have are about having to go back to a hotel every evening early on, as will be very boring, and just really how to manage with heat/ getting out and about during the day, carting round loads of stuff, and entertaining dd at that age - no idea what she will be like then, but now she is into everything, trying to cruise although very happy to people watch.

So really just wondering - how much did your holidays/travelling change when you had babies, are we doomed to package 'all in' hols from now on? (sorry, know they are great and convenient, but just not my thing)

Hi,

Before our son was born we were exactly the same as you (though restricted to Europe as my husband would not fly if a gun was pointed to his head). I think our record for staying in one place was 3 nights. We would usually just get on the ferry from England for 3/4 weeks with nothing booked and stay wherever we fancied. However, when our son came along things obviously changed. The thought of staying in one place for a couple of weeks filled me with horror but I actually find now that I enjoy it. We have never had a package holiday as like you they don't really appeal.

What we usually do now is book a couple of weeks, or a week, in a somewhere self catering. The booking is done after a lot of research as to what things there are to do there, finding somewhere suitable to stay etc. I usually have a couple of vague ideas about where I fancy going and take it from there. Depending on how far we have to travel we may have a couple of nights in hotels on the way there and back. One essential anywhere we stay is to have somewhere we can stay up once our son is in bed (could be a separate room or balcony/terrace) so when he is asleep we can have a bit of time to ourselves without waking him. Ideally we book somewhere with a place to sit outside with a great view, so you can sit there in the evenings with a glass of wine and still feel like you are on holiday. I have never found it boring, on the contrary we usually enjoy having a couple of hours at the end of the day to sit and talk which you don't always do at home.

Days are devoted to mainly child centred activities but it doesn't have to be boring for your or your daughter. Most places you go you can find loads of things to do that your daughter will like and you will probably find that you enjoy them as well (my son is obsessed with steam trains so we always try and find a trip to do and I have found I love doing it as well). You may also find that she enjoys 'adult' things, my son loved the L'Orangerie in Paris seeing Monet's water lilies paintings, last week we went to the Vatican Museums in Rome and he thought it was wonderful (is now trying to do a Lego recreation!), and he has been like that since being very young. I'm sure your really won't find any problem in keeping her entertained.

You will have to cart loads of stuff around but if you are going by car it's not really a problem to transport it there. Day to day, just take the minimum with you and presuming she still uses a buggy it really is no problem - at times I wish I still had one to put stuff underneath and on the handles. You just pack what you really need - which actually isn't that much. Same as if you don't go in the car, you can manage if you take only the essentials.

I wouldn't worry too much about the heat, they seem to cope with it. Just make sure your daughter drinks lots of water , and is well covered. Not sure it would really be a problem anyway in Scandanavia! I can't really comment on holidays there, I went to Norway 25 years ago for work and just remember it was a beautiful country but very,very, very,very expensive.

To answer your final question did holidays change much - yes they did. But the thing that surprised me is that they changed for the better. It takes a lot more thought and planning but with that you will have holidays with your daughter that you will all enjoy. Seeing things through her eyes will be something you will treasure long after the holiday has ended. It will also be wonderful for her to travel and experience different things, she may not have specific memories of it but it will do her nothing but good.

Finally, when you are in Rome your daughter may enjoy a visit to the cat sanctuary in the centre of Rome ( www.romancats.com/index_eng.php ), we live near Rome and my son always enjoys going in and having a look at the cats.

Alison

Wonderful post Alison, thanks ever so much, you have filled me with confidence! I think the self catering thing is the way to go, having researched Iceland it does sound amazing, now thinking a few days in Reykjavik, in a hotel, as we can stay out with her for a few nights without the sleep going to pot too much, and then a cottage,for a week, lots to do, like you say, will be busy days and then just chilling out at the cottage. The cost isn't too bad, flights pretty cheap, and accommodation like any city prices, just food and drink are expensive relatively speaking.

As for Rome, think we will try to find a deal for a room, try and get a suite if we can, so we can do as you say, otherwise it's an evening of sneaking around in the dark watching the telly on low!
The cat sanctuary sounds cool - we have a cat, but she is scared of everything, especially DD since she pulled her tail...she is so fascinated by cats but never gets to see much of her (cat really not as stupid as we thought!).

It is showing her things, and different people and places, that I am really excited about - even at this age, I know she won't remember it, but hoping she will love it - she loves people watching.

Any other suggestions for Rome gratefully received! We will mostly try to do it on the cheap, picnic food from deli's and supermarkets if possible, weather allowing....Have heard the Roma pass is good for museums and travel? We have a little buggy to use in cities etc, handy as folds up small and can be carried on back, if we are tight for space, although can't carry much on it, I think though we will just have to be organised as you say, just take the basics.

Thanks again, I think I know really it will be ok, it's just I have had comments from people 'ooh, you're brave' etc, just for leaving the country with her last year! We do take most things in our stride, it's all an experience really, which is the point!