Can anyone let me know their ideas for the holiday of a life time with a toddler and maybe pregnant?

[dissapointedafternoon]

I'm likely to be able to go on a beast of a holiday next year pending my health improving.

We are currently three people
25 yrs woman
19 month son
33 yrs husband

We enjoy either the lap of luxury or the total wilderness.

I want to fly somewhere exotic and do life changing activities.

My husband is a real adrenaline junkie and can't stay still so water sports and cycling, trekking I don't know what else but not diving are all his bag.

My son loves playing with other kids so a brilliant set of activities for children is really important

I'm lazy tired and like laying in the sun or doing something with animals but not this whole stroke a leopard business.

I love the beach and food. We need two rooms or a villa.

Budget tbc but go as amazing as you can think of and let me know where you have been.
Time of the year doesn't matter too much but as we have our own business it's important we don't go somewhere that 2 weeks is too short a holiday ;)

Ps if you have travelled business class is it worth it long haul? I haven't ever travelled business class and always use economy. Long haul we last did we just got drunk and took diazepam but we didn't have a child so now comfort is more important!

Flying and pregnancy may be a problem. Some of these plans do not sound very well thought out if a baby is on the way.

Business class is worth it longhaul: you get to sleep. Whether your toddler will let you sleep is another matter. Whether other travellers will get any sleep with your toddler around is also another matter. You may not be popular!

The airlines have rules about flying when pregnant and you will need adequate insurance. Ditto for any adrenaline activities. Several are available on the Garden Route in South Africa such as bungee jumping and shark cage “diving”, if that floats your boat. Great beaches and excellent places to stay make this attractive.

My idea of longhaul luxury with activities wouldn’t be with a child at all! At least not a toddler. I would just do a beach resort in the Caribbean such as Little Dix Bay in Virgin Gorda.

If I am pregnant it will be first trimester. As I said I don't like the activities and just want to lay around .
My son wouldn't be wrecking my experience I just want something that caters for him too.

Ive seen some villas in Mauritius at a resort which look great for kids and also families.

a close family member went to Seychelle Prasline Lemura and said the service was amazing. the staff at the kids club made the holiday very special for everyone.

Every time we have tried to do fantastic holidays with toddlers or babies, it's frankly been a disaster. You are better off hedging your bets and going for a tried and tested safe family option, and saving the 'holiday of a lifetime' funds until the child/ren are old enough to remember them. Long haul is tricky as toddlers do not understand jet lag, often hate children's clubs in fancy resorts, need set nap times which require missing half a day, early nights which preclude fancy dinners, and barf or get sick at the slightest sign of a parent relaxing.

If this is likely to be the only time you can manage a big trip, I would seriously consider taking grandma/ a nanny, or friendly aunt along to provide childcare so that you don't spend a fortune doing exactly what you do at home, and can actually enjoy at least some of the holiday.

We spent two weeks in Jamaica and really only enjoyed an hour on the beach late every afternoon. on a different occasion we ended up on a six hour re-route of a 9 hour flight due to a medical emergency (not ours) with a 3yo, a 14mo and me pregnant. Ds1 got double pneumonia in the Canadian Rockies at 2 mos. Both me and ds1 caught noro virus at Disney and spent 48 hours leaking at both ends. We got caught in a hurricane in New Orleans.... In all honestly, the holidays we all (adults and children) most enjoyed when they were tiny were two weeks every summer in a self catering cottage on the Isle of Wight.

I'd have a look at South Africa or New Zealand for a mixture of beach, adrenaline and wildlife.

Definitely business class if you can for long haul.

If by "holiday of a lifetime" you mean blowing the budget and forking out more than you ever have before or ever will again on a single memorable holiday never-to-be-repeated then for gods sake don't do it this year. Wait till your youngest is at least 6 and do it then.

A toddler and a pregnancy will make this year's holiday "memorable" in exactly the wrong way wherever you go, so keep it simple. Stick with short-haul or even UK.

No not holiday of a life time I'm just a spoilt brat and I have had a very hard year and want the lap of luxury after it all.
Ive got a life time of holidays ahead of me I'm only young!!
I'll check into the other bits.
I think I've seen some stuff about Bensons villas on another thread which I like

G x

Just because I’ve seen a few threads on it recently - if you’re planning/hoping for a pregnancy make sure you steer clear of anywhere with the Zika virus.

@thepatchworkcat that is a really really valid point!!

Husband not interested in Mauritius or the island type places I would like as he said he would be worried if I was ill and also that he would feel trapped which is also a fair point.
It's not easy is it

No. That’s why most of us don’t go to islands even if we are just a bit pregnant. A miscarriage would worry me enough not to go.

As for NZ with a toddler!!! Utter madness unless you are visiting family.

There is little time difference in SA. There are Great beaches and fantastic restaurants not to mention amazing places to stay and you could even visit Addo Elephant Park with your toddler. Decent health care too.

If you just want to relax, just look at one of the hotel booking sites and choose the best hotel! In the Caribbean you would be spoilt for choice. Many have spas and child care with a nanny available. DH could try sailing at some of the resorts or learn to dive. Definitely worth doing in the BVI. However they are islands and your DH still may not like them.

Go and stay somewhere swish in the South of France? There is also the Forte Village in Sardinia.