What's your most relaxing holiday with a toddler?

[ThePartyArtist]

We've been planning a holiday in Holland, combining a city break with a center parcs-type holiday camp (swimming pool and activities). However I have recently been diagnosed with a health problem that means my energy levels are likely to be too low to manage this.

What's the most relaxing (if that's possible) holiday you've had with a 2.5 year old?

Ideally we'd like sunshine in September but not too hot. And not a cheesy all inclusive with entertainment etc.

Flexible on location - UK or Europe. If in Europe it would need to be accessible by public transport as we don't want the hassle of transporting car seats or using taxis / coaches without them.

Ha!! Was coming onto say efteling theme park in Holland

We found Barcelona very chilled when we went with 2.3yo. Stayed in an apartment so ate out for lunch and in for tea (8pm restaurant wouldn’t have worked for us or DD). Can give way more details if you’re interested?

Another vote for Efteling or Eurocamp.

I've got an autoimmune disease and get very tired. For us the key is somewhere with a crèche so we can have a break. Totstotravel.co.uk have good places.

Depending on what you can cope with, I'd recommend a beach holiday in Greece, as September is good for avoiding the crowds and having decent weather. An Apartment with a pool and near a good, sandy beach would be ideal if you want to chill out and have the odd day trip if you feel like it.
Not sure about public transport apart from Crete, which has a good bus service and plenty of taxis.

Benalmadena in Spain would be easy. It's a bit built up but the payback is the facilities. It has a big sandy beach. You can get the train there from Malaga airport.

Puerto Polensa Mallorca. Or any of the small (most of them) resorts in Menorca

Porto pollensa is great for toddlers. Lovely shallow beach (especially at the pine walk end). You can get a bus from the airport.
Also if you want to spend a bit more Sani in Greece is great. Very children friendly, kids clubs, and they offer free transport to the hotel (with car seats) if you book direct and stay for more than 5 nights.

Forest holidays with woodland trails, wellie walks, places to go wandering and enjoying "mini-beast hunts" and finding bits of wood, brick and stuff lying around to make hedgehog hotels and bug hides.

We never did sunny beach hols abroad with ours it was pretty simple, rustic and good old fashioned muddy puddles, sitting out scouting for deer, badges and foxes in the middle of the night with night vision goggles and getting them out and in the open.

I found an sc apartment the easiest with DD. Alternatively a decent family room/apartment where you don’t sleep in the same room. So you can put toddler down for a nap, rest yourself and in the evenings do what you want while toddler is sleeping and you don’t have to be quite as a mouse. Most AI restaurants start at 6.30/7pm and are often buffets so no Long waiting for food.

The area around Port de Pollensa or Port d’Alcudia on Majorca are great. Lots to do and easy to go around by bus.

Amalfi coast in Italy may be another option.

We used to go to Centerparcs in Holland every year from when dd was 3 and found it very relaxing

We love a bit of cheesy AI entertainment with our 2 little ones. And yes to pp suggesting an apartment so there is a main living area you can be in when they're asleep or napping in the bedroom. I've found I can sleep by the pool too while DH is in pool or playground with them as I struggle with energy levels too. We've always enjoyed Majorca. Sa Coma was nice or Pollensa.

I Hope you find what you want.

But I had a totally different attitude. But then I've always had great holidays with ds's as toddlers. And I have low energy. Which is why all inclusive: pool, kids club, endless burgers and ice-creams, entertainment, activities, clubs, drawing, archery, shooting, all the things that came with an all inclusive suited us perfectly.

Neilsons. Fantastic nannies make it a proper holiday. Eurocamp is not relaxing at all with toddlers (I have done it)