Where is warm(ish) in March but short(ish) flight?

[MeadowHay]

Just musing really. Would like to do a holiday in March 2020, would be DH and I, and DD who would be 18 months. The thought of a long plane journey fills me with dread, I imagine it's hard to travel with them at that age as they get bored etc? But ideally somewhere where it would be 18+ degrees would be great, but dunno if id be willing to do the plane journey required to get somewhere that warm in March. Just been to the costa del sol a few weeks ago with DD and it was unseasonably warm there which was lovely! But I know it's not usually so warm at that time of year. Any ideas for a good destination?

My father has just got back from Nice were is was 22 degrees. No idea if that's normal for Nice.

22c is not normal for Nice in March, the average high is around 15c. www.yr.no/place/France/Provence-Alpes-Côte_d’Azur/Nice/statistics.html

I was in the South of France in mid May last year and it was cool and wet then, so you very lucky for it be that warm as early as March.

OP Canary's probably your best bet, although even then not guaranteed, if that's a short enough flight time for you?

I would look at booking something in the canaries, warm but not too hot for a little one

Agree only canaries really and even then it will be nippy at night, and that's four hourse. Does it have to be March, June gives lots more short haul choices.

Hm yeah I thought so. Probably slighter longer flight than I would want ideally but I guess doable? Has anyone flown with an 18 month old before, I guess it depends on the child though and there's no way of knowing what she will be like yet! Looking for March because DH will have finished uni but could go away before he starts a job. Thought it would probably be much cheaper and quieter too than in the summer. Any canary reccommendations? Neither of us been before.

Gub, probably around the time we were in Costa del sol where it was 23 degrees most days, but that wasn't normal for there at all, we were expecting 17-18.

Playa Blanca, Lanzarote.

We took our DS to Lanzarote for his first holiday at 18 Months, flight wise he was fine, we flew mid afternoon going so held off his nap until the flight, he did get a little bit tetchy in the airport, but food and toys soon helped that, and it meant he slept pretty much the whole flight. We got him a straw cup for taking off and landing and as he didn't usually use one the novelty factor meant he drank out of it when we asked him to to stop ear popping, his dummy helped too.

Coming home it was a late evening flight, so I changed him into his pjs at the airport and again he slept most of the way home.

Take a bag of toys that your LO hasn't seen before, snacks etc and every so often pick one out to play with.

Destination wise, Lanzarote is lovely for families, we stayed in Costa teguise, it was October, but it was busy enough for an atmosphere, but in no way crowded, nice and flat to walk around and lots of choice in accommodation.

We have also been to caleta de fuste on fuertaventura (pre baby) this again was a nice resort, easy to navigate and family friendly.

Most areas of the canaries are family friendly, and fairly warm in March.

he slept most of the flight?! Wow. DD slept for an hour on the outbound flight to Malaga - 30 mins when taking off and then 30 minutes just before landing. And this was a 7am flight and shed been up since 5am as opposed to her usual 7ish wake up! Then on the return journey she had a 30 min nap in the middle and then a 20 min nap before landing. She hardly sleeps in the daytime and has always been like this so far so I doubt she will suddenly start having lovely long naps at 18 months lol so that's why I get so anxious about the idea of a long flight. The return journey was a bit stressful as she whinged and cried quite a bit. Did he sit on your lap or have his own seat?

He sat on my knee for most of it, swapped a couple of times with DH, I found it a bit uncomfy holding him for that long.

He's always been an I'm sleeper, we have been lucky with that, our youngest doesn't sleep in the day though even though he's only 5 mths!

Her own seat may help if she's isn't a napper, and will save your arms!

We are off again in a few months, with our DS who is nearly 3 (will now have his own seat) and our youngest who will only be just over 7 months (never flown before). I'm nervous this time about taking them!

I was going to say Costa del Sol. We were there in February and had fabulous weather. Last year we had lovely weather in April (one day of rain only) and the year before lovely weather in March. Quick, cheap flights in and out of Malaga and we always stay in Benalmadena which is only 20 minutes away from the airport.

We flew to mainland Spain with ds when he was 12months, Canary Islands 20 months, Cyprus 23 months and he's been on internal U.K. flights. Just take a tablet, snacks, books and little toys like cars. A dummy too if they have one.
DS is a very active toddler and we've managed just fine.
I can recommend fuertaventura.

We are planning to brave North Carolina in October and he'll have just turned 3 so more easily bribed hopefully

In my experience toddlers are much better nappers than babies.
As a baby ds would nap 30 minutes at a time, at 18 months it was 2-3 hours. Aim for a flight leaving around 11am, you'll have an hour to get settled and give her something to eat, she'll be asleep at 12

Thanks everyone for the replies! Thinking Canary Islands might be a good shout in that case. There will be DH and me to share the load like. I get a bit travel sick as well so usually stick to shorter flights, haven't done a flight longer than 2 and a half hours in years so not sure how well I would fare but I guess we won't know without trying. A relative is taking their 3 year old to New York in a few months, actually she will be close to 4 by then tbf.

This website Weather2Travel is really useful when trying to figure out how warm places are likely to be in any given month of the year. I use it all the time when booking out of season.

Southern Spain should be mild and around that temp, as could southern Italy, Sicily and Malta. Cyprus might be warmish too. Canaries are a safe and child-friendly bet.

South of Spain. We go every year at Easter and it's lovely. Though it depends if you want a pool holiday or just one where the sun is shining and you can wander around in shorts. The Canaries is too far for me on a plane so I forgo the pool.

Just a thought...I always found long haul (Mexico/Caribbean) easier with babies and toddlers. Larger planes and a nicer experience. I only started short haul when they started school due to price hikes during school holidays.

Can’t guarantee costa del sol heat in March. Last week was lovely, today was only 16c, I had to have my fleece on walking the dog on the beach this morning.

Canary Islands should be lovely in March. Fuerteventura is lovely.

Seconding Playa Blanca, Lanzarote. Went there a few weeks ago, absolutely wonderful. Quite cool at night, but very warm during the day and lots to see.

I would say cyprus will be very pleasant in march. I would take a look at one of the all inclusive hotels in Marrakesh, Morocco as the temps this week are between 27-30 degrees.

Just came back from Tenerife on Wednesday, weather was fab the three weeks we were there
Cool on a night...light jacket, leggings that sort of thing

.wouldbe 22-26 by day
18-20 bynight

I have just got back from Tenerife too! Lovely weather the whole time we were there.

We stayed in Los Cristianos which is very relaxing and easy with dc. I have been there several times now and we started going when DS was 18 months. I found the morning flight going out and the late evening flight coming home worked best for us with their sleep etc.

We came home once when dd was 2 and she slept from just before take off right through until the following morning. Through landing, customs, getting to our car, everything!