Mexico/Cancun with a 18 month old- bad idea?

[granitegrid]

Hi All,
We are looking at going next may when our son will be 18 months.
We have been before as a couple and really enjoyed it, albeit we have tempered expectations that this holiday will be very different with our child

I'm not sure how I feel about the flight, our parents have offered to come but have recently put some doubts on how our son might cope if he is toddling about by then( he is only 6 months now and still very much a baby) but they did offer to help on the flight.

Is this a terrible idea/ should we go somewhere closer in europe?
Flying with tui- originally thought a week might be sufficient but looking at 10 days due to flight duration

That seems like a terribly long flight for a young toddler. Surely the Canaries or Turkey? The Turkish love children and it’s easier to get to in 3 hours?

plenty of people fly long haul with a toddler. To Oz/NZ for example, you'll be fine

I would not to be honest. My 16 month old was a total horror on a short flight recently. It was all very stressful. I would wait until they were a bit older.

I would be inclined to go somewhere in Europe with a toddler.

If it is just beach and sunshine you are after, there is masses of that around the Med, all types of accommodation and lots of different cultures to choose from. Wait until they are older to really get the most out of it. The flights to Cancun are a complete bunfight for 10 hours (this is something I have far too much professional experience of, having spent 20+ years working on these flights!) and you’ve got 5hrs time zone difference. The sea is not as gentle as the Med is either. I have very cheap staff travel anywhere in the world and when my kids were younger we holidayed in France, Spain, Italy, Greece, Turkey, and had a fab time. The Mediterranean countries love children, and are very geared up for them. Cancun is a bit more geared up for partying and tourist attractions.

Mine were old enough to enjoy the jungle zipwires, snorkelling trips, cenotes and some patience for Mayan ruins when we did take them, and it was one of our most memorable holidays. It would have been a completely different, and probably disappointing, experience for all of us with a toddler.

Honestly I've just returned from Mexico and I think taking a baby on that flight is not ok-
Hell for you, hell for them and hell for the other passengers.

Also it is so hot, I am olive skinned and wear factor 50 and got burnt.

It was an adult vibe as opposed to child friendly when I went- a bit like vegas. The kids stuck out in a bad way.

We've done the Caribbean since DS was tiny flights is just too much screen time, pass the parcel aka kid (often groups of 10 plus), new small toys that get 20minute attention then the next one comes out and lots of snacks to pass the time.

DS is now 10 so it's so much easier and involves noise cancelling head phones for everyone else's screaming kids which then don't disturb me. I would go Mexico is amazing for kids

I took dd to Tenerife at that age. Hell on earth. Both the travel and the actual holiday. She vomited on the plane with the turbulence as did other children. She wasn’t interested in being in the pool and didn’t like the heat. Def wouldn’t take mine to Majorca
We took dd2 to Majorca at 16 months in May which was altogether more manageable travel and heat wise.

Done loads of long hauls with mine since she was 1 but what I would say is it's definitely easier going to Europe at that age if what you want it sea, sun and decent food.

Also if you want somewhere that has amazing kids programs even at that age I'd have a look at Scott Dunn. I used them a lot when DD14 was young and she absolutely loved it and as a lone parent I got some well needed down time.

I've just come back from South Africa (11 hour flight) with 20 month old twins. And we did a night flight and found it really easy. But we flew with BA and booked bassinet seats for the twins (no extra cost). So they slept in these seats for most of the flight. I would say the night flight was fine but think it would of been hard work during the day. Also I'm not sure if TUI offer these bassinet seats on their flights. Also South Africa is on the same time zone so no issues with jet lag which may impact your toddler with Mexico

I’m generally up for a challenge but I wouldn’t do that length of a flight with an 18 month old if I didn’t have to. At that age mine were balls of energy and did not want to sit still for any length of time. They also were too big to fit in a aeroplane bassinet at that point so there was no way to put them down - one of us had to be holding them at all times.

Add on the jet lag on the way back and you’ll all be absolutely exhausted after your holiday, which probably isn’t what you want.

We took our ds just after he turned 1 and we had a brilliant holiday. We did pay for a seat for him though and took his car seat which was a bit awkward carrying through the airport but was well worth it for the plane. It was an extra expense but I couldn’t have travelled with him on my lap for 10 hours

It’s not just the length of flight, it’s the time zone difference, that Cancun flights are full of pissed-up adults drinking the bar dry, etc. Cancun itself does not have better weather or beaches than many European holiday resorts, in fact I would say the best European beaches are far nicer than Mexican beaches, for a start there is no sargassum problem in the Med.

You need to be going that far with a toddler because there is something there that you really want to experience that you can’t get closer. I think you can get excellent beaches and sunshine far closer than 10hrs away!

Im speaking from the pov of an airline employee who has dragged my children on LH trips around the world with me since they were born - not because we were going on holiday but because I was working away over key family times of the year. It’s just nicer not to have to take them so far if you have other options. Lots of people do take their babies and toddlers on LH flights with no issues, but if I had a pound for every stressed family I had with a baby on a LH flight I would be rich!

Wrt the bassinets - they are for babies up to 6 months. There is an infant seat for babies up to 2 years old. There is also no guarantee that you will get one. I regularly have more families booked on a flight asking for the bassinets than we have available. They get angry then, because they believe they have booked one, but they have simply asked for one if it is available. If we have 3 bassinets and 7 babies on board, it is simply luck of the draw if you get one. Whether you have a bassinet or not, if the seat belts are on, the child must be on your lap with the extension seat belt fitted. We switch the seatbelts on for any expected, predicted or actual turbulence. Just because the seat belt signs are on but there is no turbulence at that moment does not mean it is safe to get your baby off your lap. We frequently spend time flying around large thunderstorms, especially in the tropics, and if it is dark it is not always possible to see them. We also cannot see wake turbulence or clear air turbulence associated with jet streams, but we can talk to other aircraft who have experienced it and might switch on the signs as a precaution. We had a situation last week where we hit clear air turbulence and everything that was not secured in the cabin (trolleys, crew members, bags, etc) was lifted off the floor. Thankfully all babies were strapped in this time, but we still have passengers who don’t want to disturb their baby when they are asleep and lift them out of the bassinet to secure them. My most recent disruptive passenger incident was a very entitled mother who would not secure her child properly and was on the verge of the police being called to meet her on landing - she was convinced of ‘her rights’ and I was convinced she was not. And I was in charge, so my word was final!

If all of that still sounds like a great start to a holiday, then crack on, I won’t persuade you otherwise. I’d still be off to Greece, Turkey or Croatia, or even Spain, Italy or the south of France for a beach holiday with a toddler though!

@TheRulerofThings it depends on the airline with the toddler seats. My 20/21 month olds fitted in the toddler seats during our recent flight. We even managed to squeeze 1 twin into the cot (as only 1 toddler seat on the flight) although it was a very tight squeeze. They stayed in the seats for most of the 12 hour flight (apart from during turbulence)

Might be ok but I really dont see the point, you can have just as much enjoyment short haul with a child that age.
We went to Mexico last October with Teens and it was great but i dont think it would be worth a long flight with young children, most of the stuff we enjoyed would not have been suitable for under 10's

I've done a couple of recent trips to the area, one just me and DH and the other with teen DC. I wouldn't take an 18 month-old a) because the flight is so long, b) Cancun in May is ridiculously hot, and c) because they won't remember it and you'll be too knackered to get the most out of it. Another consideration is Zika virus if you might possibly be pregnant with a second baby by then.

Save the big trips for when your DC is old enough to do more than swim and play with sand.

Accidental duplicate.

No idea why that posted multiple times, sorry!

I’ve been to Cancun with a 2YO because we lived in US so it was a very short and easy flight, that we got for free because reward programs don’t make you pay $$$ in taxes there, and it was proper hot whilst we were in blizzard winter. It was totally meh. Fine for a quick sun break but why anyone would fly from the UK and spend 1000s to go there is completely beyond me. Also, take it from someone who has done a lot of transatlantic travel with babies and toddlers, 18MO is a very tough age. 6 months under, easy peasy, asleep a lot in the bassinet, not yet mobile so don’t want to go anywhere. 3+ also easy, basically once they develop the concentration to watch movies. In between, it’s difficult. Unless it’s visiting family, or attending a wedding or something that means you have to go that far I’d personally avoid it.

I'd look at Canaries if you want sun. Otherwise Mauritius might be a better option as no jet lag, and there's direct flights. I was also going to mention Zika if you are thinking of another child.

I took my DC away loads in Europe when they were toddlers and babies but waited until they were 5 before going long haul.

It was the time difference more than the flight length that put me off as mine were brilliant sleepers and I didn’t want that messed up.

I am sure you’d have a good time once you got there. I went this February and flew premium economy, there was a toddler and the two slightly bigger seats between the family of three worked well. So would flying premium be an option?

How about a Caribbean island so the flight is a bit shorter?

Not just for a holiday. I'd go closer to home and save all that flight time.

I'm mystified as to why you would want to fly all that way to have a holiday that it will be too hot for your little one to be outside in. So you have a difficult flight there, then you have jet lag, heat, sun, mosquitoes, then you have a difficult flight back.

Have never been so can't comment on whether it's baby friendly but my first question is what vaccinations will need to be in place for a baby that young? A friend had a nasty experience in Tunisia where both children ended up in hospital after raging diarrhoea despite every precaution with bottled water etc. Just too small to understand not to swallow the bathwater was the assumption. Always made me wary of sun destinations when they are very small.

She got a huge telling off from her GP on her return as the kids hadn't been given hepatitis jabs and had to go for regular blood tests for a bit.

May is lovely in most of the Med. Worth bearing in mind that it's handy to be able to prep your own food when they are that age. So while all inclusive sounds lovely, it's definitely worth getting recommendations on family friendly resorts if that's your preference.

We took ds to Mexico when he was just 2 and then Cuba when he was 3 and both times had great holidays and did not just stay in the resort. Yes flights are long but ds was very good. It was got but we were careful and had so much fun. The med is easier and you will enjoy but long haul is do able too.

Hello! I don't think it's a terrible idea, but you might just find it easier to book something closer to home.

We've flown with a 15 month old (transatlantic) and it was ok... but tbh daytime flight did play on my mind in the run up to it (was dreading it). It ended up being ok: only had to go up and down the aisles a couple of times, whereas i had dreaded being constantly on the move. We splashed out on an airport hotel the night before travelling so as not to have had her cooped up in the car before the flight even began.

We also did a nighttime transatlantic flight which was completely fine.

For the flight (if travelling during daytime hours), if you can stretch to upgrading to premium economy so your toddler has room to stretch their legs on the floor by your feet - while the seatbelt sign is off - that will make a big difference. Take loads of snacks and toys (like the travel scribble pad type things).

We have found our toddler deals fine with time differences, but takes a while to settle well into sleeping in a new environment. I think most resorts don't take toddlers in kids clubs so you'll need to choose carefully if you'd like a bit of childcare (other than your folks!). Resorts with buffets are great as no long waits for food.

Overall, I would say go for it if you're prepared to have a bit of an uncomfy journey.

We will be choosing to holiday closer to home next time, but didn't regret our transatlantic trip.