Where shall we go with a 15 month old in August?

[BluPeony]

This will be our first holiday as a family. We have 2 weeks booked off in early August for my birthday but would likely go for a week and spend the rest of the time at home.

I would love a beachy sea side holiday but conscious that baby can't go in the sea and probably can't stay out in the sun for long.

Pre baby DP and I loved city and beach breaks, lots of walking and exploring. We love water in general, rivers, lakes etc. We would probably rent a car to drive there too as we do like to go to neighbouring cities.

I don't want to go to Turkey or Dubai - I know those are popular but it's not for me at the moment.

Personally I’d stick to UK and save your money as it’s all a pain in the arse with a baby who can’t get the enjoyment from the specific location. I’d go to Dorset (as you can tell from my username 😜) - lovely beaches, best of the UK weather, interesting places to visit for you and DH, and not too much hassle with baby.

I agree with @Durdledore. We're just back from a week in Dorset and I indeed swam under Durdle Door! UK holidays so much easier than a beach holiday somewhere hot, and you have the bonus of no airport hell with a toddler. We've also had brilliant UK holidays in North Wales, Northumberland, and Yorkshire. Usually with a couple of days in a city attached.

It would be no fun to go somewhere very hot but beyond that babies are easy to travel with.Everything is new for them and they will have both of you to pay them attention. You won't be out clubbing or lying around sunbathing for hours but most other activities are adaptable. Choose a destination that appeals to you.

When DS was that age, we rented a lovely cottage with a big safe garden near the coast in Suffolk. It was genuinely relaxing. DS had his first experience of sand, sea (paddling) and ice cream. Save going abroad until he is older.

Thanks, we do plenty of UK trips and actually went to Devon in March! We will continue to do UK trips but would really like to go abroad in August.

I’m looking for something similar, OP, so fed up of the lack of summer here. Our baby is younger so if we go we’ll probably do it in September/October but I’m struggling to decide where to go that would be pram friendly with limited research time.

I might suggest Menorca could be an option? I’ve been before and it had good bus services, the ciutadella is nice and walkable, there was often a breeze to keep it feeling a tad cooler when I’ve been.

I was going to suggest Menorca as well. Lots of lovely beaches, some with very shallow water which would be great for a 15 month old to splash about in.
Family friendly resorts, not to far by plane, all resorts within an hour of the airport (some much nearer than that). Perfect place for a holiday with a small child.

We took our children there from 6 months old, and have always had a great time.

I came to suggest Menorca too!

Would you be ok with self catering or a normal hotel? Maybe look at Lake Constance, Starnberger See or Chiemsee in Germany, Zell am See in Austria?

Lots to do with a toddler.

I personally hate the heat in southern Europe and definitely wouldn't want to bring a baby to 35+ degrees.

I think I’d go somewhere Scandi. Hot August Mediterranean beaches are not much fun with a baby.

Majorca is great.

But why can't a 15 month old go in the sea?

San Sebastián? Not too hot, a few beaches in the town one for surfing and one v gentle and shallow.

Does it need to be August? September will still be hot, but not too hot for little one, much cheaper, quieter and therefore much more nicer experience.

All the Balearics, Ibiza is our favourite. Short flight, not too hot, great beaches, family friendly. Why can't they go in the sea? Mine did from much younger than that.

What makes you think a 15 month old can't go in the sea ?

Of course they can

Why can’t babies go in the sea? I literally grew up in one. We spent 4 months of the year on the beach and going into the water from birth - babies as young as 2/3 months old are (gently) laid in shallow sea water all summer long, where I’m from.

Yes because it's my birthday and we've both booked 2 weeks off already and shifts have been scheduled so difficult if not impossible to change at this point.

Same. We did Dorset first, Norfolk the following year. Third year we did Menorca with a 4m old in tow as well as almost 3yo, very manageable family friendly resort. Not my cup of tea though at all.

With tiny tots you can’t beat a haven type holiday, going abroad will be a bit stressful with a little one especially in august when it’s really hot and busy. If you really want to go abroad I’d go for a quieter hotel and ideally with a splash pool you can let the little one run about it, or one of you will have to be on constant watch that the little one isn’t falling in the big pool. Also get an apartment rather than a room. You don’t want to be sitting in silence so as not to wake the little one when they go down to sleep. Somewhere like Minorca or the algarve might be good to keep the flight times short, crying babies and long flights are not a good combo!