Where have you successfully holidayed with your toddler?

[MrsJoeMcIntyre]

Right, here's the thing: I don't really like going on holiday. However, I recognise that my family do, so I am happy to go. Pre-dd, dh and I used to do beach holidays in the main, until one year I got sunstroke, which terrified me, and I now have a bit of a heat-related phobia.

We took dd to mainland Spain last year with my parents in July, and had a perfectly nice time, although I spent most of the holiday worrying about whether she was too hot, taken enough fluids, what if she got ill, yada yada yada. I also disliked being in a hotel room (she was 14mo at the time), as it was so restrictive for a toddler.

I was contemplating a villa holiday this year, but what I would really like to do, is something different. I considered skiing, but have come to the conclusion dd is still a bit little.

Does anyone have any suggestions??

Disclaimer: I am not really a whinging old bag in RL.

Hi MrsJoeMcIntyre - I agree with you!!

I'm not too bothered about travelling and I'm not too keen on the sun either - so I know where you are coming from!! Holidays are over-rated imo and they rarely live up to our high (and generally unrealistic) expectations of them but I probably AM a whinging old bag!

Actually, I think we need to readjust our understanding of the word "holiday" once we have dc. It's not a holiday you are going on - you will not be rested - you are "travelling with children"!! Particularly when they are v. small ... .

If I could afford to rent a cottage in the country for the entire summer in the UK I would just camp there quite happily (I live abroad) - as long as dd was getting some fresh air and could roll around in a bit of mud!

Funnily enough though, I was just reading one of Vicky Iovine's child-rearing books "Getting your groove back" in which she questions her dh about why they go through the hell of taking four small dc on holiday each year. He replies " because we are creating their memories" ... and if I think back to my own childhood I think he has a good point ....(admits grudgingly)

I was going to suggest taking some adults with you so that you and your dh get a little time to yourselves - we would love to be able to do that - but I can see that you have already tried that and it didn't help!!

How about Kinder holidays (there is often an ad or a link on the Mumsnet homepage)??

A friend of mine took hers to one of their hotels in the alps last summer and the dc had a lovely time in the kid's club in the morning while she had spa treatments and her dh played golf and then they had family time together in the afternoons. It depends on the personality and age of your dd though and whether they are still having an afternoon nap.

Nowadays dh and I like going on cycling holidays (dd is 5). We hire two adult bikes (one with mini-bike attached - the small bike kind of morphs in to the large one) and we roll along quite happily. We've done this v. successfully in France, Holland and Belgium and dd loves it. We've tended to fix our own routes and accommodation but some firms do all that for you and carry your luggage to that night's accommodation as well ...

Hope you have fun whatever you choose to do!

South of France in a villa. Lazed around during the day or went swimming, put DD down in her cot in the evening and cooked a (basic) meal which we ate on the patio with a bottle of wine. Very relaxing.

Similar holiday in Tuscany, this time with 2 DC. Fab swimming pool on the campsite. A couple of excursions. Tuscany was a bit cooler in the evenings so was pleasant.

We often went in Sept/October when it is not so warm.

Both times we took my parents with us so were able to get away for the day alone.

Mme - do you have any links of places you have been before? Sounds perfect.

Counting - so glad it's not just me!

MrsJoe
We have been to the campsite in Tuscany several times over the years. They keep adding more bits to it.

The last time we were there we stayed in the larger bungalow (really not suitable for 4 adults and 2 DC tbh, but we were outdoors most of the time anyway) They are down in the lower campsite though, you would be better off in a mobile home or in the Villa Norcenni at the top campsite.

The pool at the top campsite is fab for wee ones. We took the wee train up there most days as it was better for our DC. DS was 2yo and DD 4yo. They LOVED it and DD still talks about going back to Italy, over 2 years later.

Hoseason's holiday camps in UK. Not bothered about weather being great to be honest, DH & I aren't fans of the sun, beaches etc.
Lots of stuff to do on site & they're usually near majot resorts and attractions so lots for DS to do

How about a boating holiday? We did that twice in France and it was fab. Different place each day. Nice slow pace of life. Eating on deck, or pulling up by a local restaurant. You can get very child friendly boats.

We stayed here and there are other similar places in Cornwall/ Devon. Fab with a toddler and they are very kind to the grown-ups too.

We have been here:

www.thomsonalfresco.co.uk/lepianacce

which was lovely in a beautiful setting. Went in September and weather was gorgeous

and here:

www.chateaurigaud.co.uk/

twice in May. Weather a bit more changeable then Italy, but managing a few days lazing round the pool.

The Al Fresco option means that you have more than one room; we only have one dd (2.5) and found we had bags of space. The Chateau option is GORGEOUS and although you share a room, there are so many lounges, playrooms etc that it doesn't....plus the quality childcare and other families to chat to. I really can't recommend it highly enough; there are reviews on the travel review section as well.

cat64 are you in my head?
all of cats!

I have to accommodate my parents too, and I know that my dad will want to go abroad. Plus, dh is from the Lake District, so he doesn't really do 'British' holidays!

notyummy - I have no idea how that chateau thing works - so you book a room, and you're with other families in a big chateau? And it's in Bordeaux?

I am totally thick when it comes to booking holidays!

Mme and notmummy - those all look very nice. I like those little bungalows. Much beter than being stuck in a hotel.

Nellyup - we have stayed at Higher Lank too, and it was fantastic. Will be going back this year.

There are actually three options with the Chateau; you can get together a group and book the whole place; I think they do rent the rooms out individually in off peak periods as well. Lastly (and best IMHO) is the House Party, where you book to go along for one of their pre-arranged weeks (they tend to 'build' these around when a number of families are available). You can either do a family one where everyone has kids and there is childcare inc in the mornings, or perhaps one of the wine ones....not everyone will have kids on those ones, but there is a fab baby listening system and huge play gallery, so the whole place is very family friendly. The people who own and run it are LOVELY and have 2 young kids of their own. Nobody knows each other on arrival (although if you brought your parents then obviously you would!)but we have met some really lovely people. You don't have socilaise if you don't want to (although evening meals are generally together...food and wine are top notch btw)and there is enough space to do your own thing. They are building a mini REN spa treatment room this year as well.

Acinonyx
The bungalows are pretty basic but ok. They are a good bit away from the newer pool complex which is better for smaller children. The pool in the lower campsite is fine for older kids and adults but the upper campsite pool is just great. Huge shallow pool, baby pool, slides etc.

I noticed that notyummy's link to Thomson holidays offered Norcenni holidays as well. We compared the prices at the time and booking directly with the campsite was a lot cheaper. It might be different now with the Euro being so strong. I believe that Eurocamp was there too.

The restaurants and cafes are very good. I don't know if the wine bar in the Villa Norcenni is still open, it was lovely in the evening.

Thomson mobiles were VERY nice and exactly as they were in the brochure. They have only enetered the market within the last few years, so their stock is new IYSWIM. We had a nosy around a couple of other ones from different companies to comapre and they were a bit more 'tired'.

It may well be cheaper booking direct; we got some good deals with Al Fresco though(2 mobiles for the price of one....excellent for when you are taking parents with you like we will be this year!)

Walking distance to beautiful hilltop town as well, and about 10 mins cycle ride from beach.

Hi MrsJoeMcIntyre

If you are looking for a really family friendly villa in south of France, my parents rent out theirs. They have an advert here on the small ads and they have 1 week available from 4th - 11th July and 2 weeks in Sept (my favourite time of year!) from 12th - 24th Sept. They offer discounts to Mumsnetters and they have special offer prices on those 3 weeks too!

Hope this helps and hope you find something suitable somewhere!

OMG just saw the note at the bottom of the Thomson Al Fresco page

"Due to hygiene regulations, many parc owners have banned swim shorts, and require bathing caps to be worn. Please take conventional lycra-style trim swimwear."

Boaks at thought of fat/old/hairy men in speedos

Other than that it looks lovely, lol.

I've been to a gite in Normandy with DS1 for past 2 years - going again this summer. Its www.toddlerholiday.com - LCB. The play barn is great for entertaining toddlers, nice local markets, lovely blue flag beaches nearby and some other attractions. Great v low key holiday. We took family with us last year and they all loved it; taking friends with toddler this year too.

Have also done a few days away in the UK at Luxury family hotels - pretty pricy but definitely set up for holidays with toddlers...

Have also taken our toddler to the US twice; he loved the flights and the breaks (were in NY for one trip; Washington and Shenandoah National Park for another trip) so dont be scared of going further afield. And the jet lag coming back wasnt even that bad..

Didn't have a toddler when we went here, but would take dd in a heartbeat - there was a family with two toddlers when we were there, and Italy is just fab for wee ones anyway: villa i bossi.

notyummy (I'm sure you are!) can I pick your brains about that campsite le pianacce.

It looks gorgeous but I'm not sure why it's recommended as toddler-friendly as it seems v. steep and there doesn't seem to be much space around the mobiles to play.

Can you tell me what was so great about it?

Thanks a million.

Simply Travel - have been to Corsica, Greece (Crete and Zykynthos) and used their Creches, gone in Sept when its a bit cooler and its been lovely and relaxing. They only do Lefkas and Crete now but Crete has changed to a dif. location with no toddler pool which put us off returning. (Although the location is great, lots of fab beaches and resturants nearby)

I'd say definitely take advantage of being able to holiday in June and Sept while you can, prices are horrific during school holidays and its just too hot in the Med in July and Aug imo.

Villa Pia in Tuscany looks lovely, have heard good things about it

we do avoid large Thomason Superfamily type places tbh, they're too big and too much fighting over sunbeds etc I like to get away from crowds not holiday with them.

Villa holidays in Normandy/Brittany, have been very successful organised through Brittany Ferries (as the ferry appears to be the most expensive part). We stay on farms and the children love the animals.

If you like the idea of cycling, there is a holiday company that specialises in family cycling holidays in Brittany. (I just can't remember what they're called).

I've taken mine to campsites in france - Brittany and the Vendee since dd was 3mo!! the are fantastic for toddlers especially if you go out of seasona nd the weather should suit you!!! there is so much freedom on a campsite and other families around for company and playmates!! I've posted on another thread about the sites I've been on so I'll try and find it and copy n paste for you! theis year we're going back here again in italy which is fantastic! VVV safe gorgeous beach and pools.