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Holidays

Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

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Original poster

New baby - not sure how to holiday!

16 replies

passionberry · 27/06/2010 18:36

Any advice would be much appreciated!

Have got 9 week old first baby, at first we thought we wouldn't bother with a holiday abroad at all this year. Now we're feeling a bit sad that we haven't got a holiday to look forward to!

We usually go camping in England, go to festivals, and go to my parent's place abroad. All those things seem a bit stressful to contemplate with a very young baby - I feel nervous about things like struggling with foreign buses, language barriers if baby gets ill etc. And festival/ campsite toilets!

I was just thinking of maybe a package type holiday in September (because there would be an english rep and travelling would be easier). But I have never really been on a package holiday before - what are good companies to look at? Are any particularly good to take a 4 month old baby on? Doesn't have to be really really cheap as we have a bit of a windfall to use.

OP posts:

FiveGoMadInDorset · 27/06/2010 18:45

Don't rule out festivals. We went to Camp Bestival when DS was 4 weeks old, admittedly we weren't camping but they had great baby facilities, lovely tent for breast feeding, and the camping are is quiet. Friends are camping this year their DS will be 8 weeks old.

FiveGoMadInDorset · 27/06/2010 18:48

But if you want to do the package holiday bit we went with Mark Warner when DD was 4 months and booked her into the childcare bit. It gave us a bit of a break as I had been working since she was 9 weeks old.

geordieminx · 27/06/2010 18:58

I wish we had gone away when ds was that age - it would have been a breeze compared to when we went at 13 months and he was moible

The littler they are the easier - they dont need much esp if you are feeding. Pushchair, shade, food. Get hotel to provide cot.

Days can be spent doing as you please as they are too little to care

Have a lovely time - perhaps Majorca/Ibiza?

Original poster

passionberry · 27/06/2010 20:51

Thanks both!

Just had a look at Mark Warner - looks good (although more pricey than i'm used to!), I might be up for booking her in for a bit of childcare by then (she will be 4 months in September)!

geordieminx - yes I thought it might be easier now than with a toddler, she doesn't need much kit as you say. It's just our first time parent nervousness putting us off!

Fivegomad - we're hoping to get back to a festival next year! Sooo jealous of my friends at Glasto this weekend!

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LadyintheRadiator · 27/06/2010 20:54

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ChickenInABasket · 27/06/2010 20:58

I've not used them but friends recommend Club Med.

They really rated the childcare and said the food was great as is not often the case for an all inclusive! You can sign up for late availability on the club med website.

We rented a place near Lake Como when DS was 4 months old- had a great time and definitely easier than holidaying with a toddler! The Italians just love babies and it's cool to take baby out for dinner and stay up late!

We also went to Le meridian in limassol/ cyprus when he was tiny - limassol not so pretty but the hotel is gorgeous, great spa, nice beach and again, good childcare!

geordieminx · 27/06/2010 21:01

tbh I dont even know whether you would need childcare at that age much.

Of an evening, feed baby, put in sleepsuit, push around in pram until asleep then relax, enjoy yourselves. Babies will be very welcome in most if not all restuarants!

hf128219 · 27/06/2010 21:05

Have a look at www.babyfriendlyboltholes.co.uk for some ideas.

stripeywoollenhat · 27/06/2010 21:27

depends on your baby - if she falls asleep easily and in her pram/pushchair, then holidaying probably fine, but if like my dd - not on your nelly with the pushchair, you're having a larf, mum - then being away with her when she was small was a nightmare. took dd to siena at three and a half months and there was a heatwave, we were staying somewhere which had no airconditioning so we were really worried about the effect of the heat on her (we had reckoned on it being early twenties, it was well over thirty degrees, she was miserable). so make sure you have air conditioning...

KnitterNotTwitter · 27/06/2010 21:35

We took DS to Venice when he was 3 months old - didn't bother with a buggy just a sling and it was ace. they're so portable and he'd taken on board so much new stuff that he slept for 9 hours - first time ever...

And Glastonbury is ace with babies. The NCT have a big area at the top of the kidzfield with a nice cool tent, free nappies, free tea, coffee and squash, Baby baths etc etc...

They're at their most portable now - GO FOR IT!!!

Original poster

passionberry · 28/06/2010 11:01

Good point about air con! That's another reason I don't want to go to my parent's place this year - no air con in case of really hot weather.

She sleeps well in her pram but would rather not take it - we have a mothercare sling/carrier but it's a hassle to clip on and she wasn't keen on it at first - must try her again in it!

Anyway - thanks all, feel reassured that it will be ok! Might pop into travel agents later and see what they have.

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geordieminx · 28/06/2010 13:11

Would def take a pushchair of some sort - might be too hot to sling all of the time.

I got a m&p aria second hand to use on holidays and liked it that much that we got rid of out £££ pram on return. Its really light, lies flat and is easy to manouvre.

Original poster

passionberry · 28/06/2010 15:48

I know this sounds really dim but what do we do with the pram at the airport - it dismantles if needed, would we check it in in separate pieces? Do we have to pay extra? Usually only have a suitcase each to check in!

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WomblesAbound · 28/06/2010 16:02

Keep pram with you as you go though security and everything else. You will be asked to fold it up to put it through the xray machine. When you get to the plane you usually just leave it at the side of the walkway and they put it into the hold for you.

If they are lovely they will have it waiting for you as you exit the plane. If not, you have to carry baby and all your gear and collect it from the hold baggage.

andagain · 29/06/2010 14:25

We went on holiday to Croatia when our daughter was four months old and it was fantastic, I would strongly recommend it. We went in September when the sea is warm but it is not too hot.

The good thing about decent airlines (we flew on BA) is that even though you don't pay for your baby's flight you get luggage allowance and pushchair and carseat go free. I must say the airline was very helpful.

And the holiday was marvelous as DD was little so not on the move and she loved the sea. Also at that age she slept a lot so we got a decent break. Two weeks of bliss.

When they are that little it really is easy travelling with them I found.

Have fun!

Original poster

passionberry · 30/06/2010 18:33

Oh fab andagain , we have been looking at Croatia today!

How long is the flight there?

Are there nice hotels?

What's the food like??

Also - another dumb new parent question, how will I protect baby from the sun in the pool and in the sea? Can I use waterproof sunblock when she is 4 months?

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