3 month trip, Where in the world?

[Hereforthemamas]

Hello,
Looking for some advice on travel.
In October my husband and I will be taking our three young boys (4, 3 and 0) away for a 10 week trip. We've done a huge amount of research but struggling to feel confident on where to go.
We are looking for somewhere with a laid back culture, family friendly, good food for vegans, safe, eco-conscious community, wellness, reasonable accommodation but comfortable (our newborn will be 12 weeks old so we want to feel comfortable with the living set up). And possibly a kindergarten set up for our oldest boys.
Some places we are considering are Samara / Nosara in Costa Rica, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Mexico...
Really open to ideas and thoughts here!
Thank you :)

All of those places are very hot, I know people have babies all the time in hot countries but I took my 5 year old to Costa Rica she was so uncomfortable and it was a really difficult aspect of the trip to manage. She was way too young I wish we’d waited.

Secondly, the risk of illness and infection is much higher regardless of how you feel about vaccinations. Have you investigated the hospitals and looked at the level of insurance cover as it tends to be less much higher for an extended period?

Water isn’t drinkable in Thailand or Lanka would you be breastfeeding?

You both have 3 under 4, it doesn’t make sense that you would go somewhere where absolutely everything will be much harder because you won’t know the language or culture. if you are formula feeding are you going to bring formula with you? Are you giving up any family support to do this trip, as you might need it? Why 10 weeks now, not in 10 years time? It sounds like you want creature comforts that you need (and absolutely deserve) in places they won’t exist for you, I’m worried you are making a rod for your own back.

Iceland? Less travelling time, amazing scenery, eco conscious, wellness, dunno about Vegans but I imagine they have vegetables.

Denmark or another Nordic country.

I've travelled a lot. The most child-friendly country I visited when my DCs were young was Finland.

Agree with Scandi countries. I wouldn't risk anywhere with poor water quality and extreme heat with a newborn. I know babies are born there every day blah blah but we're not ready for that as westerners.

Will you be able to get baby a passport that soon?

I wish I'd had your courage to do this.

I can only comment on Thailand - it has all those things you describe. The locals loved my 6 & 4 year old when we spent a month there one summer. I'm not knowledgeable about the vegan life there, but it wouldn't be hard to find in the bigger towns.

Yes, there are negatives to doing what you're choosing to do with a newborn and everyday life might be harder in some ways, but heck, what an experience.

Good luck with wherever you decide.

Thanks for the responses, though I feel lots of assumptions made. Part of our reasoning for travel is so that my husband and I can co-parent together without our usual day-to-day responsibilities.

At home my husband works out of the house 5 days a week, we run a busy BnB, and I've really struggled with my mental health through the last two winters. We know we're happiest and able to be most present with our children and each other when we're on holiday, so we've taken the opportunity for him to have a sabbatical during this time so that we can be 'in it' together - so that I'm not trying to navigate three small children mostly alone.

We would like a warmer climate, I will be breastfeeding, we haven't had an issue getting a passport for our children in under a month previously. We are not afraid of being in a foreign place but of course health care systems have been a consideration - originally we were thinking Australia and New Zealand.

@Globules - thank you for your positive words on Thailand, we love Thailand and the food is great. I have read about Koh Phangan being a good place for Nomadic families, but also conscious that we may not feel comfortable to travel there with an unvaccinated newborn!

Would love to spend time in Nordic countries, but it will be too cold October - January for us!

I wouldn't choose an exotic place. A 3 months old baby doesn't have a lot of vaccinations.

I would go to Scandinavian.

Ive been to thailand and mexico with toddlers. It was lovely once i figured out the a villa with a kitchen and a (small) private pool and aircon were the main things needed.

My 3 year old got ill in Mexico and healthcare was excellent (although he wasn't seriously ill thankfully, just tonsillitis). Thai healthcare also has a good reputation as long as you use the private hospitals. Also, i am very careful to check what areas have maleria risk, dengue, etc

Could you possibly wait till after newborn is 16+ weeks? They'll have had most of their vaccinations by then.

South Africa could be an option.

I have travelled with a 2 year old (not a baby), they never got sick - apart from one brief vomiting bug in Myanmar after a night train.

private healthcare in Colombo & Galle is good, if you go to Sri Lanka.

Have you checked you can actually stay for 10 weeks? Thailand's visa is 60 days, Sri Lanka I think you need a visa and it's 30 days and Costa Rica is 180 days.
I would suggest Vancouver island but it's so rainy there at that time of year.

OP would it not be wise to just have a "normal" holiday for now and wait until your children are older to do such a massive life event? They won't appreciate or remember this...

What's your budget?

Just noticed you’re wanting to send the older 2 to a kindergarten? There’s not much that would make me put my kids in some random nursery in Mexico or Thailand. Are you sure?

If you’re wanting sunshine why not just head to Spain, Italy or the Canaries for a few weeks? Easier on your kids, easier on you, no concerns about visas, healthcare or overstaying and plenty of suitable accommodation

A house swap with someone in Australia might fit your requirements. Formal childcare can be difficult but playgroups are all over the place. www.playgroupwa.com.au

And visas

Spain and/or Portugal

The weather will bej ust right for the small ones and you’re only two hours from UK in case of emergency .
I wouldn’t risk travel to anywhere further afield where you may need travel vaccines etc

As your dc will be too little to remember this make it for you - how do you and your DH want to covalent for this 10 weeks. What would make easy? Personally I would move to Spain for the winter. Easy but different and warmer.

Covalent= Co parent!

Australia and New Zealand.

Will definitely stick to Europe with those ages. You are very brave.

A person I know took their kids to live in Bolivia for a year; much older than yours; also 3. One of them got sick and developed a condition which took her many years to recover. Maybe she was unlucky; but I would choose carefully which country to go to.

Algarve may be sunnier/brighter that time of the year so may help you with your SAD.

Do you use a SAD lamp? Take vitamin D. Go out when the sun is out in winter ( not very often I know)

Winter also impact me and I always dream of living somewhere else sunnier but the SAD lamp, vitamin D and meditation help me get through it.

The easiest would be Australia, lots of things to see, no language issues, excellent healthcare, good time of year. A ten week road trip would be amazing and you would probably find Aussie families doing likewise. Probably the most expensive though. We spent time travelling with our three when we moved UK to Aus but they were aged 3-13 so very different. They (and we) loved Kho Tao in Thailand - the locals loved our kids, cheap for accommodation and food etc. Singapore was great but very expensive. Good luck whatever you decide.

I met families in Costa Rica doing this. They were based near Monteverde. There is a small bilingual nursery there there kids went to for maybe 3 months and longer.

Have you thought about the smaller towns around Puerta Vallarta, Mexico - maybe Sayulita. Friend look into moving there. Expat communities and bilingual schools I believe.

San Cristobal area in Oaxaca. Tourist town but you’d need a car to reach the beaches?

Love Sri Lanka I’ve travelled there pregnant and with small children. Had the best time!

Good luck!