Holiday ideas for a two year old.

[Writerwannabe83]

I'm not sure if this forum is the right place but me and DH are clashing over booking our summer holidays.

DS will be just over 2 years and DH is happy to go cheap and cheerful and stay in the middle of nowhere. A resort he is looking at says the town is a 45 minute drive away and the local beach is nothing to write home about. He sees no problem with this.

I on the other hand can't think of anything worse than being stuck in a not too nice hotel for two weeks with a bored two year old.

As contented as my DH would be to spend the days lying by the pool he seems not to realise that DS will need some kind of entertainment or that we need to go somewhere that has towns and tourist attractions in walking distances etc.

Can anybody recommend somewhere they have been??

I think my DH may be more receptive to my concerns if I provide better alternatives

Watching this as would like to go away in spring when ds will be just under 2.

UK?

You don't need entertainment imo in terms of other tourists or actual entertainers, but you want to be able to go places

I would get a private place with pool if that's the type of thing you like, but near a beach or lake so you can wander down to them daily with toddler and spend some time there. Also I hate tourist area so avoid, but still want to be places with nice restaurants close by etc as wouldn't want to cook all the time on holiday

We gave in and joined the collective in March - we went to Centreparcs with our 4 and 1.5 year old.

They loved it. Swimming at least once every day, paths to scoot around to their hearts' content, playgrounds, pirate parties, animals coming up to the patio (duck in the living room was a highlight), little beach on the lake

DP and I just relaxed once they were in bed, and tried to go with the flow otherwise.. I think that until they're older, all you really need is a swimming pool, and perhaps a beach.

We went to Bournemouth when DD was 2, it was great. We stayed near the beach and spent time on the beach every day. She loved going on the Land Train and there were some bouncy castles/fairground rides about (we went in June before the school holidays). Not too far from Peppa Pig World aka hell either.

Sorry, I should have said we are going abroad. We are currently looking at Portugal destinations.

It's so hard trying to choose though, I just need someone to tell me the perfect place to go

Your DD won't be bothered about tourist attractions and being entertained. A pool, a beach and a small playarea would have kept mine happy for a week at that age. From an adult point of view, it is nice to be able to walk into town, grab a beer or a coffee, have look at the shops etc. and IMO it is nice to be independent and just head off when you are ready without hanging around for buses and having to fit your DD's routine around public transports (or even long car journeys if you are hiring a car).
When DH and I holidayed as a couple we would pick quite and remote and drive for miles without thinking twice. Now we have DCs, we pick places where most things are within walking distance.

That's why I keep saying to my DH - that we need to take the needs of our DS into account whereas before we booked holidays based on just our own needs.

What are your thought on self catering versus all inclusive?

DH is adamant he wants AI whereas I think SC would be better.

The last AI holiday we took (when DS was 12 months old) meant that evening meals weren't served until 7.15pm and it was a bit of a nightmare as DS was always asleep by 7pm at home so keeping him up was really difficult. He wasn't getting to be until about 9pm each night and he was really irritable for it.

I have said to DH that if he's adamant about AI then he needs to find a hotel that does more toddler friendly meal times

I don't think in portrugal or most places you will find dinner before 7pm in hotels or restaurants, locals eat at 9/10pm so 7pm is already early

We went to Portugal with 2 1/2 yo DD in June. It was perfect for her and Us. We went a little village called Burgau, where my parents had taken me when I was little. We rented a small villa with a private pool
Not too touristy, but still has about 10 restaurants, very family friendly. The beach is not too big, perfect for kids.
On the evening meal front we just made sure she napped fairly late, so that she would last until 9pm and ate at 7pm every night. There were a decent amount of other families doing similar. we only spent one evening in.
Hope that helps, provides reassurance/inspiration!

We got a private villa in Sicily with an amazing private pool when DD was about 2, easyjet flights and cheap hire car. Short drive from lots of places. A hotel would have been tough - having some private space made all the difference.

We stayed in a villa within a resort in alvor with our DD (then 16months). We went B+B and self catering otherwise- would definitely go self catering full time next time. Restaurants very family friendly, we would give her some dinner earlier, then give her bits of our meals when out. Often she slept in the pushchair while we ate, and we would just transfer her to cot when we got back to the villa. She's a bit of a nightowl though and would never ever be in bed by 7!