Holiday with 1yo- how to make it as enjoyable for us as possible?

[AllTheOtherNamesWereTaken]

We are going to book a holiday abroad for October when my DS will be 1! I'm so excited for our first family holiday 😁 But while looking at where to go I'm trying to picture how to make the most of the holiday for me and DH especially when DS is in bed and we need to stay in the room. What do you all do/any tips please?

We'd like to go all inclusive so we can enjoy a resort with amazing pools and not need to think about our meals. I was picturing we can get a room with a nice balcony so we can have some drinks (not get shloshed obviously!) and chat when DS is asleep. If possible we'd get a family room with seperate little bedroom bit for him but I'd like to book a higher end family hotel so probably can't do this in budget. I have thought if we can get some takeaway dinners from the al la carte restaurants it will be lovely! But is this even a thing?! Would it get lost in translation? What other tips do you have for evenings on holiday with a baby?

We went on our first proper holiday when DD was about 5 months. Started in a hotel, but it just didn't work. The weather wasn't good enough in the evenings to eat on the balcony so we ended up spending the evenings eating our dinner in the en suite. 🤦

Mornings we're similarly miserable because she's keep us awake all night but then one of us would have to get fully dressed to get out of the room in the morning so the probe could have a lie in.

I'm the end we moved to an Airbnb. It was wonderful having our own space and we just did easy meals like pasta and takeaways.

If you can guarantee you'll have your own separate space then go for it, but think carefully about whether the reality will match your expectations.

Leave them at home? Only joking!

I'd recommend an apartment - some where DC can sleep separately so you can get part of the evening to yourselves and you're not having to creep round. As PP says you can split the mornings too rather than everyone being up at 6am. I know some kids will happily sleep away the evening in a buggy but mine didn't get the memo so we usually go for dinner about 7pm with a view to get them in bed by 8.30ish. I don't bother much with schedule but both of mine have napped on the hoof so it might be different if yours doesn't.

My 1yo is never still so have a look at what's available at the resort and nearby - we went away last month and went to the local aquarium a few times as DC loved it.

Definitely separate sleeping and sitting areas! I would go for an apartment or cottage rather than a hotel.

We have our main meal out at lunchtime and then just a light tea - antipasti, sandwiches, etc. Reduces the cooking. Breakfast just quick and easy or at a nearby cafe.

I would look for plenty of outdoor space with your accommodation but away from the pool otherwise you will be stressing about him falling in!

Self catering is easiest.

However keeping them with you for dinner is better than takeaways on a balcony. Reorganise their naps so they are willing to stay up later. Be more like the Spanish/Greeks who have children up late because they have a longer nap later.

Oh also - washing- a washing machine on holiday was a real blessing - more space in the suitcase for toys and less of a mountain to do when you get home. Another reason why i prefer an apartment.

I disagree with everyone else and love hotels before and after baby.

Have never had any problems, even in a regular room. Get a Snoozeshade (big cover that goes over a cot to black it out) and a bit of white noise and I've not had any problem getting her to sleep in a hotel room while I potter about.

Hotels will definitely bring you food and wine to your room!

I buy some bits for packed lunches so I know she's having a bit of fruit.

Otherwise, just don't worry about it. It's just going on holiday. Just relax and don't stress about stuff and your little one will have fun toddling by the pool and you'll have a nice time having beers by the pool.

Whatever you do, don't eat your meals in the ensuite, there's always another way!!!

One word
Sani

It’s in Greece. Went there with 3 month and 2 year old

It was exquisite in every way. Went three years in a row

But very pricey

keeping them with you for dinner is better than takeaways on a balcony.

Why?! I love eating with my daughter but I also love eating like an adult sometimes. Dinner, sunset over the sea, glass of wine, sleeping baby 👌🏻

It's going to be a different kind of holiday to last time OP.

A fridge in the room is really useful (even if it's the mini bar, just take the alcohol out). Also a kettle.

Ideally some kind of flat with inside a hotel?

I really wish we'd just taken DD out with us for the evening meal. But, she was a terrible sleeper and everyone was telling us she had to go to sleep in her bed in order to sleep through. (In reality it made no difference.)

I would recommend you buy a snoozeshade, if you don't have one already. It makes a huge difference to naps and would help for evening meals too.

Likewise, a white noise app on your phone. Not to act as a sleep cute, necessarily, but because it neutralises other noises that might disturb them. It doesn't need to be on that loud.

Just go out! Always have little food snacks in your bag for dc then high chair then enjoy the time, you will get so much attention babe won't have time
To be bored and play up.
Hotel, put
Cot in quiet corner,
Ch will get used to the noise. If you have been up, suck it up a little bit take turns to go have a quick hour back at the room, just chill and go with it ull find what works for you. Stop stressing over it or you will end up ruining the excitement! Enjoy ur first time
Away together, don't have any rules and it will work fine x

Second everything PP have said about Air BnB / an apartment being a good plan. You can also use the time difference to your advantage - we went to Greece, which meant DS's normal 8pm bedtime became 10pm without us doing anything, so we could all go out for dinner together, then he slept in later than normal in the morning, which was nice.

It will be different than before baby but so wonderful! Do get a separate sleeping area whether that’s an apartment or suite. Just having somewhere as a ‘play area’ helps. Adjust your thoughts before you go, know that you won’t be laying by the pool all day but take it in turns with the little one. Go for walks and explore whilst they nap. We’ve been to Cyprus, Croatia & Spain and everyone was so welcoming to little ones. We’ve been in tavernas where they’ve brought toys out, will make small talk with the littles honestly it’s been wonderful bar one trip where we were just in one room 😬 Don’t fret the flight, take snacks & toys and remember we were all little once.

@Favourodds

keeping them with you for dinner is better than takeaways on a balcony.

Why?! I love eating with my daughter but I also love eating like an adult sometimes. Dinner, sunset over the sea, glass of wine, sleeping baby 👌🏻

Then get a babysitter and go to the restaurant.

Oh, and most hotels /apartments advertiser's don't have carpets or rugs. If your LO is not yet walking, I'd suggest you pack some of the Jigsaw piece play mats for them to sit on.

Most airlines (easyJet and BA at least) have quite generous luggage allowances for under 5s. If you're taking a car seat, you can put the play mat pieces and nappies etc in there.

@ChaosMoon

Oh, and most hotels /apartments advertiser's don't have carpets or rugs. If your LO is not yet walking, I'd suggest you pack some of the Jigsaw piece play mats for them to sit on.

Most airlines (easyJet and BA at least) have quite generous luggage allowances for under 5s. If you're taking a car seat, you can put the play mat pieces and nappies etc in there.

Are you sure? I’ve never seen extra allowance allowed for under 5s?

Then get a babysitter and go to the restaurant.

Um..ok.

OP, I love room service. Your mileage may vary!?

Are you sure? I’ve never seen extra allowance allowed for under 5s?

I think it's under 2s (i.e seatless infants), something to do with them not being allowed hand luggage so they give you some hold allowance. Booked with Tui yesterday and they give you 10kg for the hold (can't remember the specifics of others but they do seem oddly relaxed about infant luggage)

I would go for an apartment over all inclusive where you have kitchen facilities, a microwave for milk, separate bedroom and living area.

Don't stay in a hotel, go for an apartment or chalet even if it means self catering.

Or take a comfy buggy, line it with blankets and just go out for the evening if he'll sleep?

@Favourodds

Are you sure? I’ve never seen extra allowance allowed for under 5s?

I think it's under 2s (i.e seatless infants), something to do with them not being allowed hand luggage so they give you some hold allowance. Booked with Tui yesterday and they give you 10kg for the hold (can't remember the specifics of others but they do seem oddly relaxed about infant luggage)

Over 2 on easyJet is exactly same as adult as booked as a separate seat

If under 2 and no separate seat, you’re able to bring a changing bag as an extra only

@responsiveroo EasyJet generous as ever!!

Do they let you put a pram or child set in the hold? I know Jet2 and (think) RyanAir do. You can fit loads in a pram!

I think it's best when you relax a bit about routines and just go with the flow.
We went abroad when DD2 was 12mo (and DD1 was 3). DD2 had a sun shade mesh that fitted over the pushchair like a rain cover, so she had a lot of naps in there whilst we went about our day. She also napped in our pop up beach shelter when we went to the beach on a bed of towels. The combination of tiredness from so much stimulation and how the heat adds to drowsiness meant she slept happily wherever she happened to be. We kept them up later in the evenings and let DD2 nap when needed rather than stick to a routine, but went back to our accommodation after lunch so the 3yo could have a nap in the bed (we didn't have a pushchair for her and she needed a sleep because of the late nights). It was a nice time to relax on the veranda with a book and a glass of wine. In the evenings we went out for meals or the evening entertainment with DD2 already in her PJs and a lightweight tog sleeping bag (one that had a hole for the pushchair straps to feed through) in the pushchair. We brought baby ear defenders for the entertainment, although it was rarely needed. Once we got back to the accommodation (about 11pm) it was then easy to transfer her to the cot as she was already snuggled in her sleeping bag.
I agree self catering is much easier, not least because then you generally get more space to give DCs quiet if you do need to give them a nap in bed or when you finally come back for the night. If you don't want all the faff of cooking, then you don't need to have all your meals there. We usually do a big easy continental breakfast so we can get away with only some shared chips for lunch whilst out (we also relax food standards on holiday!), then dinner is either something very simple cooked ourselves or we eat out. The breakfast really isn't much work, lunch is super cheap, and if you are less focussed on keeping costs down you could then eat out every night. We had to share a room with them on the Ferry, and I'm glad it wasn't the whole trip! We spent the evening whispering and drinking G&T in the dark. It reminds me too of a Hurrah For Gin post some years ago when she and her husband were stuck drinking wine in the hotel room toilet on holiday. Obviously it would be better with a balcony, but still very limiting.

[quote Favourodds]@responsiveroo EasyJet generous as ever!!

Do they let you put a pram or child set in the hold? I know Jet2 and (think) RyanAir do. You can fit loads in a pram![/quote]
They do

I flew easyJet last month, they nearly refused our baby changing bag because it was a normal rucksack. Generous my arse.