Holiday for 2nd birthday?

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Just talks at the minute - our son is 2 end of December so quite cold and most close places that are lovely in summer (mainly Europe) will be too cold/out of season!

We’re chatting about it as we’d have to save/pay it off. The main reason is he’s young and I felt like last year I booked a meal so our families could see us but really he was 1. Picked at his food and would’ve rather run riot crawling everywhere!

I feel he’d be too young for Disneyland Paris as I can’t imagine in the next 8-9 months he’ll become obsessed with Disney films or shows - we don’t really have too much TV on in our house anyway! So to spend that money for there when he won’t know or care is a bit much

but all nice sunny places that are warm are far and expensive Barbados/Dubai etc

Anyone ever been away for their child’s birthday? Is there anywhere good even in the Uk! I’m just unsure what would be fun for him at that age :) but think he’s young enough for us to go away and enjoy his birthday as us 3

Again yes very far away but we’d have to save money to book a holiday or trip so that’s why we’re talking about it :)

If it’s for his benefit rather than yours he would probably prefer a day at the zoo or a trip to soft play imo. You can have a picnic tea and cake afterwards.

At 2, mine would have had the best holiday at butlins. Sorry!

At that age, my DD enjoyed a little splash pool, a walk in the woods, a soft play. So if we were to take a trip for her birthday for her to enjoy, I'd look for something that had those features. Cofton holiday park near Dawlish Warren in Devon might be a good bet. At that age she didn't notice or care if we were 5 minutes or 5 hours away from home, so going abroad was more for us than for her.

If you want a holiday have a holiday but I think it is quite a weird thing to do that for his birthday as he really only wants a cake and presents. I'd just have a nice day trip to somewhere local.

Cbeebies Hotel ? They have a great waterpark at alton towers that my kids loved

We took ds for his 3rd birthday to Tenerife and it was lovely. He's November. We went back after Christmas and spent new year there too. It was beautiful and warm. Shorts and t shirt weather late December/early January.

Has he been to an aquarium before?

if you have the option can you do a weekend just you and DP? Don’t feel DS wouldn’t appreciate a trip!

End of Dec is tough as even if you stay within the UK it’ll be the Christmas hols so you’ll be paying through the nose even if you do something like CBeebies land/Alton Towers, Legoland or Centre Parcs or something which he might enjoy. And it’ll be freezing.

Realistically it’s the carribean or Middle East that time of year if you want the weather. I got sick of the nursery closure/Xmas hols cabin fever this year and priced up the Carribean for between Xmas and NY 2023 and it was £££ even for the traditionally cheaper islands.

Would not recommend DLP at that time of year, it really is very, very cold and you’re spending a lot of time outside queuing or waiting on parades etc. We took DD at 2.5 and had a ball (she’s still talking about it a year later), but even in March there was the odd period where we needed gloves and hats.

Personally in your shoes I’d bank the cash, do something low key on the day (he’ll still think it’s the tits) and take him somewhere in the Spring when it’ll be better value and more options with destinations with a good chance of decent weather.

We've been on holiday for DD birthday a couple of times and loved it. All child focused activities while we were there.

Bluestone in Wales is lovely. We had story sessions, messy play, toddler crafts, fairy hunting in the woods, bug hunting, swimming.

Definitely Butlins! I don't think toddlers care about winter sun.

Mine spent his second birthday on a plane, then we went skiing whilst he went to the creche! Exact repeat of his first birthday. His fault for being born over Feb half farm 🤣 They have no clue. Get him a cake and some toys. Go on holiday when and where you want to go on holiday. Don’t make like it’s actually a present for a toddler! Plus if you wait a few months you can get hot sunny weather in Europe so no need to spend long haul money and all that time on the plane.

Or OP if you did want to go abroad it’ll be far cheaper to do it before he turns 2- he can travel on the plane as a lap infant and stay in a travel cot in your room. Just something to think about! The difference could be £1000s if you’re seriously considering long haul.