Holiday for 9 month old - all inclusive or self catering

[Mxb123]

We are planning to take our son on his first holiday in January when he will be 9 months old. Most likely thinking Tenerife or Lanzarote because the weather is decent and it’s not long haul.

we were initially thinking all inclusive for ease, but now I’m not too sure.

what would be easiest - all inclusive or self catering?

I’ve never been all inclusive but i’m a bit put off by set meal times in all inclusive as I don’t like the idea of me and DH having to go down for dinner separately and take it in turns. But then I’m also worried that DS won’t be easy to manage in restaurants, especially if it interferes with nap time. We haven’t taken him for a meal out with us since he was about 5 months old.

am I overthinking this? We want a stress free holiday, not too fussed about sightseeing etc. We just want a bit of sun and to get away from it all!

the idea of a nice self catering place walking distance to a little pram-friendly town or resort with some restaurants and a promenade, or town square etc sounds appealing. Somewhere where we could easily come back for naps if we wanted to but there are nice places to walk around with baby, and restaurants are laid back so it’s not too bad if baby is fussy.

does that exist? Or am I better off going all inclusive?

also any recommendations for hotels and resorts? We would rather spend some money and have a bit of luxury and comfort

Took my 8mo to Lanzarote all inc. We didn't take shifts just all went to meals together. Was brilliant for weaning he could try loads of things and see what he likes.

Couldn't recommend H10 suites Lanzarote gardens more.

I have always preferred self catering with children. I’ve done both and find self catering much less stressful

Im a AI fan. At 9 months he won't be eating huge amounts but it won't work if you are intending on being really rigid with routine. It works better if he will nap in the pushchair then you can have dinner together.

If you have done AI how do you find food without added salt etc? I always find the buffet food over seasoned. At 9 months there should be no added salt.

Go for accommodation where baby has a separate room. That way you can put her to bed and enjoy your evening in the next room.

If you all stay in a hotel room, you'll either have to go to bed when baby does or creep about in the dark from 7pm!!

Food is excellent at Seaside Los Jameos in Lanzarote, also you don't need to book a slot - just turn up when you're hungry. Lovely hotel as well.

Personally I'd go SC. When we took DC3 away when he was 13 months old,
SC eas so much more flexible & the restaurants we went too had much nicer food for him than any AI buffet ever did.

It was nice to be relaxed about mealtimes, naps etc as we didn't have an AI timetable to follow.

Is your partner a lazy bastard or not? Because self catering is often just same shit different place if you are the house elf.

Best holiday we had was Puglia in Southern Italy DS was welcmed in all restaurants. We went self catering but ate out every night.

We have enjoyed AI with very little DC because neither DH or I want to spend our holidays tag teaming shopping or cooking and looking after the kids. It’s better for one person to relax when the other is only DC duty. I’m sure when the kids are older and don’t require constant supervision we may go back to self catering villas.

But as a poster said upthread it requires a degree of flexibility. Naps would be fine though - usually the service for each meal is 2-3 hours and longer in the evening, so easy to work around. I’m not sure why you would eat separately. If you are in a family resort, as long as your DC isn’t literally painting themselves with food it’ll be okay. Nobody minds a bit of dropped food or a bit of mess from a baby.

Don't see why AI is apparently more stressful or rigid timings?! Every AI I've been to, including the Lanzarote H10, you had like 3 hour windows for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Could grab lunch AI at pool bar instead of restaurant if easier. 4yo and baby loved it and ate so well. Got to try loads of new things. It was so stress free. Self catering would of felt like loads more work. It was so easy and nice not having to sort food all the time like at home.

I'd get a self catering apartment/villa and eat out.

Why don't you take him out to a restaurant in this country first to test the waters re. how good he'll be? I think 9 months is still in the absolutely fine category personally. It's when they're a bit bigger and running about that it's a nightmare.

All inclusive is anything but rigid. A lot more flexible than eating out at restaurants.

Meal times are generally
Breakfast 7-12
Lunch 12-2
Tea 5-8

If miss Breakfast or lunch, snack bars serving enough for a decent lunch (massive varied Salads, burger/pizza, chips, often lovely local non junk hot food too) 10-3ish. Other snacks often between lunch and tea.

Don't take shifts, all of you go together. I wore by 5 month old for every meal. We then stayed and had drinks watched entertainment whilst she napped in sling.

We've always self catered so I freely admit I don't know what AI is like at all but we lived self catering with little ones. It was lovely to sometimes have them up late with us and enjoy the evening but to other times put them to bed and then cook something nice just for us and relax! Plus if there had been an unsettled night with lots of feeds I didn't have to get dressed and go anywhere for breakfast!

Wel he will be free so it's more if you will enjoy AI or would prefer to cook / eat out different places

We went on holiday when DD was 10 months and just did self-catering and bed and breakfast. We ate out every meal as I hate cooking on holiday and it was manageable if a bit stressful occasionally. Relaxed meals are definatelya thing of the past for now! We just ate early (6-6:30pm) and had quiet nights. DD enjoyed trying various Greek food but pretty much lived on bread and tomatoes for 2 weeks and we didn't stress too much about salt since it's for a limited period of time.

AI would probably be even easier but we don't normally like AI in Europe as the reviews for food are always so bad. If you do AI just all eat together at a time that suits.

Naps for us were mostly in the pram (and the occasional contact nap on a beach chair).

I would go all inclusive.
we recently went with Toddler who’s fussy and there was loads he could eat. There was lots of younger children there also and babies in high chairs eating.

Theres plenty non salted food for little ones. Porridge, toast, pancakes, crossiant, eggs made in front of you so you can ask for simple omelettes for example. Fruit, cheese, yogurt. Way more choice than needed for a 9 month old.

You can always pack a few baby pouches and snacks from home if you think baby might miss mean as asleep. And they will be having lots of milk still at that age. They don’t like people packing breakfast off for cheap lunch, but wouldn’t mind at all if you have a banana for baby.

I’d go SC. At least then you have somewhere to sit in the evenings, otherwise you’re all going to bed at the same time.
I always found it easier when they were little. Now that they’re teens and constantly ravenous. AI is easier.

My priority would be to have two spaces, if you only have a bedroom that doesn't make for a relaxing evening as DC won't sleep if you're moving around or talking. And being silent all evening is miserable. Food is secondary to this😀

I was never previously an AI person but now with two kids I wouldn’t consider not doing it. Just so much easier with kids, fussy or not.

Gosh would occur to me to go separately- take him with you and if he fusses one of you can walk outside with him til he calms down. To be honest I've never had a problem with my kids at restaurants, the sights and sound entertain them when young and a few well chosen toys when older (plus the food of course). One year my son was well entertained by stacking the little mini jam jars at breakfast!
I don't think it's a holiday unless it's catered!

Never had a problem sharing bedroom with baby tbh. At 9months Ds shared with us at home anyway.
Dinner in restaurant, either take pram down if you baby likely to sleep in it in evening or they just crawl and toddle around after dinner. Usually go for a walk after dinner at 8pm and 50/50 if they fall asleep. Mine has always slept awful anyway so by 9-10pm even on holiday I’m knackered and ready for bed anyway

We preferred self catering because you can eat (or drink) whenever you want. DS wanted a bottle in the middle of the night and it was a nightmare getting one in an hotel. And cost a fortune.

In your own apartment you have more room so DC can be in bed while you relax in the sitting room

The H10 Lanzarote Gardens Ive recommended is all suites, so you can put kids to bed and still have space in the living area and the balcony/terrace. It's honestly brilliant! We totally relaxed, kids had an amazing time and it felt like a break. SC would not!