Europe with a 1yr old
Discussion
Planning on going away end of aug but nothing booked yet. Mrs is suggesting a resort in Spain but I hate resorts. It's good as everything is in one place but I find myself getting bored very quickly and I prefer somewhere in Italy, perhaps Tuscany region.
Any recommendations when travelling with a 1yr old?
Any recommendations when travelling with a 1yr old?
Are they walking yet? We took our daughter to France last summer when she was 9-10 months old, drove from Scotland and took the Chunnel. Stopped overnight on the way there and back to break the journey up. She's a great traveler, but it definitely helped to have stuff on the iPad that she could watch to keep her entertained at points. Because we were driving we took all the kit with us, steriliser, perfect prep, travel cot, bath...you name it, it came. Food/drink wise we took a load of ready made Aptamil and water and a load of various pouches, but you'll be able to get all that gear wherever you are. Obviously if your kid is breastfed then that's a different issue. Obviously pack calpol etc and kids sun lotion.
We took her to Morocco this February, she was absolutely fine on the plane, wasn't bothered by it all in the slightest. If flying you can take the buggy/pram right up to the steps to the plane, then they'll sit on your lap for the journey. If you're taking a travel cot it'll get checked in as special luggage, but best to just ensure that wherever you're going has one so you don't need to bother. We took a steriliser to Morocco, it just went in our luggage. She had bottled water and UHT milk whilst there, and ate a mix of moroccan baby foods and whatever we were eating at the hotel.
I wouldn't bother packing more than a few days worth of nappies as again you can get all that gear wherever and they take up a fair amount of space, and also would only take a few favourite toys as you're bound to pick up all sorts of stuff wherever you are and at 1 year old the odds are they'll want to play with your sunglasses more than anything else!
ETA - at 1yr old they'll probably be too young to benefit from any kids club type stuff at resorts, so I'd lean more towards a non resort holiday and do day trips etc. Car hire would be great, I didn't particularly miss having a car in Morocco as the driving standards over there are bonkers but absolutely loved having it in France and being able to go to the beach and whatnot.
We took her to Morocco this February, she was absolutely fine on the plane, wasn't bothered by it all in the slightest. If flying you can take the buggy/pram right up to the steps to the plane, then they'll sit on your lap for the journey. If you're taking a travel cot it'll get checked in as special luggage, but best to just ensure that wherever you're going has one so you don't need to bother. We took a steriliser to Morocco, it just went in our luggage. She had bottled water and UHT milk whilst there, and ate a mix of moroccan baby foods and whatever we were eating at the hotel.
I wouldn't bother packing more than a few days worth of nappies as again you can get all that gear wherever and they take up a fair amount of space, and also would only take a few favourite toys as you're bound to pick up all sorts of stuff wherever you are and at 1 year old the odds are they'll want to play with your sunglasses more than anything else!
ETA - at 1yr old they'll probably be too young to benefit from any kids club type stuff at resorts, so I'd lean more towards a non resort holiday and do day trips etc. Car hire would be great, I didn't particularly miss having a car in Morocco as the driving standards over there are bonkers but absolutely loved having it in France and being able to go to the beach and whatnot.
Edited by Nico Adie on Tuesday 1st August 12:24
The reality is, you can almost go where ever you want, because ultimately its pushing a baby round in a buggy for the majority of the time and in reality they don't care much where they are as they can't really complain. When they get older, its gets much much harder.
I appreciate the above sounds harsh, but the reality is you can almost still travel as adults when they are that age. They kid won't remember any of it.
The only difficulty is at that age, they can start trying to walk and having watched families struggle with tiddlers who are just starting to walk on planes, I personally would avoid long haul. We flew long haul with our eldest at 20 months and that was hard going at times.
We took ours to places like centre parcs and a trip to Turkey when he was two. Was all fine.
Ours are now 8 and 5 and its certainly much much harder now and of course the costs increase significantly due to school holidays.
I appreciate the above sounds harsh, but the reality is you can almost still travel as adults when they are that age. They kid won't remember any of it.
The only difficulty is at that age, they can start trying to walk and having watched families struggle with tiddlers who are just starting to walk on planes, I personally would avoid long haul. We flew long haul with our eldest at 20 months and that was hard going at times.
We took ours to places like centre parcs and a trip to Turkey when he was two. Was all fine.
Ours are now 8 and 5 and its certainly much much harder now and of course the costs increase significantly due to school holidays.
bakerstreet said:
The reality is, you can almost go where ever you want, because ultimately its pushing a baby round in a buggy for the majority of the time and in reality they don't care much where they are as they can't really complain. When they get older, its gets much much harder.
I appreciate the above sounds harsh, but the reality is you can almost still travel as adults when they are that age. They kid won't remember any of it.
Absolutely this, which is not to say don't do stuff that'll be fun for them too, but don't sweat it. Definitely get a parasol for the buggy if you don't already have one though.I appreciate the above sounds harsh, but the reality is you can almost still travel as adults when they are that age. They kid won't remember any of it.
hes over 1 so it walking and talking so no real issues. I have only had 1 experience of a resort and it was quite poor but he was tiny so not really there to use facilities.
Palermo has been suggested and looks quite nice. I guess key thing for me is safety and to make sure there are enough activities for him but with a beach it looks like it will be okay.
I will get the travel cot from there but as before I will take a few food pouches and other bits for him in checked luggage and hand luggage. Generally eats anything and massive lover of pasta & pizza so should be fine once there.
Palermo has been suggested and looks quite nice. I guess key thing for me is safety and to make sure there are enough activities for him but with a beach it looks like it will be okay.
I will get the travel cot from there but as before I will take a few food pouches and other bits for him in checked luggage and hand luggage. Generally eats anything and massive lover of pasta & pizza so should be fine once there.
bobski1 said:
hes over 1 so it walking and talking so no real issues. I have only had 1 experience of a resort and it was quite poor but he was tiny so not really there to use facilities.
Palermo has been suggested and looks quite nice. I guess key thing for me is safety and to make sure there are enough activities for him but with a beach it looks like it will be okay.
I will get the travel cot from there but as before I will take a few food pouches and other bits for him in checked luggage and hand luggage. Generally eats anything and massive lover of pasta & pizza so should be fine once there.
What activities are you hoping to get for a 1yr old? Play ground and zero entry pool would be on my list but thats about it. Beach would be good too, but even then, not much you can really do. Palermo has been suggested and looks quite nice. I guess key thing for me is safety and to make sure there are enough activities for him but with a beach it looks like it will be okay.
I will get the travel cot from there but as before I will take a few food pouches and other bits for him in checked luggage and hand luggage. Generally eats anything and massive lover of pasta & pizza so should be fine once there.
Evening entertainment is only worth thinking about if the kid can stay awake for it.
Whilst this may sound rude, take advantage of the fact that you and your partner can spend time together. if you want to enjoy the entertainment whilst they sleep in the buggy then great, or possibly have a glass of wine on the balcony whilst they sleep.
We did alot of eurocamps when the kids were little, northern france, so that its not too hot, and easy to get to.
I’d avoid long haul flights - we did a transatlantic with a 18 month old, wasnt too bad, but the passengers around us might have a different view.
My daughter spent her 1st birthday in a ski resort. She spent the week happy sleeping in the kids club, and then was awake all night - we were not in too good shape by the end if the week!
I’d avoid long haul flights - we did a transatlantic with a 18 month old, wasnt too bad, but the passengers around us might have a different view.
My daughter spent her 1st birthday in a ski resort. She spent the week happy sleeping in the kids club, and then was awake all night - we were not in too good shape by the end if the week!
bakerstreet said:
Whilst this may sound rude, take advantage of the fact that you and your partner can spend time together. if you want to enjoy the entertainment whilst they sleep in the buggy then great, or possibly have a glass of wine on the balcony whilst they sleep.
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