Week away with a toddler - where?

[markmakak]

I'm starting to think about having a week away with the wife and our toddler (just over a year old). It's the first time we'll have been away from home for more than a night so I'm keen to make it as enjoyable as possible.

Not got a clue where to go but current thinking is South of France somewhere, as we don't want to fly for too long.

Budget - between £1K and £2K for the 3 of us
Distance - couple of hours in the air
Type - somewhere warm, nice pool, good food and drink, stuff we can do together as a family (creche not important)
Where - really don't mind - could be in France / Spain / Portugal / UK (cornwall)
Accomodation - Villa, Hotel - don't mind really
Time - around May / early June

Has anyone got any suggestions, or even better, links to good places?

[Bill]

When?

We love the Ile de Re off the west coast of France, I wouldn't go in July or August as it's heaving but out of season it's fantastic.

[richardxjr]

Enjoyable, with a toddler. You'll want to take toddler 'stuff', and you'll need a car to drive around in. With a baby seat. No where too hot really either.

Drive to Devon/Cornwall. Somewhere decent near a beach. You won't even have to book it (out of school hols) so just take off when the weather looks decent enough.

[Noger]

Villa/Appartment (with pool) on the Algarve ?

Flights to Faro are easy and fairly cheap, plus mostly older golfers so either too polite to complain or small child reminds them of the grandchild and will coo for a bit

Easy-peasy in terms of language and food (even though not all that exciting for the adults) and supermarkets with "Brits abroad" type things.

Self-catering rather than hotel makes it a little easier, plus as soon as they go to sleep you are either a) straight onto the sun bed b) straight onto the patio with the wine. Downside in that it can seem "just like home" with the cooking/washing etc.

Usually a buggy push away from a bar or cafe. The joy of giving them their tea and wandering down for a cocktail as the sun goes down

[ALawson]

We have just booked the Eden Mar hotel in Funchal, Maderia its not to hot, 3.5 hrs away. This place is a hotel but we have a suite with a small kitchen and seperate living room from bedroom so our 7 month old can be put into the cot.

Came in at 1k, B&B half board was 1.4k.

All the reviews on Trip Advisor were good i.e. 4's and 5's out of 5.

We did consider booking a villa villaplus, http://www.villaplus.com/?_$ja=kw:villaplus|cgn:Br...
lots of good recommendations on here.

[Mobile Chicane]

markmakak said:

I'm starting to think about having a week away with the wife and our toddler (just over a year old). It's the first time we'll have been away from home for more than a night so I'm keen to make it as enjoyable as possible.

Not got a clue where to go but current thinking is South of France somewhere, as we don't want to fly for too long.

Budget - between £1K and £2K for the 3 of us
Distance - couple of hours in the air
Type - somewhere warm, nice pool, good food and drink, stuff we can do together as a family (creche not important)
Where - really don't mind - could be in France / Spain / Portugal / UK (cornwall)
Accomodation - Villa, Hotel - don't mind really
Time - around May / early June

Has anyone got any suggestions, or even better, links to good places?

I do. Friends of friends own this, however since it sleeps 10 you'd be rattling around. Perhaps you could double up with another couple?

It is a truly lovely place though. 30 minutes in a cab from Nice. Car provided with the house.

[markmakak]

Thanks for the feedback guys. Ile de Re looks brilliant - seems like there is plenty to do there. Also really liked the look of the house in Nice, but it's a bit too big for us.

La Wife mentioned that France sounded like the best place, and would like a Villa with a pool.

Keep 'em coming...

[Bill]

richardxjr said:

Enjoyable, with a toddler. You'll want to take toddler 'stuff', and you'll need a car to drive around in. With a baby seat. No where too hot really either.

Drive to Devon/Cornwall. Somewhere decent near a beach. You won't even have to book it (out of school hols) so just take off when the weather looks decent enough.

Having given up on holidays in the UK three times in the last few years because the weather's changed I'll pass thanks

[Si 330]

Have a look at French life brochure, you should find something that fits the bill there. Since children came into our lives it's been France every year.

[LuS1fer]

We've always done Spain, booked our own flights and booked a villa off the owners' sites like www.ownersdirect.co.uk. You have your own villa, your own space and your own pool. Just check the pool for child-friendly steps. Out of season, they are quite reasonable. I would suggests somewhere near Calpe on the Costa Blanca. My favourite is Peniscola but it's a fair drive from any airport.

Another great tip is that if you're hiring a car, take your own child seat. Most airlines give you a 10kg allowance for a child and allow you to put the seat on as uncharged luggage. I say this because in many years experience, I have never had anything but sh** baby seats from hire companies. It's so much better having a good baby seat and not having to wrestle a bad seat into a car where you're not familiar with it.

[GreatGranny]

Have you thought about Guernsey/jersey?

Lovely beaches, very chilled, plenty of accommodation and short flight.

You are not guaranteed of good weather but its still warmer than anywhere on the mainland.

[louiebaby]

richardxjr said:

Drive to Devon/Cornwall. Somewhere decent near a beach. You won't even have to book it (out of school hols) so just take off when the weather looks decent enough.

Indeed. That's what I'd do.