City / Sunny break with a 1 year old?

Zola.

Does anyone have any recommendations for a good spot to go with a 14 month old... come September?

I was thinking somewhere thats no more than 2-3 hours on the plane, as we don't know how he will react to it all.

I have never travelled with an infant, so unsure if it will be one big stress-fest, or worth it! A beach holiday is out of the equation, as he's just far too young.

Open to infant friendly hotels, Air B&B etc... appreciate any tips! :beer:

pattycake

I would have thought he was just the right age for a beach holiday! Toddlers love messing about in sand. Even if he isn’t walking independently by then, he can be held whilst paddling etc. A family hotel will have a shallow pool and play equipment.

Two or three hours by plane will take you to Spain, Portugal, the Balearics which should be lovely in September.

To my mind, it’s a city break which would be stressful with a toddler who would be confined to a pushchair the majority of the time.

Momanns

Agree with the above, maybe keep your options open location wise and focus on a great hotel/deal? We've used the Tui "Family Life" resorts a few times and highly recommend them

richardw

Alcudia and Puerto Pollensa have family friendly beaches.

peachyprice

Why do you think he'll be too young for the beach OP? I think it's an ideal age, he'll be far more comfortable in the heat being free to trudge around the beach and sit & paddle in the sea than trudging around a city strapped in his pushchair.

But if you do insist on a city how about Barcelona, that would give the best of both worlds, a fascinating city with plenty to see, child friendly and a beach nearby for when he's had enough sightseeing.

novelty-socks

We took my son to Biarritz when he was not much older than that. I'd really recommend it: you can fly direct from Stansted (and possibly Gatwick during the summer months), and it had a great combination of stuff for grown ups and kids.

It's a small city, so we found a big AirBNB right in the centre (prices are reasonable outside of peak season) and everything was walkable, including the main beach (so you have the option of the sand if you want it), the surf beach near the centre, and lots of nice cafes, restaurants and bakeries.

We also hired a car and were able to drive up the coast to some incredible beaches on the Atlantic coast. It's also about an hour's drive to San Sebastian, which was pretty-touristy but is also on the coast and has some great food.

We've actually done a few city breaks with him now, and haven't found them too stressful. But then, I think the sweet spot is definitely a smaller city (Lisbon was a little too large and cobbly!), where you still get a wider range of amenities than would be available in a typical resort.

ibizafan_2

Any of the Balearic Islands would be my pick. Nice short flight, and plenty of family hotels to choose from. The only thing that might be a disadvantage is that hotels often have inflexible evening dining times for young children. Apartments might be the way to go.

melanzana

Will the child at 14 mo old remember the travelling angst for all of you.

I would try somewhere within driving/train distance in UK and try it out first. Just my opinion.

Sorry if I have burst any beach bubbles. Adults come first at that age IMO.

novelty-socks

Will the child at 14 mo old remember the travelling angst for all of you.

I know they're all different, but at 14 months old it was easy to travel with my son. He was happy to sit on our laps and fairly easy to amuse on a plane. He loved running through and exploring airports. And travelling with him sparked lots of interactions with locals that wouldn't otherwise have happened.

Also, it was cheaper. Now he's over 2, we have to pay for his own seat on a plane, for a start!