Recomendations for Travel with 2.5yr Old?

tunzafun001 on 17/12/2022 - 17:00

So, haven't been any where since Covid started.

Since then have accumulated 4 Amex travel credits (@$200 each), plus a $600 Virgin travel credit..and a 2.5yr old ;) Also have a heap of QFF and Velocity points.

Our travel preferences used to be tropical destinations (Cairns, Pt Douglas, Noosa, Byron, Vanuatu, Noumea, Fiji, Tahiti, Bali, Hawaii, Thailand).

Most trips involved a cruise (so most costs are known upfront), and $100 per day, per peson was the magic number for booking.

Fiji / Whitsundays would be good. But not seeing any thing at a decent price. But, we did do a 11 night cruise around Tahiti for $1000 (2 nights in Bora Bora)..so im sure its doable..if you know how.

Also did an all inclusive Groupon package at Jimbaran Bay that was pretty good.

Any recommendations / considerations now travelling with a little one.

Open to anywhere really that is a bit beachy/ relaxing.

Thanks

Travel

Comments

  • Muzeeb on 17/12/2022 - 17:02
    +18

    Any recommendations / considerations now travelling with a little one.

    Stay home.

    A holiday with a toddler is just the same shit at a different location.

    • pharkurnell on 17/12/2022 - 17:17

      ^ what he said.

    • afoveht on 17/12/2022 - 17:20
      +3

      OP - go for it.

      The little one won't necessarily remember but you will. Some of my fave memories and repeated nostalgic conversations with my partner are travelling with our little ones. They travel with their limitations but they also bring their extra pleasures. Good luck.

    • tunzafun001 on 17/12/2022 - 21:52

      Got $1000's in travel credit to use in 4 days!

    • mskeggs on 18/12/2022 - 08:09
      +4

      Hard disagree. You didn’t have kids to end your life, you did it to enrich it. Travelling with them is great fun, and you will be welcomed everywhere.

    • lew380 on 20/12/2022 - 11:41
      -1

      I pity your kids to have such a miserable parent who seems to loathe his own offspring.

      • Muzeeb on 20/12/2022 - 11:44

        How does it imply that I loathe my kids and I'm a miserable parent?

      • kobeduck on 23/12/2022 - 06:58

        probably a miserable wife too.

  • jolee3 on 17/12/2022 - 17:27

    You will find beachey destinations but not much that will be "relaxing" with a 2.5 year old. Unless you take turns relaxing.

    Toddlers don't usually enjoy lazing around like adults, so you might need to change your travel preferences to something more stimulating. Holidays are very possible with kids but it won't be the same as pre-kids.

  • FoxJump on 17/12/2022 - 17:29

    just make sure there's heaps of playgrounds nearby

  • SF3 on 17/12/2022 - 17:40

    Open to anywhere really that is a bit beachy/ relaxing.

    Goto your local beach. Otherwise you’ll be occupied by your 2.5 yr old as they’ll will need their daily naps and sleeping early. So you’ll may only get a 60% holiday

    • djsweet on 17/12/2022 - 18:02
      -1

      Try -60%. Holidays with a toddler are worse than no holiday at all. As was said earlier, same $&@! different location. Except due to the toddler being at an unfamiliar location with sleep times screwed around, they act out in the most awful ways. An unforgettable experience. But one you wish you could forget.

      • lew380 on 20/12/2022 - 11:43

        Sounds like your kids are just like you, miserable and a pain.

        • djsweet on 20/12/2022 - 11:47
          -1

          Did I disagree with you at some time in the past. I don't recall. But someone has a pineapple in their bottom

    • tunzafun001 on 17/12/2022 - 21:50
      +7

      No issue there. Our little one doesn't nap during the day. Never has. Sleeps all night instead.

      She loves being outside, sitting on the front of paddleboards, swimming, going for bike rides, golf. Also happily chills and watches the clouds go by..

      A good egg!

      Never been on a plane. So no idea how that will go. Book to scribble in I guess (she has no interest in iPads, and I'm happy with that).

      • jolee3 on 18/12/2022 - 00:47

        She has never napped during the day??

        • tunzafun001 on 20/12/2022 - 16:09

          Nope, not her thing. But will sleep 12hrs a night.

          • jolee3 on 20/12/2022 - 17:34

            @tunzafun001: I mean, as a newborn? As a 2 week old, she didn't nap? Genuinely curious if you're actually meaning never or you mean just currently as a 2.5 year old, or from 12 months etc.

            • tunzafun001 on 27/12/2022 - 01:48

              @jolee3: Nah, never has, other than the day we brought her home. She slept most of the day,.but that was it.
              Child care hate it coz she doesn't stop.
              But does sleep 12+ hrs a night.

              • eddyah on 07/01/2023 - 10:24

                @tunzafun001: Someone shoulda called CPS on yo ass long ago.

                <jokes/>

      • Cobber870 on 19/12/2022 - 12:55

        Go for it. Holidaying with one is relatively easy, especially as she loves the outdoors.

  • Benoffie on 17/12/2022 - 18:15
    +1

    We hired a house in Vanuatu with a toddler. Was great. Tradewind villas. Was a while ago so check recent reviews but was private, walking distance to Mangoes for their restaurant and a straight drive into town.

  • try2bhelpful on 17/12/2022 - 18:27
    +1

    Have you thought about a farm stay? The kid can puddle around looking at the animals. You might want to make enquires on if the place is suitable for a young one and ensure he stays out of the dam.

    Whatever you do will need to be short bursts of activity.

    Have a fun time.

  • bobkin on 17/12/2022 - 19:43
    +4

    Singapore/Sentosa island

  • onetwothreefour on 17/12/2022 - 19:45
    +10

    Don't listen to the naysayers OP, I have been on multiple holidays both domestic and international with my kids from when they were 9 months old up to 15 years and everything in between. You know your kid best and if you think you will have a good time on holiday with them then go for it.

  • Ghost47 on 17/12/2022 - 21:40
    +1

    Just bring your parents or in-laws with you and give the toddler to them to take care of so you can go out and enjoy your holiday.

  • Bozman on 18/12/2022 - 08:09
    +1

    While I haven’t travelled with my toddler, a few years ago in Japan we saw quite a few tourists with little ones. Japan is easy to get around, very friendly and very accommodating. I’d recommend it.

    Other good choice would be Singapore / Sentosa Island as mentioned above. Heaps for kids and adults to do in Singapore. We’re looking at it for March to take the toddler / do a baby moon.

  • daft009 on 18/12/2022 - 11:02

    Fiji. Just stay in Denarau so it's close to the airport.
    We went with our then 3yo, and we all had a great time. He's a great traveller too, sits quietly and not loud

    • tunzafun001 on 20/12/2022 - 16:10

      Leaning towards Fiji / Vanuatu.

      Where did you stay?

      How did you get around (i can see a car seat being an issue).

      • daft009 on 20/12/2022 - 19:47

        Hilton Denarau.
        The local Bula bus that goes around the island
        Didn't venture too much further

  • AlanJ on 18/12/2022 - 11:45

    Just hold off for a year or two. Not that your parenting skills won't allow you to cope with a toddler now, wherever you go. I am merely thinking of the benefits of travel to the child. I took one of my daughters to Europe, Israel and Egypt when she was four, and another one to Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, Brazil and Paraguay at the same age. Both girls remember the trip and were enriched by it. Both were able to CONTRIBUTE to the success of the enterprise…. carrying their own backpacks throughout was one of the requirements, and they were old enough to realise that they would just have to be adventurous with their food. They even learned a few words of the host-country's language. I felt it was of more value to them than pre-school! However, I don't feel that those same benefits to the child will be seen much younger than four (maybe three…. I never tried); but four is a great age to learn, and your child will recall the trip twenty years afterwards. Delay as long as you possibly can! Good luck!

    • daft009 on 18/12/2022 - 12:26
      +1

      While I agree. Travelling is not just for the kids. It's also for the parents too, get away from the normal schedule

      Buffet breakfast, spend few hours at the pool with the kids etc

      • AlanJ on 21/12/2022 - 08:35

        You are absolutely right…. travel is for the parents, too…. and if I made it seem like I was saying the opposite, then that's just my shortcomings as a writer. But, knowing that I was showing the kids the world I love and watching as they grew to love it too made those trips extra-special for me, too. I did all the things I wanted to do, and I was enriched by all of them, and I saw that my kids were being enriched also… so it was a win/win. I confess that afterwards, I really couldn't bear to go on a holiday without my children with me…. the first time my wife and I went overseas just as a couple was after the kids had grown up! So, I assure you, it doesn't have to be an "either…or".

  • SlartiBartFozz on 18/12/2022 - 14:30

    Stick with anywhere you can drive to — flying with toddlers or babies is tortuous for all including the child, (except for those precious few moments when they are sleeping).

    Obviously anywhere with a pool or beach is going to be a full-time supervision, but that's the same anywhere in the world. Playgrounds, parks and gardens are great landmarks to focus on, just choose somewhere that's accessible, so you can use a stroller.

  • Mrcamel79 on 09/01/2023 - 22:55

    Surprised noone has mentioned Gold Coast as yet? Beaches, lots of accomodation options means you should find something in budget, theme parks for the toddler (Seaworld and Wet n Wild prob best for toddlers) and also free parks worth a look like Rockpools.

    Even though the holiday will still revolve around the toddler at least you will get a change of scene, and its also new things for the young one to see and experience.

    You could even consider babysitters or childcare centres that offer holiday care.

    Otherwise agree with other posters on having family with you, or going to family somewhere where they can look after the toddler for a bit to give you a break for a few hours

    Where did you end up going?

    • tunzafun001 on 10/01/2023 - 00:11

      Cheers. Some good tips here.
      We decided we would stick to domestic travel (& Gold coast was top 3). Thought she will enjoy the theme parks more when she is a little taller (and can go on more rides). Boss won out, and we are going to Cairns.
      Now need to work out the logistics of getting around. Ie. Saw an idea of adding a strap to your luggage to attach a car seat (which she can sit in and get pushed around the airport).

  • tunzafun001 on 18/02/2023 - 17:50

    Just an update.

    We ended up going to Cairns / Port Douglas.

    Had a great time. I chose the Ramada Pt D. and Cairns Colonial club in Cairns. Both had great swimming pools for little ones, and swim up bars for us. She is now a very competent swimmer. She loved every minute of it.

    Things I learnt.
    Call Jucy car hire direct (they threw in the car seat hire for free).

    Etcha sketches - wonderful things in flight.

    Be prepared for a dummy spit somewhere..in our case in the middle of a fancy resteraunt. She launched her colour in book. Is what it is.

    Dont buy a kids meal, just share the adults meals.

    Stroller. Dont bother. More hassel than it was worth (and got lost on the return flight!!).

    • AlanJ on 19/02/2023 - 07:31

      Sounds like a great holiday, and, hopefully, has made you feel a little more confident about the next one. One of the great things about being a parent is that you find that you are having a good time when you see that your child is having a good time!

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