Recommendations for European holidays with a 19month old in tow?

July 16, 2008 12:17 AM

Recommendations for European holidays with a 19month old in tow?

We live in the UK, and are looking for recommendations for holiday destination in mainland Europe that are toddler friendly, yet affordable.

Specifically which hotels/apartments have you stayed in with your toddler that you felt was well equipped and welcoming for little ones.

More generally, what are your experiences with resort holidays vs the more free-range type holiday with toddlers in tow?

Although we're open to package/resort holidays, in the past, we've booked our own flights, hotels, transfers etc in places like the south of France, or northern Italy and thoroughly enjoyed that kind of freedom. We are particularly worried about the availability of things like high chairs, cots, car seats etc to borrow/rent so we don't have to lug them around with us.

posted by blacksky to Travel & Transportation (5 answers total)

We holidayed in Tuscany twice with a kiddie around that age. Rented a villa and car, and had a great time. I guess the question is: do you want time away from your kids? (ie babysitting / childcare availability). If not, then it's a great option to go for (as would any other of a number of countries, for villa holidays). The car hire places can always offer childseats for a little extra (make sure they install them properly though); many or most of the villas we inquired of were able to provide a cot (travel cot it turned out - which was fine) ; and we took a little plastic childseat that collapses to a very small size with us (hard to describe this - it basically collapses to a small cube, and you strap it onto a normal adult chair to use).
posted by bifter at 12:57 AM on July 16, 2008

For the childseat a google for "portable high chair" should bring up what bifter is talking about
posted by rus at 2:34 AM on July 16, 2008

Like bifter, we did the rented car / villa thing last year with our daughter (18 months then) in Lake Como. Superb time had by all. This is the villa we stayed in.

Lake Como was superb, had a great time jumping on the boat between the towns around the Lake.

For the child seat we used this portable one from mothercare
posted by lloyder at 3:49 AM on July 16, 2008

Take your own car seat on the plane. Get bulkhead seats and let the toddler sleep in it on the floor.
posted by Neiltupper at 2:54 PM on July 16, 2008

Consider Sweden. Right now toddlers are probably the most well served citizens in the country. All public transport has "kneeler" functions, kids ride for free on trains and public-transport and the parent pushing them in a buggy travels for free on the bus system. Everywhere has child menus, taxis have childrens seats available, and so on and so on.
posted by Iteki at 10:43 AM on July 17, 2008