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Family holiday with two toddlers in October

Family holiday with two toddlers in October

Old Aug 4th, 2015, 03:47 AM
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Family holiday with two toddlers in October

My son and daughter-in-law (self employed) unexpectedly find themselves with two weeks holiday, starting October 17. They have two young (3 and 18 months) old boys which makes selecting a place to stay a bit more of a 'challenge'.

They would like to stay in or very near a small town in a child friendly accommodation. Easy airport connections and a beach, if possible a swimming pool are on their wish list.

In my experience it can already be pretty rainy in Southern Spain around that time of year but I'm not sure about e.g. Sicily, Italy. I also have the experience that often many restaurants in sea-side towns are closed for the season.

Any advice or suggestions about Southern European destinations that fall into this category are most welcome.
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Old Aug 4th, 2015, 04:02 AM
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"Easy" air transit depends on where they are coming from. If coming from Europe, there are many direct flights to Sicily. But from other places, you generally need to change planes. Beach quality in Sicily can be highly variable.

In the rest of Italy the coastal rainy season in Italy can start in mid-October. The Amalfi coast can get favorable weather, but with toddlers they would need to cherry pick out a place that doesn't mean constant steep stair-climbing. Sorrento with a pool might work for them.

Finally, to be perfectly honest, it is not easy to find toddler-friendly rentals in Italy. Many rental apartments have interior stairs, lack of screens (mosquitoes can still be hanging around in October) or unguarded upper floor windows. Given that the risk of rain in the Med in mid-October is pretty much equal wherever you go, maybe more modern accommodations in Spain or France would be simplest, and maybe easier travel logistics to Barcelona or Nice.
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Old Aug 9th, 2015, 05:52 AM
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Hello Sandralist, thanks for your reply. Their flight originates from Europe. I already thought that staying with children in Italy could pose something of a challenge. Italians love children of course but you are right, rental houses are indeed not always "child friendly".

Any suggestions for small towns to stay outside of Barcelona? In my personal experience the weather on or near the more Northern Spanish costa's can still be sunny and mild whereas it can already get pretty rainy further South.
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Old Aug 9th, 2015, 06:25 AM
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After traveling to Spain more than a dozen times at different times of the year, I find it very inaccurate to say that the October weather on northern coast is sunnier and milder than on Southern coastal areas. The average precipitation weather data certainly does not support that, by far. If you were referring to Ronda, or places in the mountain region, but the Southern Coast.....???

I suggest Malaga, Marbella. Costa del Sol is not my favorite region, but in your son's situation, it is where I would take toddlers in October. There are plenty places, most have a pool and parks nearby because the region is very family-oriented. Plenty to do as day-trips and certaibnly convenient flights in/out.
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Old Aug 10th, 2015, 05:34 AM
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Muchos gracias Viajero2. Yes, for the record, I was indeed referring to Ronda. That beautiful road from Granada to Ronda was completely missed by us due to the persistent fog, but it was actually in Tarifa where it rained about 75% of the time when we were there. Everyone was out on the street dancing because it had been so dry. We were greeted as 'the rainmakers'. Oh well.....
I will pass on the information!
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Old Aug 10th, 2015, 06:23 AM
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Weather statistics for Malaga last half of October says average highs at 75F, 3 days with rainfall in 16 days and average 7 hour sun pr. day. (wetteronline.de)

All the region is easily reached from the large international Malaga airport. http://www.aena.es/csee/Satellite/Ae...a-del-Sol.html

Nerja (in the Malaga region) would be perfect if it hadn't been for the on and off bad water conditions. I swim here all the time, and the nine small and large beaches among the cliffs and the waters are packed during summer. But they are building a sewage plant here now for a reason.

Otherwise Hotel Balcon de Europa would be ideal. Right on the beach and with an outdoor and heated swimmingpool:
http://www.booking.com/hotel/es/balc...opa.en-gb.html
http://www.hotelbalconeuropa.com/en/

Small Nerja has got all the amenities that make it attractive to tourists, but it has still retained much of its small-town Andalucian charm: http://www.nerjatoday.com/

Photo of Nerja: http://www.flickr.com/photos/trondjs/3735908317/

Old town street in Nerja:
http://www.minube.com/fotos/rincon/131879/629455

Maybe take a look at Torre del Mar, halfway between Nerja and Malaga city. Popular with Spanish tourists: http://www.torredelmartoday.com/

And then you have of course excellent Malaga city itself (3000 year old Malaka): http://www.theguardian.com/travel/20...rs-restaurants
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