sasha812

My husband and I are looking to spend a month traveling with our 18 month old in March. We were thinking of Europe but I feel like the rural and quiet areas we would like to spend time in require renting a car. I just don't know if that would create more stress than convenience. Any advice about traveling for a month to relax and unwind (with a toddler)? We are open to going anywhere in the world. As this is our first baby, it has taken its toll on us…we are hoping traveling will help to relieve us of our mundane reality and excite us again. Admittedly, I am very apprehensive about traveling with a toddler…I worry about tantrums, etc…such a worry that I have been inclined to panic attacks since giving birth to her. I am definitely not looking forward to flying with her, but I figure a month abroad would make it worthwhile. Any advice?

thursdaysd

Welcome to Fodors. Lots of Europeans travel with babies... I haven't done it, but we have some posters over on the Europe board who have, and you'll get more responses if you post there, not many people read this board.

lavandula

We travel more or less regularly with our kid, and first took her to Germany when she was 16 months old. For that journey we felt a car was indispensable as there is a lot of paraphernalia to carry with a child, notwithstanding the fact that many hotels and apartment owners will happily provide cots, highchairs and even potties if you are up to that. On that trip we had an apartment as a base and when we travelled outside the area, did shortish day trips or weekend trips. During the week we stayed put as it was a partly work-related trip for us. It is not awful travelling with small children or babies but you do have to be prepared to invest a lot of time in keeping them amused and happy during the actual travel part. A lot is in the planning (and there is a lot about it on the internet). We had 4 long-haul flights to manage and one shorter one. It can be useful to break up the flights with a stopover (sleeping in a real bed is very helpful for you and them).

Click on my screen name for the trip reports I have written about travelling with a toddler, as I talk about our experiences on board planes. We have been to Europe a few times with our daughter. Also, another Fodorite who inspired me quite a lot when our daughter was a baby was Sally30, so if you can find any of her posts about travelling to Paris with a toddler, you might enjoy that.

Up to you where you travel - I'd second thursdaysd post about posting on the Europe board as you will get heaps of responses on that matter.

Lavandula

Iowa_Redhead

<<<such a worry that I have been inclined to panic attacks since giving birth to her.>>>

If you're having panic attacks, it might be helpful to talk to your doctor. A very low dose of something like Zoloft might take the edge off enough that you can function without panic attacks and lack of excitement. I'm on a very low dose for PMDD and I have no side effects, just a LOT more able to deal with people without wanting to slug them. I'm not a doctor but nobody should have to deal with panic attacks and just that 'blah' feeling if their doctor can possibly help them easily.



You might want to consider trying a weekend trip ahead of time so you can get ideas for what works well for your family and what doesn't. A simple weekend in a nearby hotel might be a nice way to test out some ideas but still give you a lot more familiar area to learn in.

As the others have said, definitely post on the Europe forum for a LOT more help and advice. If you're looking for nice, quiet, rural areas to just relax the area around Florence might be nice (I don't know for sure how the weather is in March). Spain or southern France are also probably quite nice at that time of year.

Renting an apartment for a week or more at a time is a really nice way to get more space and is often cheaper than a hotel. You can probably find a place where you can close the door on the baby's room so she can sleep quietly and you two can relax without worrying about every movement possibly waking her up.


Good luck!

suze

Because you are so nervous and new parents, I also would suggest a trial run of some sort, before taking of for a month in Europe. 4 weeks is a long time to be on the road (even without a toddler in tow!)

sparkchaser

I'd definitely do a test run on familiar territory before committing to a whole month in a foreign land with a jet lagged baby.

Have you thought about just renting an apartment in a rural area and just chilling out for those four weeks? You're going to want a car because it will make your life so much easier.


<i>I am definitely not looking forward to flying with her</i>

If she cries the whole time, neither will anyone within 10 rows of you.

Have you considered a cruise to Europe then a few weeks there then a cruise back? It would certainly alleviate the jet lag issue plus some of your other concerns.

Sassafrass

The stress of caring for and living with a toddler will probably not be lessened while traveling with one. At that age, they can still need nearly constant attention. In a rural area, if you are isolated, that is even more so.

The idea of a cruise might actually be good because everything is done for you and you would have no cleaning, shopping, cooking, etc. Just caring for the baby and relaxing. I would not do a Transatlantic though, too long and you are stuck if it is not working out.

The suggestions to do a trial run is excellent. Even for a cruise, I recommend that, perhaps a week in the Caribbean on a nice ship.

sparkchaser

Upon further reflection, OP is probably a troll.

lavandula

Why would you assume that? Some people are shy or just have life stuff happening at the same time they are posting. Assume the OP has maybe read the advice and got from it what she needed. Not everyone new is a troll.

Lavandula