FAMILY HOLIDAYS LISBON DESTINATIONS
centre, the sprawling coastal hotel provides not only a twin-centre option but also an alternative base for the entire trip – parents could easily head into the city for a day of concentrated sightseeing while leaving a toddler in the kids’ club, if they’d rather explore entirely unfettered. Instead, we used the time Dex was happily ensconced in the bright and airy clubhouse to relax in the sun and enjoy a massage at the spa. But a successful holiday is about more than merely childcare. Our shared experiences were the highlight here – running in and out of the shallow, warm kids’ pool, going wild in the large outdoor playground with a sandpit, swings and trampolines, and enjoying Dexter’s first Portuguese pastel de nata (custard tart) at the breakfast buffet. Often, dining in a family- friendly hotel can feel like a necessity rather than a pleasure – one of those sacrifices that have to be made when you travel with a toddler. Not here. With its floor-to-ceiling glazing,
RIGHT: Dex enjoys
We used the time Dex was in the bright and airy clubhouse to relax in the sun and enjoy a massage
white tablecloths and bucket- sized gin glasses, the main restaurant, O Terraço, delivers grown-up food to match its atmosphere. Yet there’s also a complimentary children’s buffet and a kids’ play corner manned by a member of the kids’ club team, so we could all dine together, then linger over our wine while Dex was entertained. It may not have been quite the same as our weekend jaunts pre-children, but our holiday to Lisbon with a toddler really worked. We saw the city, we had a break – and Dex has been asking to go back to Portugal ever since.
trampolining BELOW:
Time Out Market
Toddler
SCREEN TEAM Just for once, forget your usual screen time limits. Pre-load a tablet with episodes of their favourite shows and age- appropriate games and let them go wild.
SNACK TIME Snacks are currency for toddlers. Buy quiet time and good behaviour on flights with bananas, breadsticks and biscuits. Take more than you think you could ever need – they’ll take the edge off any
delays. SPLASH ZONE
Bring extra outfits, and not just for your toddler. Stuff an extra T-shirt that fits both parents into your hand luggage – it’s a lifesaver when the apple juice or leaky nappy goes all over you too.
TRAVEL TIPS
ACCIDENTS HAPPEN
Little accidents don’t feel so little mid-flight. If it’s early days without nappies it won’t hurt to pop a pair of pull-ups on for the flight to avoid a potty- training mishap.
BAG THE BASICS Put Calpol, wipes, and a few extra nappies in your hand luggage, along with PJs and any teddies/blankets they can’t sleep without. If your checked bag goes missing, you’ve got the basics.
7 February 2019
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