Costa Rica, Southern Spain, or Southern Italy with 2.5 y/o?

I'm itching to go abroad and for the first time post-bambino it can
happen. In March we'd like to take our daughter who will be a bit over
2 and a half on a trip from the West Coast of the US for about a week.
I don't want to go somewhere cold and I don't want to go somewhere
where we can't drink the water. I'm open to suggestions of other places
-- particularly in Latin America -- but what's come to mind is Costa
Rica, southern Spain, or southern Italy. The nice thing about going
somewhere Spanish speaking is that all three of us speak it to some
degree or another, and it would be great for my daughter's Spanish. The
nice thing about Europe is that my husband has spent a grand total of 1
day there, and would like to see more of it. The nice thing about Latin
America is that it's a lot more affordable.

Any comments on the relative merits of those three options -- or
suggestions of places I might be overlooking? Any suggestions on
specific activities or places to visit or stay with a toddler? Thanks
much.

Kate
and the Bug, 2 years

Akuvikate wrote:
I'm itching to go abroad and for the first time post-bambino it can
happen. In March we'd like to take our daughter who will be a bit over
2 and a half on a trip from the West Coast of the US for about a week.
I don't want to go somewhere cold and I don't want to go somewhere
where we can't drink the water. I'm open to suggestions of other places
-- particularly in Latin America -- but what's come to mind is Costa
Rica, southern Spain, or southern Italy. The nice thing about going
somewhere Spanish speaking is that all three of us speak it to some
degree or another, and it would be great for my daughter's Spanish. The
nice thing about Europe is that my husband has spent a grand total of 1
day there, and would like to see more of it. The nice thing about Latin
America is that it's a lot more affordable.

Any comments on the relative merits of those three options -- or
suggestions of places I might be overlooking? Any suggestions on
specific activities or places to visit or stay with a toddler? Thanks
much.

Kate
and the Bug, 2 years


We have been to Spain 4 times so far with our 4 year old and he loves it
and the locals love him. Restaurants are all child friendly and have no
problem letting a child share his parents food.

Be careful where you go in the south of Spain if you want to meet the
Spanish, it can look like a part of the UK with the amount of fish and
chip shops and full English breakfasts being offered.

Personally I prefer the Costa Brava I find it more "Spanish" but some of
the south is nice as well.

Steve

Akuvikate wrote:
I'm itching to go abroad and for the first time post-bambino it can
happen. In March we'd like to take our daughter who will be a bit over
2 and a half on a trip from the West Coast of the US for about a week.
I don't want to go somewhere cold and I don't want to go somewhere
where we can't drink the water. I'm open to suggestions of other places
-- particularly in Latin America -- but what's come to mind is Costa
Rica, southern Spain, or southern Italy. The nice thing about going
somewhere Spanish speaking is that all three of us speak it to some
degree or another, and it would be great for my daughter's Spanish. The
nice thing about Europe is that my husband has spent a grand total of 1
day there, and would like to see more of it. The nice thing about Latin
America is that it's a lot more affordable.

Any comments on the relative merits of those three options -- or
suggestions of places I might be overlooking? Any suggestions on
specific activities or places to visit or stay with a toddler? Thanks
much.

Kate
and the Bug, 2 years

If you're looking for a beach holiday, March is still too cold in Spain
and Italy. I'm still hoping to go to Costa Rica.
T.

Tom Peel ha escrito:



Any comments on the relative merits of those three options -- or
suggestions of places I might be overlooking? Any suggestions on
specific activities or places to visit or stay with a toddler? Thanks
much.

Kate
and the Bug, 2 years

If you're looking for a beach holiday, March is still too cold in Spain
and Italy. I'm still hoping to go to Costa Rica.


Except for the Canary Islands, of course.


J.

Following up to Akuvikate

Any comments on the relative merits of those three options -- or
suggestions of places I might be overlooking? Any suggestions on
specific activities or places to visit or stay with a toddler?

I cant comment on Costa Rica, but as you speak Spanish not
Italian, Spain seems the obvious bet. Its also cheaper to stay in
Spain than Italy. Northern Italy is also too cold for most in
March. The Spanish generally love kids so no problem there.
Andalucia is the Spain that is usually portrayed as all of Spain,
flamenco, manana and all that. The north is cooler with its own
cultures and we be a bit chilly in March. The east coast is
dotted with "fly and flop" beach tourist destinations frequented
by Brit's and Germans, they will be empty and partly closed in
March. As for what activities to do with a toddler, I have no
idea, I'm afraid, bars, restaurants, museums and churches
presumably all being non starters? Western Andalucia has lovely
noisy old cities like Cadiz, Sevilla and Cordoba, less stylish
than Italy but with a similar love of food and socialising.
My website might help a little:-
general boring stuff:-
"http://www.fell-walker.co.uk/spain.htm"
Andalucia, food and main places:-
"http://www.fell-walker.co.uk/andalus.htm"
You must not miss out on flamenco, its often rubbish in tourist
resorts and away from Andalucia, but there you have a chance of
the real thing:-
"http://www.fell-walker.co.uk/andalus.htm#flamenco"
--
Mike Reid
Walk-eat-UK "http://www.fellwalk.co.uk" -- you can email us@ this site
Walk-eat-Spain "http://www.fell-walker.co.uk" -- dontuse@ all, it's a spamtrap
Photos of both "http://www.lawn-mower-man.co.uk"

Following up to Steve Rainbird

Be careful where you go in the south of Spain if you want to meet the
Spanish, it can look like a part of the UK with the amount of fish and
chip shops and full English breakfasts being offered.

only if you go to a package resort destination or a villa
development made for expats. Just check the website of a UK
package holiday company if you think a chosen destination might
be one. Alternatively get in a car and drive 2 miles!
--
Mike Reid
Walk-eat-UK "http://www.fellwalk.co.uk" -- you can email us@ this site
Walk-eat-Spain "http://www.fell-walker.co.uk" -- dontuse@ all, it's a spamtrap
Photos of both "http://www.lawn-mower-man.co.uk"

The Reids wrote:
Following up to Steve Rainbird


Be careful where you go in the south of Spain if you want to meet the
Spanish, it can look like a part of the UK with the amount of fish and
chip shops and full English breakfasts being offered.


only if you go to a package resort destination or a villa
development made for expats. Just check the website of a UK
package holiday company if you think a chosen destination might
be one. Alternatively get in a car and drive 2 miles!

Seconded

Akuvikate wrote:
I'm itching to go abroad and for the first time post-bambino it can
happen. In March we'd like to take our daughter who will be a bit over
2 and a half on a trip from the West Coast of the US for about a week.
I don't want to go somewhere cold and I don't want to go somewhere
where we can't drink the water. I'm open to suggestions of other places
-- particularly in Latin America -- but what's come to mind is Costa
Rica, southern Spain, or southern Italy. The nice thing about going
somewhere Spanish speaking is that all three of us speak it to some
degree or another, and it would be great for my daughter's Spanish. The
nice thing about Europe is that my husband has spent a grand total of 1
day there, and would like to see more of it. The nice thing about Latin
America is that it's a lot more affordable.

Any comments on the relative merits of those three options -- or
suggestions of places I might be overlooking? Any suggestions on
specific activities or places to visit or stay with a toddler? Thanks
much.

In general, if you try to keep at least a reasonable toddler schedule,
a child will travel just fine. That means relaxing and not trying to
do too much each day, and things like taking a naps.

Costa Rica is very family friendly and they do speak Spanish. We
drank the water there with no problem. It is also pretty safe, and
they have a lot of ecological stuff and adventure stuff to do. Some
of that would be appropriate for a kid, but in most cases if you
wanted to do those things, you'd have to do it one at a time. March
is the dry season so the weather should be good. It is also close to
the west coast.

Spain is also very child friendly. My sister flew from Germany to
Spain with her 1 year old child - the German flight attendant helped
her with the diaper bag. The Spanish flight attendant carried the
baby. They do have somewhat different meal hours - eating dinner at
10 pm etc, but generally the Spanish schedules, with the siesta should
work out pretty well for a child. I drank the water there too
without any problem.

I would suggest Portugal, but of course they don't speak Spanish there
although that would be IMHO a good alternative to Italy..

Most of the other places I might suggest I have not been to myself,
partly *because* I don't speak Spanish. But if I wanted to go to some
Spanish speaking place, I might consider Puerto Rico, the Canary
Islands, the Balearic Islands (Palma), Trinidad and Tobago. I don't
know about drinking the water there.

Of course there is also Key West where there are a lot of Spanish
speaking people, and it is warm in March and you can drink the water.

If Spanish was not a priority, then maybe Barbados or Belize.

grandma Rosalie

Akuvikate wrote:
I'm itching to go abroad and for the first time post-bambino it can
happen. In March we'd like to take our daughter who will be a bit over
2 and a half on a trip from the West Coast of the US for about a week.
I don't want to go somewhere cold and I don't want to go somewhere
where we can't drink the water. I'm open to suggestions of other places
-- particularly in Latin America -- but what's come to mind is Costa
Rica, southern Spain, or southern Italy. The nice thing about going
somewhere Spanish speaking is that all three of us speak it to some
degree or another, and it would be great for my daughter's Spanish. The
nice thing about Europe is that my husband has spent a grand total of 1
day there, and would like to see more of it. The nice thing about Latin
America is that it's a lot more affordable.

Any comments on the relative merits of those three options -- or
suggestions of places I might be overlooking? Any suggestions on
specific activities or places to visit or stay with a toddler? Thanks
much.

Costa Rica is a fabulous place to take a toddler! It's close and easy
to get to, not as cheap as it could be and getting more developed.
March would be late in the dry season so should be nice.

Spain or Italy would be great, but if you're looking for a beach
holiday, I'd go to CR. Save the European cultural trip for when you'll
do more exploring than beach.

"Rosalie B." wrote in message
...

But if I wanted to go to some
Spanish speaking place, I might consider ....Trinidad and Tobago.

T&T is fundamentally English speaking. East-Indian majority on
Trinidad, West Indian majority on Tobago.