I'm looking away into the future ( for me anyway. I usually just go where there's flight deals)
I'm looking to spend 1 month in 2 separate locations. 2 months total with my 11/12 month old and husband next December and January. I'm not opposed to a different format like say 2 weeks in 4 different locations.
So my question is where would you go? Things I'm looking for are 1) warm climate. 2) a town or city that had enough to do like hiking, waterfalls, markets, street food, beach ect. 3) cheaper the better. 4) accommodations that offer direct access to a pool so no high rise condos or big hotels. I'm thinking hanging out at the pool while the little naps would be a good thing for us.
I'm currently thinking of Hoi An, Vietnam. Or the Kuta, Bali area. We've been to both places and normally I don't like to go back to places I've been so hence why I'm looking for recommendations!
This is our first baby so I know traveling is going to be different with a 1 year old. We are decently traveled and normally leave for a month at a time and spend about 5 days in each location before moving on. About a step up from backpacking. Any suggestions are very welcome! Also any experience traveling across the world with a baby would be greatly appreciated!

I haven't been, but I heard Croatia would fit your bill

My home country

Brenda
Tracy it’s on my bucket list

It would except it's way too cold in the winter time! We spent about 5 days there and just loved it!

We loved southern Vietnam. Mekong delta, Can Tho , Phu Quoc island.

I did exactly that for a month in Akumal, Mexico. Loved it so much I did it several more times as 1 kid became 2. Also in Huatulco and Zihuatanejo.

Siem Reap, Cambodia is beautiful and lots to do. I have a great guide there if you need. Huatulco, Mexico as well.

Jana I’d be interested in guides name for Cambodia when I can go next year

Jana Huatulco is beautiful and very hot, January is 30-34c

Brenda, one of our last minute go-tos. Always a great trip.

Lori, I will send you a message later this evening when I get home.

I agree Siem Reap is beautiful! We had a great time there! But I feel we've gotten everything out of it that we can

If you can hit Siem Reap on their New Year's you are in for an unforgettable experience! One of the best memories I have traveling! It's definitely not kid friendly tho

Costa Rica!!!!

Costa Rica could be a good destination!

Where specially in Costa Rica?

Kayla everywhere lol

Kayla Check out Puerto Viejo and area on the Caribbean side of Costa Rica. It is much less 'touristy' than over on the west coast. where most of the tourists go. No AI's, no condos or mega resorts. It's a surfer, bohemian vibe going on over there. From Puerto Viejo south all the way down to Manzanillo there are rentals. There is nothing north of PV to speak of really except banana and pineapple plantations basically all the way to Limon. We spent 3 months in Punta Uva over a winter and loved it a few years ago. Check out a site called puertoviejosatellite.com as they are the visitor site for the area and have all pertinant info. Costa Rica is comparable prices to what we pay here though. Some bargains but not a real cheap location.
PUERTOVIEJOSATELLITE.COM
Puerto Viejo Satellite - Map, Hotels, Transport, Tours, Restaurants for the South Caribbean area of Costa Rica

Kerry even the pacific side on the south end with manzanillo and motezuma is less touristy no big hotels.

Machu Picchu, beautiful!

Australia

We travelled with our son when he was 4 months old to Cuba and it went well. However, we went to Malaysia before kids and my husband and I have talked about how this would be a kid friendly destination - as there are lots of conveniences available for kids but still a backpacker feel....but we loved Vietnam too. If you can travel before your child is starting to walk (or is at least really good at walking) it makes the airplane ride a bit easier. Also, agree with Croatia suggestion just not sure of temps at that time of year.

Kristin I was actually leaning my research to Malaysia. That's one of the few SE Asia countries we haven't been to and they have a good healthcare system. I was thinking about splitting our time between Cameron Highlands and the beach somewhere. What do you think of that?
I agree Croatia would be good but when where were there at the beginning of May it snowed in Plitvice I can only imagine the dead of winter would be chilly!

Kanan Babayev
How about Cambodia? It us cheap there

We got a cheap flight to colombia last year and went half the time to Medellin and have to Cartagena. Our 3 bedroom airbnb for a week or more on the beach was $700. We met people from calgary, new york etc that go there for the winter. It's fairly windy so lots of windsurfing and so great for mornings at the pool.

Pauline Wakelin
Colombia is amazing. Spent a month there. Fabulous food

I would be hesitant about going somewhere that is on a completely different time zone than home as some (possibly most) young children don't adapt well to the time change. If you go to Asia, your little one may decide to sleep all day and stay awake most of the night.

Kim Schneider Minifie Do you think for a whole 2 months? I kinda thought it would take a few days to a week max. My husband and myself are both shift workers and have never been jet lagged. It's been nice haha. This is not real life experience or anything but I have a sleep book that says they actually do better than adults adjusting by using 90 minute sleeps at a time during the day

Kayla
Thanks for the input!

We just flew from Canada to Aus with our almost 7month old and she had been a dream. Definitely better than us and I have done the trip a few times. We brought a portable bed that she has used at home as well as her favourite blanket. She travelled amazingly on the plane, make sure they have something to suck on during take off and especially landing to avoid burst ear drums. Good luck!

We have traveled to Europe several times with young kids. They have always surprised me with how quickly they adjust upon arrival. I actually found coming back was the tougher (although still pretty smooth) part, but at least you're back home at that point.

We used to live in Kuala Lumpur. Depending on the monsoon season. Langkawi and Penang on the west side and Tioman Island on the East. Using Air Asia you can fly to Thailand or Cambodia etc easily.

bali and iceland

this may sound odd, but have you considered China? Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia? I spent 40 years in aviation, and we’ve seen a LOT of the world; China was a frequent destination for us, was and is a frequent destination for a LOT fo people in the airline industry as well. its fascinating, it’s massive, and there are so many profoundly different, exotic experiences. it’s VERY Canadian friendly and safe, inexpensive even in the large cities. Vietnam, Laos & Cambodia are all different, vastly different from China, and amazing in their own right. Another REALLY cool place is the Azores Islands. they are really trying to encourage tourism from North America. They are Portugese, around 1400km out in the Atlantic from Portugal, and much of Europe views them the way western Canada views Hawaii.plenty to do, lots of hikes, touring the volcanoes, beaches...

Wayne that's some great advise! I've done two 48 hour stop overs in China (Beijing and Shanghai) and loved both experiences! I never would have gone there but it's a really fascinating place! I've been to Cambodia and Vietnam and loved both. If I was booking right now I think I'd be choosing Hoi An. I really want to go to Laos as well!
I have never heard of the Azores islands! I'll defiantly be looking into them!
Thanks for all the info!

the Azores (and Portugal for that matter) are long time favorites of ours. the largest community on Sao Miguel (Ponta Delgada) is only about 30,000 people, but the entire has many small villages, incredible scenery, and if you’re into volcanoes, this is the place. there are several active ones, no threat, but they have the most incrdible scenery. a week or two in Porto, Portugal, and around the northern part of the country (go south to the Algarve if you want surf and beaches), followed by 6 weeks in the Azores, a week or so per island...spectacular vacation. In China, Beijing and Shanghai are both worth spending time in, and both cheap places to visit. Zian to see the Terra Cotta warriors, the six Gorges Dam, the Great Wall of course ( when my family was planning a celebration for my surviving a year after cancer treatment asked me what I wanted to do; I said I wanted a familiy portrait taken...of the Great Wall. That’s exactly what we did, too), and if you can swing it, take a week and travel part of the Silk Road by train. It is the most incredible experience you’ve ever had

Peru, Chile, Argentina and Brazil.
When having an infant on your lap a nursing pillow is great as it saves you from needing to hold your little one. It has saved me many times. I would bring a baby carrier or wrap.

Was in Colombia for a month in March ... beautiful country
- dm me if u have any questions! I’d also recommend Costa Rica... lots to do there that you mentioned in your post.

I spent 2 weeks in Nicaragua and loved it. I would take my kids there in a heart beat

llha Grande an island of Brazil. Super beautiful place. Lots of hiking and amazing beaches. It’s a vehicle free island there was just one garbage truck and a cop. If your too tired to hike back to town you can take the water taxi

Portugal and Thailand. Either northern Thailand for the cooler weather and cheaper stay and food, or South for the beaches. Very child-friendly place!! Also, my friend took her son the same age to Portugal for a month and they had a wonderful time!

I rented an airbnb in Palermo, Buenos Aires last December and January. It had a shared rooftop pool and was an easy walk from lots of attractions and transport all over the city. Their currency is plummeting which makes it an amazing value for Canadians BUT there is an associated increased risk of petty crime. In 65ish countries it was the first place I was robbed. Leave your valuables at home and don’t carry anything irreplaceable when you’re out and about and it would be perfect. (No beach though.)