Hi Owenwe

Just a word of caution on Mauritius - it is fab for children but in March you are in the wet season and there is a chance of a tropical cyclone which would not be fun with a young child. Better weather would be in the Caribbean if you want long haul or otherwise Dubai or Canaries. We have some great ideas on our website www.familyholidayscompany.com but often better to us a call as we have inspected all the accommodation we recommend.
Good luck, Jo

This is all really helpful, we may have to rethink how far we go based on your recommendations. Thanks all!

I third mauritius!! We have just got back from there staying at The Residence. Just so perfect! We travelled with 3 kids under 5 and as everyone has said the flight is really ok (we were dreading it!). The hotel is so child friendly, small and kids club was lovely. If you want more European sun we stayed at the princess yaiza in lanzarote which was great x

For a European winter then the Costa Blanca has the best sunshine/dry record for the mainland. The issue with Portugal and the Costa Del Sol is that it can get some Atlantic weather at that time of year.

Tenerife and the rest of the Canaries does have better weather still because it is another 2hrs+ south. Further afield there is Dubai which is as guaranteed as it's ever going to be.

I second mauritius - we went to Lux Belle Mare with our 18 month old, booked via Tots Too, and we all had a lovely time. Overnight direct flights (and an iPad pre loaded with downloaded kids tv) made the journey not too painful. The small time difference is really helpful.

The kids club is for 3 and up, same as most places, but you can book nannies and the nanny can also take your child to the kids club.

Just returned from Long Beach in Mauritius. With two children under 3. Perfect place and fab kids club. Nanny only £6 an hour for babysitting at night or day. Turquoise Holidays were fab in arranging. 12hr flight seems daunting but Air Mauritius do night flights and ours slept 9 hours of flight.

Can anyone recommend somewhere nice with creche/childcare facilities? I've looked at Matinhal in Portugal, Abama and Roca Vivaria in Tenerife. Not sure if Portugal will be warm enough in early March?
If anyone has advice on these or alternatives, please let me know.
tks