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Y’all, if you’re wondering where to go on your first trip with a baby, my answer is the Algarve in Portugal. We went when our little baby person was four months old, and four months is that sweet spot.

Mild weather off-season, a short flight from London, wide paths for the pram and restaurants that are happy to see a baby. It was our first trip as a family of three, and I’d book it again. Is four months the right age for every family? No. It’s what worked for us, and here’s why.

Why four months was our sweet spot

Here’s how I’d sum it up. Not crawling. Not on solids. Happy in the carrier. Still napping on the go.

That combo meant we could actually explore without it feeling chaotic. No chasing a crawler around a hotel room. No packing a whole kitchen of purees. Baby went in the carrier (mine is the Artipoppe carrier, so comfy, and I got mine secondhand on Vinted) and napped while we walked.

Was it a totally different life from home? Honestly, no. There’s no real down time with a baby, on holiday or off. Our trip wasn’t anything super different from our life at home. It was just warmer and sunnier (which does make a huge difference).

And that’s the point. It was good practice. A short trip close to home first, then the long-haul flight a few weeks later, once we knew what we actually needed.

Why the Algarve works for a first trip with a baby

If you’re US or UK based and wondering where to go with a four month old, the Algarve is such a good first trip. A few reasons it just works:

The flight is short

There are direct, short flights from the UK, which is exactly what you want the first time you fly with a baby. We flew into Faro, about three hours from London. From the US East Coast there are easy overnight options.

If you’re still working out what it costs to fly with a baby, I broke it all down in my infant airline cost guide.

The weather is mild off-season

We went in February (and loved it so much we went back in July). Think 10 to 20°C, or the 50s to 70s°F, so you’re not dealing with sweaty baby chaos. Off-season also means fewer crowds, better hotel rates and way less overstimulation for everyone. Baby included. Me included.

The pace matches baby’s pace

Everything is close, so you’re not constantly packing up and moving. You pick a base and you stay put.

The promenades and coastal paths are wide and actually pram friendly. And the restaurants welcome babies. No stares if you’re breastfeeding at the table.

It’s a slower place, and slow is what you want at four months.

What we looked for in a hotel (and where we stayed)

When I was looking for our first hotel with a baby, I had three things on my list:

1. A kitchen. The fridge especially.
2. A separate bedroom. So naps could happen in the dark while hubby and I weren’t whispering in a corner all afternoon.
3. A property big enough to walk around. Somewhere you can push the pram or wear the carrier and get a proper walk in without leaving.

Viceroy at Ombria Algarve

Y’all, Viceroy at Ombria Algarve checked all our boxes. Kitchen, separate bedroom, and grounds big enough to walk around. It had really good food too.

And there was a crib in our room. First time seeing a crib in our room felt so crazy.

If you’ve got slightly bigger kids, they have a kids club, and I’d make use of it. My other tip is the same one I keep giving: come off-season to avoid the crowds.

One more thing for the room: bring a familiar sleep item from home, like the sleep sack or the sound machine you use every night, so baby has something that smells and feels like home. Ours is the Hatch portable sound machine.

The light diaper bag list

If you want a light diaper bag, you have to pack like it. This is what I tell myself before we leave the house.

Here are the true essentials:

• Milk or bottles, pre-portioned
• 4 to 5 diapers (1 to 2 per hour of travel)
• Travel wipes
• A foldable changing pad
• 1 spare outfit
• Dog poop bags (for blowouts, more on that below)
• A burp cloth

That’s it. No “just in case” extras. No shoulder pain. Just what you actually need to leave the house feeling ready.

For the bigger bag, I’d add a couple of wet bags. They’re not expensive and they’re great for dirty clothes, especially in that blowout stage.

Two hacks borrowed from the dog: pee pads and dog bags

I filmed this one live from Portugal, on our first family vacation, because these two things were SO underrated in our diaper bag. They’re dog related, actually, but they come in clutch for babies.

Dog poop bags

We have a dog at home, so we have tons of dog poop bags. I just chucked one in our bag. Use them for dirty diapers, used wipes, blowout outfits, wet clothes and random messes on the go. They work.

Disposable pee pads

Disposable pee pads are great, especially for little boys, because they pee everywhere, all the time. Airport floors, airplane bathrooms, park benches. Anywhere that isn’t familiar, I want that extra layer of protection. I am not risking it.

Both are affordable, and both earned their space in the bag.

What I’d tell you before your first trip

• Go somewhere close first. A short flight lets you learn what you need before you try long-haul.
• Pick one base. Packing up and moving every couple of days is a lot with a baby. Stay put.
• Feed during takeoff and landing. It helps with the ear pressure.
• Follow your baby’s cues. Don’t try to force a perfect schedule on holiday.
• Expect real life, just sunnier. It won’t feel like your old holidays, and that’s okay. Warmer and sunnier still makes a huge difference.
• Get the big car. Hubby’s one contribution to my travel list is Uber XLs. Huge car, mad luggage. Trust me.

Want more trips and tips like this one? Everything I write about travelling with our little one lives in my Family posts.

FAQ

When can you travel with a baby?

It depends on your baby, your family and your airline, so check with your doctor and the airline before you book. For us, four months was the sweet spot: not crawling, not on solids, happy in the carrier and still napping on the go.

Is the Algarve good for babies?

It was for us. Off-season it’s mild (around 10 to 20°C), the promenades and coastal paths are pram friendly, restaurants welcome babies, and the pace is slow. From the UK the flights are direct and short.

What should be in a diaper bag for a flight?

Keep it light: pre-portioned milk or bottles, 4 to 5 diapers (1 to 2 per hour of travel), travel wipes, a foldable changing pad, one spare outfit, dog poop bags for blowouts and a burp cloth. I add disposable pee pads for airplane bathrooms.

Where should you stay in the Algarve with a baby?

Look for a kitchen (a fridge at the very least), a separate bedroom so naps can happen in the dark, and a property big enough to walk around. We stayed at Viceroy at Ombria Algarve, and it had all three plus a crib in the room.

Save this for when you book your first trip, and send it to your travel buddy. Where are you thinking of going first? Drop it below, I gotchu with reccs.

Keep reading: Traveling to Japan With a Baby: An Honest Guide