Canary Islands With a Nearly 3-Year-Old; Is It Actually Worth It?
Let me be straight with you from the off.
Before we went, I googled this exact question more times than I'd like to admit. "Is Lanzarote worth it with a toddler?" "Should we wait until she's older?" "Are we mad?"
We weren't mad. And yes, it absolutely was worth it.
But I'm not going to dress it up as some stress-free, Instagram-perfect family getaway, because it wasn't that either. It was messy, brilliant, knackering, and genuinely one of the best things we've done as a family. Here's the honest version, from a stay-at-home dad who spent a week in Playa Blanca with a nearly 3-year-old Lily.
The Packing: Lighter Than Before, Smarter Than Ever
We've travelled with Lily before, so this time we actually knew what we were doing. We kept the luggage light but purposeful. Beach essentials -a pop-up shelter (non-negotiable in that sun) and her toys - were all accounted for without us lugging half the house.
But the real masterstroke? My partner made Lily an aeroplane activity pack.
We try not to default to screens as a first resort, so instead we put together a little collection of activities, all brand new things Lily hadn't seen before, because novelty buys you time. We're talking stickers, pipe cleaners, crayons, pencils, reusable sticker scenes, and magnetic bricks. The magnetic bricks were the undisputed star of the show. She was absorbed in them for a solid stretch of that over-3-hour flight without once kicking the seat in front.
If you take nothing else from this post: pack new things she's never seen. New = engaged. Engaged = survival.
The Flight: Better Than Expected
Over three hours with a nearly 3-year-old. I won't pretend I wasn't a bit tense in the drive to the airport.
She took it completely in her stride.
The activity pack did its job. She looked out the window, she had a snack, she charmed the people around us (as she tends to do), and before we knew it we were descending into Lanzarote. No meltdowns, no scenes, no wishing the earth would swallow us whole. For any parent reading this dreading their upcoming flight — it genuinely can be fine. Prepare well, stay calm, and trust your kid more than you think you should.
Lanzarote Itself: The Right Choice for This Age
Playa Blanca was brilliant for a family with a toddler. The temperature during our week sat around a very comfortable 22 degrees - warm enough to be a proper holiday, not so scorching that you're constantly battling a melting, overwhelmed child. That balance matters more than you'd think at this age.
We were in a half board hotel, which hit the sweet spot perfectly. Breakfast and dinner sorted, but the flexibility to do our own thing during the day without being locked into the all-inclusive schedule. The hotel staff were genuinely wonderful with Lily - and she, having had some Spanish practice courtesy of her mum, gave it a proper go. Watching a nearly 3-year-old attempt Spanish with hotel staff is one of those small moments that stops you in your tracks.
We also hired a car for the week, which I'd strongly recommend. It gave us total freedom — no waiting for transfers, no stressing about taxis with a car seat. We could go when we wanted, come back when we needed to, and stop at the roadside whenever Lily spotted something that demanded her full attention (which was often
The Pool: On Constant Alert (And That's Okay)
Here's something nobody really says out loud: a pool when you have a toddler is not relaxing.
On constant watch at the pool side.
It's wonderful, Lily absolutely loved the water every single day , but you're on a different level of alertness than you are at home. It's not your space, the depths are different, the surroundings are unfamiliar, and you're just switched on in a way you can't fully switch off. That's not a complaint, it's just the reality. One eye on her, always.
We managed it fine, and she loved every second. But if you're expecting to lounge by the pool reading a book while your nearly 3-year-old splashes about — adjust those expectations now and you'll have a much better time.
Aqualava Waterpark: An Absolute Win
We took a day trip to Aqualava waterpark and it was one of the highlights of the week.
Lily went on the slides with her mum while I did what dads at waterparks apparently do - held all the stuff and waited at the bottom with a towel and a proud grin. She loved it. The kind of loved it where she wanted to go again immediately every single time. At nearly 3, that pure, uncomplicated joy in something new is just something else to watch.
If you're heading to Lanzarote with a toddler, put Aqualava on the list. It's worth it.
The Moment That Made Everything Worth It
We'd been on the beach one afternoon - pop-up shelter up, toys out, sun cream applied approximately four thousand times - when Lily just wandered over to an Italian child she'd never met before.
No shared language. No introduction from us. She just went.
Within minutes they were playing together in the sand, laughing, running in and out of the water. The language barrier made absolutely no odds to any of them. I sat there watching it and felt this swell of something I can only describe as pure, uncomplicated pride. Not pride in anything she'd achieved or learnt — just pride in who she is. This curious, confident, open-hearted little person who walks towards people rather than away from them.
That's the moment I keep coming back to when someone asks if it's worth it.
It's worth it for that alone.
The Food: Watermelon Is Apparently Very Crunchy
I need to give this its own section.
We went to a the hotel restaurant during the week, and Lily ate adventurously. But the standout moment? Watermelon.
She tried it, her eyes went wide, and she announced — with complete conviction — that it was crunchy. Watermelon. Crunchy. I'm not going to argue with a nearly 3-year-old's sensory experience, but it did make me laugh out loud. She loved it regardless of the questionable food science, and from that point on it became a holiday staple.
And then there was the ice cream.
What started as a holiday treat became a full-blown daily obsession by day three. I'm not sure she fully understood that ice cream isn't typically a lunchtime food group back in the UK, and honestly, we didn't have the heart to tell her. Holiday rules. We'll deal with the fallout later.
The combination of being somewhere new, seeing us try things, and that brilliant toddler openness to experience (before the fussy eating phase really digs its heels in — enjoy it while it lasts, parents) meant she approached food with a curiosity she doesn't always bring to the dinner table at home. Another unexpected win of travelling at this age.
Would We Do It Again?
Without question, yes.
Would I recommend Lanzarote with a nearly 3-year-old to other UK parents? Absolutely. Here's the short version of why it works:
The flight is manageable — just over 3 hours, prepare well and it flies by (sorry)
The temperature is kind — 22 degrees in May is ideal for toddlers, not extreme
Hire a car — the freedom it gives you is worth every penny
Half board hits the sweet spot — structure without rigidity
Playa Blanca is toddler-friendly — beach, pool, waterpark, restaurants, all within easy reach
Your toddler will surprise you — Lily made international friends, declared watermelon crunchy, and got completely addicted to ice cream. Nearly 3 is a brilliant age to travel.
The Honest Bottom Line
Is it a relaxing holiday in the traditional sense? No. You're a parent. You don't get those anymore — not for a few years at least.
But is it joyful, memorable, and genuinely good for your child? Yes. Is watching your kid experience the world for the first time worth the packing, the airport, the pool vigilance, and the sun cream battles?
Every single time.
Don't wait until they're older. Go now. Take the trip. Make the memories.
And pack the magnetic bricks.
Are you planning a holiday abroad with a toddler? Or have you already braved it? Drop a comment below — I'd love to hear how you got on. And if this was useful, share it with another parent who's sitting on the fence about booking.
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David | My Old Dad Diary Stay-at-home dad, former mechanic, full-time Lily wrangler myolddaddiary.co.uk & YouTube
