If you magically had £9-12k to spend on a holiday this end July/August

[regularbutpanickingabit]

And you were a family of 5 with 2 late teens and an under 10.

Where would you go????

A bit of a pipe dream but there’s something that might come off that could mean that this money is suddenly an option and we’ve decided that the last few years of complete shite would be best remedied by a blow out holiday abroad before the older kids disappear to their own lives.

We’ve never spent more than £3.5k on a holiday and that was a long time ago, so no clue where to start. We are usually camping in the U.K./weekends in Airbnb city breaks/villa types with a holiday abroad every couple of years.

It needs to be hot and include a beach for at least a week of it. The budget is for everything so flights, food, accomodation, car (if needed) etc.

We would want at least 2 weeks but can add on a couple of travel days if we go further afield.

Happy to try something different.

I know this would be an extremely lucky position to be in if it comes off which is why we want to spend it wisely.

Any suggestions, wise mumsnetters?

Some of these destinations are not ideal for July/August. I would be careful with that

US or Indian Ocean. New Zealand it'll be winter, a lot of the Caribbean it's hurricane season

@regularbutpanickingabit
Some of these suggestions are way out on price. You won’t get a safari staying in lodges. It’s high season in Kenya. A beach in Tanzania isn’t life changing. You won’t get Indian Ocean either. Your budget isn’t great for long haul anywhere. Fares are very high!

South Africa would be a great destination- but for £2000 each? I doubt it.

I would do something more luxurious closer to home. Slumming it long haul might not be that great and memorable for the wrong reasons. However Eastern Canada might work! Or try Iceland.

Not sure on most far flung locations; I’ve just gotten back from Thailand and absolutely loved it (very doable on your budget I should think; we spent around £4000 for everything including spends for 2 weeks, 2 people in 2 5* hotels, a trip to elephant hills, plenty of food and excursions without scrimping) but the rainy season starts in May so not sure how the weather would be.

Look at HolidaysPlease. They do actually match you with a real person to chat through ideas, budget, pros and cons.

Doesn't work out more expensive

New Zealand cruise / stay

Safari in South Africa (www.thandasafari.co.za/), few days in Cape Town plus 1 week beach resort (eg Mozambique)

Two weeks isn't long enough to enjoy Australia or NZ, you'll spend the first few days grappling with jet lag 😣

Vietnam is a great suggestion, fits all your criteria.

A Californian road trip could be pretty amazing. We did San Francisco, Napa Valley, yosemite, Big Sur (staying in lodges, yurts and cottages in various places) then Santa Barbara and LA. Not with kids but it would be great with a family.

I’d be very tempted by Costa Rica too!

@iklboo

New Zealand cruise for £2000 each? Plus a land stay and flights? Impossible.

Safari plus everything else suggested in SA would be difficult too.

Have been to Thailand twice in August and dodged the rain on the mainland. You could spend time in Bangkok and then head down to Hua Hin for a bit of beach time? For luxury, the Hyatt is lovely.

I’d go somewhere the teens can do some night life/shopping and have some independence. Bali would be where I’d go! Croatia? You can do sporty things & beachy things and nightlife.

Just for the love, don’t go to Florida. I’m American and honestly if we could just push that bit out to sea that’d be great.

If you’re an outdoorsy family I’d say somewhere like Alaska where you can do wild things, just be prepared that it’ll be more remote than you can possibly imagine if you haven’t travelled in US/Canadian wilderness before.

@TargusEasting £12k on a holiday to Cornwall 😂😂😂

Croatia. Base yourself in Split but visit other areas.

I’d probably go somewhere in Europe but rent an amazing villa with a chef and cleaner included, private pool and all the trimmings! I’ve always wanted to go to India but with children I wouldn’t choose India.

@ShanghaiDiva

I love Vietnam: food is fabulous, fascinating history and great scenery.I have been several times in the summer: Hanoi: museums, markets, great food, hue: ancient capital Hoi an: UNESCO heritage site HCM city for museums, history, cu chi tunnels etc Phi quoc for some beach time Dalat: amazing scenery and much cooler in the mountains, but may be wet in the summer.

Oh do this, I had forgotten how much I want to do this! Ah dear, travel bug may be returning but isn't practical until kids are older 😬

Your money will go a long way in Costa Rica or Thailand.

We're going to Mauritius on honeymoon this year because for the kind of 'once in a lifetime' hotel/room we wanted it was about half the price of Europe.

How exciting OP! Fingers crossed it comes off for you.

Rome and Amalfi coast

I would recommend Costa Rica, we went there in August with teens and had an amazing time, loved the rainforest, the really high ziplines, the wildlife, sloths, toucans, monkeys etc, sea kayaking in Pacific Ocean, Arenal volcano, Buena Vista horse riding, waterslide through jungle, hot springs and zipline with monkeys. August is their rainy season but was around 27C each day, sunny and just rained after 4pm and rain in the rainforest is amazing. The beaches were on the wild side, more watersports based by us than sunbathing but you could sunbathe if you want but not like a Carribean island beach. Should be fine for that budget.

Also done Australia in August for that budget and that was amazing but would need 3 weeks rather than two and we booked things independently there. The best part then was when we flew into Cairns and weather was around 27C again and sunny, went to Great Barrier Reef and scuba dived, saw reef, giant turtles, lovely beaches etc, went to Kuranda on the steam train and to see the koalas, went to stay with a lady who rescues injured tree kangaroos and saw tree kangaroos (one jumped on me!), possum, pademelon, platypus nearby and also stayed in a treehouse in rainforest. Went to Daintree rainforest. Saw crocodiles. Went to Port Stephens and on a whale watching cruise and saw about 150 dolphins and whales, about 20C that day. Visited Sydney and Blue Mountains and saw kangaroos, was colder there around 14C / 10C but still great to see. We did not suffer with jet lag but got straight going on arrival day, off flight and straight to breakfast with koalas at the zoo and adjusted first day. Came in at about £11k for us for 3 weeks about 3 years ago and 4 of us. So would be on top end of that budget but might be possible still even with 5.

We were going to go to Thailand and Borneo in August 2020 but covid hit, actually Thailand did not look that great for August but was cheapest way to do flights. Borneo looked great in August though very hot. Still not allowing UK nationals in last I checked.

We also did South Africa but think its cooler there in August but was lovely seeing penguins on the beach, a short safari, Table Mountain, Cape Town etc. Our favourite was Australia then Costa Rica but loved them all and close between those two.

Where are people buying their holidays from I need the website, two weeks 5* Safari for 5 people at under 9k! Amazing!

Mauritius/Seychelles/Hawaii are all amazing with a lot to do.
New Zealand is stunning but you need at least 3 weeks, ideally more and as i say it'll be winter.
We did US West Coast road trip with a 9 month old, was amazing, if your children are ok on longish walks there would be loads to do.
We're looking at returning to Mauritius for the weather, want to do Costa Rica but waiting until our child is older.
I would suggest Riviera Maya but not sure on the weather, Xcaret park was great though and the other parks looked great with older children, things such as zip lining.

Hawaii is a long way for two weeks and very expensive.

Could I also have details of the safari holidays?

@Silkierabbit We're off for your trip to Australia in May - can't wait. Have been before for just a couple of weeks, but we're there for 6 weeks this time.

OP - if you can find a way to make a safari work, go for it! Most amazing holiday. We spent time in Capetown, J'burg and Victoria Falls as well as Sabi Sands, and it was the most amazing experience ever.

Safari - no idea if it is the right time of year for this though

Two city/one city one beach type destinations in the US - I’d imagine teens would absolutely love this