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?

We're doing 2 weeks in Costa Rica at the end of July: one week on a tour, second week on the beach. It cost just under £12k for 4 of us through TUI. I can't wait! You can definitely do it cheaper if you DIY though, or stay in a resort and do day trips.

I hope this comes through for you OP.

Go on an adventure. Unless they are keen divers, late teens might be bored in the Maldives/Mauritius for 2 weeks. Do a DIY Thailand trip - Bangkok, Kanchanaburi, Chang Mai, an elephant camp, down to the beach for a week. Or Bali/Gili Islands with trekking, beach, surfing, diving. That money, used sensibly, in those areas will last you 3-4 weeks including flights

I’d take my kids backpacking! Great age to do it too. If it were me I’d go back to Thailand, north and south, been many times and I just love it. Of course you’re level of budget would get you around a lot of SEA and further afield!

@Christmas1988
I don’t think they have actually been or looked at prices! As I said earlier, some of the suggestions are wide of the budget mark. Maldives/Mauritius - flights are long and pricy.

It’s high season for a safari in Kenya. Low season in South Africa. High season in Zambia and Botswana. High season in Tanzania. The rains come in late autumn and spring everywhere except SA. But this budget really won’t support a safari.

Have a wonderful time ajandjjmum I'm jealous, my May will be in the UK doing chemotherapy with a teen doing GCSEs, if I am well enough I may see some puffins on Skomer.

@Silkierabbit

Have a wonderful time ajandjjmum I'm jealous, my May will be in the UK doing chemotherapy with a teen doing GCSEs, if I am well enough I may see some puffins on Skomer.

We will - part of the excitement is that we are being joined by friends, and she finished a gruelling year full of chemo and radiotherapy last year - so it's a special holiday for us all!

Hope it goes well for you, and that the GCSE's are ok too!

Jordan. Petra, Jerash and other fabulous historical sites all the way down the Kings Highway, desert adventures at wadi Rum, Dead Sea and spa with the Dead Sea mud, diving and relaxing at Aqaba.

The Philippines. You could go to so many different places and do so much there with that budget.

Costa Rica is wonderful.

We did Costa Rica in last 2 weeks of August the year before the pandemic. At the time BA were flying direct which was great, hopefully they'll start again. We did is independently and spent a lot less than £12K although did get a deal on the flights. The Caribbean coast is dry and that time of year and really hot. I'd do your beach time there although be aware that it's more small hotels and guesthouses rather than big resorts. Then you can do Arenal and Cloud forest. Leave yourself a few days, it was quite wet and we didn't see the volcano for the first 2 days we were there. You could also continue down to the Pacific Coast which we did but it was rainier. If I planned it again I probably wouldn't bother with the Pacific at that time of year.

The other thing I'd do is safari. Not sure about all the Asia suggestions, lots of Asia is the rainy season in August. You're generally better off going November to April.

The following places are dry in the summer:
Bali
Malaysian Borneo
Brunei
Java
Central Vietnam
I have also been to Luang Prabang in the summer and only had a couple of showery days and even if rains in Hanoi, you can visit a museum. We spent a wet day visiting the HCM mausoleum which was pretty interesting.

Israel is amazing

Costa Rica, Korea or Israel

@sweetbellyhigh great minds think alike

@TonyBlairsLover

😂

I haven't been to Korea or Costa Rica but I'd love to.

Oh Israel.., climbing Masada for the sunrise, the madness of Jerusalem, the wonder of the Dead Sea, the stunning snorkelling in the Red Sea, history everywhere...

We’re also a family of 5, we love Barbados and Jamaica.

Sorry, I’ve just reread and seen august. Wrong time.

@Blossomtoes

New Zealand - all that glorious scenery.

Beautiful but midwinter in July. No chance of a beach holiday.

@Christmas1988 people aren’t looking at actual costs. They’re just random thoughts that bear no relation to reality.

12k for 5 isn't going to touch some of these suggestions.

Depending on your teens I'd look at a club med or neilsen holiday in Europe with all the water sports for the teens but the budget will be tight.

I’d go to west coast America, do a classic California road trip. With Yosemite etc.

Or Vietnam.

Africa. A few days in a game park and a few days relaxing on a beach.

I would also suggest an ikos resort. Luxury, Europe, lots for teens, open this summer, all inclusive.

£9k is a fantastic budget. But it isn’t going to get you much luxury for 5 people if people are suggesting a month safari or touring Hawaii and New Zealand. Flights alone for 5 will take a huge amount from that.

With those ages it’s not free cots, but 5 adults basically. So larger family size suites, 2/3 bedrooms ideally etc.

[quote Phlewf]@ShanghaiDiva had to double check this wasn’t a zombie and a username I’d forgotten. Do you want to go on holiday with me? Last time I was in Dalat it rained non stop and I’d add Cat Ba for beaches.[/quote]
@Phlewf
Can we add a few days on the Mekong to our itinerary? 😁
I really miss Vietnam.

£9k is a fantastic budget. But it isn’t going to get you much luxury for 5 people if people are suggesting a month safari or touring Hawaii and New Zealand

It’s also not going to get you a week at ikos. It’s about €10k a week per room if I recall.