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?

I'd go to the Florida Keys, but maybe not in the height of our summer as it's hurricane season, or California.

New Zealand, north island for heat/beaches, South Island for random other stuff.

@PegasusReturns - it’s not. €4300 (£3600) we paid for 9 nights. 3 of us, suite. So even if op doubled to allow for different room/ time/ more people they are looking around £6000 for a week. Which would suit their £9-12k budget, allow for flights, and extras ie private boat hire for the afternoon, spending.

[quote Caspianberg]@PegasusReturns - it’s not. €4300 (£3600) we paid for 9 nights. 3 of us, suite. So even if op doubled to allow for different room/ time/ more people they are looking around £6000 for a week. Which would suit their £9-12k budget, allow for flights, and extras ie private boat hire for the afternoon, spending.[/quote]
I don't know when you went the prices are very different at the moment. I was looking at Ikos and Sani a couple of weeks ago for this summer...family of 5, 3 kids under 12 and the only rooms left cost €2-2.5k per night...we wanted a 10 night holiday so that was a quick decision made for us!
They all look stunning and I hope to go one year but those prices are crazy.

@overitall1

New Zealand, north island for heat/beaches, South Island for random other stuff.

Not much heat on an NZ beach in August...

@givememarmite - it must just be the larger 2 bed rooms for 5 sold out. We booked recently for summer.

ikosresorts.swapsystems.com/?_ga=2.81755927.1238564706.1648815613-262719415.1648815613 - you can see here for 3 for May, June, July various dates it’s around €580-620 per night. Aka €4-5k

I'd fly to California, drive between LA and SF stopping at San Luis Obispo, and heading on to wine country. Then a week up north in maybe Montana or Wyoming riding horses.

@Firesidefox I was coming on to suggest this. We've one this trip in the past. We flew to New York & spent 4 days there. Then flew to San Francisco & spent 4 days there. Then we got a car & drive north as far as Calistoga. After that we headed back south down the coastal highway as far as LA stopping at Monterey, Carmel, Big Sur, San Luis Obispo & Santa Barbara

Amazing memorable trip

I also recommend an Australian road trip incorporating Tasmania & Sydney. Again a memorable trip

If I had that budget i'd go to Japan
Or if things were different i'd really love to see St Petersburg & Moscow

@nailpolishremover such a great trip! I've done the California part but not the cowboy bit - I reckon the two would combine to make a brilliant holiday.

A few people have mentioned the 'Stans. Though interesting I don't recommend in summer and not ideal for kids/teens. Outside of the main cities both Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan are still underdeveloped. Both would be better earlier on in the year....now, it's nice....19 degrees here (in a Stan) though changeable (wind, rain, hail, sleet and snow just the other day) so May or Sept/Oct.
I'm forgetting weather and not sure of Covid restrictions but Sri Lanka, could be an option....lots to do, Malaysia/ Borneo, Zanzibar + Safari, Mauritius, Seychelles?

[quote Firesidefox]@nailpolishremover such a great trip! I've done the California part but not the cowboy bit - I reckon the two would combine to make a brilliant holiday.[/quote]
That's the thing about the US. People think it will be meh because they have preconceptions about the people and the culture. However, once you do a few states, you can find yourself hooked for the foreseeable.

Also, Covid is not over and even with good insurance, I would not want to be unexpectedly exposed to inadequate healthcare in a really remote part of Asia or Africa. Infact, I would want to be somewhere where we could fully communicate fwiw.

Wow. Thanks again for yesterday's answers and now for all the ones today.

Ok. So it looks like some suggestions are definitely based on different years because the prices are very very different when i start following up. That Ikos site is only coming up with availability at £35k-£60k for two weeks, for example. That's insane. Great idea though!

I haven't had any luck with the safari idea either. The Great Migration seems to make everything super expensive at this time of year which I knew was probably true but secretly hoped the power of Mumsnet would change. Definitely a bucket list idea and one we will have to shelve until we can go outside of school holidays when prices clearly drop.

Having a family of 5 and not 4 is one of the biggest issues. We are talking about 2 rooms whether we would choose that or not.

Thailand, Vietnam etc. definitely appeal and have the perfect mix of city, adventure and beach. But a bit of googling last night suggests the covid testing situation in those areas is still pretty tight. Thailand needs you to stay in an approved hotel until a test result on day 2 and then again on day 5. That's just not going to work for a 2 week trip. Especially knowing we are slightly limited on locations with the rainy season.

Australia and New Zealand road trips sound great too but just too much time lost on travel and jet lag for the amount of time we can go for. One to save for when one of the kids does a backpacking trip and we can join them for a bit and only have to pay for 4 tix! Bali the same. We've been but the kids haven't so definitely know it would be a great place but a long way with expensive flights at that time of year.

The US doesn't massively appeal at the moment for a height of summer trip. Would love to go in the Autumn. We've been lucky enough to visit the East coast several times thanks to work trips over the years so I would rather have more time to plan a West Coast driving trip. Sadly a quick search on flights suggests that is also more than pushing our budget for this year. Which is scary. Similar with the Carribean. Barbados for £1500/per flight is not fantastic!

The Nielson hotels look good but organised fun isn't great for us. The kids would probably love some of it. But dh and i usually shy away from places like that. Part of the reason we don't like the idea of cruise or Orlando.

So that leaves a shortlist where I need some more help if at all possible please:

1. Costa Rica looks incredible. Any more recommendations for companies and itineraries very very welcome. I got slightly overwhelmed when starting to look. I will look up that Tui one mentioned. Will also contact the independent agents mentioned somewhere.

1. Sri Lanka very much on the list although the covid situation there is also bad at the moment.

1. Maldives/Mauritius - only 1 kid is keen to do huge exploring but all love beach, water, snorkelling or diving (depending on the kid) so an island holiday wouldn't be wasted on them. Which islands/companies would get us somewhere in budget? I can only find honeymoon islands at eyewatering prices.

1. East Canada. Never thought about there and another quick google makes me think this is a great option. Absolutely zero idea of where to start planning so any recommendations very welcome.

1. Thailand/ vietnam. Don't want to completely give up on one of these as they are so appealing. Any recent travellers or places to book would be appreciated.

Thank you all and I hope some of the answers help others too!

www.atlantis.com/dubai

The Atlantis on the palm Dubai?

The terrace family suite or skyline Fanily suite will sleep 5

We have been to Mauritius a few times-always stayed at Paradis, Which is in the Beachcomber group.

Gorgeous beach, lovely accommodation, great food.

They can't do enough to make your stay amazing.
Lots of water sports and freedom for the DC

Not at all bridal although we did see wedding pics on the beach and my DD still talks about it!

It has been a few years since we have been but brilliant!!

www.beachcomber-hotels.com/en/hotel/paradis-golf-resort-spa

Costa Rica is very easy to do yourself. There are lots of incredible independent places to stay for all sorts of budgets. Just be careful in planning because I don't think the Pacific side (which has some fantastic places) is great at that time of year. Look at Tortuguero (you might see turtles nesting in August) and the Caribbean coast. This looks a good starting point www.stubbornmuletravel.com/costa-rica-itineraries/costa-rica-summer/

Or how about Namibia for a self-drive trip if you are interested in safari type holiday? Something like this www.safaridrive.com/itineraries/family-namibia

Intrepid does several Costa Rica trips: www.intrepidtravel.com/uk I've travelled with them before and it was fun.

lasiestaresorts.com/rooms-suites-2/
For Hoi an in Vietnam I have stayed here several times.
This one in Hanoi is in the old town: small hotel, great location and staff are brilliant
www.booking.com/hotel/vn/hanoi-elegance-emerald.en-gb.html?label=gen173bo-1DCAso9AFCFmhhbm9pLWVsZWdhbmNlLWVtZXJhbGRICVgDaFCIAQOYAQm4AQfIAQ3YAQPoAQH4AQOIAgGYAgKoAgO4Au7RnJIGwAIB0gIkN2E0NzlmZjktOGYzZC00Y2ZhLTg3OGQtMmVmNTlmODNhMTZi2AIE4AIB;sid=55a1901e0b996860e97bf7891803c583;dist=0;room1=A%2CA;sb_price_type=total;type=total&

@regularbutpanickingabit Vietnam is open now as we're about to go. You just need a PCR or LFT before travelling, no quarantine. Quite high covid cases but nothing like the UK!

Our Costa Rica trip in August was very easy. We rented a 4x4 & drove around which was fine:
Land in San Jose and spend 1st night
Drive to Caribbean coast - around 4 hours. Stayed in Cahuita for a few days, went snorkelling, saw sloths and swam in the national park, very sunny and hot. Then you could go down to the other end to Tortugero, we didn't as we wanted to go to the Pacific coast too but it might be a good option.
Then we drove to Arenal, another 4 hours for hot springs and volcano. Stay somewhere that has hot springs in the hotel - The Springs or Tabacon are good if a bit pricey. You could go on from here to the cloud forest. This was a bit rainier but no real downpours. We did have a couple of times where we set out to do an activity - ziplining or hanging bridges - and abandoned it as it was too foggy. But then we just hung out in the springs until it cleared up.

Then we went down to the Pacific Coast for a few days, surfing. But think extend either the volcano bit with cloud forest or Caribbean with Tortuga for a better agenda.

Tui depends on your taste. We didn't go there but went nearish. For me that Pacific part was the most American and least jungly. Big hotels, although beaches are still gorgeous.

Borneo, oh I love Borneo.

@ffscovid

It's still pretty warm in the north of NZ, we've had beach holidays to the Coromandel and Bay of Islands mid year

Average high of 16c in Bay of Islands in August which paired with weak winter sun isn't most people's idea of beach weather! I've been in March and it was also extremely wet but perhaps I was unlucky.

If you like the idea of SE Asia, think about Cambodia (though bear in mind it’s rainy season in July and August, as it is in Thailand and S. Vietnam). There’s no Covid testing requirements at all there now, the people are lovely and you’ve got Angkor Wat, of course, plus islands for the beach part. Teenagers should find it pretty cool, I think (though temperatures will be hot).

@sweetbellyhigh I think you must've got lucky with some unusual weather. Daytime average temperatures for Coromandel in July / August are between 10-15°C and in The Bay of Islands, 12-16°C, so although 'warm' compared to UK winters, it's not generally beach weather.

Add to that the fact that the South Island will be freezing and many mountain roads closed or tricky to pass without snow chains etc, it's not a place I'd visit in midwinter for a first trip.

(I used to live there)

We’re hoping for 4 weeks in Bali and Lombok for our family of 4 this summer. We’re staying in villas (with private pools) or 2 bedroom accommodation throughout and will stay at 6 locations. Flights and accommodation were around £7k. July and august are also supposed to be great weather.