Memorable / epic holiday ideas with 3 year old

[thegrinch83]

Our only child is starting school in September 2024 so this next year is the last year we can have a holiday in term time.

Looking for ideas for a last hurrah "memorable" trip we could do with a 3 year old, something which would cost us decidedly more in the school holidays and we might otherwise not do iyswim. Example - we were thinking about going to Japan, but DH and I have both been before so ideally somewhere new.

We are lucky enough to be hoping for a Christmas bonus so would ideally go in the first 6 months of 2024 once that's arrived!

Any suggestions suitable for family of 3 with a preschooler? Could be long haul or closer to home.

At that age, you will need to put the Dc first as if they're miserable it won't be a fun holiday!

I'd hate it but Disney followed by a week in a luxury villa in Florida??

All inclusive in Mauritius / Caribbean with epic activities and kids pool??

Safari?

I'd avoid anything city based or with lots of travel once you're there

Definitely not keen on Florida. Disney we could handle a day trip but not really a holiday. Looking for something unique and not just a holiday resort which could be anywhere.

Well, what is your child like? Adaptable? Reasonably equable? How adaptable are they with food, heat/cold etc?

I ask because friends planned a beach holiday for which they had saved hard with their 2.5 year old, and she decided on the first day that she was suddenly afraid of water, so refused to go in the pool or the sea, and also that she couldn't bear the sensation of sand, so she refused to walk on the beach, or make sand castles etc. I think she just couldn't handle a new environment. She was miserable, her parents were miserable, and they apparently spent most of the holiday in their hotel room with the air con running.

We have travelled quite a lot with him so he's been on city breaks, beach holidays and more culture based holidays. He loves it and is always asking about other countries, and looking at his atlas. Obviously he's a normal 3-year old with the expected requirements so we will tend to stick to bedtime routine just keeping to UK time.

When we've been to cities we've tended to find a small-child friendly thing in the morning and something for DH and I in the afternoons.

How about South Africa - no jet lag, but it's a big trip that would be hard to do once he starts school.

Alternately, Thailand?