Tell me somewhere thats better than Bali

[VogueVVague]

I want to go away for 2 weeks over new year, somewhere that ISNT in europe.

I basically want to go on a bit of a dream holiday.

Views, chilling on a beach, mindblowing setting, fascinating culture and weird and wonderful wildlife.

Ive become obsessed with Bali but just thought id ask MN for your recommendations of amazing long haul destinations youve been to, bearing in mind as i say it will be in january.

Im open to the idea of africa too but just dont know where.

I dont want to go anywhere posery or glam so please dont recommend the non-European version of st tropez.

Caoraich- which part of st Lucia did you stay in? When is dry season please?

For anyone looking for the Carribean in Sept/Oct Aruba is a great family destination. Outside the hurricane belt & not far from Venezuela.

I wouldn't recommend Mauritius but that is only based on my one experience. It was just a beach holiday and although the island is beautiful there wasn't much of interest there. Also we went in April and the weather wasn't great.

Sri Lanka might be an option or India. We also enjoyed Mexico.

Vietnam! But it will be a bit chilly in January. I've been to Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh and Nha Trang and loved every minute.

Bali is ok if you go to Ubud or Ahmed. Try Lombak if you want a less touristy version of Bali.

Sri Lanka is lovely. Recommend the Bentota area.

I've never done the Maldives, but I actually hear they are quite dull as there's not much to do off the resorts.

Kenya, especially Mombassa, is amazing.

I am in Bali right now! (Seminyak, travelling to Ubud soon).

We like it. Not loads to do apart from beach/pool stuff. There’s more to see in Ubud from what I’ve heard. Seminyak’s a nice place though with a good vibe and plenty of restaurants/bars without feeling too 18-30s!

January will be slightly ‘off’ season for Bali I think. It is high season here now because the weather is perfect and everywhere else in SE Asia becomes pretty wet and stormy around now.

Would you consider other parts of Asia? We’ve travelled all around SE Asia and Thailand (Krabi to be exact) has been one of our favourites so far. Some day trips available to stunning beaches, lots of beautiful beaches at the resorts too. Food is incredible. We went to Koh Lanta and it was gorgeous but not too ‘polished’.

Also agree with PP who’ve mentioned Vietnam. Look into Hoi An and the northern national parks.

Beautiful country.

Maldives is my favourite holiday destination but not somewhere I would recommend for culture and wildlife.

Belize, Borneo or Costa Rica would fit the bill.

I second Sri Lanka, the south coast: Galle, Mirissa etc.... some of the most beautiful beaches, great food, great people.
Costa Rica is really beautiful in term of beaches and wildlife but culture wise, it's a bit meh (as opposed to SL).
Phu Qoc in Vietnam is getting increasingly developed. And i wonder how long it will stay lovely.

Nicaragua/- San Juan del sur
Tokyo- but it’s very very humid and the beaches on the Yokohama or Chiba side are quite polluted and lots of sand flies.
Thailand- ko phi phi

Sri Lanka is beautiful with the most generous hospitable gentle people.

Bali is lovely - dont go to Juta if you dont like the party scene. The poster who said that Bali wasnt for anyone over the age of 25 - thats just odd. Go to seminyak or nusa dua, - stay at the Ritz or the Bvlgari hotel.

Mexico is beautiful too - and such a rich culture. Go to Tulum - a little known place which is stunning, it was one of the last cities built and was inhabited by the Mayans. There is also so much to do, the cenotes, the rich wildlife, the swimming with sea turtles, climbing chichenizta. The food is amamzing - the people are so friendly. Not that many visitors, clear blue seas.

Ive been to both so happy to talk if you needed more information. :) Good luck. :)

South Africa - Cape Town for culture, wineries, amazing restaurants and coast then up towards Durban for game parks and the Drakensberg mountains. I don't think there is anywhere as spectacular on earth.

Mexico is beautiful too - and such a rich culture. Go to Tulum

You can get some amazing hotel deals in Cancun, and then spend your time exploring the rest of the Yucatan, rather than slumming it in Cancun. Mexico is amazing. Tulum was phenomenal and so is Chichinitza (though more crowded).

I'd recommend Fiji. It is beautiful and has the most friendly, hospitable people I've met anywhere. From the minute you arrive at the airport to when you leave, you are made to feel so welcome.

Watch the weather in Asia in January - I think heavy raining in Borneo, bit chilly in Bali but fab time for Maldives / most parts of Sri Lanka

Someone from work back from Maldives. Said lovely but could walk it in a day. Another friend went to Bali and gorgeous beaches and lot of sightseeing and walking about to do.

Bahli is a bit dirty, south Thailand islands are paradise n cheap

Also Malaysian islands

Thailand. Koh Phi Phi or selected lesser-known parts of Phuket.

Costa Rica would get my vote. Or some of the smaller islands in the Caribbean, St Vincent, Tortola

I highly recommend Sri Lanka - unbelievably beautiful, some of the best wildlife in the world (leopards! Elephants! Monkeys!), world class beaches, culture like you wouldn't believe - it's so beautiful and friendly and once you're there it's inexpensive. 4* hotels there are like the most opulent luxury of all time in Europe.

If you're thinking Africa I would avoid coastal Kenya because I don't think it's safe - but others might be able to advise better. South Africa is incredible and can combine really fun and sophisticated Cape Town with unbelievable beaches at Knysna and then a few days luxury safari.

Enjoy!!!

I second Mauritius like so many other posters.
The beaches, sea and views are amazing. But there is SO much more to do. Plenty of places to visit and the people are lovely.
The city's are vibrant and the island is rich in culture, so it isn't just about laying on a beach.

Thank you so much for all theae ideas guys! Most of the places i want to visit, but for this particular holiday im drawing up a shortlist of:

Sri lanka
Borneo
Costa rica

Now im going to find documentaries to watch about those three!

Second Mexico's Caribbean coast - interesting, chilled, happy, and great hospitality especially over new year.

Kerala was also fantastic and plenty to do. The beach at Varkala is fantastic. Much nicer than Goa.

I think Mexico may tick your boxes. Tulum is a 90 min drive from Cancun and it's beautiful. There are ancient ruins to explore as well as a town and small developments along the beach. I stayed on Tulum beach and it was amazing. Loads of wildlife plus it's close to the Sian kaam biosphere which is a huge nature reserve.

we spent 2 weeks last Christmas/New Year in Kerala and it was fantastic - houseboat, culture, beaches, fab food and weather a constant 30-33 every day without a cloud in the sky. One minus is no wildlife.
I've also been to super posh 5* resort in Borneo - beautiful sea, naughty monkeys, go into the jungle and see amazing birdlife, pygmy elephants etc. Best of wildlife for me is Costa Rica - teeming with diversity, plus has great cocktails and a warm sea.

All depends on your priorities!