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.

Just adding my two penny worth... I am extremely lucky to have been to a lot of amazing places. (Currently in Dubai just leafy Maldives) if not don Bali but I have done... Maldives, Mauritius, South Africa, Kenya, Bahamas, Barbados, Antigua, Miami, Hawaii, California.
Hands down Maldives wins. Second place Hawaii. Don’t do Mauritius deeply disappointing sea cloudy.
Pick a Maldives island with a house reef and an over water bungalow. Only place I fear may trump Maldives is Seychelles. It’s next on the list

We went to Mauritius last December, beautiful, very relaxing, could have done some more day trips as loads to see.

I'll chip in another vote for Vietnam. Hanoi, Halong Bay ( choose your company carefully, we used Indochina Junk which was incredible but it was a few years ago) and Ho Chi Minh city were unmissable. Incredible food, lovely people, beautiful scenery.

We absolutely loved Costa Rica. We went for 18 days this January and travelled around a lot staying in some amazing AirBnBs. So much variety - culture, beaches, rainforest, nature, food - everything. We finished up with a couple of days here www.thespringscostarica.com/?gclid=Cj0KCQjwl7nYBRCwARIsAL7O7dEXYIKHqXsrPBtIH_OioON4V9ZyxtV6wtU4i1rkR__cOOshc6RDOqMaAp8UEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds which despite being featured on the Kardashians was absolute heaven on earth.

Southern Islands of Japan, I have done almost every area of Japan and the Islands are very different.

Been to Bali a couple of times would not recommend it, for many of the reasons already given. But if you get out of the main 'Tourist areas' there are some ok places, but lots of places cater to many Chinese tourists (along with those from Oz) but the traffic is dreadful.

Borneo (Malaysian Borneo) is an interesting place to visit but I would combine it with maybe another area in Malaysia. There are some nice islands in Malaysia to visit with a wide variation of standards. You could also maybe add on a couple of days in Singapore, for a soft intro to Asia.

Be careful of monsoon season though. But another poster said that its monsoon at Christmas all over SE Asia, its not so check carefully.

Enjoyed Vietnam but dont think its a relaxing luxury place to stay.

Plenty of places in Thailand that have not been too over run and you can still find that special place. but prices are creeping up, and standards falling. Being going for around 20 years and only visited again just last month.

Goa I would not visit if you paid me, but not been to Kerala and I have no intention of even if it not far from where I live. As for the rest of India...well thats a whole other story.

Not a fan of those all inclusive places on islands such as Maldives, but looking to go to Sri Lanka, but been told many times it very much like India, so may re think that.

But it also depends on what standard of accommodation/cost etc your looking at.

Never been to balti but can recommend maderia as amazing place to visit.

I'm with @mummymeister and second Belize....
Rainforest, ruins and Caribbean style islands, all in one trip. Feels like you've been to South America, Africa and the Caribbean in the space of two weeks.....
Best holiday ever

I would suggest, just from personal experiences- Sri Lanka, East Africa (have been to Malawi and Tanzania) Malaysia/Borneo. Tanzania has great wildlife and beautiful scenery- Zanzibar is stunning.

Thailand.

I've been to Bali and it's spot on. But for me Thailand is unbeatable.

If you like a good drink and the beach then head south to the islands.

If you want to chill and do yoga etc then head north.

Anyone who doesn't love thialand has never been there. I go 2/3 times a year and can't get enough of the place.

Seconding what others have said:

Maldives/ Sri Lanka/ Mexico/ Indonesia ( Gili) / Malaysia ( Cameron Highlands / Perentian islands) all fantastic.

Thailand has a very ,very special place in my heart ( esp Krabi/ south islands).

Have a ball. I'm v jealous!

I'll second Krabi too, we were there at the end of last year, it was so relaxing and and a great base to island hop.