Sunshine destnation for Christmas?

[ReasonableDoubt]

For a family of four (children aged 5 and 2)

We arent mad about going back to the Caribbean

We'd like somewhere hot, with some laid back elements (so a beach would be good) but culturally interesting...so not somewhere like Barbados (no offence, Bajans!)

List so far:

SA, partic. Cape Town
Cuba
Thailand (bit worried about all the political shenanigans going on there at the mo, though)
Indonesia

Any other suggestions? Or comments on places we have listed?

We don't necessarily want luxury, just an interesting, warm few weeks away...

Mexico. Yucatan Penninsula. Amazing beaches, stunning Mayan temples, forests and caves to explore.

Egyptian red sea has hot days but cool nights over Christmas. Great beaches and snorkelling but culture limited on the Sinai Penninsula. Some desert trips are fun. But you cld do a two centre Egyptian holiday with Luxor then Red Sea.

Do not book a Thai holiday at the moment.

Kerala
Goa....away from Calangute!
Java/borobodur, Bali, Lombok and the Gili Islands
Cambodia...Angkor Wat and Irrawady dolphins

I believe the weather was very unsettled this winter in Cuba.
Spent Christmas in Sharm and the weather was perfect for me - clear blue skies 24C

If you go to Cuba, try to do a short break to Havana at the same time. We went this February and the weather was very hot but we did have cloudy cooler mornings.

Did Mexico the year before....a great family holiday but hotels tend to cater more to the Americans.

We were in Krabi, Thailand at Easter this year with our children(5 and 2 too!). We flew to Kuala Lumpur then Krabi thus avoiding Bangkok. We didn't see a hint of any trouble, even though it was all kicking off in Bangkok at the time. I'm not sure what the current official advice on travelling to Thailand is but we had a fantastic time and would love to go back. We stayed here

Lamu (Kenya) or Zanzibar both seem to have what you're looking for - beach, culture, warmth. Both really nice places but maybe would pick Lamu slightly over Zanzibar.

We've done a few Christmas holidays both pre and post baby. Pre baby we did long haul, twice to the Caribbean and 4 times to the Maldives and post baby we went to Egypt last Christmas, had a lovely time and have booked to go back this year as well.

Can recommend Cape Town. We stayed here in Contantia and I can highly recommend it. It is walking distance to Kirstenbosch gardens and very safe (good security). I stayed there last October with ds (then 5).

We drove to Port Elizabeth to do a safari which was absolutely fab (and takes young children). They also take you to Addo to see the elephants.

I think SA is a fab destination for families. Loads to do. Ds prefers it to our other usual holiday destination of Barbados.

Constantia - I can spell really!

would deffo second south africa - perfect for everything - needs planning though as you would probably prefer to avoid the malarial areas with children so young. Cape town great with lovely beaches and loads of stuff to do and Addo Elephant park great too for young kids - not too taxing. Standard of food and accommodation excellent but obviously safety still a consideration (same as in London we think!) (think zanzibar malarial zone too).
Have never been to Mexico but seriously considering it for next year ...

Belize. Although only did it pre-children so not sure how child friendly it is. It's wonderful though. Or Panama?

Just avoid Bangkok and I am sure Thailand would be fine - we went to a lovely child-friendly hotel in Phuket.