OMG! We have just won a competition - a family holiday anywhere in the world. We choose. Where shall we go??

[areyoutheregoditsmemargaret]

Obviously I am rather excited

Two dcs - 7 and nearly 5.

Thinking of going for two weeks - either we'd drop everything and go at Easter or be naughty and add an extra week on to the summer half term or go in the summer holidays, though dh is keen on it being asap.

I'd obviously like us to do something we could never afford normally - so long haul. Maybe a safari? I know you'll all hate me for being so lucky but any suggestions gratefully received .

In South Africa you could probably combine a safari with penguins and a beach holiday.

South Africa is emerging as a winner

i've been but the others haven't ... and they would love the penguins

Cruise! One where the children have clubs!
Visit different places every day, enjoy on board entertainment, health spa, fabulous food, outside cabin where you can enjoy sea views!
Fabulous!

Dh thinks a cruise ship will sink (he is an imaginative type)

New Zealand is bloody amazing. Although you will come back wanting to emigrate. It's spectacular. You can do beachy things and swimming with dolphins on the North Island.

Or what about somewhere like Fiji or Samoa? Or if you are interested in the Arctic, Finland for Santa later in year? Iceland?

Wherever you go I would leave it til later in the year. But I love the planning and excitement almost as much as the actual holidays.

If you fancy wildlife how about Malaysia and going into Brunei?

As a former lawyer I would have a magnifying glass on the t and c s and be demanding Necker at the VERY LEAST.

if this is all true then fab and congratualations yaddah yaddah...

maldives, bahamas, it sounds as if you've been to a lot of places already.
im not a huge disney fan, but have to say my lot love florida, and so much to do, not just disney and universal. no need to go to orlando even.
for me the beaches are fab, the hotels great, excellent shopping, lots ot see and do.
for me and knowing that i would never get to go otherwise it would be the maldives. Would love to go but would be a little bit concerned that it would be dull after a few days, so maybe a multi island trip?

dubai? again depends what your interests are, im pretty shallow and a bit of sunshine and some excellent shops and im easily pleased.

I could cheerfully spend a lifetime in the Maldives.

we had a week for half term and it was far too short (pesky kids and their sodding educations)

Ooh, Brunei looks awesome - orangutans plus snorkelling, pretty much my dream. (maybe they have a zoo with polar bears)

Kwl51 I live in Dubai..it's nice ..but it's no Maldives

Wow congratulations! What are the T&C of the prize? What's your limit?

Antarctic or Alaska cruise?

My two best holidays ever with my children were Cape Town and a Disney Cruise so I would recommend both of those options.

I have been to a lot of places, used to work in travel-related field, so I am most concerned about treating the dcs - for that reason, no Maldives as the younger one is a rubbish swimmer and I don't want to take him all that way just to make sandcastles.

Florida Disney = amazing but we've literally just done it and I personally couldn't face it again, even in hotter surroundings.

tolalola - I can't say exact t&cs on a public forum but let's just say a luxurious family holiday for about a fortnight, anywhere in the world. Right now, strongly veering towards either S Africa or Malaysia - which I would not have thought of, so thank you whoever suggested that.

I also think a cruise would be fab. Something like royal caribbean, great for the kids and you could choose one with an intinery of where u want to go whether it Europe, Canada, Caribbean. Great for both adults and kids. Well done and enjoy what ever you do

They are too young for anti-malarials and therefore too young for safari IMHO - and probably wouldn't really appreciate Japan or other "cultural experience" type holidays. I would go for Maldives or the Carribean - just put 5yo in a flotation jacket and he will be both happy and safe - our DD was happily snorkelling in Mexico in a flotation jacket.

An Anfican safari if you're OK about getting all the jabs and doing proper malaria prophylaxis.

If you want somewhere with fewer inoculations, try Malaysia/Singapore, or China, or Australia/New Zealand.

South Africa - no jet lag - beaches and table mountain in cape town, tacky but fun sun city further north and even a safari-lite if you really fancy it.

OMG - when do you have to let them know? I would want some time to think about it.

Can you go to more than one place?

I see SA has already been recommended must read thread first!

Patagonia.
New Zealand
Jamaica
Australia.

And, for SA most of kruger is malaria free - you just stay away from the north of it. The south of it is fine. Same for the game parks near CT - no malaria.

They aren't too young for malarials or for safari. I live in Africa and my children take malarials and go on safari with a degree of regularity (and they are much younger than yours). I'd vote for something like Kenya with a week on the cost and a week on safari somewhere like the mara intrepids which has a great club where kids learn to make bow and arrows etc...