Help me plan holidays for the next 6 years, people who love holiday chat

[givemeaclue]

Right, my children turn 12 in 2019 after which we would be paying adult prices for them so therefore want to try to see a bit of the world before then. We are going to Mexico this year and poss thailand next year. Other places we want to go are:

• South Africa Safari - have done before but want to take kids , think is better to wait till age 11 as not all camps take kids under that age , will need to save over longer term for this
• Australia , been before want to take kids, costs are out of budget at moment need to save over longer term for this
• Florida

Other places I am interested in are Costa Rica, Brazil, Argentina, Belize and we loved mauritius would fancy going back

So:
2014 - Mexico
2015 - thailand
2016 -?
2017-?
2018 -?
2019 - South Africa

Thoughts/ suggestions?

Could I do South Africa for under £10 k inc safari and same for oz?
I know I seem crazy planning this far ahead, circumstances and ideas may change and finances but I just want to be able to save/ plan ahead to do stuff before adult prices kick in!

California
South America
A cruise

We are also travel mad and have fitted in some lovely trips with DC and I'm so pleased We did it. DS2 is 15 and has announced this year will be his last year of holidaying with us and DS1 stopped coming with us at 17. Just to add my top 2 best holidays with the DC have been Cape Town and a Disney cruise around the Med (couldn't be more different from each other).

Can easily do SA safari under 10k esp with current weakness of rand! If you go to sanparks or child friendly lodges, no problem with 7 year olds, they LOVE it at that age! Personally, would prioritise SA much sooner.

I found adult prices didn't suddenly happen when DC became 12. Sometimes we needed to book 2 rooms when they were under 12 or have all fitted in a family suite even when they were young teens. Flights go up but I didn't find the difference that much. Meals became gradually more expensive as they moved up to adult meals. Excursions and activities seem to vary the child age limit.
We tend to do a lot of twin centre holidays which have been a good way of making the most of travelling a long way.
My friends went to Belize with a New York stop the way back. I thought that sounded like a really good trip.

I agree with Salbertina that SA is the place to go now as the Rand is weak making it terrific value for money. We loved Ecuador and Peru so I would prioritise South America. I found Thailand far too touristy for me in the 1980s and have not been back since. Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia would be my choice. The best of the Caribbean, in my opinion, is the British Virgin Islands preferably on your own chartered yacht with crew but a villa on Virgin Gorda is just great too. I would also recommend California, especially Highway 1 and San Fransisco. We have done numerous wildlife tours and Zambia and Botswana are hard to beat.

We are intending to go to Brazil, Argentina, Chile, China and Canada, plus I would love to see more of California and Oregon. Need to get saving!!!

Cambodia-Angkor Wat is amazing and food is great in Cambodia, not too spicy for the kids, fab spas
California, Nevada, Arizona road trip - lots to see - Disney, Grand Canyon, giant cacti, Vegas, Death Valley, San Francisco
New Zealand - south Island - Whale watching in Kaikoura, penguins in Omaru, great wineries, Golden Bay area is lovely, loads of national parks, great food and excellent wine - what's not to like?
Tasmania - national parks, fab coastline
Japan - rent a traditional house in Kyoto
Korea - Seoul is a fab city and JeJu island is nice for a relaxing break
China - amazing place - Great Wall, Shanghai, pandas in Chengdu, limestone karsts in Guilin, Xian, Xiamen is a lovely seaside town, Nanjing also very interesting and as the rmb continues to strengthen it will only get more expensive.

Wow thank you all so much for these fantastic ideas, much appreciated. We nearly went to SA this year but trailfinders were quoting £7 k for car hire, flights and basic accommodation in a self catering apartment. Will look at this again for next year.

Salbertina, can you say what as parks means or recommend any child friendly not extortionate lodges?

I am going to have a good look at all the other suggestions too....need more time off work and more ££££!

Good to know there are other long term planners out there and that the far flung hols don't have to stop when they hit12

I forgot to say yesterday I often research holidays in Virgin/kuoni type brochure and then book their itenary myself. We did our South America and then L.A/mexican Pacific cruise trips based on ideas in the Virgin brochure for about 2/3 of the price.

I have been to some of the places you have on your list and have some others to add. My thoughts are:

Florida is a fab destination and need not be expensive. I would do that sooner rather than later though - it is best enjoyed when DC are young! I would do that before Thailand in your position. Pity you have booked Mexico as you could have done it as a twin centre holiday.

Thailand is a great destination - we did it pre kids but would like to go back sometime. Good combination of beaches, temples, great food etc. We did a stop over in Dubai on that trip.

I didn't rate Mauritius but you've been so you know what it is like. Thailand is much more exciting for kids IMO.

We had a family holiday to Australia with stop over in Singapore and it was the best holiday ever but as you say, it is very expensive now for eating out etc. We did it for much less than £10k but DC were very young and it was a few years ago. Singapore Zoo is the best zoo in the world - probably.

My other 'bucket' list destinations with DC are:

Safari and Whales and Cape Town - South Africa
Borneo - beaches and Orangutans
Inca Trail and Amazon - Peru
Snorkelling - Maldives