Winter Sun Christmas 2014: 3 families, 3 generations, 3 children

[caramelgirl]

After a brilliant Christmas/NYE 2012/13 in Essaouira with my parents and my brother and his family we are looking to pull off another lovely trip.

But we don't know where.

We are keen to avoid anywhere with an emphasis on recreating a Brit style Christmas. We'd like a beach for us and our young children (1 & 5), ideally somewhere my parents can walk daily and us run. Parents and my brother's family (11yo DC) more interested in sight seeing/historical stuff. And ideally we could slot in a mini trip for my DH and me and one for my parents- leaving children with the other couple to carry on playing on the beach.

If we had access to a heated pool or swim able sea that would be a big bonus.
Ideally avoid too many injections
All of us are quite risk averse.
Everyone but us veggie, SiL severely nut allergic.
Parents mixed race (so eg Deep South of states could be awkward).

Budget is quite flexible - Morocco was v cheap in retrospect- £1.4k fortnight 4 bed riad rental, flights about £3-400/each. Realise we will need to spend a fair bit more than this.
Think we would now need a 5 bed. Assume self catering cheaper than hotel?

So: I thought
Egypt (Dahab)
Kenya
Sri Lanka
Kerala

But I am a bit worried about the weight of responsibility for choosing. Any suggestions v v gratefully received!
Thank you.

Dubai / Abu Dhabi / Oman much closer than any of your suggestions and guaranteed good weather / swimmable sea at Xmas. Oman probably the most "authentic" in terms of sight seeing, possibility of jeep safaris into the wilderness etc. All hotels have a wide range of food available, but yes self catering will be cheaper for the number of people you have. Dubai best for Villa rentals

Ooh. Thank you. Oman was on my original list but I has forgotten about it. Will investigate. Not keen on Dubai because of stories of poor indentured labourers having rotten lives whilst we enjoy amazing luxury.
And Abu Dhabi a wild card for me, but will enjoy looking it up.
Appreciate the suggestions.

If you have issues with Dubai then Abu Dhabi is just the same but about 10 years behind!

Had a look at Al Waha Muscat hotel- recommended by a clearly better off than I realised friend. Looks fabulous but think will save for Feb half term as is £9k just for the four of us, without flights, over Christmas and NY.
Does look really fantastic tho'.

We stayed there!! It is quite fabulous but you are right Xmas / NY is the peak time. Weather will be great at Feb half term and the flights are very manageable (we did Oman Air - very nice). We booked via Virgin Holidays - maybe they will do a better package deal?

Ooh, I have heard good, good things about it. Brilliant, will head off and trawl virgin.
Tho' still stuck for family Christmas. Last year was in Coventry so feel we deserve something good!

How about Cape Town, there is so much to do. You could visit the Winelands for the 'mini trip'? Plus no jet lag for the DC.

if you're OK with the situation in Egypt, I'd go there. The hotels, snorkelling etc are very good and cheap at the moment.

Maybe consider Jordan - Dead Sea, Red Sea, Wadi Rum, Petra - and Jordan isn't too big so could base somewhere and then travel out?

Would love to go to Cape Town though!