Hong Kong for a week - then where for the next 14 days?

[GColdtimer]

Planning a big trip next summer to see a friend in HK. Then we want to do some travelling in Asia but where? Thailand for jungles and beaches, Boreno for orang-utans, Indonesia, Vietnam? Am finding it really hard to decide and don't want to over stretch ourselves by doing too much. I travelled loads in my 20s but now I have two children I feel a lot more nervous (they will be 6 and 10). Also, should we use a travel company or just do it ourselves?

Any thoughts? Am going destination blind with all the googling!

Trailfinders are good at this sort of thing.

Thanks. Was actually after some other people's experiences and insight about what is feasible in that time span and any recommendations.

We did hk to see family then 14 nights on koh samui for rest and beach fun. It was brill and would do it again in a shot.

Thanks bigfoxlittlefox, so helpful, have been looking up all of them. So hard to decide what to do. Is travel around those countries OK or is it best to book a driver? If you had a week in HK with a 6 and 10 year old, what would be on your list? I think my friends are living somewhere beachy (not sure where).

I have been looking at some amazing hotels in the phillipines and so cheap!

Sorry for all these questions!

I love Hong Kong. I've never taken little kids, but there is Disney, Ocean Park (their own theme park type place), the cable car up the Peak (although the bus ride up from Central is amazing and a white knuckle ride in itself!). The Big Budha (there is a boat across from Central then a bus up, and also a cable car ride across. There are lovely beaches (like Repulse Bay). Another fun thing is to take a Sampan boat ride on Aberdeen Harbour. Just avoid the smog and heat of the city in the daytime.

3 days in Hk is sufficient. Then 90 minute flight to Philippines (Cebu is easy) to live like kings for a week on less than you'd spend in a day in HK.

Thailand. 5 days in Bangkok, 5 in the south and 5 in the north. Fly from BKK to Koh Samui and then on to Chang Mai before back to BKK. Temples, beaches, rainforests, the nicest people in the world and the BEST FOOD

Thailand also easy with kids. Lots of options near Phuket. But better a bit further north.

If I can make a very specific recommendation. There's a place called Panglao off the coast of the island of Bohol in the Philippines. Easy to get to from Manila. There's a great small resort called Amerillo. Perfect little holiday hideaway.

Resort name is amerela, sorry

As everyone says there are many many choices so maybe narrow it down a bit...

• do you want a multi stop break in the same country for example Vietnam would be great for this Ho Chi Min/Hanoi, Halong Bay plus beaches?
• do you want to go tone place and flop with a couple of day trips out? Thailand, Kota Kimbala (but check hotel for nearby construction!) could be options
• do you need /want to fall back on comfort or are you ready to rough it a bit, some Asia countries are more established than others for example if you want to go somewhere off the beaten track - Myanmar is incredible, easy but not yet somewhere many tourists go to just yet.
• and a completely off the wall idea would be somewhere like Japan or Korea but would be another city followed by going to a beach Yaeyama for Japan, Jeju for Korea

Just noticed more posts on this - thank you. Am veering towards Vietnam but could be swayed by the Philippines!

We went to Borneo on our honeymoon and it was amazing. The wildlife would fascinate your children.

We tend to use Audley travel to organise big multi stop trips. We've found them to be really good.

Not done it with kids but seen plenty on my travels - Thailand is a good bet, Bangkok for a few days then Chang Mai for another few then a beach somewhere (I'd avoid koh Samui tho)
Or Vietnam and Cambodia, Hanoi/halong bag, HCMC and we found a little island called phu quoc. Then siem reap for all the Cambodian temples....

Hong Kong is amazing - kids will love it.
If it was me doing this trip I'd go to South Korea and maybe Japan. Seoul Is only about 4 hours from HK iirc. If you're there in July there's the mud festival in Daecheon, jeju for the beach. Its very child friendly.

For me it would depend on the time of year. Especially with south east Asia's such varying weather systems. I would see which shoulder seasons you will be hitting as you don't want to find yourself in 95% humidity with monsoon rains with two kiddies that will want to be out and about exploring.

What time of year will you be going?