Tell me where my family should travel to

[PiratePenguin]

Oh wise, well-travelled mumsnetters -I need some help.

We have decided to go away next May for around 2 weeks to celebrate my husband's 50th. My children will be 9 and 11. We have travelled to Singapore, NZ and Australia previously. As it's only 2 weeks, NZ and Aus are out. We loved Singapore for the different culture, water park, pools the feeling of being out at night in the warm but did find the days a little hot and sweaty!

I've toyed with Florida but not sure if I could cope with the huge amounts of tourists - is it that bad? Possibly somewhere else in the US, Canada, Asia? I don't know where to start - please advise me!

Looks like you haven't been to Japan? My favourite place on the planet. I'll tell you more if you like but not right now making dinner!

I went to Japan in 1999 to visit my sister who was living in Yokohama but it's not somewhere I instantly thought of with children. I'd love to hear more - when you've got a spare minute!

My kids loved New York and if you've got two weeks you could visit somewhere else as well like Boston or Washington.

May is very hot in Thailand, Cambodia etc so if you found Singapore challenging heat wise, I would avoid SE Asia. What about China and Hong Kong? South Korea?

I would look at Thailand - I don't find it as hot as Singapore. But for the beach, you need to look at east coast islands (Samui, Ko Phagnan etc) rather than west coast (rainy season). Suggest a week split between Bangkok and chiang Mai, and a week in Samui / Phagnan. I prefer doing the sightseeing in second week when acclimatised and not jet lagged but I know others prefer the other way round.

Can definitely recommend South Korea. I live here with two kids. Very child friendly, loads of things to do,
easy to get around on the subway and train, miles cheaper than Japan. The weather at the beginning of May is still pretty ok, towards the end it is definitely on the hotter end. If it’s for two weeks, I’d recommend a week in Seoul and maybe three or four days in Busan on the south coast and three or four days in the countryside somewhere. It’s also very easy to learn the Korean alphabet to use in restaurants and stuff.

We have traveled extensively and lived on 4 continents and to be honest I would head to Europe in may. It really is the best place to be at that time of year.

Southern Spain is warm and fabulous, you can cover Grenada, Seville and Córdoba, or take in Rome, venice and Florence, or head to santorini and Greek islands. I don't think I would spend more to go further at that time of year.....

Sri Lanka- won’t be that hot in May, not too long a flight and loads to do

Some fab ideas on here - will start researching. Thank you. I'm currently obsessed by 'The Amazing Race' - it has reawaken my itchy feet! So many of the destinations they have been to look great that I have a great urge to travel! Any more suggestions greatly appreciated.