Long haul suggestions for May-June family on a budget

[Sevendown]

Thinking of going on a 2 week big family holiday at the end of May next year.

I’d like the dcs too see more of the world because they haven’t travelled much.

Mix of ages. 3 dcs.

One doesn’t like it too hot esp if humid.

One likes sports.

One likes animals.

DP would like culture/history.

I want a beach to build sandcastles with youngest!

On a budget so not expecting luxuary.

Any suggestions and when is the best time to book- a year in advance/ leave it to last minute?

Flexible about departure airport.

DP would prefer an airline with a very good safety record eg virgin/BA.

We've been to Finland and that could be done for 5k for 2 weeks - animalwise there's reindeer on the roads and you can see brown bears in the wild at places like Arola Bears. Lots of lovely sandy empty beaches and we did white water rafting and canoeing. Flew with Finnair via Helsinki to Oulu. Think you can also see moose by Romaviemi. Temp abut 20C in July and almost 24 hour daylight so amazing skies. More reindeer than cars on the road. Sweden has similar - Wild Sweden is the animals.

Think Croatia also has brown bears and good for watersports though never been.

I want somewhere hotter than 20c.

Might as well stay in UK.

25-28c perfect.

Jamaica’s now out as we think we’d be too worried about safety to relax.

Is there much culture in Cyprus? I wanted something more exotic but maybe it’d do as a compromise?

What about another Caribbean island...Look at Virgin Atlantic holidays
We've been to Antigua with 3 dcs...St James resort or The Verandah looks great ( we stayed at Grand Pineapple which was gorgeous,but this is now adults only) ...lots of sport, fantastic beaches and history
.Dominican Republic is reasonably priced, but choose resort wisely
Or what about The Algarve, Portugal
I really think your dh is being rather precious about a non European airline though!....Emirates has a fantastic safety history which would mean you could go to Thailand, Sri Lanka....
Crete/Rhodes have history/ archaeology and some great beaches if you want to stick to Europe

I think you’d be better with a cottage in Northumberland as you have some nuts worries and are really over thinking everything.

somewhere
Exactly what I was thinking
....or NW Scotland

Cuba would be great and you can stay and eat in casa particulares to keep the costs down. Lots of beautiful beaches and culture etc.

Costa Rica would be amazing for kids. And I think you could manage it within your budget if you are savvy with accommodation. So many animals, good watersports etc.

I always thought El Salvador would be a good option for somewhere to take kids - great place for adventures. But might not fit in with your safety concerns.

But Thailand is probably your cheapest option. Easy to get cheap(ish) flights, a nice hotel/flat often isn’t expensive, lots of lovely beaches and good options for animals depending on where you stay.

We are going to St Lucia this summer, staying at cocoanut bay resort - maybe have a look at that .
We are paying more than your budget but that's in the summer holidays so might come in cheaper for may.Also we are going with British airways as virgin were much more expensive.

While I've always fancied going to Jamaica, there seem to be lots of not safe to be areas and personally I wouldn't want to be stuck in an AI resort seeing little of the Island, would seem a bit pointless having gone all that distance to see & experience zilch! We went to Costa Rica 2 years ago with our then 8 year old and went to San Jose, Arenal and Manuel Antonio. It was a really beautiful country and felt extremely safe - we used a private company for transfers. Wouldn't bother going to San Jose though! It would be rainy season but it was when we went & just had a thunderstorm usually in the afternoon for an hour. The wildlife was amazing. Someone else has suggested Cuba which is a good idea - just don't go to Varadero! Havana is spectacular - the food is disgusting though! Have you thought of the States? Norwegian Airlines (a European airline!) are doing v reasonable flights. I'm looking at San Francisco at the moment - the flights are about £400 return pp & AirBNB apartments £100-200 a night.

The dcs have already been almost everywhere in the U.K., France, Spain and US so want something different now.

Cuba is on my list for in a few years time.

It’s very hard to please teens and toddlers!

Emirates I wouldn’t fly with for ethical reasons.

I’ve pretty much given up on this search now.

I looked at Cyprus and it doesn’t look like you get a lot for the money.

I don’t see the point in £5k for Europe when I can get a last minute s/c in the costas for £300pp that the dcs would enjoy just as much. A pool is a pool to them.

Ok, but there's still Portugal, Italy, Greece, Croatia, to name but a few great countries to visit that fit most of your criteria
And if you're worried about 'ethical airlines/ countries' how would you cope with Cuba?

We did Mexico last year end of May beginning of June - a family wedding so kids too (think youngest was 9/10) we stayed in the grand Riviera princess in Riviera maya, flew with Thomson. Gorgeous 5 star AI hotel right on the beach, loads of wildlife wandering round the hotel and lots of entertainment on. There are water parks nearby you can swim with turtles, see dolphins etc. Lots of trips available. It was still hot but with thunderstorms for an hour each day as just before the rainy season. It was 2k for two adults for a week.

A friend came down with dengue fever in Costa Rica last year. Nasty.

"The dc have been almost everywhere in the Uk, France, Spain and the U.S."

Wow, I'm impressed.

I’m 44 travel a lot with work and holiday across the uk, europe, Middle East - been to the states and Canada a number of times. And not seen been almost everywhere in the uk, France - we go at least once or twice every year.

To male your money work you need to think outside the box. Trouble is not sure you can find the edges with your requirements

But we went to Barbados in January and it cost us just over 3.5k for flight, accom, car hire, food and activities. That is high season for Barbados. We booked everything separately used Airbnb. Next year we are going to Honduras for not much more. 2 adults 2 teens.

Why are you discounting Thailand? Would seem the easiest way to tick all your boxes. Flights are the main expense (particularly as I'm assuming your ethical issues with Emirates extend to all the gulf carriers) but after that you can do it very cheaply - all depends how much luxury you want.

Not more than two bases would make it hard to choose though.

Yes Thailand is stil in the running as long as we could feel that the toddler would be safe from tropical bugs.

Mexico also still possible.

Don’t mind a thunderstorm mid afternoon.

The dcs are more sporty than animal loving if we have to choose between those activities.

Croatia is somewhere I want to go but as a couple not family.

I don’t think I got my punctuation right above. They are well travelled in the U.K. and have been to France, Spain, US- not all round those countries too. Spain x3 and the other only once.

Europe is just so expensive now for what I’d call a standard pool/beach holiday. I really don’t think that’s worth over £2k. I feel like it’d be better spending a bit more and going somewhere really special (celebration next year).

Just looked up grand riviera princess with May/ June dates this year. It’s coming in at £6k just for the rooms as they’d want us to book 2 rooms for 5 of us.

Lots of accommodation I look at is like this!

I’m not going on holiday with my DP for us to be in separate rooms with 1 or 2 dcs each!

I don't know much about the other destinations on your list but having been to thailand twice I'd say it's not ideal for younger kids. It's more of a bagpacker/adult place I.e very little in the way of all inclusive places or hotels that offer activities, food could be difficult if children are fussy, there are elephant sanctuaries but not a whole lot of wildlife/animals. Oh and both times we went, it was over 30 degrees.
Mexico/Cuba/Costa rica might be a better option for a family holiday.
You mentioned being concerned of one of the locations due to a murder there, unless you stay firmly within Europe, there is a risk to any tourists that fall off the beaten track. Actually, scrap that, anywhere in the world there is a risk of being attacked of your not careful of your surrounds!

Your toddler (and other children) will be safe from bugs in Thailand as long as you have the appropriate vaccines and are sensible about water/ice and where you eat. This goes for most destinations.

Your various airline rules limit your options. You might have more luck going on the BA website and looking at their hub cities for inspiration.

There are other destinations in Africa that might work - Tanzania combined with Zanzibar? Would offer beaches, safari etc. It’ll be hot though and I’m not sure which airlines you’d need.

Thailand's fantastic with kids! I don't go for all inclusive hotels but lots of them if that's your thing.

That said, OP I really don't think you're ready for long haul from everything you're saying. Why don't you go back to the US? Probably will give you more assurances on health etc.

Do not go to Thailand. As a PP mentioned above, it's only suitable for adults and backpackers. One exception for children would be luxury hotel based, but that does not suit your brief and would work out mega expensive for a family.

Likewise India, but much much worse. No provision for children with regard to roads and traffic, general infrastructure and hygiene.

In both places, the heat and humidity would be unbearable in May and June.

My Uncle came back from camping 2 years ago in the New Forest with Lyme Disease. Nasty.

Wherever you go, nowhere is completely free of risk. How safe is a day trip to London right now? You investigate where you're going, take precautions, be sensible. One of the regions we went to in Costa Rica had experienced one or two Dengue and Zika cases, we used Deet & sprayed our clothes and used sensible clothing.

I know a number of people who've gone to Thailand with their children, travelled around, stayed in good hotels, gone on booked excursions and had a wonderful time. You don't take your kids into the red light district in Bangkok or anywhere with a rep for sex tourism. It's just common sense.I've looked recently at potentially going to Koh Samui - no nice hotels are not mega expensive for families, quite the opposite for what look like fab resorts. I've been to Goa and I would happily take my daughter back there - to a decent hotel with planned excursions. Again, it's just basic common sense.

Having lived in Dubai, also curious about why Emirates is ethically dodgy? It's owned effectively by the Royal Family. Just interested in the reasoning?

There's always a reason not to do anything -

I loved Costa Rica and there’s now direct flights to San Jose

Haven’t read whole thread but has anyone said Sri Lanka? Ticks most of your boxes I think.

My DD went last Sept & loved it. There are direct flights from London, & good accommodation is cheap - she stayed in a gorgeous place on the E coast (first pic)

Helpful inf here

www.lonelyplanet.com/sri-lanka/travelling-with-children