Where would you suggest? Advice needed

[onlyoranges]

We always holiday close to home, usually Cornwall but after some very bad years and hideous events we have realised life is short and have decided to take the plunge and go on the holiday of a lifetime. But we are not travellers and have no experience. What we would like is a complete culture change, where priorities are different. We are considering India, Goa or Thailand. What do you think? Don’t want to moan but life’s been really hard and I am so excited to have something to look forward to!!! Thanks

Do you have a budget in mind?. What sort of accommodation would you like ideally?

What time of year are you thinking of going?. This will have a bearing in terms of weather.

Yes what kind of budget, what time of year and also do you have DC who are coming too - if so what ages and how flexible are they?!

These questions are helpful. Time of year school hols but unsure of temps so very open to suggestions. 4 Dcs 3 are young adults and youngest 11. Budget probs looking at around £10,000? Would that be a reasonable amount. As we aren’t travellers I am not looking at youth hostels etc as we are a bit clueless. What do people think of that re accommodation? Things to do experience a different kind of culture. Not sitting on a beach.

Well I did think if we sorted it by the summer hols we could go for a few weeks but not sure we will with my complete lack of knowledge! Having never been anywhere like that. I am just open to experiencing the culture would also like to see some places of interest and their way of life and the spiritual side of their beliefs? I have asked friends and everyone has a different opinion and none of them agree with the other ones choices!

I’d consider India and doing the Golden Triangle. Complete culture change but common enough/touristy enough for a first trip to Asia.
Or if that sounds a bit much, Thailand - but it’s rainy season.
It will be fairly expensive booking flights so close to the time.

I wouldn’t go back to Thailand. Bangkok was crowded and built up, great palace overrun with hordes of coach loads of rude people who pushed us out of the way, we found travel between the islands difficult and we didn’t have young ones.

Indonesia is nicer, people are friendlier, infrastructure is better suited for tourism, different experiences to be had from beach clubs to temples, waterfalls, rice terraces, animal sactuaries etc. Exchange rate is good, food/dining which is important for kids/teenagers was good and reasonably priced. You could stop off at Singapore on the way, why stick with just one destination? Lovely city, clean, easy to get around, interesting sites and art galleries, can do it in a few days.

Whatever you decide on, enjoy

So many places to see!!! I’d def recommend if you can stretch it do a month, you’ll manage to reach a new level of relaxation you may not have been to before

How about China - completely different! If you venture even slightly off the ‘normal’ route. At times you will be the tourist attraction. People want to chat & try to feed you.
Easy cheap public transport/night trains/internal flights etc

Plus the obvious ones like Great Wall. Terracotta warriors, pandas, karate etc

Thailand’s great but if it’s not glorious beaches to lounge on you’re after I’d go elsewhere.

Has to be Asia though to stretch the budget I’d imagine.

How about Cambodia? It's an incredible place.

If you are at loss as to where to start, Exodus do some family packages which can be helpful putting together itineraries. They have a few family ones, they do 16 days in Costa Rica which has amazing wildlife, very safe, lovely food. They also do a Vietnam/Cambodia one which would be great for your kids ages although it would be monsoon season. You could also consider an RV holiday on the US or Canadian Rockies? It's also hard to go wrong with California, driving from San Fran to Las Vegas would be a great trip to do with few weeks, accommodation may be a little rustic in the countryside but you could go to Yosemite, Grand Canyon, Bryce, Zion, Monument Valley- something for everyone and a ton of things to do, beaches, food, wildlife, history. Canadream do a package into Vancouver and out of Calgary (or other way round). Perhaps your older kids wouldn't enjoy that.. India is amazing, but a real culture shock even for the seasoned traveller! South Africa, Botswana or Namibia are a little chilly that time of year but if you weren't set on Summer I would consider a Christmas trip there (although it will be shorter)! Hope you have a lovely time.

actually thinking about it, it will be boiling in Las Vegas, a coastal route might be a little better!

South Africa is fine in the summer, even the Garden Route and you might see whales at the end of August in Hermanus. You would have the massive advantage of lower prices at that time of year too. Namibia is fairly expensive and requires two flights, so it costs more. If you can stretch to it, it’s a great destination.

The Far East is a good and you could do it in budget. Don’t go wandering off to odd places on your first holiday abroad and your budget won’t stretch to a month staying anywhere nice. See below about what companies to approach.

Costa Rica would be excellent. A first class choice. We have also been to Peru in August which was tremendous. Again, budget might be an issue but it’s a great holiday for teens.

North America is ludicrously hot in the summer and gets very booked up in places like Yosemite. Las Vegas and the parks would be 40 degrees so I would avoid. Definitely an Easter destination.

My final suggestion is to look at Exodus and also Families Abroad. They are really good at chatting through the options with you and seeing what might suit your family. Their web site is full of ideas. We went with FA to Peru and it was brilliant from start to finish. Canada is also great but again your budget for 6 is possibly not enough.

The other suggestion is doing a family holiday to India. Goa is essentially beaches and not much like the rest of India, but you can do the Delhi, Agra and Jaipur triangle to include looking for tigers in Ranthambhore which is an ideal introduction to India but you really must want to go. It’s not an easy holiday but it gives a brilliant insight into a totally different culture.

Have fun talking to a family holiday expert. You won’t regret it and you’ll have a great time.

I should have said Families Worldwide.

I think weather wise for the Far East Indonesia is the best option and easy to combine with Singapore as mentioned up thread.
Alternatively Malaysian Borneo has decent weather then.
I have travelled a lot in Asia and ime India can be quite hard work. China is amazing, but some areas can be as hot as hades in the summer. It's also a more challenging destination if you are doing it yourself.

Japan! Cultural immersion but so friendly and polite! I’m desperate to go again

Would you consider South Africa? Cape Town and a few days in Kruger? Beautiful mind blowing and fascinating place with wild animals.

If you are thinking of going this summer then I wouldn't consider Goa as its the monsoon season, best time to go to Goa is from late November to March ish. It is definitely a culture shock as well but very very cheap once you are there, beautiful beaches etc although not paradise type beaches, the sea isn't the pale blue seas you'd expect in Caribbean for instance.
Hope you find a holiday that suits you, enjoy!

I think India is amazing but could be hard if its your first time somewhere different. I didn't personally like Goa.

How about a safari? Or combining safari with a stay somewhere else? We considered a holiday combining a 10 night safari in Kenya with a week in Ethiopia last summer - there are great organised tours. Look at eco trekking.

Thailand can be very touristy and full of gap-year types, Vietnam could be interesting, or Cambodia. Like others have said, west coast US would be great - not obviously a huge culture change, but enough you'd be surprised.

I’d also second Vietnam very friendly people nice cheap but good standard hotels, nice mix of mountains and beaches, cultural sites etc - it’s also easy to get around on your own - you could do north/south south/north in 3 wks.

Wherever you go if it’s somewhere different you’ll have a blast and what a great experience for your kids!!

Good luck!!!!

Catin - how can 6 people do a holiday in Japan for £10,000? The flights will be nearly half of that. The budget the op has will have to dictate destination and it won’t stretch to Japan!

@BubblesBuddy i must just have been very lucky with my exceptionally good value flights. My personal experience is if you’re willing to fly economy and stay in fairly budget (so small but very clean and central) acomodation it would be perfectly possible on that budget.

Perhaps you’re more of a champagne lifestyle traveler then I am?

India is fantastic but maybe not always a starter destination. I agree with another poster that Costa Rica is a fantastic destination unless you want cultural buildings in which case India or Cambodia would be better.

Okay one too many fantastic, 😐