"Wow" holiday suggestions with dc aged 8 and 5

[angelicanto]

We have two boys and we have only ever done self catering holidays with them in places like Yorkshire Dales, Scottish Islands, the Lakes, Ireland, and we have done Eurocamp and self catering in France which we love. All fab holidays. Dcs are used to long car journeys, however have never been on a plane.

We are now reaching a stage where we are in a different financial position and could do something a bit more further afield or "wow" but I am a bit nervous about a departure from what we know and love......

Can I have your suggestions for somewhere for 2 or even 3 weeks in the summer, for around 5k, that would involve traveling by air. We enjoy wildlife, history, nice scenery, good food and some adventures.....we have never really done theme parks before except for Puy du Fou this year which we loved.

I keep wondering about Florida but think it would be over budget and possible too hot in the summer?

Or also considering a cruise??

Any suggestions welcome!

Salou and port aventura

Efteling and Dutch Center parcs

I have considered Efteling, heard good things about it.

California.

We have just had two weeks there as a family of four. With flights, hotels, disney and car came in for under 5k.

We done disney, universal, hollywood, all the lovely beaches. We even had two nights in Vegas but yours will be too young from that probably.

It was hot though, but not unbearable, it doesn't have the same humidity of Florida.

Croatia
Twin centre break- e.g Lisbon and Algarve or something similar with a city and beach destinatioob

Destination

The little one is a bit young for Disney world, its overwhelming (capitalist rubbish, but that's just me) better in a couple of years. Ditto sightseeing and museums, galleries etc. I don't think you can beat seaside or countryside, all the nagging stops. Animals are popular if treated well, some zoos etc v cruel, prefer rescue or farm (warning, small rodents can be loved to death). Keep it simple for another year or two. Lovely farm holidays in French gites, Portugal is child friendly

New York. You can get hotels and flights quite cheaply if you book them early. We stayed in Pod 51 which was great value for money.

If you like history, art, etc, there's loads to do. The children's museum apparently can take up a whole day. We didn't go as have no DC yet, but we went to the Natural History museum (that off Night at the Museum - which you could let them watch beforehand to add to the WOW factor) and it was unbelievable. Especially recommend if your DC are into dinosaurs. There's even a planetarium type show thingy you can do, and a part specifically for younger kids.

I noticed lots of people pointing out stuff from movies to their kids when we were sightseeing, and Coney Island is apparently well worth a visit.

Can I have your suggestions for somewhere for 2 or even 3 weeks in the summer, for around 5k, that would involve traveling by air.

Fingers crossed the planes aren’t still grounded post-Brexit next summer. 🤞🏻

we love cyprus...lots of stuff to do. we stay in Paphos, and there are waterparks, a castle, and plenty of beaches very near. really enjoyed it.

Norway or Sweden.

www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attractions-g190384-Activities-zft11306-Paphos_Paphos_District.html

this link has a load of examples of what you can do there x

Mexico, great for wildlife etc, snorkelling. We went this summer and had a lovely time.

Ok thanks for these ideas. Like the idea of California and NYC as long haul options, or maybe a two centre break in Europe

We have just had two weeks there as a family of four. With flights, hotels, disney and car came in for under 5k

Wow, southnownorth, that’s amazing value, I’m looking at going next summer and am struggling to do it for anywhere near that budget. Do you mind if I ask who you flew with, and what hotels you stayed in?

Sure budgie, we booked 11 months in advance with Virgin Holidays the cost for four of us was £3500 which included a hotel stay in Buena Park. They had an very good sale on.

We paid for one night in Hilton Universal city which was £200 we got a discount on that through a reward scheme through my partners work. Vegas was a comp room from my vegas which I have been playing for a while.

Disney tickets were £850 for the four of us for a five day park hopper. Universal was £300.

I also forget we went to warner bros studio tour which was another £200.

Keep an eye on Thomas cook they do great flight prices to LA as well. They were doing them for £299 return last year for this Oct.

Thanks southnownorth I’ll check it out.

Well for your dc ages I would do efteling too. Combine it with staying on site at efteling, maybe a Dutch landal, Amsterdam which is only an hour away and duinell.

I'd say Japan for totally different wow holiday but 5 year old maybe too young to get much out of it?

Failing that Morocco.

We have done lots of lovely holidays, I always resisted Disney for all the rather snobby reasons you might imagine. DC went aged 7 and adored it. They talk about it years later. We went in August and it was hot but we stayed in a Disney hotel and just chilled by pool in the afternoon if it was too hot and went out morning and evening. I have had to admit I was wrong about it.

Norway. You can see great wildlife in the north, do a cruise around the fjords, take a scenic trip on the flam railway.