Looking for an adventure!

[Sundayblues13]

Looking at holidays for next year . I don’t want to blow my savings on a package holiday . Looking at travelling with my DS who will be 11 . I want an adventure , experience other cultures rather then sat by a pool -but don’t know where to start ! Any ideas much appreciated would be on a budget - any advice would be gratefully appreciated. TIA

Have a look at exodus holidays & see if there is something that takes your interest

Sorry didn’t read the budget part...

I would book flights to Thailand, then research hostels to stay in along the train route down to Singapore and get a flight home from Singapore

Cover three countries, travel on train and stay cheaply in hostel type b&b

Lonely planet online or book form to plan trip

Northern Thailand. Chaing mai is a good place to start. It's an amazing adventure and then head out to explore the Thai Highlands.

Friends with DC the age of your DS have been to Costa Rica, Namibia, Vietnam, Thailand, Iceland - and all have had glowing reports.

You could try this company: KE Adventure. I've also heard good things about Exodus Exodus

We did Malaysian Borneo (Sabah) in the school holidays.
1 adult + 3 kids
Did 'everything', stayed in family rooms in backpackers, cost £1700 for 16 days + flights.
Reckon for 2 of you it could be done £2300 if you can get good flight prices.

Or camping in france - still a great adventure. Self drive self cater. Take bikes.
What is your budget?

Tbh without knowing what your budget is it’s difficult to know

Should of saved around £2500 by the time the summer holidays come around . I don’t actually mind where we go just don’t know where to start to plan have briefly looked at inter railing x

I was just about to recommend inter railing until I remembered brexit.

Such an adventure you can fill yer boots but the borders may restrict you now. Still worth it imo just see where you end up.

How many days?

I’m off for the whole holidays with him so no limit on days x

I’d look at flights to south east Asia as your money will go much further in that part of the world than in Europe - therefore you could probably have a month rather than two weeks

www.lonelyplanet.com/thailand

Have a good read and see what you think

Thailand. Easy to do but a fab adventure. The cost of staying and travelling is very low, so once you've paid for your flights you can potter around for 3-4 weeks at relatively low cost.

If you are happy with hostels (and there are nice ones) you don't need to book and can be very flexible.

Bangkok to chiang mai is a great route.

www.lonelyplanet.com/thailand/a/nar-gr/money-and-costs/357592

41 bhats to £

Accommodation bus fares and food could easily come in at £30 per day - meaning for 30 days you could spend £1000 take a flight into Thailand and travel north, travel west & then head south to Malaysia and fly home from Singapore

I would go to eastern europe. Places like Hungary, Poland, Bulgaria, Romania and the Czech republic are soo cheap and have loads to offer in the way of culture and experiences. Plus its still fairly easy to get trains or planes x

Had a friend who was in Eastern Europe last summer and raved about Albania 😊

Wow Thankyou for your replies ladies !!! Lots to look through , would Thailand be suitable to travel solo with a child ? Be amazing !!!!

I went to Thailand with a 9 and 3 year old - though not for king. I’d be happy to travel around with an 11 year old

We're going to South Africa soon and it's surprisingly cheap.

So do you book via travel agents ? Or research and book your own flights etc ? Looking at hostels this evening and they have surpassed my expectations! Look as nice as a hotel some of them and as it’s just a crash pad perfect options . Sorry for all the questions , never been travelling before x

would Thailand be suitable to travel solo with a child

Yep. Very safe, very friendly.

So do you book via travel agents

That depends. Do you prefer to pay double? If so, yes. Travel agents can be good for package deals in traditional resorts, but not schlepping around Thailand.

• Skyscanner, kayak and momondo are good for flights.
• Trivago is a good starting point for accomodation.
• Make sure you know where hotels you book are. Close to the action is the most important criteria.
• Get a guide book from the library for planning (I still like lonely planet, thought they are not what they were) but it will be out of date and trip advisor recommendations are often better in breadth and accuracy for accomodation and food.
• Take your time, don't rush. Especially somewhere like Thailand where an extra day in a town is not a big marginal cost.

I would book flights first
Then possibly book first couple of nights in city
Then when I get there book as I go, have credit card for emergency
Catch bus and eat street food
Pack first aid kit include piriton etc
Use a backpack for easy and unpack half of what you pack and leave at home
Have a plan and a couple of three hostels in each place to stay

The last bit. Have the names of the hostels ready to ask when you get to that town