Help us pick a holiday destination

[crazyandlazy]

Hello

Which would you recommend for a first time family (all inclusive) holiday out of these:

Mexico
Thailand
Dominican Republic
Costa Rica

Or any others?

This will be our first time outside of Europe, we’ve only done Disneyland Paris as a family trip (which was really easy) and I will be travelling alone with the little ones, who are Junior school aged.

Thanks

If I could go anywhere I’d go back to Santa Fe (New Mexico). It is quite different from here and most other parts of the States. It is high altitude and very dry - no mosquitos! The landscape is amazing, the culture is the Native Americans (or Native Indians - I’m not sure the current acceptable description is of them collectively) and there is the Georgia O’Keefe legacy. We went white water rafting at Taos (not for the faint hearted!), horse riding, hiking, hot tub at sunset etc. And I had the best India Indian meal ever!

Is that AI in the USA? Unlikely.

I think it would be very silly to do AI in Costa Rica. It’s a country of contrasts and you will be seriously missing out on seeing the best of it if you stick to one resort. Personally I think the same applies to Thailand. You are missing so much by being static.

Mexico has more of interest than DR. DR is for people who cannot afford the better and more developed islands. I’m not sure I would go there over Antigua or Tobago for example. Never been to Mexico so cannot comment. AI seems such a narrow way to experience a country but obviously it’s your choice. Mexico would probably be best if you just want sun, sea and sand.

@BubblesBuddy

All inclusive/resort is all we can afford this time...£3k for the three of us . If I'm going abroad I'd rather actually see the country but the fact I'm going alone and we have such a small budget it will have to do, Im sure we'll still have a lovely time.

In that case I'd recommend Turkey if you just want sun, sea and sand, much closer to and AI in Turkey is brilliant. We go every other year in between long hauls.

I don't know that you'll get a really special hol in the Caribbean for £3k.
I like Gran Bahia Principe on the Riviera Maya (Mexico) but once you've done the long haul flight you have a long transfer to the resort. I don't rate the Dominican Republic at all.
European AIs have really improved over the last few years, and with dc of primary age I think I would look at those.

I've been to 2 of the above (Mexico & Costa Rica) & quite honestly I think you'd be missing out by doing a purely AI holiday in either but I take your point about going on your own with 2 DC. Costa Rica is a beautiful country & while there are AI places there, I'm not sure there are that many as tourists going there tend to be of the travelling around kind. Mexico has a lot of AI places on the Riviera Maya - we ended up in one in Cozumel years ago as part of a bigger Mexican trip. I'm not sure £3K would get you a holiday for 3 there but it probably would in Cancun which from our drive through it seemed to have resort after resort. It is very built up but on the place side if you're looking for an easy break in the sunshine for both you and the kids then it fits the bill. While I'm sure any hotel in the area will flog trips to Tulum etc, you'll probably save some money booking these in advance directly. Cozumel would be worth a day trip over on the ferry & hiring a jeep. The old ruined Mayan town on the island gets less than half the number of visitors as the better known ruins on the mainland which does make for good atmosphere! I'd check a potential seaweed problem in the area though before booking.

I loved Mexico. You could go along the Riviera Maya with kids and stay in a couple of different places - it's an easy holiday and there is loads to do. We stayed in a set of condos here delsolbeachfront.com/ which had a tropical fish cove nearby, a turtle beach and a great all day cafe next door that we had meals at. We stayed there and also stayed inland near Chechen itza and some other places down the coast. Travel was easy. Perhaps look at something like that?

I would choose Thailand but no way AI. Eating and travelling is so inexpensive there and it would be such a waste not to see at least a bit of the country.

Would not visit any of those for AI, particularly the Dominican Republic.

What time of year are you thinking of travelling?. This will have a bearing because of the weather at that time.

Much of the Mexican coastline facing the Caribbean sea in the general area of Cancun have issues with vast quantaties of sargassum washing up onto the beaches. This decomposes and smells very bad. Its been a problem there for a number of years.

With your budget you really will struggle for anything in these countries. Families Worldwide run great family holidays which have activities included but the price makes it impossible. I think nearer to home to save flight costs is the way to go.

I’d be very wary of cheap AI. It’s usually those piled-high buffets of junk food (chips, burgers, etc) left out in warm weather. A recipe for disaster. Cambodia was my cheapest place. The two of us would spend no more than $5 for the two of us for a delicious plate of lok lak and a beer each. I’d go back tomorrow if I could. Why even travel if you’re going to restrict yourself to the bland buffet at the hotel? Seriously question the quality of the food if you’re paying £3k for three people with flights.

I would pick Thailand, but I think it's probably cheaper to do it yourself as eating is out is inexpensive. Vietnam is cheaper than Thailand. I wouldn't bother doing anything longhaul to stay in the resort. As a pp mentioned Turkey might be a better option.

I would look at Turkey or the Canary Islands.

To be fair to Turkey which is a pretty interesting country, it’s a shame just to see the inside of a resort there as well but I do agree with the PPs that an easier option may be better and cheaper for you if you’re doing it for the first time on your own. I’m guessing from the locations this is about getting some winter sun so maybe look at the Canaries or Cape Verde where you’ll find lots of AI. You may find AI holidays within your budget (& I haven’t looked but like the PPs very uncertain you will) in the countries you’ve listed. However they may come at some big old compromise - location/terrible flight times with changes/bad weather/hotel with poor ratings etc. If it looks a bargain, double check on Tripadvisor & at other reviews for a possible catch.

On another note, I think (and being honest I’d include myself in this) you’ve probably stumbled here across a number of well travelled women who aren’t huge AI fans & that’s coloured our answers to some extent.There really is no right way to holiday & if you find something in any of the countries you’ve listed that appeals, checks out on reviews, weather & meets your budget then you don’t really need any strangers however well intentioned on an internet site to validate it really.

What time of year? If you tell us when, we can recommend places based on their climate.

With a £3k budget and wanting all inclusive, I wouldn't go long haul. I would go "medium haul" (if that's even a thing ) - and spend more of the budget on accommodation and food than flights.

I would suggest Dubai for a first holiday abroad with young kids - clean, great facilities, and there is a lot to do and see with them. Goa is also a good idea - stay in Northern Goa at the Taj Exotica and you can have the relaxation of a resort holiday combined with things to do and see for the kids.

Ive just got back from Mexico and it was lovely. Stayed just outside of playa del Carmen and hired a car and drove about. Mexico is surprisingly expensive for eating out.....maybe we just didn't find the cheaper places. Also organised excursions were quite pricey. Car hire was cheap though.

As with other posters don't think i would really bother with long haul for AI. Europe makes much more sense (unless looking for winter sun). So I would either do AI in Europe or standard hotel in Thailand / Vietnam / Malaysia.

Seriously, you need to double your budget for most of those destinations. You could probably get ‘room only’ in Thailand though.

Look at tui cruises. Not expensive , all inclusive, child friendly, loads to do and wake up somewhere different every day

I think Turkey is a good shout.

(Depends on time of year though, it would be way too hot for me in July/August!

Of your options, I think Thailand is the most interesting and realistic with your budget. You can have a nice holiday in a nice hotel with breakfast included and then eat out (cheap and tasty) for your other meals. Thailand is inexpensive! If it were me I’d spend a week at the beach and a week up in the mountains around Chiang Mai. You could always take a night sleeper train up north which is a fun experience! Nok air is cheap for hopping around the country by air.

I said those places as I’ve found all inclusive holidays within budget with fantastic reviews on tripadvisor, so it was just a matter of deciding which one.

Thanks for all your replies and suggestions

I wouldn't bother doing a long flight just for a week's holiday and/ or for all inclusive. Those long haul destinations you mentioned need you going out and about to experience the country (and local food!).

If you're set on AI I'd just stick to a really nice one Europe.