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Holidays

Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

Original poster

Where would you go?

65 replies

TakeMeToYourLiar · 21/08/2021 17:00

We are in the lucky position that we have around 6k to spend on a holiday.

We would like to go on a really memorable trip in the next year

DS will be 5 and DD 1

We don't want a beach holiday, and would like the kids to experience another culture.

We have had vague ideas of:
Hong Kong
Japan
Israel
New Zealand

But no experience of any of them or which would br best or when to go.

DS starts reception in w few weeks so ideally would be in school holiday

OP posts:
Anaphylaxis · 21/08/2021 20:16

NZ as main destination and use stop overs at Singapore and then on the way back you can choose LA, Shanghai, Tokyo or Seoul. Spend few days at these stop overs. It is assuming you are travelling from UK. NZ being literally opposite on earth from UK, you can use these stop overs as they are virtually half way between.

I would not recommend Hong Kong, for me Singapore is better metropolitan city. And then visit far east - they are VERY different to S East Asia. Or you can come back via LA from NZ - you will arrive at time/date before you have left Auckland - one of perks crossing international date line. Feels bit like time travel.

CeeceeBloomingdale · 21/08/2021 20:18

I doubt Hong Kong or New Zealand will be fully open for tourists next year.

APurpleSquirrel · 21/08/2021 20:34

Personally, unless you're likely to have that sort of sum to spend on holidays regularly, I'd save it & either go on several short haul holidays over the next few years or do a big one in a few years time when you're youngest DC can actually appreciate & remember it.

ChickenSchnitzel · 21/08/2021 20:40

Agree with DC that young I would save a long haul 'memorable' trip til they are a good few years older. Especially with the ongoing travel uncertainty.

TweedePrik · 21/08/2021 20:50

Agree with Chicken - they're far too young to appreciate "culture" and long distance travel will take a good while to get back to normal. Mine just loved the sea/pool at that age, with a fun fair or roundabout thrown in.

Watapalava · 21/08/2021 20:55

Pointless at such a young age

I’d save it and take the kids to Lapland in 3/4 years

Pieceofpurplesky · 21/08/2021 21:19

At 5 and 1 they will want to splash in a pool and dig in the sand, not tramp around architectural landmarks.

That said I took DS to Sicily when he was about 5 and we had plenty of beach and pool fun but also remembers the amphitheatre! Maybe find somewhere that you can do short visits to some attractions but leave time to play

Hellotoallmyfans · 21/08/2021 21:27

We took our ds's to Oz at that age and they don't remember anything about it. Eldest has a few very vague recollections of blowing a didgeridoo and holding a koala!

I do think we must've been slightly mad to do that flight with them at those ages however I don't regret doing it as it was great. We have more dc's now and the flight did put me off travelling that far with kids again, even though they were well behaved. People were tutting and moaning when the baby cried (admittedly only a couple of people) but it was quite stressful for me.

Personally I'd love to go to Japan.

HelenHywater · 21/08/2021 21:36

I think they're too young to appreciate or remember any of those places tbh. If you want to go, then go, but it won't be for them!

I took mine to lots of incredible places when they were younger, but the holidays they always remember are our Eurocamp ones!

countrytown · 21/08/2021 21:47

How does a 1 yr old appreciate culture?

countrytown · 21/08/2021 21:48

I took my 2 yr old to Florence & he slept through all of the masterpieces.

CeeceeBloomingdale · 21/08/2021 22:15

I’m just thinking back, when mine were 5.5 and 1.5 we went to St Lucia and had a very hotel based and beach based holiday. It was one of our best holidays despite not being too cultural as it was right for their ages. Eldest can remember a couple of random snap shots in time, youngest can’t remember a thing.

Original poster
TakeMeToYourLiar · 21/08/2021 22:19

Perhaps I d it don't explain well.

The kids do indeed love buckets, spades and slides. Well DS does, DD just as happy in Tesco tbh

But DH and I want to go somewhere ibteresting, but it needs to be child safe, IYSWIM rather than child centric.

We have a similar amount put aside to do Disney world in 4ish years

Not worried about them remembering it. My parents saved their big trip until DSis was 12, she still doesn't remember it 20 years later 🤣

OP posts:
Original poster
TakeMeToYourLiar · 21/08/2021 22:22

@countrytown

How does a 1 yr old appreciate culture?
They don't, though she would like bright colours, new food, smiling at people.

My soon to be 5 year old is desperate to travel. His choices were Afghanistan as he likes the flag (no he is not aware of the situation there) or Madagascar to see the lemurs

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Jigsawtrain · 21/08/2021 22:26

I’d probably do Israel if that’s your shortlist. Japan can be child friendly but then I’ve heard it’s quiet child friendly so depends on your children. HK I see as a stopover for 4-5 days rather than a holiday, NZ is just too far. It really wouldn’t be worth the long flights and grumpy jet lagged children. Plus the cost of flights would take half your budget.
Loads of places in Europe for culture. Tour of Scandinavia? Iceland? France/Spain/Portugal for castles, food, nice weather. Russia. Loads of places in Eastern Europe. Jordan?

countrytown · 21/08/2021 22:27

I would just go to Europe for a 2 wk summer break.

GreenBiro · 21/08/2021 22:28

I wouldn’t!

Caravan/cottage in Devon, week on the beach in the Med.

Lapland/ Disney when they’re older.

Not wanting to make any assumptions, but see if you can leave them with family perhaps while you and DH get a quick culture fix.

Sure there are people who’ve trecked around the world with DC at that age but it depends whether you’re up for a non-relaxing holiday. Of all of the cultural/interesting places I’ve been, not many were child friendly really!

Ylvamoon · 21/08/2021 22:35

With children that young, I wouldn't want to do long haul flights... it's hard work!
There are so many lovely places in Europe, I would look for something a bit different, away from the major tourist hubs.

Original poster
TakeMeToYourLiar · 21/08/2021 22:45

@Ylvamoon

With children that young, I wouldn't want to do long haul flights... it's hard work! There are so many lovely places in Europe, I would look for something a bit different, away from the major tourist hubs.
Do you have any suggestions on where? Doesn't have to be long haul at all. We just don't want the typical beach holiday
OP posts:
LesLavandes · 21/08/2021 22:53

I wouldn't bother just now. Leave it til Covid restrictions improve significantly

APurpleSquirrel · 21/08/2021 23:20

When DD was 2 we went to Sorrento for a week - we had a self-catering apartment; & could walk into the town. We caught local buses & trains & visited Pompeii & Herculaneum - DD loved exploring the ruins, being able to walk about with no traffic etc. The Italians love children, & doted on her in restaurants etc. We also found a loved play park, went to Ravello & had a picnic, ate lots of gelato. We had a lovely cultural break; she got to experience being on a plane; new smells/sounds/sights etc. She can't remember any of it but it was a lovely holiday & only 2hrs or so on a plane.
We also went to Lanzarote in 2019 when DD was 4 & DS was mealy 1. We probably spent a total of 3-4hrs on a beach for the entire week we were there. Instead we visited local sights (lava tubes, castles, theme parks etc). We had a villa with a pool, ate bbq most nights we cooked ourselves. Again - lots of fab experiences which weren't a typical beach holiday. We had fun, so did the kids.
Look at places closer to home, but think outside the beach.

Original poster
TakeMeToYourLiar · 21/08/2021 23:31

@APurpleSquirrel

When DD was 2 we went to Sorrento for a week - we had a self-catering apartment; & could walk into the town. We caught local buses & trains & visited Pompeii & Herculaneum - DD loved exploring the ruins, being able to walk about with no traffic etc. The Italians love children, & doted on her in restaurants etc. We also found a loved play park, went to Ravello & had a picnic, ate lots of gelato. We had a lovely cultural break; she got to experience being on a plane; new smells/sounds/sights etc. She can't remember any of it but it was a lovely holiday & only 2hrs or so on a plane. We also went to Lanzarote in 2019 when DD was 4 & DS was mealy 1. We probably spent a total of 3-4hrs on a beach for the entire week we were there. Instead we visited local sights (lava tubes, castles, theme parks etc). We had a villa with a pool, ate bbq most nights we cooked ourselves. Again - lots of fab experiences which weren't a typical beach holiday. We had fun, so did the kids. Look at places closer to home, but think outside the beach.
Sorento a great idea. We took DS to Sardinia when he was 2 abd he loved it. Always wanted to see Pompeii
OP posts:
Welcometotheterrorzone · 21/08/2021 23:41

Croatia? Old cities, island hopping and beautiful beaches (I think!)

Original poster
TakeMeToYourLiar · 21/08/2021 23:42

@Welcometotheterrorzone

Croatia? Old cities, island hopping and beautiful beaches (I think!)
Good idea, but we've been before, maybe Montenegro
OP posts:
coodawoodashooda · 21/08/2021 23:44

Scandinavia if you have a large budget. Very child friendly.

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