Tell me about some of your best holidays?

[wondabar]

I am looking at booking summer holidays soon and am after some ideas of what people have considered to be some of their best holidays for inspiration. We have two teenage children and love experiencing new places. Places we have enjoyed in the past have included Cuba, Thailand and Greece.

We travelled quite a lot with DDs when they were teens. In no particular order we went to the BVIs, (Easter), Peru, Ecuador and Galápagos Islands, Kenya and safari, South Africa, Boston and Cape Cod, Alaska and Canada. I wouldn’t have changed any of them.

Ghana has to have been one of our best holidays but also loved Canada, Barbados, Sweden and France.

currently enjoying Thailand. Just killing time in the airport.

Done the states several times not a fan.

going to Iceland later in the year and more far east next year when DD1 has a year at uni in Malaysia

It really depends what “done the States” means. We have had fantastic holidays there, with Dc and without. I took DDs to Washington and also NY. Neither as summer holidays. DH and me have been to Philadelphia, the Blue Ridge Mountains and had a great time in California. We’ve also been to Arizona and Utah. These were not in the summer either but getting away from tourist areas pays dividends. I also want to see more of Colorado and Wyoming too. I can also really recommend Chicago. Better as a city trip and not a summer holiday but the USA has so much to offer of you choose wisely.

My favourite holidays with teenagers have been cruises to anywhere on the big all singing all dancing ships. A trip to Brazil and Argentina, Center Parcs with the cousins, cruise and stay holidays in the Med so for example a few days in Rome and then a cruise or a cruise with some good excursions and then a week all inclusive in Turkey with a good animation team.

California, Arizona, Michigan and Cleveland.

just don’t like Americans or the tipping culture.

my brother lives in AZ and probably meeting him at his villa in FL next year.

But no real urge to explore more. Where as Canada I’d go back again and again.

Main plans this year and next if more of the far east.

Only tourist area we’ve done is Universal in LA spent time in LA and SF along side it. Really try and avoid tourists.

Norway - been all over most of the south of the country. In 2010 took our teens there and we went to Bergen and then rented a cabin on the banks of the Sognefjord. We went on boat trips and did the Norway in a nutshell tour (fjord cruise, railway and bus trip - stunning) but the highlight was a glacier walk. Loved that. Oslo is very interesting too - there's the Fram and Kon-Tiki museum, the Viking ships, waterside walks. The only downside is that the cost of living is eye watering, food and drink are very expensive

Italy. Went to Rome and Sorrento. Has to be my favourite holiday. And also Mexico, went there for my honeymoon. X

One of my favourite trips was to the USA in February last year. We visited Chicago & Washington DC. Loved both cities - so much to do and see!

Also loved Malaysia. Went to Langkawi, Penang & Kuala Lumpur. Fabulous time.

Zambia, Botswana & S.A. Safaris, but staying in lodges & hotels.

Who would write off the whole of the USA due to tipping culture? Are you really just a bit tight? They tip on Canada too! Go self catering if you don’t want to tip.

Cruising the Norwegian fjords. This year will be our third trip. Its breathtakingly beautiful.

Best ever was a safari in South Africa - & UK long summer holidays is the perfect time to see the animals.
I loved Russia but, sadly, that's no longer an option.
Sri Lanka is fab, and apparently there are some good deals at the moment.
In Europe, the Bodensee, basing yourself in southern Germany but also close to Austria & Switzerland.

We went to Costa Rica when ours were 9 and 10 but there would work well for active teens / wildlife, rainforest, lots of wildlife like sloths, raccoons, monkeys, toucan etc, very high ziplines, kayaking in ocean, waterslide through jungle, active volcanoes etc.

Loved Australia as well if you have longer, Great Barrier Reef, and lots of wildlife in Queenland and NSW.

Cape Town and surrounding area have done without kids but could work as penguins on beach, Table Mountain etc.

Finland Lapland at both Christmas time for huskies, reindeer rides, snowmobiles etc and in summer to see brown bears in wild at Arola Bears, whitewater rafting.

Does depend on your interests and budget though.

We loved Vietnam and travelled north to south. Every place we visited was so different. We did lots of sightseeing and trips (country, city and boat) before ending with relaxation at a beach resort. It was amazing.

Costa Rica also has a bit of everything. We travelled about a bit but our highlight was staying in a tree house in the rainforest for a few nights.

We did the Greek islands lots of ferries and exploring.
We also did the leg of Italy on the train. Lots of cities to explore.

Apart from the fact that the question was asking for your best holidays not your worst, this is a very weird and sweeping view to have, and there is a tipping culture in Canada as well FYI.

Don’t forget she doesn’t like Americans as well.

We had a lovely holiday in and around Split, Croatia, last summer with 11yo and 14yo - really good for that age group/teens. We stayed on the mainland and on one of the many islands; there's lovely (if quite pricey) boat trips around islands, or you can hire a putt-putt boat yourself if feeling brave.

Lots of amazing historical sites too.

@Cantstandbullshitanymore
Ha! Yes. There’s so much to see in the USA that’s great it overcomes any negative issues. We have found our holidays there very positive.

My favourite holiday so far was a trip to Taiwan then down to the Philippines. So much to see and do.

I went to Lake Maggiore this summer for a long weekend and absolutely loved that.

Self Drive Namibia or Costa Rica with teens.

Our best summer holidays when DD was a teenager were Neilson - dinghy sailing, windsurfing etc.

(We did other types of hols at other times of year - we wouldn't go anywhere hot unless it was for watersports.)

Another vote for Canada, we’ve had some fantastic holidays, so much to do and see. We also loved Sri Lanka, Cambodia and Vietnam, Peru and South Africa. Looking at Costa Rica with our almost 14 year old and off to Jordan this summer. How about Egypt?