Long haul family of 5

[TheChosenTwo]

Just musing really about a holiday destination for the 5 of us, possibly next April (Easter holidays). Will probably be the last of our family holidays as dc will be nearly 20, 18 and 12 - so far we have decided we want warmth, a bit of adventure and some relaxing days. Everyone else is up for spending a week somewhere and then travelling elsewhere for the second week (I envisage this to be in the same country just maybe a change of pace/scenery rather than changing countries!!), I’d prefer to just unpack and stay but happy to go with the flow.
So If you’ve had a far flung holiday with a mixture of ages, where did you go, would you recommend it and why/why not? We’ve really only done Europe altogether as a family together so really up for something a bit different. Budget of up to about 15K for flights and accommodation but excluding spending money.

We’re in Belize at the moment and it’s incredible! Worth a look. Costa Rica vibe but cheaper?

Bali: sunshine, beaches, surfing, diving, white water rafting, exploring, culture, great food.
As a family of 5 we appreciated being able to have the space of a villa with our own pool. Inexpensive accommodation and restaurants,

@Parker231 @AppleKatie when do you go to Costa Rica? I went recently and it was eye wateringly expensive for food. I'd second @isitwinetimeyet16 and go for one of the other central American countries instead if you fancy tropical as they are much cheaper, maybe fit in some time in the San Blas islands too for off grid time?

Personally if I was going for a last family trip with those ages though I'd pick Canada. The gold rush towns like Whitehorse are off the beaten track enough to be an adventure and there are loads of other fun options like the trains. You'd also be able to see the midnight sum which is cool. It's that or a mini interracial trip around Europe. Or a campervan hire around Bavaria. Or maybe Argentina which is currently very good value? Or Madagascar, especially since they'll remember the film. Or macchu pichu, etc. Obviously I can't decide.

Belize looks incredible!
Can I ask about flights from the UK, what was your route and did you fly to Belize City or San Pedro via the US?

Singapore, malaysia, Thailand

I could have written your original post! We are looking for pretty much the same thing (dc will be 15,17,19 next Easter)

have you looked at trailfinders? Basically a travel agent, they can plan everything or you can just use their website for inspiration.

I haven’t looked at trailfinders, thanks - it’s going on the list of things to look into. A villa in Bali sounds like heaven, I spent a while this morning looking at Bali. So many choices and places I hadn’t considered, thanks to everyone for your contributions 😀

Doesn't Belize require a stopover in the US which might cause problems for the OPs DH. Costa Rica has direct flights now.
My first thought was Thailand/Malaysia for that budget. Sri Lanka/Vietnam/Goa might be worth a look.
Most safari/South America destinations are going to be a push at £3k a head but South Africa could be an option. Namibia could be an option but it's more a touring/adventure so doesn't fit the unpack and stay preference.
April seems to be a weather season change in a lot of places so worth checking that carefully.

Vietnam. Fly to Hanoi and travel by train down to Ho Chi Minh via Ha Long Bay, Hue and Hoi An, then spend a few days on one of the islands.

We loved Costa Rica with ziplines, rainforest, wildlife, hot springs, active volcanoes. We went a few years ago and was 6k for 4 of us AI and another 2k on 5 full day trips out though obviously prices have risen, that was 2 weeks in August with TUI. Kids loved it. We were all in apartment in hotel and worked well and food was amazing and restaurant service. Hotel was a bit lively but kids thought that was great.

I did also have one planned to Borneo which we have not yet taken due to covid etc but that if self booked was doable with lots of wildlife, flights have more than doubled though since we had for 2020 but rest is similar in price. But is quite a bit of flying Kuala Lumpur then on to Borneo then if move in Borneo may need another flight. Or could do 1 week Borneo, one week Malaysian mainland or island.

Thailand would be great, but I think there are better places than Phuket.

The first time I went to Thailand I went on a group tour that started in Bangkok and went to Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, and other places along the route. You could look at group tours to see their itineraries to get some ideas. We hired bicycles and toured ancient ruins, rode elephants (only if you can find a good place), took an overnight sleeper train (great fun and fantastic food), hiked in the north and stayed with hill tribes, rafted down rivers filled with water buffalo, took boat tours, stayed on a house boat, took cooking classes, visited waterfalls and temples (most of which seem to be at the top of very high hills), went to night markets and ate some great food.

After a week of travel, we took a bus to the beach and had a great week generally relaxing and taking a few snorkelling/diving trips and having lunch on uninhabited islands. lt was great.

Ah yes - I’d missed the issues on DH and America. At the moment you do have to fly via the US (we came through Miami) though apparently they are in talks to start direct flights to London next year.

San Pedro is the tiniest airport in the world! We flew there from Belize city municipal on a mini prop plane, it only takes 15 mins.

@isitwinetimeyet16 ooh that's interesting. I always fancy Belize but am put off by losing time going via the US.

Do check that you won't be transiting USA. We had to get ESTAs & do the whole immigration bit to go to Mexico - horrible experience.

"do travel agents still exist?"
They certainly do. I recommend suitcasetravel.co.uk . Very knowledgeable & helpful, & the price is the same as if you book it yourself.

I've been to Belize. We did have to fly via the US (bloody awful) but it is a great place to visit. Apart from the spiders. I still have nightmares.

I second this. There is a great mix of things to see and do in Vietnam and doable to do in a 2 week holiday. Amazing food, beautiful scenery, interesting history and lovely people!

Mauritius?

April would be good time to visit South Africa for big game viewing. Plus there's no time zone difference and choice of flights

Cape Town and the surrounding countryside is amazing

Thailand, I loved it.
You can have a beach holiday then move somewhere else, like Chiang Mai up in the mountains or have a couple of days in Bangkok.
It's easy to travel around by boat or plane in Thailand and I thought it was relatively cheap to travel.
Plus food and drink is cheap

I also agree with Costa Rica.

We did Thailand in January this year with daughters 20 and 21 loved it we only did two centres as wanted a fairly chilled holiday. 3 nights in Bangkok and 12 nights in Phuket mixture of activates and just chilling. We had connected suits at the holiday inn resort Busakorn Suited perfect mix of luxury and relaxing and in patong for the chaos. cost less than £6k for everything flew via Jeddah and used the lounges in Manchester and Jeddah.

kids also loved Barbados.

next year doing Singapore and Malaysia as DD1 will be at uni in Malaysia.

Road trip on the west coast of Canada in 2019 was another favourite. Again we did it for under £6k

Japan is amazing.

I personally believe everyone should visit at least once if you can.