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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

80yr DM living in Oz - where to meet in Dec?

44 replies

Straggler · 21/05/2023 12:26

Help! DM is pushing 80 and lives Down Under. We need to see her this December but airfares there are extortionate right now. School hols start in early December for us so we are tied to that. DC are 9 and 12.

Holiday destination needs to suit them, DH and I but most of all DM as this could be last chance to see her and want kids to have decent memories of her.

She is not that mobile or fit so somewhere super adventurous like India is out. No skiing or safaris.

She suggested Hawaii but it’s too expensive and December is meant to be crazy busy there. (Unless someone enterprising can find us a bargain?!)

I guess budget for everything would be 6-10k (I wince at that but trying to be realistic).

Bali might appeal but I have heard bad things on here about it.

If Thailand, where is not too party-ish or polluted and in the right bit to avoid rainy season?

Philippines? Vietnam? Anywhere in South America?

Anyone have bright ideas of where we could park up for a couple of weeks with great scenery, warm weather, good food, comfortable accommodation with pool for DC BUT something cultural for the adults that’s not going to bankrupt us at that time of year?

My ideal holidays are just European jaunts gallery or island hopping but wrong time of year for it in northern hemisphere.

OP posts:
evtheria · 21/05/2023 12:27

Singapore, you could always nip over to Penang or Thailand without DM afterwards.

elastamum · 21/05/2023 12:28

Singapore? Good infrastructure and lots to set. No idea about the cost though.

GladysHeeler · 21/05/2023 12:30

Which side of Australia?

Original poster
Straggler · 21/05/2023 12:49

Thanks so much for the replies so far! She’s be coming from Victoria. She loves Singapore as has done a few stopovers there. Is there enough to do there for all of us for a fortnight? I would like it but suspect DH may not as he goes there for work and doesn’t like the overcast humidity! Though does rave about the food…Like the idea of then going on to more adventure for us! Ooh and thanks for South Vietnam - will have a look!

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Veryfishy · 21/05/2023 12:53

DD has just come back from island hopping in the Philippines
She loved it , lots to see and do for you and the youngsters
You would need some research as to where would suit your Mum though

Twiglets1 · 21/05/2023 13:22

What about Dubai as there are direct flights there from Australia and from the UK. Or Singapore for the same reason.

Though 2 weeks sounds like a long time in either place tbh due to the expense.

Original poster
Straggler · 21/05/2023 13:25

Thank you @Veryfishy! I do suspect it’s one of those places that’s going to be massively popular in the decades ahead. I don’t understand why it isn’t more so to be honest?

I did think there or Oman possibly @Twiglets1 but wonder if it will be a bit too bling-y. DM knows the general region well but her knowledge is 40
years out of date! Thank you! Price may be a bit eye watering but will have a look.

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OhhhhhhhhBiscuits · 21/05/2023 13:37

There is loads to do in Singapore for 2 weeks. My parents used to live there and we would go for 2-3 weeks at a time. Take a trip to Mallaca or Kuala Lumpur to break it up if you wanted to. Get a nice hotel with a nice pool and you will be good with the kids. Easy flights for both parties to get there as well.

Rainbowqueeen · 21/05/2023 13:46

There would be plenty to do in Singapore for 2 weeks. Because of the heat there were many days where we would go sightseeing in the morning and spend the afternoon in the pool.

It will be extremely expensive though

Original poster
Straggler · 21/05/2023 14:04

Ah that’s a shame re the really expensive thing! Wonder if breaking it up with a side trip to Malaysia will bring costs down? We have been to KL and Penang and were not bowled over but we had just come from the most pristine beaches in Australia! And this was many years ago…

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Twiglets1 · 21/05/2023 14:21

Straggler · 21/05/2023 13:25

Thank you @Veryfishy! I do suspect it’s one of those places that’s going to be massively popular in the decades ahead. I don’t understand why it isn’t more so to be honest?

I did think there or Oman possibly @Twiglets1 but wonder if it will be a bit too bling-y. DM knows the general region well but her knowledge is 40
years out of date! Thank you! Price may be a bit eye watering but will have a look.

It is quite bling-y that's true and so expensive to drink alcohol.

I much prefer Singapore tbh though it's also expensive it's more classy. But it sounds like your husband may be a bit bored of Singapore. Maybe one week there and one week somewhere an easy flight from Singapore?

soberfabulous · 21/05/2023 14:52

Uk to Dubai is 7 hours.
Australia to Dubai is 14 hours.

So that's a significant additional distance for her to travel.

Same with Oman. (Which we visit twice a year as we live in Dubai and it's an amazing country but you will spend a lot of money and there's not a huge amount to do.)

I'd say Singapore: I regularly meet friends there as it's so convenient. Clean, easy to get around and lots to do.

You would have a fabulous time in Dubai and having lived here for 15 years I can tell you it's only as bling as you make it!

Happy to help with itinerary if the Dubai negatives haven't got you 😍

Warringahvoter · 21/05/2023 15:05

If you are flying to Singapore, why don’t you just fly to Australia and save your mum the trip? I like Singapore but in December it will probably rain every day. So unless you want to spend your time in shopping malls or tourist that you could do anywhere , I can’t see how you would spend two weeks there.

I was there for work for a week in Jan and the kids tagged along. We had one afternoon good enough to spend at the pool.

Lotsofthings · 21/05/2023 15:09

What about Costa Rica or the California.

ddd20102010 · 21/05/2023 15:09

I am in a similar situation. Parents in Perth and we meet in Bali. Food and accommodation is not too expensive and it is clean. Bali belly is a thing of the past if you eat in standard hotels. We like Seminyak and Nusa Dua. Be Awre flights putbof Australia to Bali are often delayed. Jetstar and Air Asis ar the main carriers. PM if you want any more info

ddd20102010 · 21/05/2023 15:11

Sorry eat in standard restaraunts not hotels.

2bazookas · 21/05/2023 15:11

Singapore. Clean, safe, interesting.

ddd20102010 · 21/05/2023 15:12

Oh just read Dec. I believe that is the Wet season there. So a lot of rain still warm though.

Original poster
Straggler · 21/05/2023 15:18

@soberfabulous thanks for the suggestion! I agree it is probably what you make it. And we are not big drinkers at all so the cost of alcohol won’t be relevant. Which off the beaten track sites or places would you recommend? I know we are being a bit selfish as it is a lot closer to us than her I guess but I’m just trying to think of interesting but non-risky in sanitary terms places (she has a sensitive stomach too).

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OrangeSatsumas · 21/05/2023 15:19

Why would anyone expect a nearly 80 year old with mobility issues to travel to see them?

Holiday destination needs to suit them, DH and I but most of all DM as this could be last chance to see her and want kids to have decent memories of her.

Travel to her home for goodness sake. I can’t believe people on here are so selfish to expect a nearly 80 year old to travel to see them to give their children ‘decent memories’. Unbelievable!

Original poster
Straggler · 21/05/2023 15:21

Thank you @Lotsofthings Costa Rica did cross my mind but I wonder if it’s too outdoorsy a trip for her and we would be hampered by her presence to get the most out of it? Have read some mixed reviews too and some friends who are really big travellers were a bit disappointed! Thought of California or Florida even (there are interesting bits!) but she is not keen on mainland USA… Grrrr

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Original poster
Straggler · 21/05/2023 15:23

@ddd20102010 Argh that is annoying about the wet season. DH who is grudging about this trip anyway (job looks uncertain so is being tight with money) suggested Bali.

Does anyone know of any bit of Indonesia that might be dry at that time of year? We could rent a villa, hire a car and do a few day trips. She’s a great cook but maybe we could hire someone local to cook for us on occasion?

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maranella · 21/05/2023 15:27

The weather in Malaysia looks decent in Dec/Jan and my parents loved it.

Indonesia looks very rainy and wet!

Original poster
Straggler · 21/05/2023 15:28

Thanks for your constructive comment @OrangeSatsumas. To answer your question, my mother absolutely loves travel. She lives for it. She doesn’t mind long haul eg to Europe but will insist on a stopover understandably. She doesn’t want to hike or go up masses of stairs to temples… But it doesn’t stop her from loving Europe. The problem is she can’t come during our summer this year. The logical time to meet up when we are all free is winter holidays. Oh and I have priced up flights for Australia and even if we fly back on Christmas Day - so cheaper day to travel - they’re coming in at 1900 EACH. Times that by four and you get the picture. And then accommodation and food is really expensive. Do you have close relatives abroad or do you travel a lot long haul yourself? We will no doubt have to bite the bullet for the Oz trips when she gets more frail and is forced to stop travelling.

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