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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 for a trip of a lifetime?

172 replies

Japril · 07/06/2023 22:49

We have a maximum budget of £16,000 to blow on a holiday that the kids (they will be 14 and 11 next summer) will love and gives them some kudos - they have only been abroad once before!
Any suggestions of where to go? I wondered about the Caribbean or the Seychelles. Or should we do something more active? I would love to go to Japan but they are fussy eaters!
My husband is quite a nervous traveller so anywhere that might be considered potentially dangerous is out!
We are not having a holiday this year so daydreaming about something awesome for next summer is keeping me going!!

OP posts:
Guavafish1 · 07/06/2023 22:52

Go to dubai

whiteroseredrose · 07/06/2023 22:53

California Road trip? That was our 'big trip' when I got an inheritance. Our DC were the same age as yours.

I had a couple of alternatives such as Egypt and India, but they chose California

Hopefully we are going to Mexico later this year and Costa Rica and Vietnam are on my bucket list.

LifeInAHamsterWheel · 07/06/2023 22:53

Japan. I've never been but it's on our bucket list. My dc are a bit older than yours and certainly not adventurous when it comes to their diets but it never crossed my mind that they wouldn't find something to eat when we go! Book it! (and then update with how it went and what you'd recommend/avoid etc!)

BestIsWest · 07/06/2023 22:54

West coast of Canada was ours. Flew to Calgary, did the Rockies, then Vancouver Island and flew back from Vancouver.

Ineedwinenow · 07/06/2023 22:54

I’d love to do a safari for one week followed by a week or two on a beach straight after! I’ve been lucky to be able to travel to some fabulous parts of the world but never managed a wildlife safari yet!

JandalsAlways · 07/06/2023 22:54

It really depends what you are into. I did 4 months around South America, definitely a trip of a lifetime. Amazing cultures and natural wonders. Another one on my bucket list is Africa and a safari.

MissAtomicBomb1 · 07/06/2023 22:55

Safari in South Africa combined with Cape Town to visit Table Mountain, the penguins on boulders beach etc

Or

A road trip across the US

CatherinedeBourgh · 07/06/2023 22:56

Safari in Tanzania followed by beach in Zanzibar.

Japan is cool too but for me a lot of it is the food and if they don't like it it might be an issue.

beancounting · 07/06/2023 22:56

I'd go for a safari - South Africa would give you various options including non-malarial. Or maybe Costa Rica, lots of activities that would be fun to do as a family but feels very safe.

MaraScottie · 07/06/2023 22:56

Japan would be amazing, it's so safe and the food is out of this world - do a bit of research and you will find a few staples food wise that will see you through.

Saschka · 07/06/2023 22:57

Hawaii. Or safari (agree Tanzania is amazing - worked there many years ago).

Beautifulsunflowers · 07/06/2023 22:58

With that money I’d do a couple of trips - Orlando for Easter and New York December time so you get the Christmas vibe.

Nofixedabodewell · 07/06/2023 22:59

Japan or a safari followed by beach time .

ggccsseeeee · 07/06/2023 23:02

Japan wouldn't be great in the summer and Caribbean not ideal either.
I'd also do California road trip or west coast of Canada.

Yolo12345 · 07/06/2023 23:03

Japan is amazing.

Smartiepants79 · 07/06/2023 23:04

Japan
Road trip through part of America
Would have suggested Sri Lanka but I’m not sure how stable it is right now.

Yolo12345 · 07/06/2023 23:04

But personally I'd backpack around Europe with some luxury overnight train trips, amazing restaurants and decent hotels

minipie · 07/06/2023 23:05

Yes to safari and beach if it’s one trip only. Borneo or Costa Rica could also be amazing.

I’d probably split that budget across two or three trips though personally. Or, if you have the time, I’d do a long trip for 4-6 weeks around South or Central America or SE Asia staying in cheaper places.

AliceMcK · 07/06/2023 23:12

What do you all as a family like/enjoy.

Our big one is Japan, there are lot of things my DCs want to see and do. Also fussy eaters but I figured worse case scenario they can live off 2 min noodles, McDonald’s and kfc.

African safari

USA - lots of places to explore, lots of sun theme parks festivals. I love the idea of Salem for Hallowed it’s supposed to be amazing. I had friends who hired a big flash car and did route 66

Northern lights / Alaskan cruise

JamSandle · 07/06/2023 23:15

So many options.

Adventure around Australia and NZ.

Big American road trip.

Italy and France.

Hawaii or Alaska.

Japan and South Korea.

South East Asia.

Latin America.

Sorry, not exactly narrowing it down!

Theskipisfull · 07/06/2023 23:20

Guavafish1 · 07/06/2023 22:52

Go to dubai

A joke surely? Trip of a lifetime??

I'd do a States roadtrip or better still travel through SE Asia, nicest people on the planet with food and scenery to die for. Bali, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia and Indonesia - just fantastic and you will all remember forever. Your money goes a long way there too.

JamSandle · 07/06/2023 23:22

Theskipisfull · 07/06/2023 23:20

A joke surely? Trip of a lifetime??

I'd do a States roadtrip or better still travel through SE Asia, nicest people on the planet with food and scenery to die for. Bali, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia and Indonesia - just fantastic and you will all remember forever. Your money goes a long way there too.

Show quote history

Was thinking this. Dubai is my idea of hell 😄

Lookingformymarbles · 07/06/2023 23:23

Thinking back to my kids at that age, (15,13,11)we did nearly 3 weeks in Florida-all the parks, NASA, airboat, plus other I've forgotten.

It was full on but we stayed in a villa with a pool so managed to include a few days relaxing

15 years later they all still say it was the best holiday ever!

Not to everyone's taste I admit (I don't do roller coasters) but they loved all the big rides, the junk food, the sheer over the top-ness of it all.

CobraChicken · 07/06/2023 23:26

BestIsWest · 07/06/2023 22:54

West coast of Canada was ours. Flew to Calgary, did the Rockies, then Vancouver Island and flew back from Vancouver.

^ This!

Well, it wouldn't be my choice for a holiday now that I live there, LOL, but it's definitely what I'd recommend.

CobraChicken · 07/06/2023 23:31

And I definitely second the recommendation of flying into Calgary and out of Vancouver, or vice-versa. That way, if you can do ~3 weeks you'll have enough time to spend more than a day or two all the different places that are worth seeing enroute.