Where would you go for a trip of a lifetime?

[Japril]

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!!

@Newgirls - I was going to suggest Florida. Ideal for the age ranges but not so good for the child who doesn’t like busy places. However, it is really spread out so doesn’t feel to crowded and the queues are quite entertaining.

Some of the suggestions on here are very adventurous for a nervous traveller.

We went to Bali when my kids were that age and they loved it there.

Not Dubai, it's an utter shithole.

I'd go to Barbados. Beautiful beaches and loads to see and do.

Japan is fab, went when our children were a similar age.

Safari another great holiday. Also loved Hawaii, went to 2 islands for contrast and had 2 nights in San Francisco on the way back. If you go out via New York you can do a couple of nights there, then catch a direct plane to Honolulu on Hawaiian Airlines.

Japan, though it sounds as if it might be a bit crowded if you're all going there too 😉 One of my daughters has been to Tokyo. She's a fussy vegan and loved the food, and is saving to go back and visit other parts of the country.

Or Canada, but for skiing.

We've just returned from a 4 week road trip starting and finishing in Vancouver. I've been to lots of beautiful places, but nothing will ever compare to it. Seeing black bears, grizzlies and orcas in the wild was... well I don't think I have the words really.

I did an 18 day trip that included Las Vegas, San Diego, LA, then cruise from LA to Vancouver stopping at San Francisco, Astoria in Oregon, Victoria in Vancouver Island then a few days in Vancouver and back by Seattle at Easter.

When my two were teenagers their top trips were:
California - fly into San Francisco, drive to LA and then on to San Diego.

New York, train to Washington then fly to Toronto. A week’s camping in ‘Cottage Country’ north Ontario.

Kenya Safari (fly into Masai Mara) and week on the beach in Mombassa.

I’d skip Hawaii. As for Dubai …

Japan is fine for fussy eaters, pizza (not quite like ours but similar) is easy to get, as are noodles and fried chicken and rice. It would be a brilliant bucket list holiday.

vietnam alaways sound great .

california is great…but there can be a lot of driving. But San Diego, lake tahoe, Yosemite, Death Valley….brilliant.

Italy, Hungary or Vietnam.

I have been on safari in Kenya but snakes in the hotel reception that a guy killed with a bow and arrow, monkeys also in another hotel raiding the breakfast room, stomach upsets and having an insect removed from my ear made it a bit stressful.

I have also traveled across America on a few occasions including for a month one time. More off the beaten track, did get really shouted at when we accidentally went up what we thought was a rural road but was actually a drive to someones house. This was pre sat nav.

DH rates South America and Australia, I haven’t been.

Singapore is pretty amazing and is very clean and regimented and very safe.

I would try to get 2 big holidays with that amount of money.
America or Canada would be easier as you have no language barrier if you only speak English. We did a road trip around western Canada, Vancouver, Lake Louise, for 2 week, loads of wonderful places to visit.
Then Thailand beach and exploration with a hire car for 2 weeks. However following the road signs will not be easy

You could go interrailing around Europe for a few weeks? Take them to all the sights.

I have travelled far and wide across all continents (I'm in my 50's and we are not short of a quid or too). Our favourite holiday of all (the kids were pre teens at the time) was Costa Rica. The wide diversity of animals and plants was incredible and the kids were fascinated and engaged.

From memory, we see spent 3 nights at a beach resort before heading for the rain forest. When we were in Monteverde cloud forest we stayed in a tree house and the dc were bowled over on the first night when fireflies and stick insects were flying past our windows. A private tour of the rainforest was fantastic (poisonous dart frogs, parakeets, venomous snakes, monkeys, sloths etc etc) and we zip wired over the rainforest canopy

Tour around Europe. Via train ( orient express for part of it).

I lied. I haven't been to Antarctica

You mention Japan. Somewhere I would love to go and I’m currently looking at a cruise round Japan during July or August 2024. We have an 8 year old (9 next year) so I thought this could meet everyone’s needs. We get to see Japan (lots of different itinerary options to choose from and cruise lengths) but we get the bonus of food onboard for my picky eater plus all the entertainment and activities. We’d still get to see Japan and taste the cuisine. Would probably prefer to do it all on land but I think this gives us all what we want.

Costa Rica

Hawaii (smaller island, we went to Maui and it was incredible)

My current dream trip is RV in America either west coast or through the Rockies

I am hugely lucky to have travelled all over the world, south America, south East Asia, China, Australia, Europe, North America and Africa. It's so personal ...Are your family into sites (egypt, Angkor whatt, bits of china, south and Central America) wildlife (Canada, Africa Namibia and Botswana would be too on my no expense spared list) landscapes (Canada, Australia, south and north america) experiences (Japan I would recommend, South Asia, india, also recommend) or a bit of everything? Bit of everything, well Canada's not a bad shout, Columbia (but might not suit the nervous) or a combo of Egypt and Tanzania.

Just wanted to chime in about Japanese food - I'm not an expert (!) but have been twice for 4 weeks then 6 and travelled widely.

The food is great. The people are incredibly accommodating and the staff at any Ryokan, inn or hotel would bend over backwards to meet any dietary requests. Sushi restaurants are common but it's not the only food available!

Even in tiny towns, the food is awesome because Japanese people care deeply about food provenance and health. Everything is fresh and delicious. Every area has it's own regional specialities. I've never had a bad meal in Japan! But I've also never been stuck without options.

You can request a western breakfast (often based on the delicious Japanese sliced white bread, shokupan: https://www.theguardian.com/food/2022/dec/11/japanese-milk-bread-ginza-nishikawa-taste-test)
Or if you choose a Japanese breakfast you'll get a brimming bowlful of plain rice and some miso and grilled fish... They could just eat the plain rice?

The idea that Japanese food would be a reason NOT to go seems crazy - based on Michelin stars it has literally the best food in the world... Where do you think they'd prefer to eat? :)

Wish you a fantastic holiday OP, wherever you decide to go.

Not quite what you asked, but I'm intrigued as to how you have £16k to blow on one trip, rather than do, say, three more modest holidays spread over three years. Or even two amazing holidays!

I dream of going on safari, coupled with a few days at one of the idyllic islands in somewhere like the Seychelles.

Or Iceland.

Or a sailing holiday.

Safari in Botswana

Ooh, I like this idea!

It would be Japan for me too, I’d like to take my daughter when she’s a bit older but not sure if it will be affordable.

Japan would be absolutely amazing 😍 That's definitely a bucket list destination for me.

Have to say, I have to scratch my head at the suggestions of road tripping across America. Maybe in certain areas, yes (DH and I even did the California coast thing for our honeymoon) but the many parts, especially in the middle, are dull as hell. I can't imagine anything worse for teens.

I would recommend the Lonely Planet "On a Shoestring" guides. They cover continents/big regions (USA & Canada, South-East Asia, etc) and provide suggested itineraries. We did Belgium-Luxembourg-Germany-Austria-Italy-France-Spain in 2010. Now we've got 2DC, we want to give them the same experience. I think a good way of doing it is to have set days for travel and cheaper stays, with some more luxury overnights and restaurant meals. £16,000 is an amazing budget!