Tell me about your successful summer family holidays in places I might not have considered

[PikachuEars]

Getting the post holiday blues so starting to think about where we might go next year. Nothing is off the table but I especially want to hear about things that aren’t package holidays to beach resorts as that’s not really our style.

Hit me with your best suggestions…

We’re just back from 2 weeks in Jordan which was incredible, so much to see and do. We did a diy, hired a car and it was brill! If I was doing it again I’d prob do it in oct though, it was VERY hot!!

the Canadian Rockies? We’ve done them a few times in Oct, out of season so great deals and stunning! One year we started off in dinosaur provincial park and drumheller, if your kids love dinosaurs it’s honestly incredible! The Rockies are great for walking, hot springs, we had some snow, and great food. Vancouver island also amazing.

we loved Peru last October, that’s one of our all time favourite holidays, again so much to do.
South Africa and Safari another one.
Sri Lanka we loved and considered going again next summer but just a bit unsure of economic situation at the moment.
we’ve had some great summers in Charente Maritime- castles, canoeing, bodyboarding, rockpooling etc

ooh and Cambodia, that was amazing too!!

Were looking for next summer and struggling a bit. We were planning Borneo but flight prices are so ridiculously expensive that we’re rethinking. Thinking of Albania and Montenegro atm but I’m sure that will change! Also really really fancy Costa Rica but again not prepared to pay £1000 pp for the flight!

happy planning!

All these people who go to adventurous places like Cambodia and Vietnam. Do you give kids malaria tablets? And I assume they need a couple extra vaccines? Just wondered as it is something that gives me pause for thought as it’s another thing to sort out

Hiya
we have deliberately avoided anywhere malarial so never taken anti malarials.
we have had vaccinations but the places we’ve been to have mostly required those you’d have here plus hepatitis a which lasts for years and typhoid. Easy enough to check with GP and have them done but agree, definitely need to check and have them in good time.

If I was visiting a malarial zone I would absolutely give the kids anti malarials. My father had malaria in 1974 and still gets flare ups. I would not take a risk with malaria.

However, there are many adventurous places to visit with no malaria. Including in Africa. We love Namibia and it’s mostly malaria free, and even in theoretically malarial areas, the risk in winter is negligible.

Holidayqueen1 the places you list sound like they would have malaria? Cambodia, Peru, Borneo and Sri Lanka? Is it just that certain tImes of year and places don’t require protection?

Hiya

yes, in some countries there are places with malarial risk and those without. We actively avoid anywhere with malaria as having taken anti malarials when I was travelling and being quite poorly I definitely don’t want my son to have them and as a previous poster said there is no way I wouldn’t take them if needed.
we use this https://www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk/destinations/south-america-antarctica/peru/peru-malaria-map and then speak to our doctor for specific advice. When we were in Peru for example we were south of Lima the whole time. We used lots of repellant and covered up at night to avoid being bitten as well. So when we look to go anywhere we always check current health advice before making a decision.

@PumpkinPie2016 please could you send me details of the hotel you stayed at in Austria too? Thank you!

@SoIinvictus the three stars are just about facilities available at the property, not how nice it is. I always go off the rating on tripadvisor as I'm not bothered particularly about how fancy a place is. Especially as Greece is one of my favourite places 😆 and most places I've stayed are very basic but absolutely charming. 🥰

Thanks holidayqueen1 the map looks useful

@Holidayqueen1 can I ask what you liked most about Jordan? What was your itinerary? What car rental company did you use please?

We've just had a fab holiday in Belgium at Center Parcs De Haan. Bruges is a spit away by train, you've got the coastal tram to explore places like Ostende, the beaches are massive and uncrowded once you get away from the towns. Ypres is an easy drive away, with the excellent In Flanders Fields museum, Tyne Cot cemetery, etc. Plus all the usual Center Parcs stuff onsite. There doesn't seem to be the same school holiday price gouging as in the UK too.

Hi @feralunderclass
of course!
we did a lot of research on rental car cos as some looked decidedly iffy. In the end we used Budget who were fine but suggest you video the whole car to prevent any suggestions of additional damage ( our friends nearly had to pay for a scratch on the car which thankfully they were able to prove was already there!)
we liked the fact there was so much to do.
our itinerary was

day 1 drive to Jerash on arrival ( roads are pretty hairy and this was by far the worst journey we had)

day 2 jerash ruins ( amazing but v hot) then drove to the Dead Sea via salt for lunch and a wander.

day 3 Dead Sea- floating and mud were great fun

day 4 to aqaba, our longest journey. Stopped to lunch in Aqaba but we stayed between Aqaba and Tala Bay.

day 5-8 Aqaba and surrounds- snorkelling, a try dive, the ‘submarine’ and pool fun. The dive and snorkelling were amazing! Good food choices in Aqaba as well

day 9 drive to wadi rum for 2 nights. This was probably my highlight- sunset jeep tour, drive into the middle of the dessert to see shooting stars and drink Bedouin tea and a full day jeep tour the next day. The place we stayed was amazing, v genuine Bedouin hospitality.

day 11 to Wadi Musa for Petra

days 11-13 Petra. Awesome place! We went in through the sik the first day and walked to the high place of sacrifice for a Birds Eye view. Following day we went in the back door and walked to the Monastery. Really incredible experience. Did Petra by night too which was ok but don’t think you’d miss much if you didn’t do it! These 2 days were an awful lot of walking in the heat! We got there early and spent the afternoons by the pool. Food was ok in Wadi Rum but nothing special

day 14 to Shoubak for Dana biosphere. We stayed in a cave which was an experience but one I prob wouldn’t repeat! Went to Shoubak castle but as it was out of season no info so prob wouldn’t go again. Unfortunately we didn’t get to walk in Dana due to lack of time but if we were doing it again/ at a different time of year we would prob stay in the surrounding area for a couple more days and do one of the walks

day 15 to Amman via Madaba which we loved. Mosaics were fab and the town was nice. Dropped car off at airport and last 2 days spent in Amman which was a great mix of old and new. Citadel was great, souks fab, and we did a cookery class which was fun.

so overall, a packed holiday with enough to entertain 2 teenage boys! The food did become a bit samey by the end of 16 days but I would highly recommend a trip!

@PumpkinPie2016 will you DM me too please, that sounds right up our street. Thankyou.

I’d echo PPs re Slovenia, we loved it and did day trips to Bosnia and Montenegro.

Also the Ionian Islands, not so out there but fabulous. We stayed on Limpari. Day trips to Stromboli etc.

We did give ours malaria tablets in northern Namibia and Tanzania, but not in Borneo or Indonesia as the islands we visited didn’t warrant it. Not all areas of a country require it, Peru in the Amazon area, didn’t need it for where we were, but other places do. However, zika is a risk or dengue fever, so we are very good at covering up regardless.

We have had all the extra jabs including rabies. They do add a chunk of cost too.