Destination holiday for 50th

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I want to go somewhere special for a big birthday in April with my DH and two kids (8 and a teenager). Any suggestions for an (up to) 2 week holiday. Quite happy to lie on a beach for some of the time, but would also like to see some culture and/or something different and/or memorable. Happy to travel a bit but wouldn’t want more than 2-3 destinations.

We did two weeks in Singapore for mine best holiday ever and we have been to Carribbean Seychelles Guadeloupe and lots of cruises

Cambodia and Vietnam- fly to Hanoi, see that and halong bay then fly to Hoi An which is stunning, beaches if you want them then into Siem Reap to see Angkor Wat, amazing food too. Sri Lanka is fab, safaris, culture, beach and fab food, Japan is phenomenal but if for this April you may have missed the boat as peak season. Taiwan is the one that got away because of Covid but would love to go! South Africa is amazing too- if you fly to Durban you can have some time
on the coast then go on safaris- some gorgeous private game lodges about, also the Drakensburg Mountains and battlefields if you’re into that. Mauritius is stunning with amazing beaches but a few other things to do as well.
whatever you decide have an amazing time!

St Lucia is beautiful and has amazing beaches

I see lots of recommendations for Vietnam and I would love to go but would want to explore it all and don’t know if that would be better with older kids (or even without kids once they have left home)!
I know nothing about Costa Rica - any recommendations as to where to stay/what to do?

Sri lanka. Do a 3 centre tour. Wonderful

Japan is seriously wonderful. Not a beach holiday of course, but culturally stunning and there are things there far better than a stretch of sand and sea.

Spring is also a lovely time to go, with the cherry blossom.

It's very difficult to describe how amazing Japan is.

What about Bali and Lombok. You could fly through Singapore and have a couple of days there. That would be an amazing mixture of busy city, beautiful beaches and some amazing culture.
if you love water parks the one in Bali (water bomb) is the best we have ever visited and still fondly talked about by my family many years later.
What a lovely post!

Speak to a travel counsellor
I can recommend mine if you want me to PM you.
She loves booking people on amazing holidays, particularly people like you, that have already travelled extensively.

We went to Cuba for my 50th. Loads to do and see. Loved it.

We did Vietnam with 8 and 11 year old - they still talk about it now - we paired it with Hong Kong which is an amazing city.

Japan is incredible, really incredible - don't think you can go wrong with anywhere there.

South Africa safari is fabulous - we always went malaria-free in the North and then flew down to Cape Town. We've been to Durban and Sun City as well but wouldn't recommend necessarily. Haven't one Namibia personally but have heard many wonderful things.

We've also done a lot of Canada and America road trips - there is always a lot to do and normally quite 'familiar' to the kids whilst still being a novelty. We've never had a bad time on any of the trips but deep south (New Orleams, Nashville etc) and Florida and Toronto to Montreal via Algonquin have been my faves.

We went through this two years ago.

We originally looked at Asia and a safari but DD (16) has ASD and it doesn't work for her.

In the end we did US east coast, flew to Boston then down to Newport and ended in New York. After Boston we had a car and did Cape Cod and other parts of Massachusetts.

Friends loved Costa Rica.

Thanks for all your help everyone. I have narrowed it down to Asia and further narrowed it down to either a week in Singapore (looks amazing fun for kids and I’ve already visited Bangkok and KL) with a week in Khao Lak (Thailand) or Borneo (Malaysia) OR two weeks in a multi destination holiday in Vietnam (but which I know less about so not narrowed down areas). Long shot but if anyone has visited some of these and can compare that would be great. It will be April (if that makes a difference for recommendations) and I would like good snorkeling opportunities so if anyone knows about that - would be great. Thank you!

Oh yes please!

If you can stretch to a stay at Six Senses Con Dao in Vietnam (its a flight or boat from mainland) it is INCREDIBLE. We've travelled a fair bit and it is one of the best places I have ever been. Snorkeling is incredible. We were there at Easter too.

If you go to Vietnam then my other top two reccomendatoons from our holiday (other than Con Dao) would be Hoi An (food market shopping then cooking lesson, basket boats and net fishing, night Markets etc) and Ho Chi Minh (especially the evening moped tour with stops at various food places - again, in my top 5 travel memories ever)

For what it's worth my husband lived in Thailand for 18 months and he thinks Vietnam beats it hands down - but there would be plenty of people that would say the opposite!

We just did Boston and NY.