Best long haul weather in school summer holidays

[Patsykenning]

We have always been to the Med in summer but now our kids are older (will be 14/15) we want to plan a bigger trip for next summer 2025. We already have this year booked and paid for, so going to start saving now! They have never been out of Europe. DH and I are fairly well travelled but most of the places I loved the most (e.g. Thailand) don’t have the best weather in July and August. Where would be a great place to spend two weeks at this time of year? Looking for a bit of culture as well as beaches, good food etc. Possibly staying in 2/3 places over the fortnight.

Canada! It’s on my wish list for when my two are a bit older. Or Japan.

Costa Rica, weather mixed but amazing place to go to.

Kerela/Goa in India are a good shout for the very end of the school summer holidays. Lots to do (beaches, culture, trekking) weather still nice (a little rainy but still warm) and the food is lovely. Good deals on hotels too due to it being the off season.

Yes, Canada is definitely on my list! I’ve been and loved it. A trip round the Rockies and/or Vancouver Island would be incredible. I think I’d want more than 2 weeks though!
For some reason Japan has never crossed my mind - will need to do some reading.

Have been to Costa Rica and Kerala and LOVED both. It would have to be early summer holidays though so I think Kerala is out. Need to look at CR weather. It would suit my nature loving DH perfectly. Thanks x

I did a road trip from Seattle, down the west coast of the US (Oregon and California) and ended in Vegas. I always think older children would have really enjoyed it.

I am thinking of a big trip but for 2026. I am looking at Japan. My DC loves everything Japanese. Japanese cuisine is amazing. I haven’t planned to go to any beaches, but doing Tokyo, Kyoto and a ryokan stay somewhere. There are a lot of beaches in Okinawa.

I have also done California and Vegas. I see another PP has recommended that. I think that’s great for teens too.

Yes I agree that my kids would love California.

In fact just quickly googled California road trip and reading this has made me really excited!
https://www.findingtheuniverse.com/two-week-california-road-trip-itinerary/

I've done Japan and Seattle / Canada road trips with my kids and they were both amazing.
Japan we went at Easter though as it can be very hot / humid in summer. We did Tokyo, Hakone, Kyoto and Osaka so had a mix of cities, culture and nature, but no beaches. If you want a beach then you need an internal flight to Okinawa. If you do that you could consider flying into Tokyo, internal flight to Okinawa and then you could add Seoul in South Korea and fly home from there. We will definitely do another trip to Japan when the kids are older- they were quite young when we did it.
For the US / Canada trip we flew in and out of Seattle as we had BA vouchers to use. We did Seattle, Olympic National Park, Vancouver Island and Vancouver. it was amazing. Very easy in terms of logistics. We found the US really expensive and we're glad the majority of our time was in Canada.
Pre kids we did a California trip- San Francisco, Big Sur, Yosemite and I think the kids would have liked it but i preferred the Seattle/Canada trip.

Bali is good in august! Could tie it with Singapore. Alternatively thailand over Easter.

In 2018 we did a 3 week trip to Canada when our kids were 9 and 7 and we’d happily go back in a heart beat!

flew into Calgary, picked up a campervan and travelled through the Rockies up to Banff and Jasper (1 week). Then from Calgary flew to Vancouver island, stopping in Victoria, then 5 nights in Tofino (beaches, surfing, whale and bear watching), drove to Vancouver city and stayed there one night. Then last flight to Toronto, 5 nights there. So a real mix of country side/mountains, cities and beach life. It was perfect and would be great for teens as well!

I have heard California is a great trip with teens that age. When mine are older Canada appeals or an Alaskan cruise.

Mexico is another potential too.

The summer is generally considered “off season” for Japan. The weather is often uncomfortably hot and humid and it’s typhoon season. I went in early June once and found it ok but wouldn’t want to go in August. Japan is a wonderful place but I don’t think it has good weather at that time of year. It’s generally a spring/autumn destination if you want to see it at its best.

I’m surprised to see people recommending it for the weather in the summer holidays.

I’ve never been… but have heard great things about Canada at that time of year. It’s on my list for the future.

Safari - it's winter in Zambia. Temps in high 20s in South Luangwa National Park

US West coast, we did LA up to Seattle through Oregon which was amazing, daughter was a baby for that one.
Last summer we did California, flew to San Fran then did Monterey, Santa Barbara, sequoia, Yosemite, Mammoth Lakes, Lake Tahoe, fantastic trip and my 7yr old had the best time!
Banff and Jasper.

This is all very exciting! I’m absolutely addicted to holiday planning. 🤣 Literally just booked one and now onto next year’s! Thanks all 🙏🏼

I’d thought about Bali @beachmum1 plus I have a great friend who lives in Singapore now so that would be a bonus. I think the advantage with Bali over California is that after the expensive flights it’s cheaper for accommodation etc although I’d have to do my research.

We've been to Sri Lanka, Borneo, Kenya and Costa Rica in July/August summer hols.
All completely recommended, and fab for active holidays - mix of beach, hiking, wildlife, surfing, snorkeling.
Borneo and Sri Lanka more budget friendly.
Costa Rica is European prices.
All but Kenya very doable by public transport if you want to keep costs down.

What a great thread. We did Costa Rica at the end of August a few years back. The Caribbean coast was amazing but it was quite stormy round the volcano and the Pacific coast. Still warm though.

But tend to do Asia long-haul at Easter as the weather is better. That said, India was unbearably hot last year.

@Mummydoctor do you think the Canada trip would work in 2 weeks if you ditched the Toronto part? Seriously thinking of this for the summer.

Japan is 36 and humid - despite the greater pollution in China I could actually breathe better than in Japan

Agree re Japan. Fab in spring, too humid in Summer

It’s got to be the summer for us due to our work.
@Stowickthevast I’ve travelled round west coast Canada and yes you could see a lot in two weeks but you’ll probably wish you had longer! You could fly into Calgary and out of Vancouver. You definitely want to see the Rockies and I think Vancouver Island (and some of the other smaller islands if you have time) is so worth it.

We have taken our kids to the following places in the summer holidays

• Indonesia is great (not ‘just’ Bali) Komodo is fantastic by boat, and Borneo
• We also have been to Namibia and Tanzania, but Kenya works too. Totally amazing places Tanzania is easy to add beach on in Zanzibar
• Peru, was spectacular and very varied, kids loved it.
• Iceland is also fantastic, but not quite out of Europe.

We are off to Svalbard next.

I personally wouldn’t go to some of the above destinations in Summer as they are far from at their best. I realise peak times aren’t always possible, but Easter is better for some places. Cuba for example is almost unbearable in August, but can be fun at Easter