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.

@Stowickthevast yes, definitely possible
in two weeks, but you’ll wish you could stay longer! We’d happily go back and do those first two weeks again!

Another vote for California & Nevada. I didn't love Las Vegas, but DC & DH did & DCs were similar ages to yours. I loved the Hoover Dam, Grand Canyon, John Steinbeck settings (although the Museum was a bit down at heel when we went), Pebble Beach, Carmel, Venice Beach, the scenery, the food.

@cheapskatemum interested in your itinerary fitting in the Grand Canyon as well… how long were you out there? Do you mind sharing where you started and where you went?

We went for 15 days: 5 in LA, 5 in LV & 5 in a place called Seaside south of San Francisco. We had a hire car, so could drive to all the locations I mentioned.

Ooh thank you @cheapskatemum I thought the Grand Canyon would be too far but this is good to know. It’s on my bucket list. Going to look at your locations on a map! Thanks x

Weather in Canada is very similar to the UK. We’ve been there a couple of times in August and definitely needed jackets some days!

@Soontobe60 I know Canada pretty well and yes, the west is not guaranteed sunshine but it’s actually a relief to cool down when you’re hiking in the Rockies! I haven’t been past July though so good to know about August. 😊

I forgot that we also went to Universal Studios Hollywood/Annaheim, but couldn't believe how much smaller it is than the one in Orlando.

We went to US East coast last year, flew to Boston, couple of days there, Rhode Island as a base to relax as DD doesn't do road trips. But you could also do a week road trip or stay in Cape Cod and then 4 days New York.

Yes, it was hot in NY but we had a great time and it was the one thing DD really wanted to do.

California road trip 100% - we did San Fransisco to Phoenix via LA, Yosemite, Death Valley, Grand Canyon, Vegas, Sedona. The VERY best holiday we’ve ever had, similar aged children. Also recommend LA to San Diego - the latter being my favourite city in the world. If you don’t mind flying mid holiday we’ve also done Vancouver and LA as a 2 centre break over 10 days

At work yesterday I was chatting to some colleagues who have also done a California/Grand Canyon road trip and they were ALL raving about it saying it would be perfect for us and the age of our kids. Looks like I’d better start saving! 😄

Another +1 for the Singapore/Bali combo! NB it may well be cheaper getting a return to Singapore, then a return from there to Bali with someone like AirAsia (who are great).

I'd also not be put off by your original idea of Thailand - yes, it's "rainy" season in parts, but last July-Aug., for example, it rained once in 15 days in Bangkok. Even when it does, it's usually just the 6pm downpour, which is lovely in itself.

A leftfield suggestion? Malaysia - no idea why it's so overlooked. Snorkelling, rainforest, highland tea plantations...and the world's cheapest 5* hotels!

Watching with interest as we're dithering about a destination for holiday with teens 17 & 14). We went to California last year and all loved it. Would definitely recommend @Patsykenning !!

DH fancies Scandinavia this year but it's not really floating my boat. Has anyone had good holidays there with teens??

We went to Japan in August. Fab trip but we sweated absolute buckets.
I loved west coast Canada, plus we went to the Okanagan valley which was lovely.
I would definitely consider west coast US and / or Alaska cruise.
Beware with Bali, many areas are like Magaluf for Aussies.

Summer is the rainy season in Costa Rica and I've heard it's very humid. We've just come back and loved it, but I'd definitely go in the dry season - our winter - it was quite humid enough on the Pacific coast at this time of year.

California is amazing with tweens/teens and I can highly recommend. Again, two weeks is not a lot in such a huge and varied area. We went for three weeks and are going back again this summer to do some stuff we missed the first time. Honestly, you could spend months there!

Yes - we did 3-4 days in each of Copenhagen, Stockholm and Oslo with teens, flew between each city. Great fun, loads to do and see

Roughly how much what do you need to budget for these sorts of holidays? For instance, California/Grand Canyon road trip, Costa Rica, Peru or Bali/Indonesia?

Just the flights alone must run into thousands for four people?

Do you book a package or do it yourself?

And how long do you tend to go for? 2 or 3 or more weeks?

@JaffaCake24
We go low-budget, backpackers / guest houses, DIY, public transport but don't miss out on activities.
3 weeks in Costa Rica was 3K + flights for 3 of us (all charged at adult rates) - mostly self catering.
2.5 weeks in Sri Lanka was 1.5K + flights for 4 of us (1 adult, 3 teens) - all eating out.

Another vote for Oregon —> Washington —> British Columbia (or in reverse!). Pre kids, DH and I always holidayed in our autumn or winter. We had a random summer holiday to the above places and it was one of the best holidays I think I’ll ever have.

Would love to do Oregon - does it have bad mosquitoes in the summer?

Yellowstone & the Grand Tetons. We flew into Denver and flew out of Jackson Hole. Drove to Yellowstone with stops at Cheyenne (famous rodeo), Thermopolis (hot springs) and Cody(water rapids!) with stays at Canyon (hike to Mt Washburn) & Old Faithful followed by a stay in the Grand Tetons based in the Colter Bay Village (horse ride) plus our final night in Jackson before our flight home. Air miles and loyalty points subsidise our flights and hotel stays.

Also drove around Iceland in a rented campervan (££££) in August with preteens which was still surprisingly cold enough for our skiwear and thermals. Very cheap budget flights and a few DIY cheap meals cooked on the RV hob. I worked out it was slightly cheaper than car rental & accommodation.

Costa Rica we chose to do over the Christmas hols (dry season). Again, airmiles & hotel points subsidised the cost. Teens meant we booked 2 room suites & lodges. Activities are expensive especially ziplining, horse riding, etc.

Next summer, we are off to road trip around Norway with one teen left in tow.
Staying in Bergen, Sogndal, Geiranger, Stryn & Balestrand & back to Bergen. Post Covid, we’ve done road trips across Northern Spain and down the west coast of Portugal in the summer holidays with DD(16) in tow. Have literally booked the flights & car hire last week and the mainly airbnb accommodation before Christmas.

I’ve been looking into this, unfortunately from past experience it does make a big difference going in the “right” weather from the “wrong”!

Countries when it’s the “right” time to go in July/August are thin on the ground (outside of Europe). Here’s my list:

East Africa - Kenya, Tanzania, Zanzibar
Peru
Northern USA/Canada
Iceland
Most of Indonesia incl Bali, Lombok, Java
Borneo
East coast Malaysia
Some bits of Thailand (east coast islands)
Some bits of Sri Lanka
Some bits of Vietnam (middle bit)

I’ve looked into Costa Rica as would love to take the DC, but with the best will in the world it is pretty wet/humid in July and August apart from in a few spots - think I will wait until we can go at Easter.

Boston, then north to Maine.
Book early for Maine because a lot of Bostonians head north to Maine in summer too.

Alternatively:
Chicago, then east and north to the gorgeous beaches of Michigan, including the spectacular Sleeping Bear Dunes, and north again to Macinac. Again, book Michigan accommodation early.

This thread is my absolute favourite! I spend so much of my time thinking about holidays and travelling - this has got me even more fired up! I promise to keep you updated (although this trip is not until next year as we need to save £££ and we already have trips booked for this year!).