Family holidays “of a lifetime” this summer. Where should we go

[Borealiz]

Inspired by the thread about the most over rated holiday spots…
We were about to book a holiday in Bali in August but having second thoughts now after reading the aforementioned thread.
Would love suggestions. Below is the brief:

• weather needs to be relatively hot/dry in August
• looking to spend 2-3 weeks there. Doesn’t need to be exactly at the same place, happy to try or take another flight
• need a good balance of beach holidays with pretty beaches and culture, good food, activities…
• kids’ (teenagers and young adults) attention span in museums is very limited. “Accessible” museums/culture is best
• Thought about Vietnam and cambodgia but some people discouraged me due to weather being a bit cold.
• money not a problem, happy to travel far away in good conditions if worth it. As written above it’s probably one of the last holidays as a family. We want to create great memories.
• been to several Asian countries with the kids (but wouldn’t mind going back), been to the US east coast too. Never been to Latin America with them or Africa.
• Wouldn’t mind doing a cruise on a private sailing boat (Croatia? Anywhere else ? Been sailing in Greece already and the Caribbean). Could do a mix of one week on the boat and one week in land or visit nearby countries. We’ve thought about doing a tour of Eastern Europe. We may be able to combine it with a cruise in Croatia and/or Greece.

having a lot going on in my life currently so not really in a position to do due diligence about all these destination, and make a decision.

The answer you are looking for is Costa Rica. It has beaches but so much more: tropical rainforests, volcanoes, luxury eco lodges. You can spend time on both the pacific and the Caribbean coasts. It's honestly the dream.

Agreed! We adored our trip there.

Central America generally. The whole lot is great. Cenotes, pyramids, history, diving, animals. It's all brilliant.

I was just going to say Costa Rica!

It will be dry/ hot in Central Vietnam (Danang/ Hoian, Hue, Phong Nha cave…) in August while the other two parts (North and South of Vietnam) are in the rainy season.

I loved Costa Rica particularly for wildlife but thought food and culture isn't a patch on Mexico.
(Lived in Mexico for a while so perhaps a little biased)

Never been to Costa rica. But Croatia is lovely. We travelled around it for 3 weeks,people were lovely,food,weather,loads to see etc. Only downfall in my eyes was the beaches are mainly all stones...I was surprised. They sell shoes at them for tou to wear

Belize and Guatamala. Belize for gorgeous Caribbean atmosphere and beaches. Honduras for fascinating culture and amazing landscapes.

Agree either a Costa Rica or other direction look at private liveaboard in Komodo/Rinca. Or Northern Territory road trip in Australia - red centre and Kakadu.

I love Costa Rica and also India and South East Asia.

But, the most interesting and beautiful places in the world do tend to be very rainy in August.
I'm a teacher so restricted to school holidays. We often go away for a month in the summer and in most of the places we've been to, it's been the rainy season.

We went to Costa Rica for 3 weeks in the autumn, definitely recommend! We travelled around on a bit of a budget, but if I was going to pick 2/3 places I would go to Manuel Antonio, Tortuguero and Samara. Something for everyone there!

Another vote for Costa Rica

You will get rain in CR since there are lots of rainforests and has a huge amount of bio diversity. I researched it extensively last year for a trip this year but RL got in the way. It looked amazing though!
We actually spent nearly 3 weeks in Thailand in August 23 and it was fantastic. Hardly any rain at all.

California self drive with that age group would be fun. Yosemite, San Francisco, drive down coastal road to LA, then plane to Hawaii

Costa Rica or Borneo

Australia over any of these places mentioned.
IF it's a trip of a lifetime.
Arrive Perth...then go to Victoria and then Sydney. Fly out of Sydney.

We considered Costa Rica but were advised that British summer time isn’t the best time to go. Would be interested to know when the people on this thread visited.

I've been to Costa Rica a few times in August. It's the rainy season but still plenty of sunny, dry days.

Malaysia - loads of culture , islands and amazing food.

We went to Bali in August last year with our 14 year old. It was utterly fabulous. So much culture and so much to see and do. Easy to move from area to area with a driver. As long as you don't stay in Kuta it's great, although do visit Waterbom park which is awesome. We stayed in Seminyak, Ubud, lovina, amed and sanur, can't recommend enough, one of best holidays we've ever been on and we've travelled a lot (although not to Costa Rica yet, it's on the list of somewhere I'd love to go)

I did a thread about holidays recently and California came out top!

Costa Rica would be perfect, stay in 2/3 different places.
You can do SO much there.
Tulemar is a great place in Manuel Antonio, it's a sloth sanctuary with a private beach.
A range of beautiful high end villas - tulemar.com/properties/

We stayed for 4 nights in Arenal, at the base of the volcano, and then 10 night in a villa at Tulemar.
Incredible country.

I'd do a safari.

Central Vietnam is not cold in July!