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Holidays

Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

July 2025 wow holiday with 4 teen boys?

39 replies

Chocbuttonsandredwine · 21/05/2024 09:03

Looking to do possible “last” family holiday next year before boys go off to uni etc

19,18, 16,13.

Open to anything really, although it needs to be warm (least 25 for me)

Ive thought Florida keys, South Africa, Vietnam, Asia etc… other budget isn’t a major issue I’m thinking east might see better value for money and offer a more luxurious experience (me) plus totally different culture (them)

mix of beach, cities and adventure (them). Probably 2 weeks max unfortunately

Any ideas appreciated thanks

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sashh · 22/05/2024 03:20

What about Cairns? Yes it will be winter in Oz but north Queensland is tropical. You can do day trips to the barrier reef and learn to dive, there is a rainforest with a cable car and loads of scenery.

Take a boat through the mangroves to look at wild crocodiles, feed some kangaroos, paddle boarding, white water rafting, not at the same time obviously.

Also wine tasting and aboriginal history telling.

Maybe combine with a few days in Sydney?

dinhoecotour · 22/05/2024 05:14

Hot and humid in Vietnam as well as wet in North and South of Vietnam.

MrsTerryPratchett · 22/05/2024 05:20

I love SE Asia but I'm not sure I'd go with 4 teen boys where sex work is quite as obvious as Thailand.

Central America? You have luxury in Costa Rica and Belize, political history in El Salvador and Nicaragua, Mayan pyramids in Guatemala (including the tallest pyramid in the world) and everything from surfing to jungles to colonial cities. You'd have to be careful with safety but there are lots of really safe parts.

madamepresident · 22/05/2024 05:20

South Africa will be cold in July but still a great place to visit
I'd recommend Malaysia or Sri Lanka.

madamepresident · 22/05/2024 05:21

Or Bali

Mumski45 · 22/05/2024 05:50

We are doing our 'last holiday' this year as soon as GCSE's and Alevels finish. I know the weather isn't the best but we are going to Japan, New Zealand, Hong Kong and Mumbai.

LoudSnoringDog · 22/05/2024 05:52

Thailand or Costa Rica

Panicmode1 · 22/05/2024 05:59

We are a family of 6 and doing this but at Christmas tho 2 of mine are already at uni. We are going to Thailand - Bangkok, Chang Mai, Elephant Sanctuary/Bush Camp and then 5 days on the beach north of Phuket at the end.

We looked at SA and were quoted £35k for flights alone (Dec so peak season) and other safari/Zanzibar/Sri Lanka/Costa Rica options were significantly over our budget, which was similar to yours.

We didn't look at Canada because we went skiing in BC in Feb half term, but it is definitely somewhere I would like to go back to in the summer time.

parietal · 22/05/2024 06:04

We did Cape Town and South Africa and Namibia in similar circumstances. Great trip and Namibia is hot if you want heat.

Dindundundundeeer · 22/05/2024 13:50

I enjoyed the Florida keys but not sure my DC would get the same from that as they have from other big trips we have done. Miami and the everglades are OK, but I'm a bit over florida so perhaps not the right person for an opinion.

Peru was spectacular. Time in the amazon, trek to machu picchu, city life in Lima, adventure sports with rafting, cycling, and culture. It was fantastic.

We loved Indonesia too. Not just Bali but kommodo and borneo as island hoping is easy. Diving and beach focus but wildlife and culture too.

Costa Rica was by far the most adventure sports focused though. It combined nature with adventure. Zip lining, tubing, rafting, night walks in the jungle, hanging bridges, beach time, animals. I can see why it's so popular. We went at Xmas though so not sure if summer is great as a bit wetter.

Namibia was also great fun and the variety was brilliant. It was more about the scenery and animals although we also visited the San people and that was great and super interesting. The dunes and deathvlei were a bucket list must see.

We loved Cuba and self drove around the island and did homestays. Kids loved it but it's more culture heavy and more mild for activities, or at least seemed that way but our kids were younger.

We are off to Vietnam and that has lots of variety included and we are trekking, cycling, food tours, scooter tours, boat trips, kayaking, chu tunnels so culture and food. It's been on my wish list for ages but the weather isn't great in Summer so saving that for Xmas.

Have a look at a few companies like stubborn mule or families worldwide.

Uncooperativefingers · 22/05/2024 13:58

I would also go to Malaysia / Singapore.

Start in Singapore for 3/4 days. Botanic gardens at night, the Marina bay light show, universal studios plus city sightseeing.

Then either Borneo to see the orangutans (stay in Kuching, a lovely city also great for sightseeing) and a mangrove boat tour (recommend one that goes out late afternoon so back at night to see fireflies)

Or Penang for the amazing food and great sightseeing in the city. Go and see the clan jetties and the wall murals. Botanic gardens also a lovely wander

Finish up in Langkawi or the Perhentian islands. The former has gorgeous lux-y beach resorts and a relaxed feel, and the steepest cable car in the world with sky bridge. The latter is also beach resort-y I believe with a real focus on diving. Both absolutely beautiful and will scratch the beach itch

NorthFaceofthelaundrypile · 22/05/2024 14:29

Only have one teen DS, but we’re going back to Thailand this summer after an amazing trip last year. DS loved it!
We’re revisiting a couple of places and have a couple of different ones on our itinerary too.
Planned and booked it all independently. The destination means we can have high end accommodation for far cheaper than we could in Europe.

Chocbuttonsandredwine · 22/05/2024 14:58

NorthFaceofthelaundrypile · 22/05/2024 14:29

Only have one teen DS, but we’re going back to Thailand this summer after an amazing trip last year. DS loved it!
We’re revisiting a couple of places and have a couple of different ones on our itinerary too.
Planned and booked it all independently. The destination means we can have high end accommodation for far cheaper than we could in Europe.

Would you mind sharing your itinerary?

OP posts:
Chocbuttonsandredwine · 22/05/2024 14:59

Uncooperativefingers · 22/05/2024 13:58

I would also go to Malaysia / Singapore.

Start in Singapore for 3/4 days. Botanic gardens at night, the Marina bay light show, universal studios plus city sightseeing.

Then either Borneo to see the orangutans (stay in Kuching, a lovely city also great for sightseeing) and a mangrove boat tour (recommend one that goes out late afternoon so back at night to see fireflies)

Or Penang for the amazing food and great sightseeing in the city. Go and see the clan jetties and the wall murals. Botanic gardens also a lovely wander

Finish up in Langkawi or the Perhentian islands. The former has gorgeous lux-y beach resorts and a relaxed feel, and the steepest cable car in the world with sky bridge. The latter is also beach resort-y I believe with a real focus on diving. Both absolutely beautiful and will scratch the beach itch

This sounds perfect

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