Where to go outside Europe for special holiday with teens?

[stripycats]

DS2 is desperate to go outside Europe and next year boys will have just done GCSEs and A Levels so it will be a good time to go away, maybe for the last time together the three of us (I hope not though!). I've been to the USA and Thailand years ago but boys haven't been out of Europe, though we've been to loads of places there. As an added complication, Ds1 isn't keen as he thinks there is nowhere we will all like - he can be a bit of a stick in the mud though and if I can find the right place he'll be fine. Also, I'm a teacher so we can only go late July/August.

Our requirements/wishes:

• Neither of the boys are sporty and they can swim but not very strongly, so no active/adventurous stuff wanted.
• They don't like sitting on beaches or by pools - or not for more than 1 day/an hour or so per day.
• DS1 loves history and would be in museums for endless hours. He also likes cathedrals and some art galleries. DS2 doesn't but will tolerate.
• DS2 loves shopping (but won't have heaps and heaps to spend!). DS1 doesn't but will tolerate.
• They both like 'tame' attractions like cable cars, funiculars etc.
• DS2 loves animals and wildlife. DS1 doesn't but would tolerate a limited amount.
• Both enjoy walking somewhere lovely, like on cliffs, a country park type place, by a river etc.
• DS2 loves a theme park as long as not too extreme. DS1 says he doesn't but enjoys once there.
• Definitely not Dubai or similar for any of us.

Cost would be a factor but I haven't set a budget - I have savings I'll probably be dipping into, which I don't usually for holidays. I haven't got pots to throw away but I think I spend £3-4k usually and obviously expect to be paying more than that for this. They don't want to be away more than 2 weeks max as they have to spend time with their dad too and don't want to be away from our house the whole summer.

Any suggestions would be very gratefully received.

Are you happy to drive? If so, I'd really recommend NE US and crossing the border into Canada - driving up the coast from Boston is great. You could go up through New Brunswick to Nova Scotia and/or Prince Edward Island.

(And I hope you realise just how wrong your son is about the lack of history in the US!!!)

Oh my gosh @DisplayPurposesOnly I have just seen that about Iceland with an airline that allows you to stay over for a few days at no extra cost! It's Play airlines though - don't know if I fancy a budget transatlantic flight but they are offering £500 to Toronto with option to stay in Iceland a few days!!!

Oh, yes ds1 is being ridiculous about history and America - think it might be some sort of excuse as he's not stupid! I'm sure he'd love Washington - he loves politics as well as history and adores Hamilton.

I personally wouldn’t do Morocco in July or August if I wanted to do more than just sit by a pool / on a beach / go in air conditioned coaches to air conditioned places. It’s often high 30s.

Yucatan is very safe, I’d have no concerns about going. I believe it’s been the safest state in Mexico for decades, and beats most of the US for safety stats. It can be very humid in the summer though.

You could combine Singapore with Malaysia for more history - Malacca and Penang spring to mind initially

Some random suggestions, although I do think budget may be an issue depending on flight prices:

Ecuador
Vietnam
Brazil - Rio de Janeiro, the Pantanal
Sri Lanka
Kenya

How about Egypt?

I’ve been to Marrakech 3 times, once as a single woman and twice with dp and never had any problems.

in the medina you’ll be hassled to go into shops but just because that’s the thing, not because you are a woman. I found everyone very respectful. The culture and food are both amazing, with some amazing museums, gardens, temples and attractions.

id combine with a few days to the coast and a night in the desert

Amtrak across a chunk of USA, with a sleeper cabin.

Far east.
I have a fussy beach hating husband ( he sounds like your boys).
We did a Hong kong, Bangkok,, Maldives holiday which was hugely successful ( Singapore/ Thailand , Sri Lanka also fantastic as an alternative destination).
This is the Holiday we feel our teens would really enjoy also. ( obviously hugely expensive but we are thinking this would be worth us saving for the post GCSE/A level year holiday) .
America / Canada fly drive holidays also good but the cost has gone up massively in USA.
North Africa? Egypt has museums etc?
Costa Rica - Will tick wildlife box?

Mexico is amazing, can do as little or as much as you want really. So many excursions available for all to enjoy. I'd recommend Playacar, for easy access to beautiful beaches and scenery, with lots of transport options available to get to Maya ruins, cenotes, etc. Also close to get to most of the Xcaret parks, which are bloody fabulous.

I would have a look at Explore holidays for inspiration - probably too expensive but their itineraries might inspire you

My first thoughts reading your post was Jordan, Egypt or Japan

I kinda agree with your DS1 in a way on north America, there are historical sites to visit but, unless you are specifically interested in American history, you're better off with a European trip if you want to do historical or cultural sites and it's cheaper or to go somewhere totally different like Japan

I've just got back from Morocco with my teenage boys. They had a wonderful time... lazing at the hotel, shopping/ haggling at the markets, sightseeing, walking etc

We flew EasyJet so it was super cheap and were only there for five days. If you wanted two weeks, I think you'd have to plan to move around.... Marrakesh, maybe somewhere on the coast like Essouria and perhaps the Atlas Mountains.

Morocco, climb Mount Toubkal, it’s a walk rather than something all out. Camel trek is quite nice, and sleep on sand dunes then Markesh is beautiful and historical. Can get a day or two on a beach too.
Can also do Nepal - gentle trek, very gentle white water raft camp on river bank, safari, lots of culture that’s not western. Summer is monsoon but trek behind the annapurnas in the rain shadow.
failing they get a trailfinders brochure for ideas.

American history can be a bit limiting if you’re comparing it to European history because unless you include Native American areas then yes, it just dates from the Mayflower onwards.

But it should suit teens keen on history, so eg Boston, Washington DC, Philadelphia and even southern areas like Charlotte, Mississippi and so on.

Georgia (the country) with Intrepid holidays or on your own? Flights with Pegasus.

Sorry, but LOL at there being no history worth studying because "it just dates from the Mayflower"

That was in 1620, so almost 4 centuries' worth of history has happened since then!

As an alternative, why not try South Africa. There will be something in there for both the boys, including safari, walking,

If you Google walking/safari holidays in S.A., you will get a wealth of package choices, which will incorporate all the things your boys like

U

There is definitely history and really excellent museums as well - but personally for a holiday focussed on historical things I think the US isn't the ideal choice from the UK. Europe is obviously closer and cheaper for that sort of holiday and places like Japan more different from the UK.

Sri Lanka for sure. There's loads of stuff to see and do, history, wildlife, beaches, hikes, but you don't have to be super sporty to enjoy it. As a PP said it feels adventurous but it is actually quite tame and manageable. And the food is great.

Morocco is the only place I've been that I have no desire to go back to.

Washington was one of my best ever historical trips. Then train to New York. It will be hot though.

A more unusual idea..maybe somewhere like Georgia or Uzbekistan? The architecture in the latter looks incredible.

Japan and Vietnam would get my vote for your teens. An adventure but not in a sporty way and totally different culture and history. Travelling by train to 3 or 4 destinations in either country would spark their interest and create memories I’m sure.

South Africa ticks your boxes and is very doable in that time frame as you don’t get any jet lag. It’s also super cheap when you get there. Wildlife, city, history, beaches… and the food is amazing.

Singapore does have a large number of shopping malls, but also : night safari, gardens by the bay, botanical gardens, little India, Chinatown, national museum of Singapore and universal studios.
it’s expensive, but excellent food, easy to get around and easy to combine with Malaysian Borneo, KL (not one of my favourite places, but other people seem to like it) or Malacca.

Yucatan in the tourist areas is not at all scary. We found the Mexicans so friendly and felt very safe.