Where to go for potentially last family holiday 2025

[Inastatus]

I need help. DD will be 20 and DS 18 and we are planning hols for next year and I want it to be special as it’s possibly the last family holiday. DD and I love beaches, shopping, cocktails, meals out. DS likes this too but he also loves cities and needs other things to do. DH is pretty chilled so happy to go with the flow. Budget around £8000 Wide brief I know!

How about a cruise?

Some ideas:
Havana
Singapore
Dubai
Marrakesh
Sri Lanka

Absolutely loved Singapore. You could do a 2 centre for your budget, Singapore and Dubai maybe?

or something like all round Japan?

A cruise OP? You’d get all of what you like in a cruise.

Japan

i think when in the year you want to go is important. £8000 sounds loads of money( it is) but if you want to take four adults on a Mediterranean cruise in August, it’s not going to go far.

Four adults to Mexico in June then yes.

Also , how far are you happy to travel?

Italy could work, you could do all the things on your list there.

Universal studios is opening a new park in florida in 2025. Cost more than £8k!

Various places in the south of France would fit the bill. Antibes, Juan les Pins and potentially Cannes come to mind.

Florida for 4 adults is going to be more like 12k I’d think.

Japan would be amazing but tough for four adults at 8k if that includes flights.

You could do two locations in Portugal - amazing sights around Lisbon then find a beach to chill.

If you want an adventure - group holiday to Jordan - see Petra, ride camels, camp in the desert, float in the Dead Sea. Exodus do 9 days for 1.3k and flights average about 450pp return so that leaves some spending money too. Amazing country.

Thailand - interesting cities and things to see and fabulous beaches.

A package holiday there would probably be expensive but you could DIY it at a cheaper time of year and buy separate flights and accommodation. It's so cheap once you are out there.

Thailand.
Start in Bangkok for the city sights. Then an internal flight to one of the islands for a few days on the beach.

We had the same brief last year. We went to Crete. One week self catering and one week AI. We had a great holiday.

I think some of the pp don't realise the difference in budget between taking DC when they are children and when they are adults. 8k doesn't go that far.

I think if you are going long haul then flights are going to be £3500+, and then the cost of 2 rooms for 4 adults soon adds up unless you could a villa / apartment?
Italy could be lovely. The trains are amazing and you could start in Venice and work your way to Florence, Rome and flop on the Amalfi Coast? You'd get history, cities, art, great food and a beach.

Another vote for Thailand. We're back a month after 3 nights in Bangkok, 4 in Chiang Mai and a week in a beach resort in Koh Samui. Budget was around the same as yours for our family of 4. So much to see and do and great value.

Did you organize this yourself or go through an agency?

Booked it all separately. International flights to Bangkok via Doha with Qatar Airways, 10 months beforehand and then internal flights with Bangkok Airways. I ended up booking all the hotels through booking.com.
I booked trips directly with tour operators but in advance of travelling after getting recommendations from Facebook.

Just so you're aware ...our "last ever family holiday" has now been going on for 15 years 🤣🤣🤣.

A family road trip to the West Coast of America? San Francisco, Monterey, Big Sur, Santa Barbara, Los Angeles?

I've been looking at Thailand

Also considered:
Costa Rica
Sri Lanka
Tanzania & Zanzibar
Peru

This sounds great! What sort of time of year did you go?

We are just back from a trip to Singapore and Vietnam with our DC the same ages as yours.

Stayed in Central Vietnam - Google An Bang beach; it’s heaven! Cheap as chips - fabulous cocktails and really amazing food. Singapore great for a city fix.

Singapore Airlines have a new cheap flight from Gatwick - you could definitely do it within your budget.

We went in June, Koh Samui has good weather in our summer. Despite it being the start of rainy season in other parts, we only saw a 20 minute shower in Bangkok.

That sounds amazing as well! Did you travel around Vietnam or just relax at the beach? I'd love to go to Singapore!