Inspiration for snorkeling and beaches

[Irie1980]

Hi,
I'm planning a family holiday for next July, can stretch to 2.5 weeks if going long haul. Kids are 10 and 12 and are great travellers - Japan was our last trip and we all loved it!

• We're looking for a bit of adventure centrered on beautiful warm, white sand beaches and coastline for swimming, watersports and snorkeling.
• Budget not enormous so want to rule out any hugely luxury locations or anywhere in the "west".
• We love good food, culture, activities, cycling, watersports.
• Safety very important with the kids in tow.
• We are all a bit spider phobic so it's always at the back of my mind!

We were considering Indonesia but some reviews are putting me off, especially around pollution and over tourism. Also considering Thailand but weather is not amazing that time of year unless we go to Samui but that feels a but commercialised.

Does anyone have any locations that spring to mind and might fit the bill?

Thanks!

We went to Phu Quoc island in Vietnam this year. It has many resorts of all stripe and islands that you can stay on or do a day trip. Great alternative to Thailand and slightly less touristy but catching up.

It is a little expensive to fly there but once you are on the island, it is incredibly reasonable. Food is incredible and costs next to nothing.

"We are all a bit spider phobic ..."

I was going to suggest Australia, but then I read this bit - never go to Australia, OP.

But surely you get spiders everywhere?

A great place for beach holidays is Africa. On the east coast you're looking at places like Kenya, Mozambique, Tanzania (and Zanzibar). On the west coast you've got places like Ghana and Sierra Leone. And of course there is South Africa as well which has a lot of great beaches.

A bonus is that they're all more or less in the same time zone so there is no jet lag.

Another alternative is southwestern India, between Goa and Kerala. There are plenty of great beaches along this part of the coast.
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Apart from that, think about South America. July is a great time to go. Even as far south as Rio de Janeiro. It's winter there at that time and temperatures are similar to an English summer (eg high of 25).

But if you're looking for something warmer than a British summer then there are plenty of places in north eastern Brazil that have great beaches and much warmer at that time of year.

Indonesia is great in the summer months. Go to the Komodo islands just off Bali. Liveaboard boat, Komodo dragons, island hopping, the clearest water I've ever seen (better than both coasts of Australia, Maldives, Red Sea etc IMO), magical. Perfect time of year. Could do Gili Islands and Lombok as an alternative. Or Sulawesi.

Everywhere except the Poles has spiders, although I've never seen any when scuba diving! If you stay in a hotel, rather than beach hut type accommodation, they are far less likely to be in your room.
Some ideas:
-Snorkel with whale sharks in Ningaloo Reef off Western Australia. Its not as big as the Barrier reef, but far less touristy. The whale sharks are huge, but not dangerous and only eat krill- so no scary teeth! Peak time to see them Mar-Jul. We also did an amazing drift snorkel at Turquoise Bay. We stayed in Exmouth and also snorkeled directly off the beach there.
-Some of the Pacific Islands are stunning and great snorkeling. Cook Islands, Fiji, Vanuatu.
-DH and I scuba dive and have done some great ones in Thailand. Koh Phi Phi, but that was years ago and I think they have stopped or reduced the amount of people going there. Koh Tao is the 'dive island' and would likely have snorkeling areas too.

Zanzibar might fit the bill - July/August is a great time to travel there as it is the peak of the dry season. Alternatively look at Mauritius. It's 'winter' there then but last year when we travelled temperatures were a very comfortable 25-27C. We had a bit of rain (one full day) but it is a tropical island!

Thailand is beautiful, you may find some good deals to the Caribbean if you are happy to self cater. Mexico fits the bill however check latest guidence on safety.

These are some interesting suggestions, thanks!

Spent a good while in Thailand in the 2000s and loved it, Almost afraid to go back in case it doesn't live up to my memories. Also, how is weather in Koh Samui in July? I believe the other coast line is a no go due to monsoon season.

Still haven't made a decision, argh. Now thinking about Easter as an option and it opens up the islands in Western Thailand that time of year.

Those of you who have been to Thailand recently, has it been taken over by backpackers? Am afraid it'll just be like the Costa del sol with little left of that gorgeous Thai culture.

Hawaii has great snorkelling and beautiful weather. Very safe and you can stay in an Airbnb to bring costs down. No need to stay in a high end hotel.

I haven’t been snorkelling in Vietnam but it’s an amazing country to travel in area and lovely people.

Fiji is amazing & has some cheap hostel type places to stay but far to go..

Thanks but Hawaii wouldn't be on the cards, not sure my DH would agree to go to anywhere in the US! Fiji is stunning I agree but definitely too far unfortunately.

S .E. Asia would be the furthest we could stretch to with 2 weeks I think!

Thailand hasn't been taken over by backpackers per se but it is quite touristy now IMO so you need to pick your area on an island a little carefully. I've been to everywhere suggested on this thread at various times of year (live in SE Asia) - I'd be looking at Indonesia (NOT Bali - think Komodo/Gili/Sulawesi etc), Vietnam, Okinawa islands off Japan, Sri Lanka is also gorgeous at that time of year (I went last April).

Was just coming on to suggest Sri Lanka, so much to see and do, amazing people, great food and good beaches. We went to Koh Samui and Koh Phangan 5 years ago after having been to Samui many years before.
Samui was v busy ( but apparently there are quieter parts) Koh Phangan much less so but I wouldn’t rush back. How about Borneo? We went in October and it was amazing! Or East Coast Malaysia/Tioman/ perhentian islands? Indonesia also amazing. Good luck!

Fly to Samui, then get the ferry to Koh Tao. The children are both old enough to do their Open Water diving course, and the diving there is fantastic.

What’s wrong with the US? But regardless Hawaii is quite different to the mainland. It’s kinda like Fiji but with western healthcare etc! And the snorkelling is very very good and so are the beaches. Boogie boarding for the kids. Luaus and cultural stuff to do… rainforests and volcanos.

Trump culture.

That's good to know - never considered it but it's likely too far for this trip unfortunately. Thanks for the info.

Thanks - had been considering Indonesia actually - Lombok in particular, and possibly the Gili islands too.

Went to Japan last Easter and would love to go back sometime for sure, Okinawa is definitely on the list but probably doesn't fit into this year's budget unfortunately!

And don't forget the food! Japanese, Chinese, Filipino or bog standard American. Hawaii is a gastronomical delight.

Yes good point! Food there is fantastic

Hawaii is a Democrat state :) It’s very far removed from that attitude. Some of them don’t want to be part of the USA either but that’s a whole ‘nother topic!

You can visit one island in two weeks and get a lot done. We have gone for 13-15 days :)

Island hoping in Croatia - we did just over 2 weeks this summer with boys age 14 and 12- it was magical and felt like a real adventure. Snorkelling , kayaking , canyoning etc - sea water absolutely amazing