Family summer holiday with a budget of around 18k

[Linens]

Thinking ahead to 2026 summer.
DH and I, DS who will be 14.5 and DS who will be 10
I would like 2 weeks away somewhere. Looked at Mauritius/Maldives/Sri Lanka/Seychelles but seems it’s the wet season and maybe not ideal time to go?
I love European villa holidays but it’s just so so hot now and all the risk of wildfires….
Was thinking safari but I have been before and it’s not hugely relaxing, which we desperately need on our holidays.
We are doing Disney this year in October so probably won’t want to go again so soon. Going away in Easter is probably out as well as we will not be long back from Dis and October 2026 youngest will be sitting 11+ so it will be summer to go away.
I love going away in the UK and we will have a week away in UK at some point but the weather is unreliable for main summer holiday.
I did see a suggestion on another thread for Parnu in Estonia which I really fancied?
Anyone any bright ideas? I LOVE
holidays and booking them and planning and I’ve always got the next destination in mind but nothing is massively exciting me. I know 2026 is a long way off but I like to start thinking about things!

Given your kids ages, and that you want some relaxation and down time, I’d suggest Mexico, somewhere like Tulum/Akumal, it has smaller boutique type hotels as well as larger AIs. Heaps to do, adventurous stuff like jungle zip lining, swimming in underground rivers and cenotes, snorkel/dive with turtles, and really great parks at Xcaret and Xel-Ha. Doable on your budget. Plus great beaches and sunshine. May get the occasional shower of rain in Summer but dries up quickly.
Or South Africa - Cape Town, Garden Route, Sun City, a few days in one of the private game reserves.

Indonesia, not just Bali - some lovely islands and places around, could visit 2/3 places and you can get villas with private pools in a complex with other pools, restaurants etc. and on the beach front for well within your budget!

With 18k you can go anywhere

Not true

Not with 4 people

You're not wrong there! I don't even spend £1800 on my main holiday. 2 adults and daughter who finished school as well.

But you are surely aware that people spend a lot more?

Ignore the haters OP. Your money, your choice! We’ve always prioritised travel over everything. People may look at my holiday pics on instagram and judge us as very rich, but won’t know that my car is 20 years old and falling apart, and my living room carpet was desperate to be changed 5 years ago. Experiences are more important than possessions for me.

I would probably opt for Western Canada or Hawaii as both are on my bucket list. Of the places I have been I can recommend Vegas and the Grand Circle, although it may not be the most relaxing. Zion National Park is my favourite place on earth. New England is also fab. We loved Cape Cod, New Hampshire and the coast of Maine. If looking at Europe consider city breaks in Riga, Tallinn, etc and explore some if that area. We loved it. Also loved the Maldives and Bali. In fact we did one holiday which was Hong Kong, Bali and Singapore which gave great variety with a chilled out time in Bali in the middle.

My parents, both retired, not well off, spent a month travelling in America, booked everything themselves and with spending money, that was 10k.

Of course you can do it - but you can also spend a lot more.

18K for a holiday? This post is showing off, I am sure there are people reading this who don't even earn that much in a year. Talk about first world problems 🙄.

No it’s somebody asking for advice.

What a novel perspective.

Insensitive when there are young families or older folks struggling to pay their electricity bills. It comes over as showing off.

But it wasn’t on a thread about people who can’t afford to pay their electric bill.

Key words were "showing off".

I’ve got my eye on a multi country semi guided Stans tour through Central Asia. For 5, £26k, but since it’s semi organised it includes guides etc in certain places.

Been watching with interest, seems Canada is the place to go!

I don’t think it was.

Or, asking advice. Plenty on this thread with lots of experience which is what the OP is asking for. If you can't help answer her question, why reply at all?

Canada also has the risk of wildfires, if that’s something you’re concerned about. They’ve had serious wildfires for the last few years.

Iceland? Lots to see and do.
Italian Lakes?
Costa Rica?

Have a look at an agent like Selective Asia. They have helpful monthly weather maps and will do a great tailor made trip for you. They’re good value compared to eg Audley Travel. I’d go to Borneo. Vietnam or Sri Lanka.

Well as the thread was clearly titled, I can't see why someone who is likely to be upset by it's contents, would open it in the first place?🤔

Personally I would not spend £18k on a holiday (I could afford to if I was so inclined) but then again, I expect if I created a thread about spending a large sum on my particular hobby I would get people on there reminding me there is a COL crisis etc.☹️

You could quite easily spend £1800 on 4x return flights with baggage to Europe during the school holidays now.

£800 each for flights to Spain?!

I can't see if anyone has helped you with this. But my first port of call is guidebooks for a browse and get a vibe of an area. Travel section of waterstones for an hour. It will give you an idea of things to do and key points.

Theres an active facebook group for cape cod. There's also several for nyc and nyc with kids and a boston with kids and boston general travel tips one.

With your budget i'd be open. A centralish hotel in nyc with a pool. Same for boston are your best bet. Its hot in summer and a pool is great to spend an afternoon at when you're hot and sweaty. For cape cod i'd be open there are some beautiful resort hotels and some amazing air bnbs. We did an air bnb when we went. You'll want a car ideally but uber is quite available too if needed. Search cape cod travel guides online and search booking.com and air bnb for an idea of accomdation. Things to do wise it's likely to be less adventous than cities but more beaches, small towns, boat trips, i believe theres some water sports too. Its very quaint. But busy in peak summer months. Marthas vineyard is a nice trip for a day. The heritage musueum and gardens has some amazing cars too!

You may find it worth a trip to a travel agent like trailfinders. Even if just for ideas and a plan if you're not confident planning alone.

18k is alot yes. But actually 4.5k each doesn't get you that far in peal season. If you have the money enjoy it. Can't see what everyone's making such a fuss about.