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!

Yeah, but do we all need to know about it and it being rubbed in our faces? It's just a massive, shameless brag! Of course she can figure out by herself where and how to spend that budget. She surely has lots of friends to recommend things or can find a decent travel planner. Also, she does spends this kind of budget on holidays every year, at least once or twice according to her post, it's not like it's her 1st time. This is just gross bragging. 18k is half of the average income in the UK, fgs.

OP, have you considered moving the dates of your “big” holiday? We tend to have one “big” holiday a year (£££) and then lower key holidays during the rest of the year, similar to you it sounds.

As Europe (and sometime UK) is lovely during the kids summer holidays we do short haul holidays then. We do our long haul expensive trips at either Christmas or Easter when the weather is rubbish in Europe. This opens up a lot more destinations. Thailand, Vietnam and South Africa would be high on my list of recommendations at that time of the year.

If hell bent on August, then Kenya/Tanzania safari and beach trip would be lovely. Go at the start and you’ll catch the great migration.

OP you can do a lovely holiday to Vietnam for that. I’ve just booked for 4 people for 2 weeks for 12k. That’s premium economy flights and 2 weeks organised guided tour staying in 4 hotels. If you add your extra people and upgrade to 5 (although the 4* ones look fabulous) that would come in your budget. If you’re happy to fly economy would be even cheaper but personally I’m of an age where I want a bit of space on a long flight

So people can only ask for advice on a board which is all about discretionary spending if they don’t have any money for discretionary spending?

Using your logic - do people need to come on and ask "how can I feed my family on a budget?" Of course they don't - there is literally thousands of resources online.

So why do people post? Because sometimes it's nice to talk about experiences.

Yeah I agree, it feels nice to brag from time to time 💅

See the multiple responses where loads of people have explained why your post and similar posts are ridiculous.
Do you think BMW’s shouldn’t be advertised on tv because they cost about three times the average national wage and some people watching I’m a Celeb can’t afford to put their heating on?

It isn't bragging - this is a forum for women from all walks of life. If it was a budget forum then yes I would agree with you - it would be insensitive.

But it isn't a budget forum - and asking the best value supermarket for those on a budget is just a legitimate a question as do you prefer The Ritz or The Savoy.

If a thread isn't for you - just move on.

Virtually every post on mumsnet can be answered with a google search - asking others for advice is the whole point of mumsnet.

Oh behave. Is it gross bragging when someone writes about their pregnancy - someone infertile might read it!
Someone writes about their mum - someone who’s mum died might read it!
I just put all the facts in my OP title so if it’s relevant people can reply if they want to. I assume everyone here is a grown adult that can cope with a basic fact in an OP title about holidays on the holiday forum.
I haven’t come on to a thread about a Sun holiday and sneered and said “OMG sounds awful have you thought about spending 18k instead” or a thread where someone is struggling for money and said “ omg I’ve actually got loads of money and am spending 18k on my holiday why don’t you take in some ironing”
I’ve started my own thread with my own facts about my own life! Of course I can google
holiday destinations (although have you tried Googling holiday destinations? You get…quite a few results) but I just wanted some fresh ideas?

BTW, for completeness, and it’s annoyed me that I’ve even done this - just priced up BA economy flights to Majorca in summer - 2.3k.
Whilst I was on the website BA offered me 2 weeks AI at an Ikos - 32k
I priced up a hotel recommended above in the Maldives - 20k for 2 weeks.
18k is NOT an outlandish or ridiculous amount of money to spend on a holiday. Thousands and thousands of people are doing it every year. That’s not to say spending less is rubbish or impossible or will get you a shit holiday before someone accuses me of that, just that honestly, it’s fairly normal!

I really didn’t want to respond about the money because so many people have taken time to give great suggestions so I’d rather concentrate on that from here on in personally.

Yep, and on every thread, people will express a difference of opinions and tell each other they agree or disagree. You disagree with me, like lots of others, and some agree with me. That's the point of mumsnet xx

@Ppzd I have had my best holiday ideas from Mumsnet. Yes I could Google it but I know on here it’s going to be real life experiences, usually from other people with similar age kids. It’s not someone trying to sell something, or an AI written article.
Of course I also talk to to friends and read stuff online. But its ridiculous to suggest that people shouldn’t post on here because they can look it up on the internet. In that case we may as well shut down the whole of MN!

Sounds brilliant - do you have any recos for the company you booked with?
I’m a bit weird about guided tours because what if I don’t like the guide? But Vietnam sounds lovely

Yes but the OP didn’t ask people’s opinion on whether she should spend £18k on a holiday, she asked for ideas of where to go. But loads of posters keep trying to derail the thread to discuss the budget. That is not the point of this thread! 🙄

disagreeing would be saying; don’t go to Canada it’s really dull, go to Vietnam.
Accusing the OP of bragging is not disagreeing it’s just plain rude,

@Twitwootoo which company did you book with, if you don’t mind me asking?

I’ve no idea how people can answer these types of questions without a figure.

You need a figure to be able to suggest something in the OP’s budget.

If I had suggested two weeks in a 2 star Benidorm hotel - it would been pointless as the OP can afford a lot more.

If I had suggested a bungalow in Sandy lane with a stopover at the Plaza in NYC on the way - it would have been pointless as she can’t afford it.

Europe can be hot but if not too south then it can also be lovely.

On our bucket list is a trip to Slovenia, gorgeous coastline.
Alternatively the Lakes in Northern Italy there are some theme parks for the kids and chill out areas and spa options too.

SE Asia is amazing to explore even in rainy season it tends to chuck it down for an hour or so then it clears up again the humidity can be high.

I disagree with that. The most important part is the type of trip. You can backpack across the world cheaply or spend thousands in Benidorm ...

This is exactly what I was going to say too! I’m curious rather than critical!

its not just about how much you earn and a mortgage, it’s about how many other priorities there are before money is truly disposable to me. Someone upthread said you could do this with two 40k salaries but there’s tax on these, then pensions to consider at a realistic amount to live on so I’m talking AVC’s even if there is a sound company scheme. Then there’s savings for education. In my head, every 20k is another year I need to work before retiring or a year at university for one child. On a salary of 100k plus, tax is even higher plus in my experience the demand of the job are such that more help needs to be bought in at home (cleaners, dry cleaners etc) more spent on work related items such as clothes etc.

I did have a plan for a ‘big’ holiday this year and I can see options for long haul adventure with Trailfinders coming in at 6k for a family to Thailand, Vietnam, Costa Rica. I think, reading this thread, I’d now be too embarrassed to take my pitifully small ‘big’ budget to an independent travel advisor! In previous years I have managed Uk holidays on £600-800 for cottages,1.2k for a canal boat, 3k all inclusive Greece and 3k half board in the Alps.

For those saying there are loads of people who can afford this, I guess reach extends, and high end agents get more clients, when kids aren’t in the equation doubling the cost and term time holidays can be taken.

Exactly. I’ve had some of my best holidays from recommendations on mumsnet, down to the specific hotel.

But how can I possibly recommend where to stay etc if I don’t know your budget? It’s impossible.

In most cases you can save thousands by booking directly rather than via agents.

You can recommend destinations

I can’t. If you are a family of 4 with a budget of 5k - I can’t recommend a safari in Botswana.