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!

Honestly, why do some people need to derail a thread just because they couldn’t/wouldn’t/couldn’t but also wouldn’t if they could… spend £18k on a holiday.

She can and she wants some advice…. Not a fooking rant…..

sounds like you want a relaxing holiday that’s not too busy. We spent £8k on the Maldives for 2 adults…. Went diving on a liveaboard and then stayed in a beautiful villa. It was amazing.

Barbados is also stunning and pretty chill.

Dominican republic in an all inclusive resort I heard is lovely too!

Nantucket is wonderful

£18,000?!

I mean with that type of budget you could push the boat out and stay for a whole week at Center Parcs

Probably wouldn’t be in the best accommodation though!

What a headache to sort your additional holiday

At the risk of outing myself as an actually billionaire, we probs will go to CPs at Easter! (Europe though, I haven’t got oil money!).

Another one here to say £18k on a holiday... ooof I shouldn't have entered the teaching profession.

However I have lived all over the world and travelled extensively and spending £18k to see any of SE Asia would be criminal. Unless you do Amanpulo or the like but it's rainy season in PH then.

Surely it's got to be a proper bucket list culturally or geographically? Or multi island boat trip around niche destinations/ a real adventure?

Canada/ US/ Aus/ NZ/ SE Asia seem so run of the mill for that type of wedge..?!

HNRTFT but I cannot recommend Vancouver and Vancouver island enough. Absolutely idyllic. Our budget was £10000 which included hiring a camper and exploring Banff . We probably spent about £9000 but it was a holiday of a lifetime and we did everything that we hoped for.

Probably wouldn’t be in the best accommodation though

True! No games room or sauna in that price bracket.

At the risk of outing myself as an actually billionaire, we probs will go to CPs at Easter!

Elon? Is that you?!
We love Center Parcs and used to take our family (grown up children and a grandchild) every year until lock down then prices went crazy and have remained so ever since.

Have a great time, it's a fab place and maybe the pieces will drop again one day.

I can’t recommend Canada enough. We went end of August/beginning of September and the weather was perfect - not too hot or cold. Saw lots of families renting motor homes but we had a car and went between hotels and AirBnBs. An almost perfect loop for two weeks is Vancouver, Whistler, Clearwater/Kamloops, Jasper/Banff, Kelowna, then back to Vancouver to include a trip over to Vancouver Island. You’ll get a bit of everything from city to the most beautiful landscapes you’ve ever seen - no photos do it justice. Loads to do but also some super relaxing spots out towards jasper/Banff for if you need downtime halfway through.

Another option could be to go through a company like Exodus for a family adventure type trip? DC are at a good age to do some exciting stuff.

@Linens Have you looked at Oahu or Maui, Hawaii? There is so much to do like snorkeling, surfing, hiking but also there's amazing beaches to relax and most hotels have pools. The seafood is amazing but obviously it's still part of America so the burgers and chicken are great too if the children are a bit more particular about what they would like to eat! I'd highly suggest at least having a look. We absolutely loved it ❤️

Exodus have some excellent looking adventure tours to Costa Rica.

Absolutely agree , a truly magical part of the world! Vancouver gives you the beach ,mountains and city. Wish I had found Vancouver thirty five years ago ..I would still be there ! Also the Canadians are really nice people!

@Linens as you are obviously very rich , am surprised that you haven’t contacted an exclusive travel agent who can help you with an itinerary including all your requests for the perfect holiday 🤷‍♀️🙄

For that exorbitant amount of money, I'd love to go to Costa Rica or travel right from Nepal down through India to Sri Lanka.

I was in the Rockies this summer.
Look at the area around Abraham Lake. It's just outside the National Parks. There are "public use" campsites near the lake which are beautiful. There's a place at Abraham Slabs which was beautiful.
Road trip from Banff to Golden and back via Radium Hot Springs and Marble Canyon - fabulous and no one there (unlike the more famous Johnston canyon near Banff which is rammed).
Also enjoyed Kanasakis, Highway 40, all the way down to Longview and back.

I had the most amazing time, didn't see Lake Louise or Moraine Lake or the Icefields.... but saw a lot of spectacular scenery, wildlife and very few people.

If you fancy driving a bit further afield, Drumheller was absolutely fantastic. Never seen anything like the scenery there. Horseshoe canyon and the hoodoos.
And the most incredible dinosaur museum in the world "Royal Tyrell Museum". I have never seen anything like that in my life. Your 5 year old would be blown away by that I think.

18k? 😵

Curious to know if that's a normal holiday budget for a luxury fortnight; all those people whose replies ignore the amount and make suggestions of holidays they have done - is this really how much you spent?

LOL I've spent £15k on a holiday but refuse to pay CP prices

With that budget, and kids that age why not look at peligoni / neilson, mark warner at a push? Do a holiday where they can do everything while you relax? Fits your summer requirements.

@yogasam We’ve not hit that amount on a long haul family trip so I can happily recommend what we’ve done within that budget. I would call our trips comfortable rather than luxury - although we’ve found some great hotels at budget prices.

£18k??? That's around five months' wages for me! 😂😂 How the other half live! 😮

I imagine several acquaintances would spend that kind of money. I've never asked them and it's never come up in conversation, but seeing the type of places they go, i guess they probably do. (Husbands are hedge fund managers, or CEO of well known company etc)
But I'm pretty sure most people I know have more modest budgets!

Good time of year for Bali