Summer hols - Sri Lanka? Asia? Or similar?

[firebrand123]

Hi

Last August I took my kids to Costa Rica. We used Families Worldwide for a "tailor made" (ie not a group trip) holiday and we had an amazing time. This was our first really exciting trip and I'm now firmly sold on the idea of making memories while I'm fit and able and before my kids get too much older (they're 11 and 15).

This summer I want to go with Families Worldwide again but on a small group holiday. It's just me and the kids and I would like to have other adults around (accepting that there's no guarantees we will get along!).

Problem is, my budget isn't unlimited. Ideally I'd like to go to Kenya but that's pushing £10k. Vietnam and Sri Lanka are more affordable but I think Vietnam much be too hot and muggy to be really active and I hadn't really considered Sri Lanka before. Has anyone been, especially in summer, and can tell me what it was like?

I'm also open to other suggestions for summer. Having been to Costa Rica last August I'd rather somewhere that's not too jungle focused (like Borneo) and not too much rain would be great, although possibly tricky unless we do go to Africa....

Sri Lanka is amazing, but if budget is an issue do consider going independent, it's possible to bring an amazing trip in way under £10k, half that with public transport and private drivers. You can even safari and book a shared trip for contact with adults though we find fellow travellers really friendly once you escape the ai hotels anyway. With kids that age you could book 5 or 6 location's travelling by lots of transport options (holiday travel bingo!) and end up at the beach for 2-3 nights r&r eg where they can surf. Rather than thinking the whole package needs booking as one, you get more for your money booking directly with the safari operators (do a land one and river one), and then bespoke your hotel options based on your interests.

Ps dh has been in July and weather was great, shame he was inside buildings most of the time, it was work

Thanks @mitogoshigg. For me, I feel I do need to pay the extra to have it organised for me. I am prone to anxiety and travelling on my own with the kids, being responsible for everything, is definitely something that could trigger a bout. It was great to have things prearranged in Costa Rica and someone to contact if we needed any help. A group would be even better, I think, as I nearly always have a bout of illness when I travel, just dodgy tummy for a day or so, and having experienced that in Costa Rica, it would have been comforting to have other adults with us.

It's a delicate balancing act!!

I see they have Indonesia trips, the weather will be drier than Vietnam but likely still very hot, and costs shouldn't be too bad. My mother-in-law and sister-in-law were in Vietnam last August and got caught by the edge of the typhoon, obviously that's worse case scenario. I am sure some years it's fine. I also saw 9 day trips in South Africa which would be fun, but if you want to add extra days to make it a bit of a longer I guess the price will rocket up.

@firebrand123 we've been to both Costa Rica and Sri Lanka. Loved both. Sri Lanka had the edge for me. So much more affordable too. It's a good place weather-wise for the UK summer.
We did both independently, single mum and kids.
We backpacked in Sri Lanka (trains and buses) but many people book a driver. This might provide you with a halfway house between totally independent and a group tour. The itinerary and accomodation would then be fixed. No idea how it would compare price wise with a group though!

Thanks @TeamGeriatric 😊

@HappyHolidays75 ok, I am now officially sold on Sri Lanka!