Long Haul family holiday help

[Aliceinwonder1]

Hi,

I am looking at holiday ideas for next year, likely Easter 2026 for me, husband and 2 kids aged 11 and 9. I am contemplating outside of Europe as we haven't done one with the kids yet and feel they are good ages for it however I am not sure where to go as we've only really done standard beach holidays before. Ideally I'd like somewhere that's hot still.
I am looking for somewhere where there's things for the kids to do like animal sanctuary/water parks etc but also beaches, restaurants etc local to where we stay. I am not keen on Florida or America in general right now and we are looking to do Thailand in 2028 so not there either. I have looked at Dubai but I know it's very expensive so am wondering if there are alternatives.
Any advice on where would be ideal places to look into would be appreciated thank you.

@Aliceinwonder1 ...I'm still waiting to read a book by a pool. Mine don't do relaxing yet either 🙄. Even more reason to do these types of holidays. They are activity-packed!

One day! Although we'll miss it. Activity side what type of things do you tend to do? Mine like swimming but I'm unsure if they'll do snorkeling as not tried it before.
My husband thinks we should do the typical kid based things for the next few years, ie Disney then do the more luxurious ones later so I'm torn!

I went to Vietnam with a 12 and 10 year old (active adventurous kids) and I think it was a bit early. Suspect they’d have preferred Costa Rica or South Africa hence suggesting those upthread.

NB these are good at Easter, if you end up travelling at a different time then other countries may work better

We might be talking about different types of trips as ours certainly aren't luxurious.
But various trips to places discussed above have included visiting sights, snorkeling, white water rafting, kayaking, paddle boarding, hiking (lots), cycling, wild-life spotting (lots), usually travelling by bus/train (am adventure in itself). Some beach/river/lake swimming time. Never theme parks.

@Aliceinwonder1 Disney is expensive and my DC never wanted it. Thank God.

There are far better places to go with dc and they will remember. It’s a bit too early in April, but at that age ours enjoyed a cruise in Alaska. Not too expensive and we had a mid sized ship.

We also went to South Africa and it’s great. Lots to see and do. April is Autumn so you have plenty of choice regarding destinations. If you could wait until August you would have whales off Cape Town. The Garden Route is easy to navigate.

We didn’t go to a beach resort for 2 weeks. We moved to different islands in the Caribbean but it’s not cheap . Bali is a long long way - nearer places are better! Families worldwide have a great holiday to Peru. Now our DC are older they remember what they saw and didn’t just want beaches. We had other amazing holidays but they were expensive. I can recommend safari holidays though. DDs very excited by them. Also Ecuador was a huge hit. Other families I know enjoyed Namibia.

To me the long haul Bali etc holidays seem very luxurious in comparison to typical Spain holiday lol
I think if I could just get a plan together it would make it easier to decide but I'm struggling as there's so many amazing places out there and I'm just not sure what to go for. Me and my husband are on different wavelengths at the moment too so more options keep coming up!

We have done ones like that before and enjoyed them however I'd love to do something different next year

Have a browse through the itineraries for different countries on websites like Stubborn Mule, Intrepid, Audley, Trailfinders. Will give you a good idea of what is available in each place and what you think you and your kids might like. Of course bear in mind it’s all described through rose coloured specs and won’t mention the tourist crowds or sweaty heat etc!

Be realistic about what your kids will enjoy, mine for example are not wowed by historic buildings or culture right now, they prefer activities to looking at stuff. Shame!

Do check the weather and try to match up with the better season for travel, my kids don’t do well in sticky heat for example (tbh nor do I these days) so no wet seasons for us.

My kids are same age so I get it. my friend with slightly older kids just went to Vietnam with hers, toured from north to south, overnight trains etc, what an adventure! I did it myself pre kids and want to take the kids when they are a bit older. No water/theme parks though that I know of though

Japan is another idea though it’s unbearably humid in our summer so you’d have to go at Easter if sticking to school hols or possibly October. Universal Osaka is excellent.

There comes a time when dc can be introduced to the culture of different countries and not just American theme parks. I think a lot of dc like nature and exploring ancient kingdoms. Having knowledge about how others live and worship is never wasted in life. Appreciating others are poorer and have to make a huge effort to get to school is worth knowing too. Struggles snd conflict make us appreciate cultures. As well as art, music, dance and museums. I think if you go long haul, look around you. Wonder at how buildings were constructed and how gold artefacts were fashioned or crops watered and grown. I never did see travel as purely fun in a water park and definitely avoid excessive heat and humidity. Japan is great at Easter but it’s high season.

My sis took her kids who were that age to Indonesia, went to an orang utan sanctuary, beaches, etc, they had a wonderful time.

Suggest

Bali, Komodo & Gili islands

Philippines many islands

Vietnam

Thailand

Cambodia

Malaysia

Borneo

Or combine some of the above
Once you are in Asia, flights & trains & accommodation are relatively cheap compared to Europe prices

Sri Lanka!
We've been with our kids twice. First time they were 9 and 13. Then again when they were 14 and 18. Both times fantastic. Especially when they were younger - when we went at Easter.
There's loads to see, (wildlife parks, buddhist temples, amazing mountains) plus fantastic beaches. You can do a lot in two weeks. Plus it's very affordable. I reckon our three weeks in Sri Lanka last summer cost less than two weeks in the Europe (We spent £4.5k, including the flights. On everything, hotels, eating out, sight-seeing). Happy to answer any more questions. But honestly, Sri Lanka is fantastic. Interesting, beautiful, and relativly easy to travel in.

Thank you. Where abouts in Sri lanka did you go?

I feel I want to do all of these places now lol

On our first trip (April 2019) we did a circuit - Colombo (just for two nights, because we had a friend there. I think you could skip Colombo), Kandy, then Polonoruwa in the north. Fantastic temples and monkeys and sights. Think 'jungle-book'. It was very hot though! Stay somewhere with a pool. Mineryia nature reserve for an incredible safari. Hundreds of wild elephants. Then Kandy again. (fun, easy small city) Then train into the mountains for a few cool days walking around the tea plantations. We stayed in Haputale. Most people go to Ella, which is probably more straightforward. Then down to the south coast for a week on the beaches. We stayed in a heavenly small place near Tangalle for four nights. Honestly, it was the beach of dreams. Message me and I'll tell you where. Then 3 nights in Mirissa. Which is a larger beach town - good for a bit more 'civilisation', eg kids could get a burger etc. And more time in the sea. So, sight-seeing, mountains, wildlife, beach. All very very easy in two-and-a-bit weeks. We paid around £40 a night, sometimes a lot less, (for all four of us in two rooms) for accomodation. Sometimes that included a pool. The second trip, last summer, we did a different route - more in the north of Sri Lanka, because the sea is too rough to swim in the south in July. If you want details of that - i can share. Honestly, Sri Lanka is a really great family destination! It was the perfect mix of being interesting, but not too 'full on', with really lovely family beach-time. My kids loved it. My oldest has just told me he wants to go back there again with his girlfriend.

Also, your kids are at the perfect age to appreciate it! 9 to 11, they'll remember it, but also absorb so much, learn about different cultures, and be excited about all the little things (monkeys, big lizards, unusual fruit etc). They'll learn to cope with the unexpected. Once they get to 13, 14, 15 they're still 'into' this stuff, a bit, but they get a bit more cynical, asking for the wifi password everywhere we go, and are glued to their phones, even when we're on a 'paradise' beach! Go now!

@daystartswithcoffee can you share your July itinerary?
We went in July/August and did most of your April trip but included Trincomalee and Arugum Bay instead of the south coast (I want to go back one Christmas and go to the south).

hi
For our July trip last summer we did:
Negombo (one night, to recover from flight)
Anuradhupura. (Highlight of our trip! Nature walks, amazing temples, but we were there for a full moon Buddhist festival, which was really incredible, so was a good time to go)
Trincomalee beaches (we spent a couple of nights each at Upuvelli, and Nilavelli. liked both)
Sigirya for a couple of nights, to see Sigirya
Mahintale - some trips and walking into the Knuckles mountains. This was cool, damp and really beautiful. Would go back here. Quite off-the-beaten track
Kandy - a couple of chilled nights at the end of holiday

I kind of wish we'd gone to Jaffna. The north looked really interesting. But it was all very, very hot up there! We needed to pace ourselves. We were with a 14 yo and 18 yo. This might have been a bit tougher with younger children. Staying in places with a swimming pool helped!

I keep thinking about going to other countries - but it is really hard to beat Sri Lanka!

We went to Bali in February, , it’s a loooooooong way ( we flew to 7 hours to Abu Dhabi , had a 2 hours break or so then another 9 hours to Bali )
We stayed in Nusa Dua , TBH we didn’t really leave the hotel much , the beach club for the hotel was ok , but the water was murky
It was so hot , we were so jet lagged and exhausted from the flights , we were only there 5 nights , could have done with 10 !
Fabulous place , the hotel was a family resort with a big pool , fantastic food

At the end of the holiday , we spent 5 nights in The Maldives , shorter flight but practically nothing to do except swim , snorkel , sunbathe and eat!
Again , there was a kids club , but we’re in our 60s and left our grown up children at home , so can’t comment on that

Me again, thanks for all the comments on the thread...I looked at so many places and I thought we were quite set on Singapore, Malaysia and then Maldives however we've done a bit of a u turn as the things we want to do in Maldives (swim and snorkel etc) I think the kids will be too nervous to do and they've never done snorkeling before.
Therefore we're back to square one it feels! Will look at these places again, we definitely want a bit of culture and the kids are great with walking and want to see things so not an issue that side. I'd like something different and a bit stand out however may have jumped the gun with my first idea.

Any suggestions of somewhere which is amazing for first time snorkeling and tips how to get kids used to it would also be appreciated 😂

Have you looked at Langkawi Malaysia ?

Cable car to sky walk mountain

Boat trip with sea eagles

Zoo

Water sports

Horse riding

I've stayed in great hotels there less than £20 per night for 2 people with pool
Street food is excellent & cheap

From there you can get ferry to Khoh Lipe small Thai island
Or
Fly to Penang

We are going to Singapore and Malaysia next year with our children after lots of recommendations on here. KL, Penang and Langkawi. We felt like there was the right mix of relaxation and adventure/culture for the children in those locations

Egypt

Which aspect of snorkelling àre you worried about? Is it the mask and snorkel, or is it more than they might be nervous in the sea?

For the former, I think full face snorkel masks would be the way to go. Very comfortable to wear, great visibility and you don't have to have the snorkel mouthpiece in your mouth.

https://www.argos.co.uk/product/6798158