Alternatives to Hawaii

vitahelp · 2025-04-26T09:43:59+00:00

I’m looking at holidays for next year, it will be me, DH & DD age 7. Thinking of Easter Holidays or Summer Holidays. We fancied Hawaii but having second thoughts now after some research and not sure if it is worth the cost and distance. Does anyone have any alternatives? We want to travel outside of Europe, and want nice beaches and something a bit different/exotic. Wary of rainy/storm seasons which is why I’m considering Easter instead of Summer break.

Bigtom · 26/04/2025 10:57

We’re going to Singapore and Malaysia with our DD this summer. We’re spending some time in Langkawi for the beach.

samarrange · 26/04/2025 10:58

Have a look at Goa. The beaches are incredible and 5-star hotels are quite affordable.

Forgottenmyphone · 26/04/2025 11:27

Costa Rica

Original poster

vitahelp · 26/04/2025 15:13

Bigtom · 26/04/2025 10:57

We’re going to Singapore and Malaysia with our DD this summer. We’re spending some time in Langkawi for the beach.

@Bigtom that sounds amazing, I hadn’t looked at Singapore or Malaysia yet and haven’t been either (except a 13hr layover in Singapore airport). Langkawi looks beautiful! I hope you have a brilliant time!

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Original poster

vitahelp · 26/04/2025 15:15

samarrange · 26/04/2025 10:58

Have a look at Goa. The beaches are incredible and 5-star hotels are quite affordable.

@samarrange thank you for the suggestion, I’ll have a look at Goa. Would you say it would be fine with a young child?

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sciaticafanatica · 26/04/2025 15:16

Exuma

Original poster

vitahelp · 26/04/2025 15:16

Forgottenmyphone · 26/04/2025 11:27

Costa Rica

@Forgottenmyphone thanks for a the reply. I was looking at Costa Rica earlier. It never occurred to me as somewhere you might go as a family but it sounds like it is fine. I’ll have a closer look at how it would work.

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Original poster

vitahelp · 26/04/2025 15:17

sciaticafanatica · 26/04/2025 15:16

Exuma

@sciaticafanatica I had to look up Exuma
as I hadn’t heard of it! Would we have to fly to a major airport and then boat there?

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Bobbybobbins · 26/04/2025 15:18

Hawaii was lovely but I don’t think it is worth the distance unless you are doing other stop offs.

Original poster

vitahelp · 26/04/2025 15:19

Bobbybobbins · 26/04/2025 15:18

Hawaii was lovely but I don’t think it is worth the distance unless you are doing other stop offs.

@Bobbybobbins yes this was the feeling I got from reading people’s thoughts on it and it’s really put me off! I think if we had 3 weeks and unlimited budget there would probably be a way to do Hawaii and really get the best of it but we only have 2 weeks and whilst we’re not on a low budget we wouldn’t want to go too mad.

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Irie1980 · 26/04/2025 15:21

I literally flew home from Malaysia this morning. Flew into KL, spent just over 2 weeks with the kids 10 and 12. We travelled over to Redang and the Perhentian Islands, then a couple of days in Melaka and then back to KL before coming home.

We flew via Doha with Qater, two 7 hour flights, so it wasn't horrendous. Weather was HOT and humid but it was absolutely amazing. So much wildlife and the beaches were out of this world with white sand and warm waters.

I think 2 weeks would be perfect. Very easy to get around using the local Grab system (Uber) and it was very cheap!

Edited to add that we had only 1 afternoon of rain in 2 weeks. A few nighttime showers but overall Easter is a great time to visit.

sciaticafanatica · 26/04/2025 15:24

@vitahelpyou can get a connecting flight that is about 45 mins or a ferry

samarrange · 26/04/2025 15:45

vitahelp · 26/04/2025 15:15

@samarrange thank you for the suggestion, I’ll have a look at Goa. Would you say it would be fine with a young child?

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We were there as a couple but there were lots of families staying at the five-star hotel that we were at ("Zuri White Sands Goa Resort & Casino"). About two-thirds of the guests were middle-class Indians. The hotel has a kids club, but we didn't check out what that involved or when its opening weeks might be relative to school holidays etc. There was plenty of non-spicy food available, and there is a really nice restaurant just outside the entrance of the hotel with a big variety of dishes.

On previous holidays to lower income countries I have felt a bit uncomfortable (white people sticking out like a sore thumb, everyone wanting something from you) but we genuinely didn't have any of that in India, and especially not in Goa. I would go back in a heartbeat.

Original poster

vitahelp · 26/04/2025 16:24

Irie1980 · 26/04/2025 15:21

I literally flew home from Malaysia this morning. Flew into KL, spent just over 2 weeks with the kids 10 and 12. We travelled over to Redang and the Perhentian Islands, then a couple of days in Melaka and then back to KL before coming home.

We flew via Doha with Qater, two 7 hour flights, so it wasn't horrendous. Weather was HOT and humid but it was absolutely amazing. So much wildlife and the beaches were out of this world with white sand and warm waters.

I think 2 weeks would be perfect. Very easy to get around using the local Grab system (Uber) and it was very cheap!

Edited to add that we had only 1 afternoon of rain in 2 weeks. A few nighttime showers but overall Easter is a great time to visit.

Edited

@Irie1980 Thanks so much for the details! It sounds like you had an amazing time! I was going to ask what the weather was like then saw you had answered that, it sounds like Easter is a great time to go. We’re good with heat and humidity. I’ll start some research!

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Original poster

vitahelp · 26/04/2025 16:25

sciaticafanatica · 26/04/2025 15:24

@vitahelpyou can get a connecting flight that is about 45 mins or a ferry

@sciaticafanatica thanks! That sounds do-able.

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Original poster

vitahelp · 26/04/2025 16:26

samarrange · 26/04/2025 15:45

We were there as a couple but there were lots of families staying at the five-star hotel that we were at ("Zuri White Sands Goa Resort & Casino"). About two-thirds of the guests were middle-class Indians. The hotel has a kids club, but we didn't check out what that involved or when its opening weeks might be relative to school holidays etc. There was plenty of non-spicy food available, and there is a really nice restaurant just outside the entrance of the hotel with a big variety of dishes.

On previous holidays to lower income countries I have felt a bit uncomfortable (white people sticking out like a sore thumb, everyone wanting something from you) but we genuinely didn't have any of that in India, and especially not in Goa. I would go back in a heartbeat.

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@samarrange that is really good to know! I have the same concerns travelling to certain countries. It sounds ideal!

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Twilightstarbright · 26/04/2025 16:38

Last Easter we went to Brazil with our DS who was 7. Visited Rio, Iguazu and Buzios and it was brilliant.

@Irie1980 where is that photo from? It needs to go on my travel list!

Irie1980 · 26/04/2025 16:41

Twilightstarbright · 26/04/2025 16:38

Last Easter we went to Brazil with our DS who was 7. Visited Rio, Iguazu and Buzios and it was brilliant.

@Irie1980 where is that photo from? It needs to go on my travel list!

It's a small resort called Laguna Redang - it was mid range in price, and they do 3 day/2 night packages with AI meals and snorkling trips. The Perhentians were equally beautiful but with more of a backpacker vibe! We swam with sharks and turtles and all the tropical fish you could imagine!

https://www.lagunaredang.com.my/

Twilightstarbright · 26/04/2025 18:39

Irie1980 · 26/04/2025 16:41

It's a small resort called Laguna Redang - it was mid range in price, and they do 3 day/2 night packages with AI meals and snorkling trips. The Perhentians were equally beautiful but with more of a backpacker vibe! We swam with sharks and turtles and all the tropical fish you could imagine!

https://www.lagunaredang.com.my/

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Thank you, it looks stunning!