5 years of family holidays

[Monvelo]

It's occurred to me we've got maybe 5 years of family holidays before the kids start leaving home! Where shall we go?!

Budget?

It'll vary across the 5 years, definitely not money no object but we'd push the boat out at least once. We'll be constrained to school holidays most years.

NYC
Orlando if they like theme parks
Costa rica
Kenya safari
European cruise

Good question. We loved Croatia and Switzerland

New Zealand is definitely on the list, husband is keen on Italy, trying to think of somewhere with warm and clear sea next!

We’ve been to lots of brilliant places. And my older teens still reminisce about our funny holiday in the lake district where everything went wrong 🤣!

Hope you enjoy all your adventures together wherever they are.

Go to NZ! We just did it on parental leave with a 2 year old and 4 month old. Was beautiful chaos but if we can do it with them, you will have an amazing time with your adult children. It’s just so worth the journey when you get there, so much to see and do.

Although it is expensive, I would definitely recommend Japan (perhaps in the Easter holidays). It is an amazing destination offering a blend of very modern and very traditional cultural experiences. It is very clean, safe, secure and welcoming. Public transportation is also very good. Japan has something for everyone from vibrant bustling cities, peaceful temples, white sandy beaches and dramatic landscapes. A completely unforgettable holiday experience.

We felt this way when ours were mid teens but found as soon as the oldest hit GCSE years they didn't want to go anywhere at either Christmas (mocks shortly after), Easter (studying), May bank holidays (middle of exams) which meant we could only go anywhere much in the main summer holidays. We are on the final year of A levels for the youngest now thank goodness but although they still like to come with us uni is just as restricting 🤦‍♀️. So we have ended up doing one proper holiday of a week to 10 days in the summer plus a couple of city/other UK breaks (at least our summer holidays have been starting in June not late July). Scandinavia in summer is fabulous, we did a Baltic cruise with ours. City breaks in a few European cities. Glamping trips and UK city breaks too, we have fitted the latter into October half term a few times.

Iceland is fascinating and fun. We went in Sept 2 years ago and had bright blue skies in the daytime (t shirt temp) and we lucky enough to see the aura borealis one night.

Highway 1 road trip (though personally not going to the States at the moment).

Vancouver Island/Canadian Rockies.

Iceland - Campervan/RV roadtrip around the island
Costa Rica - Xmas hols during dry season.
Yellowstone/Grand Teton - Fly into Denver & out of Jackson.
Northern Spain - Santiago de Compostela to San Sebastian
Portugal - Porto to Lisbon
Norwegian fjords - DIY roadtrip from Bergen

Where have you been? What sort of holidays do you like? Adventure, cities, beaches, skiing etc

FWIW my friend still holidays once a year with her 3 kids including 2 that are at university. They all love it and want to come. They went to NY and Thailand together.

So my list before she maybe stops coming with us is:
Hawaii
Costa Rica
Northern California
The Rockies
Seychelles
Turks and Caicos
BVI’s

Dont count on the DC not coming on holiday with you! My DC are now 18 and 21 and though they go away with friends / girlfriends on holidays we still all go away for 2+ weeks a year. I'm happy they still want to spend time with us and we have adventures together as a family.
We like a combo of adventure, sightseeing and then beach time. We loved Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Nova Scotia, Italy, Iceland, Baltics

I liked coming home from uni and going away with parents or friends family (their parents). Final summer after uni I went away with then bf and friends though.

In my experience if you are happy to keep paying they will be happy to keep going!

New Zealand - and Oz if you can make it work in one long hit
Safari to Africa
Costa Rica
Japan
European tour by rail

This year is likely to be our last family holiday (with dc - I’m getting the impression they’d like to still have family holidays beyond this but will depend on girlfriends/boyfriends etc). We’re going to Greece. I’ve not gone “all out” but it’s definitely a pricey one for a European holiday.

we’ve also done Orlando - universal not Disney - year before last and a couple of trips to the canaries which were relaxed and lovely.

We had this and covid stole some years - max the most of all the holidays - October is good because its clear of exams do make sure you are maximising it as well. Easter gets tricker when the exams kick in.

The kids suggestions are Portugal, Switzerland, Denmark/Scandinavia, and the rainforest...

So I make the list,

1. New Zealand
2. Italy (fly to bottom and out the top?)
3. Portugal
4. For jungle, maybe Costa Rica (I'm into wildlife)
5. Scandinavia
6. Central Europe including Switzerland

Last year DD (19) announced she wanted to come on our holiday to North Wales to our great surprise!

DP was worried she'd moan all the time but I pointed out that if she didn't want to come on trips out she could just stay in the cottage.

It worked out fine.

Where would anyone suggest for clear warm sea, snorkeling, and scenery and food?

Indonesia! Amazing place to do a multi stop trip.

Maldives

Are you sure it's only 5 years ? I have booked a family holiday for us and our boys ...they are 17 & 23 ...they have been instrumental in the organisation and where we go ... obviously bank of mum & Dad are paying but I don't care ...to spend time with them is priceless