Where to go family of 4 big birthday and end of GCSEs in 2026

[Puppyteeth]

Summer 2026 it will be a big birthday for my DH, one child will have finished GCSEs and other child not in a significant school year. Where would be a great family holiday? For good reason don’t want holiday vaccinations so was thinking Japan or Australia. Where have you been and where would you recommend. Previously did Sri Lanka which was very good. Could go anywhere subject to vaccines. All suggestions welcome. I’m expecting it will cost a fortune but can start saving now.

Vancouver, Whistler and Vancouver Island.

Gosh that sounds interesting I’ll take a look. Thank you so much for replying.

Hopeful bump

@Puppyteeth Japan is sweltering by end of June and humid. Mountain area not so much but it’s far better in spring and autumn.

Australia? A hell of a long way! What length of time is this for? I’d look at South Area. There are game reserves in malaria free areas. If you left it until late August you would see whales in Hermanus. They come right into the shore. There’s plenty of things to see and do. Also only 2 hours time difference.

Canada is good too and I’d also consider Nova Scotia. What about Iceland? Not hot, but very different.

I was going to say British Columbia too. Fly into Vancouver, rent a car and do a circular trip. Northern Vancouver island is pretty wild, amazing, if you have time and budget you can also take the train inland even to Calgary

Or much nearer but amazing go to Finland Sweden and Norway - we are heading to the far north, as far as you can be on land next midsummer, never gets dark. (Bit niche but we hoping to go to the worlds most northerly bike rally)

I would avoid Japan in the summer as so hot and humid. I have been to Australia a couple of times in the summer:Perth and Broome. Perth was pretty mild and Broome was hot and dry. I love WA, but it’s a very long trip.
Agree with the BC suggestion- Vancouver island is fabulous.
asia - central Vietnam is dry then but can get very hot - 40 plus degrees.
what about Bali, Java or Malaysian Borneo?

Wow these are all super suggestions. I shall get researching. Many thanks for the ideas and the information about weather in Japan.

@ShanghaiDiva Won’t the need jabs for some of those? Borneo?

Costa Rica, amazing eco friendly places to stay and loads to do!

Missed the part about the jabs. We lived in China for years so have had every vaccination going!

Have you done Malaysia? We've been in the summer, or was fab. KL, Borneo, Perenthian Islands. Loads of see and do. Lovely people and great food!

I’m sure you should have jabs for Costa Rica too. No jabs make some places difficult I think.

We did a US West Coast Road trip. We visited: San Francisco, Yosemite National Park (awesome), Monterey (went whale watching, visited the fabulous aquarium), drove down the Pacific Coast Highway with amazing scenery, saw some great wildlife including a beach full of elephant seals, Santa Barbara (cycled along a great cycle path to Montecito to nosey at where Harry and Meghan live ha ha), drove through LA (not into movies or theme parks so didn't stop) to Laguna Beach for a couple of relaxing beach days then spent 5 days in San Diego (so so much to do, a fantastic city!)

It was the holiday of a lifetime and the kids were a great age for it. Was expensive so it was supposed to be a one off but loved it so much we went back to California 2 years later and did some other parts of it, including Lake Tahoe. I absolutely love California, ithere's something for everyone.

Forgot to mention we saw bears on both trips! One was in our parking space last year when we returned from dinner 😆

@CurlyhairedAssassin LA has far more than theme parks. The Getty Centre is one of the best buildings I’ve ever visited. It’s stunning. We liked Mulholland Drive and the canyons too.

Alaskan cruise.

If it’s the end of June/early July the bears are barely active. It’s much better to see them during the salmon run in August. They are catching salmon and having a feast.

Thank you everyone. Lots to think about. Now spoilt for choice.

Done multiple big trips with teens in the US. Some of the highlights for them were California + Arizona (Sedona/off roading and flagstaff) then off the New York. Florida Universal Studios, Space station, Airboat ride through the Everglades followed by a stay at the Keys. Really depends on what you think you would all enjoy

@jeaux90 Most of those are 100 degrees plus in July and August. They were approaching that in June. NY is horrible in the Brit summer holidays.

@TizerorFizzhonestly I do not understand the hysteria about heat on here. We were there in Florida, California and New York in July every time and it was hot yes but absolutely fine.

Same. We’ve visited many very hot cities in the heat and enjoy it! Such drama.

OP don’t discount Japan based on a few people who allegedly melt the instant they see the sun. It will be absolutely fantastic for your family.

It’s very hard sightseeing in very hot cities. It’s very hot and humid in NY and many Japanese cities in our summer school holidays. Some people like that type of weather but others don’t. It’s not dramatic to state the truth about weather. You can obviously make up your own minds but we’ve met people who do spend summer at their homes in Florida to lock it down during hurricanes. It’s just better to be in some areas not in our summer holidays.

If anyone can remember, the Olympics were boiling hot in Tokyo in 2021. If it’s not raining you are looking at 34 degrees and above and humidity.