Tropical holiday in August with teens, any recommendations please?

[JudithsDead]

We would love to take the kids somewhere tropical next year… 2 weeks in our summer, so I am not keen on the Caribbean because I don’t think it is the right season.
Ideas are currently Mauritius, Gulf of Thailand or maybe Lombok.
Would want white sand, crystal clear waters, snorkelling
Preferably AI I suppose, we normally do villas but wouldn’t be keen to self cater or drive in Asia, just lack of confidence.
Two teen boys so a hotel that has separate bedrooms rather than a pull out sofa bed etc would be preferred
Budget 20k, 22 max.

If any one can recommend specific hotels or resorts I’d be really grateful to give me somewhere to start researching.

St Regis, Nusa Dua in Bali. They really looked after us and there are lots of exciting day trips from there - manta ray snorkelling , temples, Komodo dragon safaris. The resort has the best pools I’ve been to and you could do a city stopover in Singapore.

Thank you…. I’ve heard a lot about Bali just being crazy busy and over crowded, was that your experience?

It can be if you go to the touristy areas, but St Regis was a tranquil retreat. It was a great base to return to after days out sight seeing or to rest after a spending time travelling to other islands

Just returned from Melia Ko Samui- Fab time to visit gulf of Thailand

How about Neilson Mauritius?
Your teens will have the best time ever and you adults can do as much or as little as you want.

Mauritius will rain quite a bit ... for us every night early evening ... for 30/60 minutes ... torrential.

I think swimming and snorkeling is a bit boring for that amount of money. I’d be looking at Namibia or South Africa. Nor the hottest time of year but much more to see and do. Great guest houses, restaurants and wildlife you simply won’t forget. We also took dc to Ecuador and the Galápagos Islands. There’s rain forest in Ecuador too. It’s far more memorable than a hotel with a beach.

Bali is a long way and is an Australian playground. Sri Lanka is also worth a look.

You don’t need to choose AI vs self catering in Asia - there are cheap restaurants everywhere. AI will limit you to the massive resorts but you can stay in smaller places and then eat out (many hotels will have an in house restaurant anyway and most will include breakfast).

If you want resorts though I’d suggest looking at the ones off east coast Malaysia and Singapore eg Perhentians, Redang Island, Tioman Island, Bintan island and Nikoi. Bigger fancier resorts are on Bintan. Would be fun to combine one of these with some time in Singapore itself or Kuala Lumpur.

Koh Samui also fits the bill - especially if you want big international resorts - although snorkelling much better at neighbouring Koh Tao.

Lombok snorkelling is meh.

I wouldn’t choose Mauritius in summer personally, it’s a bit on the chilly side at that time for a tropical holiday.

Maldives is an option, you are taking a risk with the weather for sure but these days it’s a risk any time of year even the “dry season” and many people have great weather in the summer. Can be combined with Sri Lanka quite easily if you want more variety in your trip.

Zanzibar

Years ago, we got married early August and I was determined that I would have a 'white sand/turquoise sea' honeymoon, which is easier said than done during the Summer. Zanzibar was perfect. It was 'in season' and we were able to combine it with a week in Tanzania doing a safari followed by a week of proper picture postcard beach life learning to scuba dive and doing 'tropical things'.

The rainy season in Aruba in the Caribbean doesn’t start until September. It’s quite a small island but there’s lots to do and you could perhaps combine it with a few nights in Colombia.

I visit Mauritius almost every summer and stay on the north/west coast where the weather is better.

How old are your children? Mauritius is great for little children but if they prefer a more vibrant life it might be too quiet.

I returned from Bahamas last week and the weather was amazing.

you could look at Aruba

Aruba is a Caribbean island you can go to all year round as it's outside the hurricane/monsoon season belt

Our posts crossed 😄

with teenagers and that budget I’d look at a bit of a tour then a few days on the beach in Sri Lanka, surfing is good too, can go on a mini safari , ancient temples etc and it’s small so travel is easier

@XelaM it’s a great place!