Summer 2027 - post exam trip of lifetime sort of thing...

[GrumpyMuleFan]

I sat down this afternoon to start dreaming about a big family holiday for summer 2027. Family of four with two teenagers finishing A Level / GCSE. I thought I'd be in the clover with lots ideas around Japan, Costa Rica, South Africa, Scandinavia, interrailing but it's slowly dawned on me that it's not that easy

• lots of places are too hot / humid in July and August
• DH says he loves to travel, but is only good in upmarket hotels and business flights. We all like a bit of luxury, but tricky with four of us on a big / long holiday. I vowed never to do a long-haul flight with him again after our last holiday - he literally winged and complained like a child the whole way there and back.

North America:
We have spent a lot of time in California, but not done the whole camper van thing, so that is an option, but feel we have seen a lot already. Ditto Canadian West / Rockies, I did this trip as a teenager and have memories of a LOT of driving - it def wasn't my trip of a lifetime.

Europe:
Is interrailing a bad idea with teens - should I leave that for their own independent travel? If we did this, I'd probably go on my own with the DC.

Scandinavia:
I started to get really excited, but then saw how expensive everything can be. Esp the restaurant costs in Sweden.

It's our only holiday next year and probably have a budget of £25,000. We could save more (if I start saving more). What ideas am I missing? Asia doesn't appeal.

Sorry for such a long message, but I'd love to hear about your ideal trips - where you've been that you loved and recommended and any ideal 'big holiday' experiences too!

South Africa will be winter-time. We had a holiday a few years ago in July that was Zambia, Botswana & S.A. & thoroughly enjoyed it. We normally avoid school holidays, so my real favourites wouldn't be applicable.

How about DH in P.E./Bus class on his own ?😀I'm only partially tongue-in-cheek !

I’m pricing up Australia for 3 weeks for 2029 (planning ahead) I’m looking at coming in about that £23k with PE flights….that is for 3. That is based on air bnb rather than hotels though to keep costs down.

weather in the North is ok at that time from what I can see - just Melbourne etc that’s out.

I guess it boils down to how long your DH would travel for without pissing you off with his moaning?!

Namibia is a 10 hour flight from Frankfurt. Great temperature in July / august. For that budget you could do premium economy flights, fly drive and 4 * lodges with excursions. Lots to do..safaris, sand dunes, hot air ballooning, kayaking with fur seals, skeleton coast, horse riding. Have a look at Namibia tours and safaris. We went with them this year. Four adults (2 of which late teens), for £25K for 2.5 weeks

A bit closer is Nova Scotia. Probably less extreme but very lovely, fabulous seafood with amazing scenery, hikes, fishing, canoeinng. Plenty to see if you are based in Halifax for a few days, then drive North to Pictou, onto to PEI. Stay in luxury guesthouses.

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What are your family's interests ? Animals, archaeology, etc ?

Interrailing would be my idea of hell, I don't mind the odd train journey but not constant and keeping luggage small and easy to carry around. Maybe good for a week but not more.

US - we went East Coast, Boston is amazing but it all depends on what you enjoy doing. With DD, we could easily manage 2 weeks with sightseeing and the odd day rest inbetween.
DH would prefer more a bit of nature, hikes, mountains so we do this when we go without her.

We priced a safari for DD's 18th birthday but she decided against it, it was doable for the price tag you have.

We did South Africa last year post GCSEs. It was incredible. Yes its winter but it was hot in Kruger, warm in Johannesburg, jumper weather around Cape Town. We splurged for the safari but everywhere else, the bonus for SA at the moment is the exchange rate so your husband can dine at the top restaurants / stay in beautiful hotels without the eye-watering price tag.

We went away straight after exams to an asian country, with a small group tour run by Intrepid. It was just what they needed to have a proper reset and break. I would thoroughly recommend Intrepid if you like doing stuff and seeing a country - I think we did way more than we could have persuaded them to do if it was just us organising the holiday. They do some amazing trips to South America, would be a bit more of a different experience culturally to the ones you mention?

Thank you so much for the ideas - off to do some Googling and day dreaming! Lots of ideas that I hadn't considered. I would gladly pay for DH to sit somewhere else on the plane - I know that sounds awful, but I think it's money well spent. 😂

We had the same a few years ago, and I asked both kids to give me 3 ideas of what they'd like to do, the only crossover was one child wanting to go to Germany, and another wanting to go to Turkey, so we went interrailing (with some flights).

It was actually brilliant, eldest says it was her favourite family holiday.

I like to travel 'nicely', so we had 2-3 nights in each city, staying in either nice hotels, or AirBNBs (so we could do some washing while travelling), and ended in Turkey with a bit of culture and a bit of beach.

We flew to Munich and out of Istanbul, and did:
Munich - Salzburg - Vienna - Bratislava - Budapest - Istanbul.
It took A LOT of planning (mainly working out routes, dates, accommodation), but the interrailing part was really easy.

@EmmaStone that sounds amazing! I often think planning the trip is the best part. You learn so much about a destination when you research it for yourself.

We've just come back from Namibia. It was utterly fabulous. Long flight (via Jo'burg) but at least no jet lag. Lodges were all fabulous - we stayed in a couple of really luxurious ones, but even the slightly less high-end were immaculate, great food etc. Temperature mid 20s to 30 during the day, but cool at night (fine with just a light jumper in the evenings, though early morning game drives were freezing!). Only the coast was still chilly in the daytime. Incredible wildlife, stunning scenery etc. Long drives (self drive), but all part of the experience - but some people do internal flights instead (presumably more expensive). Our trip for four (two adults, two older teens) was about 25k including absolutely everything (drinks, meals, excursions etc).

NB if you fancy Namibia, book like yesterday. Lodges get booked up 12-18 months in advance.

To add, we've done Costa Rica too. Different, but equally fabulous. Weather is fine in July - yes, it rains a bit, but completely fine. You have to be OK with bugs though (I am, but spiders the size of a dinner plate in our very upmarket hotel room were still a little bit full on!).

Did something similar at the same time to Peru and Brazil. Was amazing. Hot in the days though cool at night in Peru. Def trip of a lifetime. Including everything was about £4.5k pp.

We are heading to Hawaii after double exams in this house. 4 islands and loads of exciting activities. I was not keen on the US but the geography and culture have sucked me in.

Other big summer trips we have done with our kids (I’m fussy about the weather, so won’t go to places out of season)

Indonesia - Borneo, Komodo, Bali
Brazil - such a fantastic melting pot of culture and wildlife
Peru - same plus adventure and hiking
Svalbard - wildlife and history, mind blowing is my summary
Tanzania and Zanzibar - culture, adventurer and wildlife
Namibia -and Victoria fall - culture, adventure, wildlife again but very different.
Iceland - a great mix and very different in summer to winter. Wildlife and adventure, with loads to see.

My teens would say Brazil and Peru are their faves, but I think Indonesia is my pick for top 3.

I’m afraid we did soften both price and comfort with Avios flights.

That, or good earplugs.

For your dates, I'd go to Kenya/Tanzania - mix of safari and coast/beach - or Bali. Big investment is the flights but once you are there, luxury is very affordable compared to Europe/USA.

In either place you could do a great combination of activities and wildlife viewing, plus down-time/beach time in a high end lodge or resort. We booked a safari with driver in Kenya that collected us from our accommodation in Nairobi, drove us to the different lodges and also took us on all the game drives, all to our own schedule, and then drove us back to Nairobi. We also spent 5 days in a villa with private chef by the coast.

In Bali you could do some adventure stuff like hiking, jungle waterfalls, rice terraces, temples, foodie tours, and then kick back on one of the islands nearby where there is astonishing snorkelling.

I've been to both in July/August and temperatures and general weather were perfect - not too wet/cold/hot.

@Smackmeonthebottomwithawomansweekly please could you post your Indonesia itinerary? Sounds amazing. What was the weather like and of July/Aug?

I had planned to spend a few days in Singapore or KL but I’m really glad we didn’t and used the time in Indonesia. I could have stayed longer but we had to get back.
We tend to go for higher end but it can be done (much) cheaper, but I’m old enough that I’m afraid PE is my min flights and I like a comfy bed.

We first flew to Jakarta from Singapore and then had 3 nights on a house boat in Tanjung Puting National Park. This was wildlife but mainly to see the orangutan. The boat cruise is relaxing but interesting and you get to see lots from the boat. The food was amazing too. You also get into smaller craft to explore deeper into the jungle. We chose a boat with AC but some sleep on deck with nets. The NP is part of a conservation project to rehabilitate orangutan so you go to feeding stations to see them, but we also saw wild ones.

Back to Jakarta as a connection to Labuan Bajo and Komodo National Park and another 3 nights on a boat which was frankly sensational. We went to local fishing villages, snorkelled, had a speed boat with a donut, sunset cocktails on a beach, landed on sand bars and Pink Beach (instagram heaven, but arrived before the hoards), swam with the rays, the hike on Komodo to see the dragons was of course the main event, but the food, the boat and culture was amazing.
This is worth the splurge in my opinion https://anandacruises.com

From there we went to Bali and Ubud. We cycled the rice terraces, had a cooking experience amongst the rice fields that was part of a community project. Got up in the middle of the night to climb mount Batur for sunrise, went to hot springs, walked the markets and bars, had plenty of down time and pool action.

Then home. Boooo.

I would say the jungle was steamy, no denying it. But it is a good time to visit as it’s dry. It’s definitely one of my favourite holidays. The different island all have a different feel.

South Africa really should be on your agenda. It’s got great wildlife areas and our summer is cheaper. It won’t be hot but it’s great for sightseeing. I’d say this would be a top destination for me and flights are overnight both ways.

I would also consider Peru. It’s two flights but it’s such a great country with lots to see and do. We went one August but June/July is fine.

Neither of these suggestions are hot and humid.

Other ideas: Vancouver, the Rockies and Vancouver island but going in late August is much better for Bear viewing - a must for us and the same applies to Alaska.

You could also look at a self drive in Namibia. Easy to do but 2 flights. You might have to put DH in a seat away from you.

Short haul - Iceland. Lots to do and see. Or try eastern Canada. Quiet but lovely. Going south to Maine is good too.

How long do you have?
Summer is good for Singapore / east coast of Malaysia. You could do a few days in Singapore, head up the east coast of Malaysia to one of the islands like Tioman, then onto Cameron Highlands and finish in Kuala Lumpur. Or combine Singapore with flying up to Koh Samui or over to Borneo or Indonesia.

or fly to cancun and do Mexico (but rainy but manageable), Belize and Guatemala.

I’ve done Europe interailinf from London to Istanbul. They loved the travel days because they could just spend all day on their phones! We did a day travel, a day something historical or cultural and a day relaxing by the pool or a lake so we didn’t try to ‘do’ every city we visited. We always got a hotel with a pool. It’s more of a taster of Europe vs trying to cover everything.