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Holidays

Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

Original poster

Where would you go if you and your DH had the whole of April off work, a reasonable budget and a desire to travel...

42 replies

artichokes · 23/09/2009 20:10

...but also a 3.5 year old and a 16 month old.

Where would you go and what would you do???

Any inspiring ideas appreciated .

OP posts:
StripeyKnickersSpottySocks · 23/09/2009 20:11

A road trip across Oz. Hire or buy a camper van at one side and drive across.

McDreamy · 23/09/2009 20:13

Was going to say Oz but I'm not sure I'd want to fly that far. How about Canada? I love to do a road trip across Canada!

Original poster
artichokes · 23/09/2009 20:14

Oooh yes, that is something i have thought about too. Although not driving right across Oz because I think there would be too much desert for the kids to stand . But driving up the coast from Sydney to Queensland. I really like that idea .

OP posts:
Original poster
artichokes · 23/09/2009 20:15

Yes the Oz flight is scary. But Canada in April might also be scary - from a temp perspective!

OP posts:
giantkatestacks · 23/09/2009 20:16

I would fly into Florida, do that and then drive across to California either via the Grand Canyon etc or via New Orleans and Memphis or both...

SequinEncrustedFrayedKnot · 23/09/2009 20:17

I would probably do the camper thing only in New Zealand rather than Oz.

overmydeadbody · 23/09/2009 20:17

Well if I could I'd do a roadtrip across the desert states of America, doing lots of climbing.

Or a road trip across parts of Africa, again with lots of climbing thrown in.

Or a month travelling round India.

And I'd take my DS but I don't think there is ever too much desert for kids to stand, I grew up in the desert and couldn't think of anythgin better

Portofino · 23/09/2009 20:18

April? - Italy or Spain. Campervan if at all possible. Wildflowers, good food. Hot weather the further south you get, so beaches etc. Can I come?

giantkatestacks · 23/09/2009 20:20

Ooh and I would do my driving across either in an airstream or in one of those huge rvs that I cant think of the name of - like the one in Meet the Fockers

hf128219 · 23/09/2009 20:22

Morocco - The Imperial Cities, the Sahara Desert, the Oases, the Coast, the Kasbahs - magical.

StripeyKnickersSpottySocks · 23/09/2009 20:23

I've travelled round Africa and I don't think I'd be happy doing it with kids that young.

Ewe · 23/09/2009 20:24

Live on the beach in Goa for a month, heaven!

hf128219 · 23/09/2009 20:27

StripeyKnickers - Where's your sense of adventure??

EightiesChick · 23/09/2009 20:31

Echoing the votes for going to Oz. With a month you'd actually have time to get over the jet lag. Sydney is gorgeous and, from what I can tell, there is plenty of kid-friendly stuff there. I went recently with my then 6/7 mo DS and he got on fine. Melbourne is also lovely - from there you could drive down the Great Ocean Road.

StripeyKnickersSpottySocks · 23/09/2009 20:32

I just think I'm a worry wart. I'd be very concerned about road accidents, illness, safety.

Original poster
artichokes · 23/09/2009 20:42

I am totally torn between:

(i) a big classic campervan road trip in Oz, or down Highway 1 in California; (although do these countries have cultures that are hospitable to young kids in restaurants at night etc);
(ii) a real adventure in Africa - visiting a friend in Kenya and doing the safari thing (although are kids too young to appreciate the animals and would hours in a hot car be too much for them?);
(iii) pootling around a smaller area, like Sicily, getting to know it really well and taking advantage of its friendly attitude to kids (but is this missing an oppurtunity to do something more exciting?).

I do quite like the Morocco idea though... a more adventurous pootle maybe.

OP posts:
muddleduck · 23/09/2009 20:49

leave africa for a few years - will be a fab holiday for them later on. Hot toddlers are no fun.

personally i'd like option (iii), but them I did quite a bit of the adventurous stuff pre-children.

how are your languages - if you emersed yourself in a new language (italian) then you could reap the benefits for family holidays for years to come.

StripeyKnickersSpottySocks · 23/09/2009 21:01

I think the length of time you have would clinch Oz for me. Unless you expect to have a month available again.

You can go to Sciliy/Morrocco etc for 2 weeks. But you'd never be able to do a decent Oz trip in 2 weeks.

giantkatestacks · 23/09/2009 21:04

Agree about the time stripey but I just couldnt face the flights...

muddleduck · 23/09/2009 21:16

Canada would be a good compromise - long haul but not as far as oz. I always wanted to do a coast to coast train journey. The bit in the rockies (jasper etc) is amazing.

Original poster
artichokes · 23/09/2009 21:18

Is Canada really an option in April?

OP posts:
muddleduck · 23/09/2009 21:26

actually you're probably right - depending what you want to do it mught be a bit too early in the year.

duchesse · 23/09/2009 21:36

We did the SW of the States for a month in April with 2 very small children and another on the way. Really easy travelling (part camping, part motelling) even though some national parks high up were still snowbound and shut even at the end of April. There was still plenty to see, loads of variety in scenery, attractions and weather (ranging from about 43C in the Arizona desert to -10C a Colorado park). Can really recommend, was a fab holiday.

DillyTantay · 23/09/2009 21:37

my db went to the rainforest ( altho kids a little bit older) and LOVEd it

duchesse · 23/09/2009 21:38

Forgot to say- did route 1 in California first (gorgeous in v early April) and headed gradually inland and up as the month progressed.