Ok 2 years ago I asked this same question and in the end went to the Moon palace in mexico. That was a great holiday and I thought I would ask again what can people recommend. What I have done in the past: USA done most of Florida. both my kids been 4-5 times and love it but I don't want to go back just yet. But if all else fails I may just go back but would like to try somewhere different. Did mexico which we loved, lots of Spanish Islands. What i'm looking for: Flight between 4-12 hours. Suitable for family's with kids aged 10 and 13 Sun sea sand, good pool. Nice shopping areas. 4-5 Star and no fussed if it's B&B, Half or All inclusive. What I don't want: All the normal places you see on First choice or Thompson's etc... Spain, Balearic's, Greek islands, Turkey, Canary islands. All the run of the mill places. Splash world Holiday Villages And even though I want to try the wife does not want to try a Cruise Only been having a look today but thinking Cuba? Would most probably be Aug hols
I was about to suggest a cruise, but then I re-read your post, and that was ruled out. My wife was against cruising until we did our first and now we don't look at anything else as it is guaranteed 5 star luxury and the kids are taken care of all day. Just booked for 14 nights cruising Hawai next year, balcony cabin, all flights, transfers, port taxes and everything else, £1,300 each Anyway, I digress. When we did our cruise in the Carribean a few years ago, The Bahamas was impressive. Fantastic soft while beaches, turquiose sea, we were there in December and it was 27 degrees, food was plentiful and cheap, and there appeared to be plenty to keep everyone happy and occupied and most of all the people were friendly. They say that Croatia is worth looking at as well. My colleague has just returned and said the scenery and beaches were stunning, it was cheap, freindly and s located on the eastern Med. That is likely to be the cruise after next for us.
Bermuda. Lovely place to just chill. Spent 3 weeks there in 94, granted I was only 22 then and some of it is a little hazy.
Check out the Savoy at Sharm el sheikh. 99% guaranteed wall to wall sunshine. We have been twice this year and are planning on going back again in March/April next year. Don’t be tempted to look at the Sierra which is cheaper but not on the beach and full of teenagers. The Savoy hotel is great, the Royal even better. The villas are out of this world but so are the prices. We go with the S Class fully inclusive which given how expensive the drinks are, especially European wine works out very good value. You also have Soho square just outside the hotel and all the bars and restaurants are also included in the S Class deal. Savoy Sharm Group , Sharm El Sheikh luxury hotels, all-inclusive Resorts, Entertainment & Night life 5-star award-winning luxury Hotel Savoy Sharm El Sheikh
I work for a holiday company. For what it's worth I'd do a Greek island in August. Certainly not Egypt it will be way, way too hot then. I went one day in August and it was over 40° at nine o'clock in the evening. If you can hang on until October, go to Thailand or Goa.
Vietnam. Looks amazing. Loads to see and do.... It depends, if you're like me, i hate sitting still and the idea of a holiday just sitting round a pool or on a beach is pure hell. Some of the greek islands, Skiathos, Santorini etc are gorgeous.
Not sure what the weather is like in Cuba in August but I guess you have looked at that already. I went there about 8 years ago and had a very good time. Some great beaches and Havana is something special IMO, only stayed there for 3 days/night, the other 18 days were at the beach. When I went, there was a massive police presence in Havana, more or less two armed police on the corners of main streets. Never spotted any trouble though or even heard of any tourists having hassle whilst I was there. Rationing was still in place and you could see people queuing for food, until they ran out. Free travel for Cuban's was not allowed without a permit which I found a bit disturbing. Great place though, as I said Havana is special, some great old hotels and some of Hemingway's old watering grounds and of course loads of old American cars. Travel by horse and cart is cool.loads of great music in the streets and the Cubans are very friendly and 8 out of 10 Cuban women are stunning !
cheers Chaps for the replys and gives me and heads up what to look at As posted Egypt is out in Aug due to the heat I would be happy hiring a RV and driving across the US but not until the kids don't want to come with us
We have done Florida 5 years running, love the place and just as cheap as a good quality Europe holiday. My kids are around the same age as yours and get bored to tears lying by a pool for two weeks. At least in Florida you can lie by the pool when you want and there is always something to do when you don't. We done Disney this year as it is 4 years since we last did it. I think this will have been the last time as the kids found the rides and attractions are more for younger kids and Disney have not changed many of the rides over many years so they are a bit dated now and nowhere near the standard of Universal. Egypt looks lovely but everyone I know that has been to Egypt has had a really bad belly. A cruise has appealed to me but I was always wary of being seasick and there is nothing worse. I cannot even go the isle of man without being ill !! Mexico seems very popular and mates have stayed at the Moon Palace and said it was fantastic, weather seems a bit iffy in August though so they say. All these obscure countries have my wife too worried to visit what with kidnappings, murders etc so that rules that out for us ! My wife really fancies the Greek Islands so that may be an option next year if she can find anywhere good.
Your mention of sea sickeness was always the concern of my wife. If we go across the channel she spends all the crossing in the ladies throwing up big time. Like you, we did Florida for a number of years. We even considered buying an apartment, but I think like you we Disney'd out, and now I have no real desire to go back. There are other parts of the USA, but you are still stuck in one place, and I don't know about you, but I am not that impressed with the food anymore and prices for a decent meal have rocketed. But when we did our first cruise, the wife was advised to eat a green apple or drink ginger ale. Guess what? It works Not once has she ever felt any level of sea sickness. Probably helps that the modern cruise ships are also very big and very stable. But what we like is the fact that we can visit a variety of countries and get a flavour without having to spend hours waiting for or sitting on a plane, and the perspective of arriving in a different country from the sea is so different to flying in. Countries we have vsited over the past 7 or 8 years in wide and varied. Mexico, Belize, Hondouras, Grand Bahama, Denmark, Estonia, Russia, the old east Germany, Finland, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Canary Islands, Monaco, France, Iceland, the Swedish Fjords, Port Canaveral, Miami. And then you get to see sights that you would never see, such as going under the Great Belt Bridge (twice), seeing a NATO sub on its way back from patrol, seeing dolphins swim alongside the ship, the northern lights at sea (so clear), the coral reefs in the caribean, the clear blue turquoise waters, and, and, and............. And the bonus is, it is cheaper than flying to a destination and being stuck in one place for 2 weeks, and you could (if you are really tight) go the whole 2 weeks or however long and not spend a penny, and it is the ultimate chill and relax holiday with 5 star luxury. I defy anyone to find a top Hotel that offers the luxury, refinement and entertainment that a cruise ship offers. But sorry I digress. Green apple or ginger ale prevents sea sickness, it works and I have had several others tell me that it works, so it s not the Mrs imagnation. I am just leased I never suffr such issues.
Me and my girlfriend off on a med cruise for 2 weeks next yr........P&O Ventura.......what a boat.......
She is a nice ship bit smaller than I am used to though You will enjoy the Med if you have not been there before and sailing between Gib and the north africa coast is an experience as there is so much shipping. If you stop in Naples, take the Red bus tour which is 4 hours, costs about 15 euros and is fantastic, watch out for the lunatic drivers though
Good thing about the Ventura or Azura is that its not full of obnoxious Yanks and toe curling tipping, and they are both great for kids. But if the missus won't do a cruise and Floridas done to death, then a good alternative, but it is the States is Myrtle Beach SC. For kids the age of yours, Western Canada is fantastic, ATVs, white water rafting, mountain biking etc etc, Rocky Mountaineer, and fantastic touring. Its no sitting on a beach and 5* but a whole load of memories the kids will talk about for years.
That ship looks stunning, seen a few programmes on tv and they do look like 5 star hotels. Not sure of having to wear penguin suits though, jeans and shorts are my holiday clothes. My wife watches loads of shit films on tv and loads are set on cruise ships and 90% of the guests look like poirot and miss marple. Are a lot of the cruises 'All inclusive' or are drinks extra and do you still tip staff. I noticed that some prices say 'tips included'. Maybe a bit too expensive at the minute having to pay for four, better when the kids are older and don't want to go !! By the way, where is the best place to look when booking cruises, does the price differ substantially between companies and is the Med the best place for a first cruise ?
Rest assured, there is no dressing up unless you want to or unless you sail with Cunard on one of the Queens which are very formal. We do what is called freestyle cruising, so there is no requirement to dress up. Believe me if it was compulsory, you would not catch me on a ship. We always book our crusies through Iglu Cruises | Cruise Holidays 2014 & 2015 | Iglucruises.com Last year we went to Russia with an overnight stay in St Petesburg Russia. We had 16 nights in the Baltic, 28 degrees (and this was in September), balcony cabin (which we always have) and including all tips, port duty, parking at Dover, we paid £790 each. Eating can be posh waiter service (free of charge) or Buffet (help yourself) and is 24/7 and eat as much as you want and is al in. The only thing you pay for is alcoholic drinks but these are duty free prices. Hawai next year is costing £1300 each which includes all return flights from Heathrow, transfers, port taxes, tips, everything. We considered the far east as there is a trip that is 18 nights and takes in Malaysia, Indonisia, Japan, China, Vietnam and a few others, and that is under £1,000 including flights and if you had an inside cabin, you can get it cheaper still. We did the Med 3 years ago on the Independence from Southhampton. We took our daughter who was 19 at that time and 14 year old niece, and with the Mother and father in Law, we paid £650 each for the 18 nights balcony cabin. But by and large, it seems that long haul is cheaper than going from Europe or Southhampton pro rata. On something like the Independence of the Seas (sister to Liberty and Freedom of the seas which you may have seen on TV) and whichis 165,000 tons, you have ice skating, climbing, the flow rider surf simulator, casino, arcades, gym, running track and much more and even with 4,000 people on board you would never guess. The new ships Anthem and Quantum of the Seas will even have dodgem cars and a sky diving simulator in additionto everything else as well as a 300feet high pod for scenic photos. Anthem of the Seas - Royal Caribbean As to where you go? Sky is the limit. Med is great, as is the Baltic, Atlantic, Carribean, North Sea.
Bottom two are coming out of Lisbon under the Bridge. Top 2 are my niece skating and my daughter surfing. All free and included.
