I can’t believe that we’re already into the third week of January and hopefully you’ve all had a great Christmas/New Year break?
It’s the time of year where we all make plans – whether they are ‘New Year Resolutions’, goals to achieve or a bucket list to tick off. So is travel on one of your lists or plans for this year?
I sure hope so, and I’ve been planning my next set of adventures, so thought I’d give you some thoughts and suggestions with your travel dreams… just to get you started…
This week I’m focusing on suggestions for family holidays (as seems to be what I’m booking lots of) and next week I shall focus on couples, followed by a list of suggestions for singles the week after.
So here is my list of things to do as a family holiday – and they are not in any particular order, whatever grabs your fancy really!
1) East Coast of America – Two weeks on the East Coast of America is a ‘must’ for every family at some stage… fly into New York for 3 or 4 nights before heading to Orlando, Florida for a week of Disneyworld, the Harry Potter Theme Park, the Kennedy Space Center and the Everglades. And then stop over in San Francisco or Los Angeles, to break the journey, for a couple of nights on the way home. Or if you have an extra week up your sleeve, add on a 7 night Caribbean Cruise or 7 night Mexico Cruise (they often have great specials and are inexpensive and a brilliant trip that everyone will love). The ultimate family holiday!
2) Hawaii – A brilliant place for families, for all the reasons I outlined in my recent blog. We visited in December and had a fantastic time and the new direct flights make it a lot more accessible and affordable.
3) Relax and unwind for a week in Fiji – at either the Shangri La Fijian Resort or out at Castaway Island…… heaven awaits and a week of rest and relaxation!
4) For younger children, a week in Hong Kong is fabulous. Take in Hong Kong Disneyland for a couple of days (one of the best buffet breakfasts I have ever seen!), Ocean Park and the Science Center, specifically for the kids. But there are lots of other things, Victoria Peak, Stanley Markets, a cruise on the Harbour and lots of shopping. Again, a destination for everyone.
5) 7 to 10 nights on a South Pacific cruise. Unpack once, take in a few islands and enjoy all the facilities cruise ships have to offer. Meals, Kids Clubs and entertainment are included in your price and there are ships and itineraries to suit all budgets and tastes.
6) Journey around New Zealand in a motorhome. 10 – 14 days will enable you to comfortably take in both islands and all they have to offer. New Zealand is known to be a country that has lots of adventure options to experience and also great sightseeing and magnificent scenery. Experience the sights of Auckland, glowworm caves in Rotorua, geothermal reserves and traditional culture of Rotorua, the beautiful Bay of Islands, spectacular Milford Sound, Queenstown and Christchurch…. Skiing, jetboating, bungy jumping… the list is never ending.
7) Within Australia, a week on Hamilton Island is great with plenty for everyone to do and gives you the opportunity to experience the Great Barrier Reef. The Gold Coast is always popular for families and most of the theme parks have recently opened new rides, Northern NSW is great for a short break and a journey around Tasmania is also a great adventure. We live in an amazing country and there are so many spots to enjoy!
8) Skiing – Thredbo in Australia is a fantastic ski resort which caters well for families and all levels of skiers. And Queenstown, New Zealand is also a fabulous skiing spot with lots of adventure activities on offer too. Everyone has to try skiing at least once in their life, and most people who do go on to become avid skiers as it’s lots of fun
9) Bali – It’s an easy five and a half hour flight out of Brisbane so affordable but an overseas destination that has beautiful resorts, shopping and sightseeing and great surfing spots. Again something for everyone here.
10) UK/Europe – I travelled to the UK and France eighteen months ago and my family loved this adventure, always comes up as the best holiday they’ve had (until we went to Hawaii anyway!). We drove through Scotland, the West Midlands and took in London before taking the Eurostar to Paris where we spent our last four days…. A memorable and great trip where the kids learned something too, they enjoyed the history and the old buildings and it was a great education for them.
There are so many great family holidays/destinations, I’ve found it hard to find ten only and haven’t really scratched the surface. But hopefully I’ve given you some things to think about.
So where will you take your loved ones this year?