cobs

Help please! Am trying to plan about 20 days holiday. Leaving NZ, fly to Singapore or somewhere around there, stay 2 days (rest) then??? Hubby wants to do Ankor Wat, daughter (18) wants Phuket (have friends there), I would quite like India (taj mahal, markets etc), son (16) well he wanted to do sth America - so tough for him!. Had thought of an Intrepid journey (Classic Rajasthan - comfort one) Delhi - Jaipur (15 days) etc then Bangkok to Ankor Wat (3 days) then 2 or 3 days in Phuket to recover. We are older - late 50's and I'm thinking this is getting out of hand!! Don't want to go to Vietnam (daughter went 2 years ago with school), we did a week in phuket last year and have previously been to HongKong and Bali so want to see some new stuff. Can anyone suggest a sensible itinerary? Is India sensible with 2 teenage kids? Can we do Ankor Wat and India in the timeframe? Looking to go Dec/Jan09 - any advice/help would be appreciated.
Am open to sensible suggestions - looked at Sth America but too far in the time we have as is Nth Africa, Europe etc.
This may well be the last "all in family" holiday as kids moving on (Uni/study etc) so really want it to be special.
Thanks in advance!

silverwool

Personally I feel you are trying to do too much. Are you factoring in flight times? Flights do not always line up exactly as we would like them too.

One thought would be to skip India and spend the time in Cambodia and Laos. With the amount of development going on in and around Siem Reap I would visit Angkor sooner rather than later. I would suggest at least three days to see the major temples. However this depends on your interests.

Another idea would be to fly directly to Bangkok, three days at Angkor, India then back to Bangkok, Phuket and home. (You'll want the rest at the end not the start!) Even this is probably too much. However, as yet i have not been to India but believe it is more challenging than SE Asia.

Still another suggestion, depending on your political views, would be to substitute Burma for India. (I'm in a moral conundrum about Burma at the moment.)

Kathie

Yes, it looks to be like you have two different vacations here, one to SE Asia and one to India. Choose one. In 20 days you can have a nice visit Thailand, Cambodia and perhaps one location in Laos- or - in 20 days you could have a nice visit to one part of India.

Especially if it's a last whole family vacation, slow down so you can enjoy the places you are visiting and each other.

rhkkmk

way too much..

i would do either india, which might be a bore for the kids... or i would preferably do:

bangkok/siem reap/phuket or some other thai beach location: krabi or hua hin

jules39

I agree with the way too much for 20 days. To give you an idea we are planning a 24 day trip in India in Jan/Feb in Rajastan & just a few days in Varanasi & I feel that is cutting it tight. Is there a special reason you want to go to Singapore? If not I would be tempted to go straight to Bangkok stay there for a few days to rest up etc then perhaps head over to Cambodia. Visit Siem Reap & Penom Phen. Amazing history in SR & there is a lot to be learnt in PP. I think it is a pleasant city but also the memorial to the terrible things that took place in Cambodia are well worth a visit & could be a valuable experience. You probably only need a couple of days in PP. Give yourself enough time in SR so that you don't have to race around the temples getting hot & bothered & end up thinking you never want to see another temple. Take time out to wander markets or go on a trip on the lake & try to get to some of the off the beaten track temples it is well worth it. Then back to Thailand for the rest of the time. I agree with Kathie in that I would have India as a totally separate trip. I think either an India trip or a Thailand/Cambodia ( I have not been to Laos so cannot comment but it is on my list!) would be an amazing family trip but not all of them. Take time to stop & "smell the roses"! Happy travels J

seagypsy

Hey, your family sounds like the typical family vacation wherein the teenagers want to escape and do their own trip. ;~))

Anyways, I haven't been to India yet, but I'd loved to and after seeing my friends photos from his trip, it's a very intriguing destination. I think if you were to go to India, you wouldn't miss out too much on passing on Angkor for this trip (but hopefully in the future) since the archeaological ruins in Angkor are based on Hinduism and for Angkor Wat in particular, Mt. Meru.

However, with 20 days, a trip to Angkor/Cambodia, Luang Prabang-Laos, and the Krabi area of Thailand would be ideal. Not too rushed and lots of variety.

Have a terrific family vacation (as the teens role their eyes!).

inquest

From what I gather,the kids would'nt be too happy doing India.Little('little' as in typical teens their age expect to do) for them to do there,unless they are interested in history & culture,which I see,from their individual desire to do other destinations.
The fareast is certainly a better & easier option.Cities which offer nightlife,beaches,food,culture & so on..Travelling too is a lot easier,quicker,cheaper.20 days,2-3 countries is possible

cobs

Hi - Thanks to you all for your responses. I think your advice is valuable so have decided to do India on our own (adults only!) next year. Will probably do Ankor Wat then also - no interest from kids at all!!! Am now thinking we will do 10-12 days China - direct flights NZ/China and have a week at our holiday home in Taupo - in the sun, at the end. Any info re China would be appreciated. Plan now to go late Dec - Beijing, Xian, Shanghai. Kids can do the cultural/heritage bit!!

anthony_99

Hi- Every one I just return to trip for Delhi,Agra,Jaipur,Bikaner,Jaisalmer,Jodhpur(Rohit Garh),Narlai,Udaipur,Devgarh,Bundi,Ranthambor(Nati onal Park) Then Jaipur and i tack a flight and come back home. It is realy wonderfull trip. This is my second trip to India. I hire a taxi with driver. It's so knowlegable person. When i arived first day delhi. He meet us with lovely flower's. Then he take us to hotel. Next leeterrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

cobs

Thanks to you all - after much discussion over the weekend we are going to China late Dec09. Beijing to Xi'an to Yangshuo to Zhujiajiao/Shanghai - total 14 days. Will be COLD but we can warm up at Taupo when we come home! Have put a query on the China forum - to make sure we don't miss anything!