Where to go with our teens this summer `10
Sep 29th, 2009, 07:20 AM
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Where to go with our teens this summer `10
Looking for a Family summer pre college travel idea, a two week vacation with our kids 15,18 and 20. Thinking of Asia (hot) - England and or Sweden. Want culture and interesting meals. Possibly a mix of city and an activity "easy bike ride, beach, boat ride?" Of course money is an issue.
Sep 29th, 2009, 01:57 PM
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firstly england will not offer you interesting food...its getting better but it has a long way to go...
sweeden is outrageously expensive as is the rest of that area...i was just in finland and two pizzas, two beers, one tiny caesar salad and one piece of chocolate cake were $86.
every thing else is similar...
asia generally is just the opposite....it is comparatively reasonable and some places are just plain cheap... often hotel cost 30-50% of what you would expect to pay for similar
accomodations at home and certainly in europe... a lux hotel in bangkok for instance might run $100-200 per nite for 2 but would be 3 times that in the states... very nice accomodations are available for under $100 in some places as well...
the earlier in the summer that you go, the better the weather, but generally may-the end of august is quite nice...
it is the high season in bali for instance and in thailand it is hot but decent with not that much rain...
i would suggest you look at a few places:
thailand would be #1
bali #2
singapore and bali as a combo
as add ons to thailand, you could consider angkor wat, luang prabang laos or burma..
there are fantastic beach resorts in thailand too which the kids would love...
take a look at a few places and come back here with questions, we love to help
sweeden is outrageously expensive as is the rest of that area...i was just in finland and two pizzas, two beers, one tiny caesar salad and one piece of chocolate cake were $86.
every thing else is similar...
asia generally is just the opposite....it is comparatively reasonable and some places are just plain cheap... often hotel cost 30-50% of what you would expect to pay for similar
accomodations at home and certainly in europe... a lux hotel in bangkok for instance might run $100-200 per nite for 2 but would be 3 times that in the states... very nice accomodations are available for under $100 in some places as well...
the earlier in the summer that you go, the better the weather, but generally may-the end of august is quite nice...
it is the high season in bali for instance and in thailand it is hot but decent with not that much rain...
i would suggest you look at a few places:
thailand would be #1
bali #2
singapore and bali as a combo
as add ons to thailand, you could consider angkor wat, luang prabang laos or burma..
there are fantastic beach resorts in thailand too which the kids would love...
take a look at a few places and come back here with questions, we love to help
Sep 29th, 2009, 05:13 PM
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Thank you, love this experienced direction!! As a family we have traveled to Israel, Italy, Mexico, Canada, some of the US. We live in Los Angeles. I think that this sounds great. I would appreciate itinerary suggestions. We are 5 people so traveling from place to place can add up very quickly. I really love this idea, we all love culture and Thai food and I love the beach (the Mom)
Sep 29th, 2009, 05:25 PM
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With two weeks it makes sense to spend all of it in Thailand. With 5 of you moving around, it makes a place like Angkor very expensive, as the air tickets are steep. But in two weeks, you could choose three locations: Bangkok, a location in the north and a beach location. Four nights in each location would give you a nice taste of Thailand.
In Bangkok, you are likely to find a serviced apartment your best bet - you can get a two bedroom apartment with a small kitchen and often, a washer and dryer for a very reasonable price.
For a splurge, you might consider the Anantara at the Golden Triangle, a beautiful resort that has a small branch of the Thai Elephant Conservation Camp on the grounds. Alternatively, you could opt for Chaing Mai and visit the elephant camp at Lampang. Flights from Bangkok to CM are reasonably priced.
For a beach, you could go to an island like Koh Samui (though the airfare is a bit pricey) or to Phuket, where the weather won't be as good, but teh prices will be low, or you could go to Hua Hin, which is a 2.5 hour drive from Bangkok. You can hire a driver and van to drive you there. In Hua Hin, the Hyatt is really lovely.
In Bangkok, you are likely to find a serviced apartment your best bet - you can get a two bedroom apartment with a small kitchen and often, a washer and dryer for a very reasonable price.
For a splurge, you might consider the Anantara at the Golden Triangle, a beautiful resort that has a small branch of the Thai Elephant Conservation Camp on the grounds. Alternatively, you could opt for Chaing Mai and visit the elephant camp at Lampang. Flights from Bangkok to CM are reasonably priced.
For a beach, you could go to an island like Koh Samui (though the airfare is a bit pricey) or to Phuket, where the weather won't be as good, but teh prices will be low, or you could go to Hua Hin, which is a 2.5 hour drive from Bangkok. You can hire a driver and van to drive you there. In Hua Hin, the Hyatt is really lovely.
Sep 29th, 2009, 07:47 PM
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kathie has set out a fantastic plan for you....i second all of it, except i would want more time in bkk....i'm also not sure the kids would love the north so i think i might split my time like this: 4 days bkk at arrival to relax a bit and recharge after the horrible flight from LA.... 5 days at a beach location or maybe 6 and then a return to bkk for the rest of your time...
i think the kids will love the beach if you choose carefully, and bkk is wonderful....
a two bedroom or 3 bedroom apartment would work well for you in bangkok...look at centre point properties...many fodorites like the one at silom (next to the skytrain which is important) and also near to the river....they also have apartments at langsuan, wireless and other great locations...
i personally like the marriott mayfair and there is a new marriott on sathorn....
the conrad hotel also has apartments and this is well located and gets good reports...
food is outstanding in thailand....in cities any cuisine is available... i have a restaurant listing...if you want it ask at: [email protected]
you might want to engage one of our favorite guides for a couple of days in bangkok.... her name is tong....lots is written about her here....www.tourwithtong.com
i would plan to do my heavy touring at the end of my trip when you are fully adjusted....
shopping is fabulous and cheap in thailand....you all will love that...not much of the readimade clothing will fit americans, but some will...
a splurge hotel in bkk might be fun....i love the peninsula or the hilton or the conrad or the plaza anthenee or the sheraton grande to name a few of many.... many of us love the riverside hotels also....the air is fresher we think and the river provides a very interesting background...
my personal favorite overall hotel is the marriott resort and spa on the river.....it has the best pool in bkk and a pool is absolutely necessary....!!
here are some hotel sites to get some ideas:
www.huahin.20m.com
www.agoda.com
www.sawadee.com
www.asiarooms.com
most hotels do not have double doubles but a few do, so this would mean multiple rooms for you all....
i think you all would like hua hin for your ocean visit....i prefer the hyatt too as kathie has mentioned....the sofitel is also nice and so is the new sheraton, but it might require you to rent a car... i think there are a few new hotels opening soon as well....you generally want to be nearish to the town of HH....
koh samui island is also nice....but a bit expensive for the flight...
air asia has huge discounts on air fares within thailand...thai air is always reliable, as is bangkok air...
for your flight from LA, i would look first at thai air, then united, then ANA, then japan, EVA, malaysian, cathy pacific, singapore and korean....plus delta and maybe american.... i try to look for flights that arrive in bkk mid day and leave at a decent hour coming home....they are few and far between....many leave bkk at 6AM...ugh!!!
happy hunting
i think the kids will love the beach if you choose carefully, and bkk is wonderful....
a two bedroom or 3 bedroom apartment would work well for you in bangkok...look at centre point properties...many fodorites like the one at silom (next to the skytrain which is important) and also near to the river....they also have apartments at langsuan, wireless and other great locations...
i personally like the marriott mayfair and there is a new marriott on sathorn....
the conrad hotel also has apartments and this is well located and gets good reports...
food is outstanding in thailand....in cities any cuisine is available... i have a restaurant listing...if you want it ask at: [email protected]
you might want to engage one of our favorite guides for a couple of days in bangkok.... her name is tong....lots is written about her here....www.tourwithtong.com
i would plan to do my heavy touring at the end of my trip when you are fully adjusted....
shopping is fabulous and cheap in thailand....you all will love that...not much of the readimade clothing will fit americans, but some will...
a splurge hotel in bkk might be fun....i love the peninsula or the hilton or the conrad or the plaza anthenee or the sheraton grande to name a few of many.... many of us love the riverside hotels also....the air is fresher we think and the river provides a very interesting background...
my personal favorite overall hotel is the marriott resort and spa on the river.....it has the best pool in bkk and a pool is absolutely necessary....!!
here are some hotel sites to get some ideas:
www.huahin.20m.com
www.agoda.com
www.sawadee.com
www.asiarooms.com
most hotels do not have double doubles but a few do, so this would mean multiple rooms for you all....
i think you all would like hua hin for your ocean visit....i prefer the hyatt too as kathie has mentioned....the sofitel is also nice and so is the new sheraton, but it might require you to rent a car... i think there are a few new hotels opening soon as well....you generally want to be nearish to the town of HH....
koh samui island is also nice....but a bit expensive for the flight...
air asia has huge discounts on air fares within thailand...thai air is always reliable, as is bangkok air...
for your flight from LA, i would look first at thai air, then united, then ANA, then japan, EVA, malaysian, cathy pacific, singapore and korean....plus delta and maybe american.... i try to look for flights that arrive in bkk mid day and leave at a decent hour coming home....they are few and far between....many leave bkk at 6AM...ugh!!!
happy hunting
Sep 30th, 2009, 03:47 AM
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If you haven't been to Asia, you love Thai food and a beach -- then head East (or maybe West if you are flying from LA). Asia is an entirely different experience from other parts of the world and, people couldn't be friendlier and the sights are memorable. Regarding the advice above: you are receiving it from some very seasoned travelers. Have fun.
Sep 30th, 2009, 07:10 AM
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don't think of these serviced apartments as the usual boring bland apartment....they are expanded hotels...they usually have restaurants and pools, and some even have room service...they have a staff at the front desk...its really a glorified hotel with limited services... the furnishings are often nicer than many hotels....and you get tons of space...
the suggestion was only based on expense...
if expense is not the real issue then i would stay at either the marriott resort or the peninsula for sure
the suggestion was only based on expense...
if expense is not the real issue then i would stay at either the marriott resort or the peninsula for sure
Sep 30th, 2009, 05:01 PM
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If you're still considering Bali . . .
You'd have a lot of choices in accommodations and renting a villa would be ideal. You can get several bedrooms, a big outside living area, private pool complete with staff -- cook, maid, driver. Depending on location and degree of luxe-ness villas are variously priced, but for June/early July you should be able to find one close enough to the beach for considerably less than a hotel/resort. ( In late July and all of August rates go up.)
Or you could spend a few days at a beach villa (I have to stress not on the beach, but near) and a few days inland in one of the lush and deeply spiritual river valleys.
There's a lot to do in Bali focused on both culture and nature with a high level of self pampering, shopping, eating, clubbing thrown in. It's great for families with older teens as there are a lot of options for the whole family and kids can also go off on their own.
The other good thing about Bali is that once you're there, you're there. It's a relatively small island and if you base yourself in a villa you can take day trips to do whatever it is that you like to do -- such as rafting, biking, mountain climing, birding, surfing, boating, snorkling,trekking -- or just staring out to sea. Bali has one of the planet's the most vibrant cultures -- perfoming arts like masked dance, music, handicrafts, frequent religious pagentry -- all readily accessible.
You'd have a lot of choices in accommodations and renting a villa would be ideal. You can get several bedrooms, a big outside living area, private pool complete with staff -- cook, maid, driver. Depending on location and degree of luxe-ness villas are variously priced, but for June/early July you should be able to find one close enough to the beach for considerably less than a hotel/resort. ( In late July and all of August rates go up.)
Or you could spend a few days at a beach villa (I have to stress not on the beach, but near) and a few days inland in one of the lush and deeply spiritual river valleys.
There's a lot to do in Bali focused on both culture and nature with a high level of self pampering, shopping, eating, clubbing thrown in. It's great for families with older teens as there are a lot of options for the whole family and kids can also go off on their own.
The other good thing about Bali is that once you're there, you're there. It's a relatively small island and if you base yourself in a villa you can take day trips to do whatever it is that you like to do -- such as rafting, biking, mountain climing, birding, surfing, boating, snorkling,trekking -- or just staring out to sea. Bali has one of the planet's the most vibrant cultures -- perfoming arts like masked dance, music, handicrafts, frequent religious pagentry -- all readily accessible.
Oct 19th, 2009, 03:43 PM
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As mentioned above, if you want culture, food, and a bonding experience with your family, Asia is by far the most unique experience.
My suggestions are:
Thailand/Vietnam/Cambodia can be done in 2 weeks
2 week China with Hong Kong trip
My suggestions are:
Thailand/Vietnam/Cambodia can be done in 2 weeks
2 week China with Hong Kong trip
Oct 20th, 2009, 12:21 PM
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Hi,
I'll also vote Bali over Thailand mainly because weatherwise, Bali should be exepriencing better conditions that Thailand. The only thing is that I would try to visit before peak August month.
And as Marmot mentioned there's a lot to see/do in Bali with the advantage of being much more compact than Thailand, meaning no flights which will help on the family budget. I would base out of Ubud but still allow for staying at other destinations around the island such as Tirtaganga for some tranquility, Ahmed for some beach time and Lovina in the north. Bali is so rich in culture and I think your older teens might enjoy it more.
Regardless where you decide, have a great family vacation.
I'll also vote Bali over Thailand mainly because weatherwise, Bali should be exepriencing better conditions that Thailand. The only thing is that I would try to visit before peak August month.
And as Marmot mentioned there's a lot to see/do in Bali with the advantage of being much more compact than Thailand, meaning no flights which will help on the family budget. I would base out of Ubud but still allow for staying at other destinations around the island such as Tirtaganga for some tranquility, Ahmed for some beach time and Lovina in the north. Bali is so rich in culture and I think your older teens might enjoy it more.
Regardless where you decide, have a great family vacation.
Oct 20th, 2009, 12:26 PM
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Hi,
While Thailand is a great destination - my favourite - it will be raining a lot in the summer. Bali is better weatherwise but is not as interesting as Thailand. The beaches in Thailand are much nicer than those in Bali. China will be way too hot in the summer.
Actually Europe will be your best bet in terms of weather.
While Thailand is a great destination - my favourite - it will be raining a lot in the summer. Bali is better weatherwise but is not as interesting as Thailand. The beaches in Thailand are much nicer than those in Bali. China will be way too hot in the summer.
Actually Europe will be your best bet in terms of weather.
Oct 21st, 2009, 03:52 AM
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Kathie nails it again.
With that age of travelers, I would recommend a volunteering vacation in cambodia. Teaching English in a rural school=extremely rewarding and not too time consuming. Still lots of time to see the sites. Angkor Wat is spectacular. The chance to get that close to real life here is an enlightening experience and one that none of you will soon forget.
Treat yourself to a week at the beach in Thailand or Bali afterward. Both are easily accessible from Siem Reap.
Cheap. Fulfilling. Educational. Culturally interesting. Fun.
With that age of travelers, I would recommend a volunteering vacation in cambodia. Teaching English in a rural school=extremely rewarding and not too time consuming. Still lots of time to see the sites. Angkor Wat is spectacular. The chance to get that close to real life here is an enlightening experience and one that none of you will soon forget.
Treat yourself to a week at the beach in Thailand or Bali afterward. Both are easily accessible from Siem Reap.
Cheap. Fulfilling. Educational. Culturally interesting. Fun.
