My family and I (4 total) are trying to figure out where to go over Christmas break. Our schedules only give us a maximum of 8 days together. Hong Kong, Taiwan, Korea, India, and Japan, and the United States are definite no's. Thailand, Jordan, Turkey, and Egypt have also been put on the table, but my parents have major concerns over safety in each of those countries. My mother finds Singapore too costly and dull.

What we want:
- Minimal flight time and transfers (under 15 hours, no more than 1). Of course, the lower the cost, the better. My parents and I avoid using American airlines if possible.
- Either private tours for under $1000 CAD per person, or else a place we can get around on our own (we are fluent in English, Cantonese, Mandarin, can read kana and hangul, speak some Spanish and Korean)
- Warm, with good weather
- We want to spend as little time on beaches, shopping, in resorts, and amusement parks as possible

Also of note:
- My parents are in their mid-fifties' and my mother can't take too strenuous a trip

Minimal flight time? Where from!!!!????

Do I deduce that you are in China and that is why it is not listed? If so, what about Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia or Indonesia? (And if so, why <i>not</i> Taiwan?)

I am sorry to hear that your mother is not up for a "strenuous" trip - however you define that - but that is not because she is in her fifties. I am in my sixties and still up for strenuous trips.

>>Do I deduce that you are in China <<

I <i>think</i> the OP is in Canada . . . >>under $1000 CAD per person<<

Aeroden: If you want warm weather in December you are going to have to head well south. The Caribbean, South America, Australia. None of which are in the $1000 CAD pp budget if that must include airfares.

Aeroden, you need to clarify some things. Your departure point and budget. As I read your $1000 CAD for a 'private tour', that could only refer to a tour around wherever it is you end up going an doesn't include airfare, hotel, food, etc. It could be a private tour around an island for example and nothing else.

If you meant a package tour holiday rather than a 'private tour' that might make sense but you need to clarify it. What is your total budget per person for everything from the minute you leave the door of your house till you return to it?

Your Mother's age is irrelevant, her physical condition may not be. If so, say so.

I'm located in Vancouver, Canada, apologies for forgetting to mention that. We're hoping for $1000 pp to include accommodations, but not meals and airfare, and this doesn't have to cover the span of 8 days. I also neglected to state that the flight restrictions are in place because my brother has severe airsickness.

thursdaysd: My mother is in fairly good health, and I didn't think physical strain would be an issue for her either, but she was exhausted about 1/3 of the way on the hike from Fushimi Inari Taisha to Tofukuji in Kyoto, a not particularly difficult path. Trekking through the snow in Sapporo around Christmas was also a chore for her. We are not going to Taiwan because my parents went last october and would like to visit some place different. We are looking into trips to various parts of southeast Asia, but there are major time constraints.

dulciusexasperis: At this point, I'm open to all sorts of suggestions. My interests clash with my family's a lot of the time, so it's easier to work with what we don't want.

Have you thought about South America? Maybe Patagonia? It will be summer there, although also high season. If you take USD you can get the "blue" rate in Argentina which will help with costs.

I would love to visit Patagonia/Argentina, but is 8 days enough time? And I was under the impression that nearly every place was shut down Christmas and New Year's over there.

Splitting the eight days between El Calafate and the Lake District, maybe with a stop over in Buenos Aires, should work. Since those are tourist destinations and December is high season I would expect things to be open, but you can ask over on the South America board.

Cuba.

I think Durban that consists beaches, shopping, resorts, and amusement parks as you want.

Yep, Cuba.