Advice for a family holiday in SE asia - maybe Vietnam or Thailand?

[juddles]

Hey there all,

Am desiring to draw on some AFF member's experiences to plan a trip to south east asia.

Basics:

Want to take wife and two teenage daughters on a relaxing sun/food/leisure trip during July next year.

Whilst based in Colombia we did a couple of "all-inclusive" holidays to Mexico, and want a similar sort of thing - ie somewhere that is cheaper than Australia to eat lots, be waited upon, etc

We like to chill out, eat, swim. Wanting somewhere tropical. We are NOT into thrill-seeking, long hikes, organized "tours", etc etc. We are not into drunken yobbo experiences. (is that what Bali is?) Prefer slightly more upmarket, but am not rich

Now that Mexico is so far away I want to seek something different and closer - was thinking Vietnam or Thailand. Or is French Caledonia or Fiji worth looking at?

As a family we are "experienced travellers", but more as in being mistrusting of shonky airlines, rather than daredevils. My main options for flights are LM redemptions (seeking J), or somewhere QF flies (have great status with them). Not wanting to try Jetstar ever again............

Any ideas very very appreciated.

Cheers,
Juddles.

 

[mrs.dr.ron]

My vote would be for Thailand over Vietnam. We love Thailand and go every year at least once. Vietnam IMO would be a " busier do something every day " sort of holiday. But in Thailand you can chill out (- just don't pick coughet - that is the pits IMO ) there are several beach resorts dotted around the coast. A few days in BKK for a shopping fix for the girls and your done. Fiji is great for smaller kids, we used to go there when our son was young ( 4 to 10)
Oh one other thing we have been to Bali and will never go back.

 

[leadman]

Agree wit MrsDrron, Thailand. Here right now but out working in the countryside, but there is so much to do for every age! Chang Mai and Rai, BKK, just so much.

 

[mrs.dr.ron]

If you want to look at trip reports Ron did, we spent a month in Thailand last December, did BKK and Chiang Mai, July this year we did BKK and Chiang Rai, had been to both before but 20 years ago ! in the past we have been to Khao Lak twice , Pattaya twice, coughet (yuk).

 

[QF WP]

Presume you'd be starting the holiday ex-BNE. Have to agree with @mrs.dr.ron's overall assessment. I have a client that runs a resort in Vietnam (Mui Ne, see here: Mui Ne - Lonely Planet), it is very much a party place with lots of loud parties until early AM and full of Russians and eastern Europeans. But that's just Mui Ne, probably not representative of all.

I've been to both Bali (once) and Thailand (many times) - although it's been a while and whilst my kids are younger than yours, I'd prop for Thailand over Bali. Think the people are friendlier and it's safer. Even though the travel time is longer to Thailand, I think you'll handle it (hope your family is the same).

 

[GSP]

Firstly Bali is not representative of Kuta - there are plenty of places in Bali that fit the bill you are asking from cheap to very expensive.
Thailand also can have a similar rap to Bali (Kuta) but once again plenty of places that also fit the bill (even parts of coughet).
Vietnam I've only really discovered and that also has places that fit the bill, although I'm guessing in quieter places.
In short, I think all 3 of the places I just mentioned I'd have no trouble recommending and are all can provide similar experiences and varying prices. For general (not accom) prices I found Vietnam the cheapest, then Bali then Thailand.

There are hundreds of other pros/cons, but that's a start.

 

[Pushka]

Well I would opt for Bali and be selective on where you stay. Which is nowhere near Kuta. Seminyak is wonderful - Padma Beach resort for instance. We stay at the Intercontinental in Jimbaran Bay which is beautiful. Nusa Dua is also fabulous and no uncouth Aussies in site.

But - while we were going to Nusa Dua in four weeks the threatening volcano is proving an issue.

If we went to Thailand and wanted a beach sun sand nice experience then where to? Only a week to do it in so needs to be easy to get to.

Fiji is also nice but maybe been there too often.

 

[RooFlyer]

A cruise on the Mekong River in Laos! A Trip Report here: Cruise on the Mekong River, Laos

There are a number of boats to choose from, but on the Vat Pho we got:

* small boat
* fantastic food (wow!)
* ultra relaxing (sit/lie on the lounges on the deck and watch Laos, temples etc pass by; bar is open)
* short walking trips at sites along the way, temples, villages etc
* cabins are air-con (night only), with en-suites ..
* The mid-teen kids of my friends also loved it.
* value! (but that's not saying its expensive)

Only thing it doesn't have is swimming (you can splash at some of the sandy riverside landing areas), but if you do this cruise, you can easily go via mid Vietnam for the beaches there.

I'd very highly recommend Luang Prabang and Siem Reap (Cambodia) on the same trip, but that involves some extra, shortish plane trips that may not suit.

 

[Ric]

My 2 cents worth (but then again, I am bias!)...
How about BKI? Reachable by MH via KUL or SQ + Silk Air via SIN.
There's Shangri La, Hyatt, Hilton etc. You can also stay at resorts on the islands which are 15 mins away from speed boats.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

If we went to Thailand and wanted a beach sun sand nice experience then where to? Only a week to do it in so needs to be easy to get to.

Koh Samui?

 

[Milboo]

Sri Lanka - some gorgeous resorts down the South Coast

 

[Cynicor]

Mrs Dr Ron has been to Khao Lak twice and so have I. It's a great option as it's easy to get to, cheap, but without the loutish crowds that spoil almost every other suggestion in this thread. It's an hour north of coughet airport, instead of an hour south to the hell-hole that is Patong etc.
It's near a rainforest and beautiful waterfalls if you did want to get out, and a gibbon sanctuary. I stayed at the Le Meridien twice, which was bought up by a neighbouring property and is now (IIRC) an Accor (?Novotel?). It's really nice, high service levels and property for such a cheap rate.

 

[amaroo]

We've done family holidays throughout Asia - Vietnam, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia to name a few.

My pick would be a mixture of either Cambodia / Laos and Vietnam - jungle / beach mixture.

No idea on how you'd go with all inclusive - maybe Fiji?

 

[GSP]

Koh Samui?

I prefer Koh Phangan at the North end (away from Had Rin) which is just off Koh Samui. Another option in Thailand is Hua Hin.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I prefer Koh Phangan at the North end (away from Had Rin) which is just off Koh Samui. Another option in Thailand is Hua Hin.

I have a great little hotel right on the beach in Koh Phagnan - I was thinking perhaps the island might be too 'rustic' for Pushka though!

 

[GSP]

I have a great little hotel right on the beach in Koh Phagnan - I was thinking perhaps the island might be too 'rustic' for Pushka though!

Which beach? I've been to NPN, NPY, Bottle and Sadet beaches - each a little different.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Which beach? I've been to NPN, NPY, Bottle and Sadet beaches - each a little different.

No idea to be honest, although the website suggests Ban Tai beach.

 

[drron]

Definitely Thailand.But it doesn't cost that much extra to fly to Luang Prabang.Bangkok Airways flies there and has a QF codeshare if you fly into Thailand on QF.A real eye opener.Trip reports.First a circle asia trip including Siem Reap and Luang prabang-
From the Mersey to the Mekong.

Then a special day in LP.If you go you should visit Big Brother Mouse-
Mini report-A day in Laos.

 

[LadyC]

I have enjoyed beach holidays I have had in Bali, coughet, Koh Samui and Danang. All of those areas are large enough and have a diverse style of accommodation that would likely suit. Considering that you are coming from Colombia, somewhere in Thailand might be easier as you could have a few days in Bangkok first? You don't tend to find all inclusive much in Asia (certainly not anywhere I have stayed anyway), as I don't think guests would pay for it. Usually you are in close enough proximity to other hotels or restaurants that you don't really need it.

 

[YNWA]

I”ve done the all inclusive package at the Andaman in Langkawi twice. It was a true “all inclusive” in that the only thing that had a surcharge was the live seafood option at their beach restaurant. Otherwise it was carte blanche (including the minibar). Airport transfers were also included. It’s a one hour flight from Singapore with Air Asia or Silk Air.